I Do Enjoy Those Grilled Birds They Serve at . . .

The O.T. and N.T. give us two Different, but not Contradictory, Views of Birds 

Leviticus 11:13-19

¹³ ‘These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they are abhorrent, not to be eaten: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, ¹⁴ and the kite and the falcon in its kind, ¹⁵ every raven in its kind, ¹⁶ and the ostrich and the owl and the seagull and the hawk in its kind, ¹⁷ and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl, ¹⁸ and the white owl and the pelican and the carrion vulture, ¹⁹ and the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

Thoughts on the Passage

In the New Testament, in Matthew 6:26, Jesus says, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” But here in Leviticus the same heavenly Father says there are certain birds we are to hate because they are, among many other things (just check out the list of synonyms for ‘abhorrent’), distasteful and nauseating.

It is interesting to me that today we protect some kinds of these species – some owls, herons, eagles, etc.  We also have to a certain extent made storks celebrities. As Wikipedia says:

The legend is very ancient but was popularised by a 19th-century Hans Christian Andersen story called The Storks. German folklore held that storks found babies in caves or marshes and brought them to households in a basket on their backs or held in their beaks. These caves contained adebarsteine or "storkstones".

A more detailed account of the mythical relationship between storks and the delivery of babies, going back to Greek mythology, can be found here for those interested:

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/05/why-storks-are-associated-with-delivering-babies/

David Guzik notes that the common thread among the birds listed in Leviticus is that they are either predators or scavengers. And although, as Chuck Smith points out there is no test here to test birds for being ‘clean’ or ‘unclean’, we at least can consider that being a scavenger may make a bird ‘unclean’.  On the other hand, not sure why a predator would get a pass and not be eaten by us, human predators.

Matthew Henry adds the following ideas:

some are birds of prey (eagle, vulture, etc.) indicating that “God would have His people to abhor everything that is barbarous and cruel, and not to live by blood and rapine (the violent seizure of other’s property or being)”

some are solitary birds, that abide in dark and desolate places (owl, pelican, cormorant, raven for “God’s Israel should not be a melancholy people, nor affect sadness and constant solitude.”

some feed upon that which is impure (storks feed on serpents; others on worms) indicating that “we must not only abstain from all impurity ourselves but from communion with those that allow themselves in it.”

finally, others were used by the Egyptians and other Gentiles in their divinations. “Some birds were reckoned fortunate, others ominous; and their soothsayers had great regard to the flights of these birds, all which therefore must be an abomination to God’s people, who must not learn the way of the heathen.”

So, there you have it.  You decide. I must admit that when I visit my favorite Greek restaurant on Toronto’s Danforth, the Pantheon, I do enjoy some lovely grilled quails.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

How A Miracle Can Go So Wrong -- Exodus 16:17-21

And the sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little.  When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.  And Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.”  But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.  And they gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.
 

Moses gave them instructions on how to collect the manna from heaven each morning and the text says, “And the sons of Israel did so”.  One can only assume that many followed the instructions to the letter; others just heard the part that said, “Gather it”.   But no matter how much each family gathered, they always ended up with what they needed.  Those that by miscalculation or any physical inability to gather a sufficient amount had just what they needed for each member of the family.  Those that got greedy and gathered more than they were supposed to, somehow ended up with just what they needed.  No excess and no lack.   And that is what God promises us today – no guaranteed excess, but no lack for the day either.

And Moses also gave them instructions not to save any of what they had collected on one day for the next day.  It is not clear whether Moses gave them this follow-up instruction as given in this portion of Scripture with his initial directions, or whether he had noticed that some had tried to save manna for ‘tomorrow’.  But nevertheless, even after this instruction, the text tells us at least some (although again it is not clear whether all behaved in the same manner) did not listen to him and they tried to store some manna for the future.  I think that one of the most difficult things to learn, as Christians, is that our God provides sufficiently for the day, and will provide again tomorrow sufficiently for that day when it comes.

Anyway, for those that did not listen, the manna that was saved contrary to the instruction of God’s anointed leader, had by morning, bred worms and became foul or moldy.  The account reminds me somewhat of what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount after He had taught us how to pray.  In Matthew 6:19-21, we read (NASB version):

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Sometimes we tend to very easily forget where we are laying our treasures and thus where we are allowing our hearts to find themselves.  I feel this way especially at this season of the year as I write this on December 26^th, the day North Americans refer to as Boxing Day.  Wikipedia helped me realize that Boxing Day has been commercialized just as much, if not more so, than Christmas has been.  Neither one is being celebrated by the majority, in accordance with its original purpose.  Let me quote Wikipedia on the topic of Boxing Day:

Boxing Day is traditionally the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers . . . It is observed in (most). . . Commonwealth nations . . ..

The exact etymology of the term "boxing day" is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive.  The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in places of worship in order to collect donations to the poor. Also, it may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Church falls on the same day as Boxing Day.

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year . . . This custom is linked to an older English tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and maybe sometimes leftover food.

In Britain, Canada, and some states of Australia, Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday, much like Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) in the U.S..  It is a time where shops have sales, often with dramatic price reductions. For many merchants, Boxing Day has become the day of the year with the greatest amount of returns . . ..

Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long queues to form early in the morning of 26 December, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at big-box consumer electronics retailers. Many stores have a limited quantity of big draw or deeply discounted items. Because of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, many choose to stay home and avoid the hectic shopping experience. The local media often cover the event, mentioning how early the shoppers began queueing up, providing video of shoppers queueing and later leaving with their purchased items.  Many retailers have implemented practices aimed at managing large numbers of shoppers. They may limit entrances, restrict the number of patrons in a store at a time, provide tickets to people at the head of the queue to guarantee them a hot ticket item or canvass queued-up shoppers to inform them of inventory limitations.

In recent years, retailers have expanded deals to “Boxing Week”.  While Boxing Day is 26 December, many retailers will run the sales for several days before or after 26 December, often up to New Year's Eve.”

No, thank you.  I avoid these ‘days’ for four reasons: First, I believe a wise shopper can find good bargains any time of the year or at least on numerous other occasions.  Second, I really do not want to be waiting in line ups and arguing about who gets the last ‘one’ of the desired product being hunted for, or being disappointed because they “ran out” of what I was looking for or had my heart set on.  Third, and importantly, because it is not what Boxing Day is all about as we learned above.  And finally, and most important, shopping for more stuff which I will ultimately leave behind is not where I want my heart to be.

So Moses got angry at the Israelites who tried to save “for tomorrow”, and rightly so.  Not only did they disobey him and God, but now, they also had to deal with the worms and the stink in the camp.  The question that arises for us as Christian leaders from this reaction of Moses is whether or not we should get angry with those who disobey God?  Of course, this opens up the whole topic of “judging” and the concept of “judge not, lest you be judged”.  I have likely said this before, and I repeat it here.  I personally believe that we should not judge people for things that God has not clearly specified His instructions or will about – but we are to draw to the attention of others, especially Christians, what God or the Scriptures have said about topics and issues that are indeed covered by them.  Enough said on that.

The text we are studying here goes on to say, that God kept on providing for them in this way (manna from heaven) morning by morning.  His faithfulness to His people is indeed worthy of our trust and reliance upon.  It is also fresh every morning.  Have you gathered His manna for you today?  Have you prepared yourself to collect the spiritual quails He is providing for you tonight?

The last phrase of this section of Scripture provides yet another interesting aspect to the story.  In reference to the manna, the text reads, “but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.”  David Guzik suggests the following: “Apparently the bread from heaven had to be gathered and prepared early in the morning. This was God's gracious way of forcing a work ethic upon the nation of Israel.”  Perhaps He wanted them to collect it early, but we would be guessing with respect to His actual purpose – although what Guzik suggests complements God’s thinking and attitude towards work found elsewhere in Scripture.

It is my prayer that you and I realize God’s desire to provide us with whatever we really need (not want) for our daily lives, as He did for the children of Israel in their own desert.  It is my prayer that what God has provided for us (His word, His love, His Son) is not treated in a way that it breeds worms and goes moldy.  But rather, I pray that you and I will accept His blessings and use them to be a blessing to others.

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[Are you looking for a speaker at your church, your club, school, or organization? Ken is available to preach, teach, challenge, and/or motivate. Please contact us.]

Thanks for dropping by. Sign up to receive free updates. We bring you relevant information from all sorts of sources. Subscribe for free to this blog or follow us by clicking on the appropriate link in the right side bar. And please share this blog with your friends. Ken Godevenos, Church and Management Consultant, Accord Consulting.  And while you’re here, why not check out some more of our recent blogs shown in the right hand column.  Ken.

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It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

It’s Raining Quails and Bread! God 2, Desert 0 -- Exodus 16:13-15

So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.  When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the hoarfrost on the ground.  When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?”  For they did not know what it was.  And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”

We may best remember this event in Exodus by thinking it was raining quails and bread, as God said He would “rain bread from heaven”.  And of course we quickly carry that concept over to the quails as well.  But in reality, reading the text carefully, we come to realize that the quails “came up” (not down) and the bread was in the form of dew, not rain.

According to R. Alan Cole and David Guzik who quotes him, the quails mentioned here "migrate regularly between south Europe and Arabia across the Sinai Peninsula. They are small, bullet-headed birds, with a strong but low flight, usually roosting on the ground or in the low bushes at nightfall. When exhausted, they would be unable to … take off again. The birds are good eating, and were a favorite delicacy of the Egyptians."

In their exhaustion, they are easy to catch, appearing tame.  Robert Jamieson adds, “They are found in certain seasons in the places through which the Israelites passed, being migratory birds, and they were probably brought to the camp by ‘a wind from the Lord’ as on another occasion (as we can see in Numbers 11:31).”

In the morning, the children of Israel found a lawyer of dew on the ground around the camp.  According to Wikipedia:

Dew is water in the form of droplets that appears on thin, exposed objects in the morning or evening due to condensation.  As the exposed surface cools by radiating its heat, atmospheric moisture condenses at a rate greater than that at which it can evaporate, resulting in the formation of water droplets.  When temperatures are low enough, dew takes the form of ice; this form is called frost (frost is, however, not frozen dew).  Because dew is related to the temperature of surfaces, in late summer it is formed most easily on surfaces which are not warmed by conducted heat from deep ground, such as grass, leaves, railings, car roofs, and bridges.

Water vapour will condense into droplets depending on the temperature. The temperature at which droplets can form is called the dew point. When surface temperature drops, eventually reaching the dew point, atmospheric water vapor condenses to form small droplets on the surface.

The Bible says that when these droplets evaporated, what was left on the ground was “fine flake-like thing”, fine as hoarfrost.  David Guzik suggests that because it was so fine, it was not easy to gather and thus had to be “swept” up from the ground.

Chuck Smith: Manna actually means, "What is it?" So they saw this little round seed-like thing on the ground, and they said, "What is it?" because they didn't know what it was.  Later in this same chapter (verse 31), this flake-like thing is described as being like a coriander seed (about the size of a sesame seed), and sweet like honey.

We must keep in mind that the purpose for giving the Israelites bread from heaven and quails was not just to keep them alive.  Its primary reason was as Guzik says, “to teach them eternal lessons of dependence on God.”  The situation also exemplifies God’s desire to cooperate with man.  Man could not provide the provision, and God would not gather it for them.  Both had to do their part.

When the Israelites saw the “flake-like thing” they did not know what it was.  So they remarked, “What is it?”  Again, according to Strong’s Lexicon, the translation of the Hebrew word for ‘what’ as in ‘what is it?’ is “man” or “manna”.  And thus this “flake-like thing” became known as ‘manna from heaven’.

Commentator Robert Jamieson indicates there is a “gum of the same name distilled in this desert region from the tamarisk, which is much prized by the natives, and preserved carefully by those who gather it. It is collected early in the morning, melts under the heat of the sun, and is congealed by the cold of night. In taste it is as sweet as honey, and has been supposed by distinguished travellers, from its whitish color, time, and place of its appearance, to be the manna on which the Israelites were fed: so that, according to the views of some, it was a production indigenous to the desert; according to others, there was a miracle, which consisted, however, only in the preternatural arrangements regarding its supply. But more recent and accurate examination has proved this gum of the tarfa-tree to be wanting in all the principal characteristics of the Scripture manna. It exudes only in small quantities, and not every year; it does not admit of being baked (Numbers 11:8) or boiled (Exodus 16:23).  Though it may be exhaled by the heat and afterwards fall with the dew, it is a medicine, not food--it is well known to the natives of the desert, while the Israelites were strangers to theirs; and in taste as well as in the appearance of double quantity on Friday, none on Sabbath, and in not breeding worms, it is essentially different from the manna furnished to the Israelites.”

On a recent trip the mountains of North Carolina while out on walk, we noticed some hoar-like structures on the ground – on the dirt road we were on and on the leaves by the side.  As soon as you touched it, it melted away but in its untouched state it looked beautiful.  Here is a picture of it.

So the Israelites asked, “What is it?”.   Often we do not believe that what God told us, He would do and that it actually came about.  Or, we do not recognize it for what it is.

So many times we seek our own way to feed our hunger and desires.  Yet God is willing to provide for us in miraculous ways – even in the desert.

So the Israelites asked, “What is it?”.   Often we do not believe that what God told us, He would do and that it actually came about.  Or, we do not recognize it for what it is.

So many times we seek our own way to feed our hunger and desires.  Yet God is willing to provide for us in miraculous ways – even in the desert.

_____________________________________________________________________

[Are you looking for a speaker at your church, your club, school, or organization? Ken is available to preach, teach, challenge, and/or motivate. Please contact us.]

Thanks for dropping by. Sign up to receive free updates. We bring you relevant information from all sorts of sources. Subscribe for free to this blog or follow us by clicking on the appropriate link in the right side bar. And please share this blog with your friends. Ken Godevenos, Church and Management Consultant, Accord Consulting.  And while you’re here, why not check out some more of our recent blogs shown in the right hand column.  Ken.

________________________________________________________________________

 

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.