There’s no denying the Old Testament presents God in a very different light than the Gospels.
The first five books, known as the Pentateuch, cover the Laws of Moses. Believed to have been authored by Moses himself, the book of Leviticus provides a detailed description of the different types of offerings and specific rules that pertain to each, be it mammal, bird, or grain.
I must admit, some of the early books can be rather unsettling, and difficult to follow. In today’s society, it’s hard to imagine sacrificing a living creature and burning it on an altar to atone for one’s mistakes, yet it was completely normal for the day. Setting aside the obligatory squeamish reaction, it’s striking to me how little society was capable of at the time.
Science and medicine have proven that if food is not prepared in a particular manner, it could make one deathly ill.
For example, consuming undercooked pork can lead to bacterial infections such as salmonella and E. coli. Trichinosis and Tapeworm are parasitic worms that could have fatal consequences if left untreated. Today, we understand pork must be cooked at a certain temperature to avoid these potential illnesses, something they likely didn’t know in the days of Moses.
Shellfish is another example. Undercooked or improperly prepared shellfish can have deadly consequences. Lobster and crab, considered a delicacy, are cooked live. A practice that significantly minimizes risk of food poisoning due to a harmful bacteria that can rapidly multiply immediately upon death. A factor Moses’ people likely wouldn’t have known thousands of years ago. Even today, food allergies can be fatal to a select few. Those prone to suffer an allergic reaction are treated today with epinephrine, but in the ancient past…
Let’s explore some of the other things the Law of Moses told the populace to avoid, and what science tells us today.
- Ingestion of blood – known to carry a variety of infectious diseases, consuming bloody meat, or worse yet, drinking blood can cause liver damage.
- Consumption of fat – We know today that regular consumption of animal fat can lead to heart disease and/or stroke due to high levels of saturated fat. Although safe in moderate amounts, it’s not likely you’ll find a doctor that would advise a high fat diet.
- Cooking meat in milk – This was specifically called out as something to avoid in the book of Exodus. If you do a Google search today, you’ll find that preparing meat in milk is actually a recommended way to tenderize and make the meat more flavorful, but today, milk is pasteurized, which is a process to kill harmful germs and bacteria that could cause illness. Cooking meat in raw milk is still deemed dangerous, as it often contains the same pathogens as undercooked meat.
- Clean vs. Unclean – anyone bleeding, exhibiting open sores, visibly sick, or who comes into physical contact with someone who is sick or something dead is considered unclean. Today we have a clear awareness about germs, bacteria, and viruses and how easily they can be spread. Something not so widely understood during Moses’ time. Showers are taken almost daily and we’re constantly advised about the importance of washing one’s hands. Imagine how difficult it would be to keep clean in the ancient past and how easily germs and illness could quickly spread throughout the camp.
- Leavened vs. Unleavened bread – Today we understand the health benefits of yeast free bread. It has less calories, considered low fat, and generally processed in a more natural way. In fact, unleavened bread has become quite popular in today’s modern health-conscious society. Spinach, tomato, or whole wheat wrap sandwiches are regularly offered as a healthy alternative to the usual fare, and are commonly found on lunch menus.
The point is, the rules established thousands of years ago suggest a level of wisdom that would have been difficult to explain to the populace, and perhaps these practices weren’t established solely as a means of worship, but to keep people healthy at a time when science and technology hadn’t yet evolved enough to prevent the spread of disease.
In an upcoming post, I’ll highlight some observations about the creation story and why I feel the book of Genesis and science don’t necessarily disagree with one another.
In the meantime, I wish you well, and remember, every day is a gift.
Wanda P.