Eating sustains our physical bodies and is thus a very important part of our lives. Sometimes, for health reasons, we impose restrictions on the types of food we eat. In Leviticus 7:22-27, God gave instructions on the types of food that the children of Israel cannot eat. Israel is a special nation chosen by God to be a holy witness for Him, hence they must be distinct from other nations. There is spiritual significance as to why God restricted the food of the children of Israel.

1. The limit for consecration (Lev 7:22-24)

Fats were considered the best parts of the animal. In those days, people were not as wealthy, and hence they did not often eat meat. The best parts of the animal were to be set apart and offered to the Lord. The ox, sheep and goat were animals that were approved to be offered as sacrifices to the Lord, hence the children of Israel were not to eat their fats. The children of Israel were permitted to eat the fats of other clean animals. They were also not allowed to eat the fat of any animal that had died, but they could use the fat for other uses. This would remind the children of Israel that everything they owned belonged to the Lord. Their lives were to be totally consecrated to the Lord.

2. The punishment of the defiant (Lev 7:25)

If any of the children of Israel ate of the fat of the animal that had been offered to the Lord, that person would be cut off from his people, i.e. he would be excommunicated from the fellowship of the community of God’s people. The severity of the punishment corresponded to the seriousness of the sin committed. Sin has an impact on our fellowship with God and with God’s people.

3. The prohibition to eat blood (Lev 7:26-27)

The children of Israel were not allowed to eat any blood. The commandment not to eat blood also applies to us today. This is because blood symbolises life. Our lives belong to God, and it is through the blood of Jesus Christ that we can have atonement of our sins. We cannot take our own lives, and we cannot take other people’s lives. We must see the sanctity of life when we see one another. We must be thankful to God for preserving our lives. We must use our lives to serve Him.