Deuteronomy 14:3-21 – Living as God’s consecrated people

Unlike the Canaanites, the people of Israel were God’s Chosen people. Whatever they would do, even in dietary habits, they were expected to reflect that they were people who belonged to Him. Hence in Deuteronomy 14:2-20, God had to stipulate what land animals, seas creatures, and even fowls which they could eat and which they could not. In Leviticus 11, God also dealt with the same subject at length already. Then in Deuteronomy 14:21, He specifically stipulated that they should not eat any animal that had died by itself, although they were at liberty to give it to the strangers. They were also told not to boil a goat in its mother milk. Why? This was apparently a superstitious practice which the pagans would do to make their land more fertile. But as God’s people, they were strictly told not to emulate such superstition. 

What is important in the dietary stipulations are the principles that accompanied the instructions that God had given to the Israelites regarding this matter. Central to the instructions was God’s calling to Israel to be a holy people set apart unto Him. The differentiation of the edible and non-edible animals was to help the people of Israel to distinguish between what’s sacred and what’s secular in their lives. Holiness was not something pertaining to the spiritual realm only, it must embrace the other sphere of their daily living as well. In everything, behavior, and conduct, God was in fact helping them to inculcate a consecrated life. God's stipulation was not intended to curtail their freedom but to remind them that they were God’s holy people.

So from these instructions, God’s people learned to live a consecrated life. They learned to obey God and in so doing showed they were setting their affection on Him and not on the food. Like them, we too must learn to set our affection on Christ. In whatever we do, even in our dietary habits, we seek to be conscious of God. We must remember that we are first and foremost citizens of God’s Kingdom. And as we set our affection on God, we do not allow the kind of food we eat to prevent us from honoring God. We set ourselves apart from the world to live for His glory!