That Which is Unclean to Eat

Today's Reading:

• Leviticus 11:1 - 12:8
  
• Proverbs 10:8 - 9

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Leviticus 11:1 - 12:8
Chapter 11 of Leviticus gives us a list of unclean animals, insects and sea creatures.  Before today, when I think of things unclean to eat, I think only of one animal -- the pig.  I didn't realize that so many other animals, insects and creatures were unclean.  Some of the ones that surprised me are rabbits, owls, ravens, bats, eagles, octopi (sea creatures who do not have both fins and scales),  grubs and ants.

My mind of course wondered at what point these restrictions were taken away in the New Testament.  A small excerpt in my study bible points to Acts chapters 10 and 11, so I flipped there to find out more.  There we see that Peter had a vision three times over where Peter was told to eat things which were unclean.  Peter refused, yet the Lord told him not to rebuke unclean things that the Lord has made clean.

I do hate reading things out of context of the whole, but I look forward to when I get to study those verses within the entire context of which they are written.  So much to look forward to in my future studies.  No matter how much I learn, I always want to learn more!

Proverbs 10:8 - 9
Since there are only two verses today, I will quote them.  Here are Proverbs 10:8 and 10:9:

The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.

Who would have thought that reading Proverbs would be like a dose of the ultimate Confucius says?  Both of those verses are very true, aren't they?  The wise look for direction in the things they do, those that refuse it most often find out that they should have taken it after all.  People with integrity inherently do the right thing, therefore they aren't going to fall victim to the scandals and problems of their own making.  Those deeds of those who "follow crooked paths" often catch up to them later.

Of course good people can be accused of horrific things and it can seem that those who do crooked or evil things might rein untouchable in all their glory.  But if I've learned anything so far from the bible, it's that God is with those who are godly and those who are not often fall, and of course will never have an eternal reward.  And even when things seem to be going terribly wrong for those who don't deserve it, there is always a plan -- just look at Joseph for a classic example of that.