How does Leviticus 7:22 guide us in respecting God's dietary laws today? Reading the Text “Then the LORD said to Moses,” (Leviticus 7:22) Why God Spoke About Fat and Blood • The instruction underscores that every part of the animal belongs to Him. • Fat and blood were reserved for the altar (Leviticus 3:16–17), symbolizing life and divine ownership. • By denying themselves those portions, Israelites acknowledged God’s holiness and their dependence on His provision. Foundational Principles We Still Honor • God’s right to regulate what belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). • Obedience is worship: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). • Life is sacred: “You must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it” (Genesis 9:4). • Self-control in appetite trains the heart to submit in larger matters. How the New Covenant Shapes Our Practice • Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:18-19), removing ceremonial barriers. • Peter’s vision confirmed this freedom (Acts 10:15). • Yet freedom never cancels the principles of reverence, stewardship, and love (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). Respecting God’s Dietary Intentions Today • Listen first: let Scripture, not culture, set the agenda (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Treat food as a gift, not a god—eat gratefully, not greedily (Philippians 3:19; 1 Timothy 4:4-5). • Guard health as stewardship; the body is the Lord’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Avoid what injures another’s conscience (Romans 14:13-15). • Give God the best portion of every meal—thanksgiving and mindful enjoyment—symbolically echoing Israel’s surrender of fat on the altar. Practical Steps • Read labels and consider how food sourcing honors the Creator’s design. • Fast periodically; letting hunger remind you that God, not food, sustains life (Matthew 4:4). • Share meals generously, mirroring God’s liberal provision (Acts 2:46-47). • Whether you abstain from certain foods or partake freely, “do it all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Summing Up Leviticus 7:22 calls us to heed God’s voice in what we eat. While the specific prohibition on fat and blood was fulfilled in Christ, the passage still presses us toward obedience, reverence for life, self-control, and thankful enjoyment of God’s good gifts. |
    |