January 4, 2011 – Leviticus 11 - 11:38

The footnotes talk about how some of the foods God made unclean were also for the well being to the people and to keep them from getting sick.  I have heard that most of the animals that were made available to eat were those same ones that the Egyptians worshipped as gods.  God was trying to tear them away from that way of living and lifestyle.  He was showing them that not only were these animals that you are used to worshipping not gods, but they are available for you to eat.  There is no better way to show that you are not to worship something than to put it below you on the food chain.  I guess the same could be said about making certain animals unclean.  Not only should you not worship them, but they are not even worthy enough to eat and contact makes you unclean.  Realize that Israel had been enslaved and living the Egyptian way of life for around 400 years, think back to before the pilgrims landed.  There must be some extremes taken in order to reshape the way these people think and live because it is engrained in them.  What will God need to do to make our nation change its course from the way of life we have come to accept as normal.