My husband identifies with John Eldridge as a man who is “Wild at Heart.” He loves the outdoors and all that encompasses wilderness adventures. Unfortunately, life responsibilities and lack of opportunity have hindered his exploits. So he frequently enjoys reality and survival videos.
Recently, I joined him in viewing one such series. Several individuals were selected to participate in a contest where their survival skills would be tested.
The series followed their progress as they built shelters and foraged for food. Battling both nature’s elements and wildlife, they also confronted the beasts within as their trials and triumphs were experienced in solitude.
One participant demonstrated exceptional skills, creatively solving one problem after another. Early on, he harvested a large animal and successfully secured a food supply for the days yet ahead of him. Yet in spite of his careful planning and ingenuity, he encountered wildlife that was craftier than he was. His supply of meat remained, but the store of fat was stolen.
Several episodes emphasized his need for fat in his diet before his body weight diminished to a dangerous point. His search for other food sources led him to adjust his survival strategy, seeking sustenance beyond his initial goal.
His dilemma replayed in my mind when I read:
This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel … “Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel. You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices …
The Lord desired to be lavished with the fat of the sacrifices offered to Him. Leviticus 3 describes how ancient Israel was to present fellowship offerings to Him, which included the fat. Then they were instructed:
This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”
God wanted the fat offered to Him in sacrifice. But He did not want them to eat the blood or the fat. My mind naturally goes to my favorite question: Why? Why were they instructed not to eat the fat or the blood? Surely God knows we might pose such a question. And in His gracious nature, He provided an explanation:
‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”
So they were instructed not to eat blood because the life of every creature is in its blood. Yet why would God want the fat to be included in the sacrifices they made to Him? Why were they told not to eat the fat?
As we learned from the would-be survivor, fat is life-sustaining. And we read that blood is life-giving. So let us ponder that the fat and the blood, that which is life-sustaining and life-giving were to be offered to the Lord. May that be a reminder to us that life comes from God, and God sustains life.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God …
Since we do not offer animal sacrifices in worship today, what might we offer of ourselves to God, acknowledging that He is our life-giver and life-sustainer?
We would love to hear your stories of God’s faithful provision in the comments below or you can reach us at:
WarrioroftheWord@yahoo.com
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