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FOOD © Photosil | Dreamstime.comWhen we are asked to do something or believe something in regards to Scripture, shouldn't we always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11), the whole of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17)?  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and verify if what that spirit is telling them is in agreement with Scripture or not.

Let's take a journey together through Scripture and see what it has to say about food.  As we go, may we say, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

Scriptural quotations are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted. Bolded text or other emphases in the Scriptural references are the author's.

As is usually best, let's start at the beginning of Scripture in Genesis.

 

 

First Fruits Foods

 

The very first thing Scripture has to say about food is found in Genesis chapter 1 as part of the story of the creation of man. G-d says that He will make man in His own image. Male and female He created them.  

Then G-d said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so. (Genesis 1:29-30)

 

Things that are pleasing to our senses and are "good for food" may not always be something that G-d wants us to eat.

Initially, G-d gave seed-bearing plants and fruits to humans as food. Chapter 1 of Genesis closes with verse 31: "G-d saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

This verse contains the first use of the phrase "it was very good" in the story of Creation and in all of Scripture.

Before Adam and Chavah sinned and they were still living in the garden, Scripture tells us that G-d caused to grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food.  "Every tree" included the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). It was later in Genesis 3:6 that Chavah "saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes."  Then she took of the fruit, ate it, and then gave some to her husband.

Things which are pleasing to our senses and are "good for food" may not always be something that G-d wants us to eat.

 

Torah Portion

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or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Shishi, 19 Adar II, 5784

Friday, March 29, 2024

 

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