FOOD AND FAITH?

 From my early teens, I became a “health nut.” Homeschooled, my education was primarily the Bible. My parents read the Bible three times a day, aloud, with their eight children. It was how we learned to read.

I knew that the Bible emphasized health: spiritual, physical, and emotional. I took it for granted.  "Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). The Bible often uses Spiritual and physical truth, one to explain the other.

The Creator’s design for us is for our well being. It’s what the Bible is about. And he created within the natural world natural nutrition.  "Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55:2)’ “Fatness” here is health.

When His people would not choose well, they hurt themselves.  "He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you." (Psalm 81:16).  "O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in Me is your help." (Hosea 13:9) "He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest of the wheat." (Psalm 147:14)

His people went astray and he invited them back to Him using their health and beauty as an incentive: "And you were adorned with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered work. You ate fine flour and honey and oil; and you were exceedingly beautiful." (Ezekiel 16:13)

In the store what is labeled “Whole grain, multi grain” may not be what they seem; they may have bleached, white degermed flour for a longer shelf life.  The manufacturer has unchecked leeway to mark things deceptively.  This Link clarifies the differences: https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/difference-whole-grain-whole-wheat/

Things grown, as fruit, vegetables, nuts, natural olive oil, grassfed beef, milk, cheese, and natural honey. (Exodus 3:17). These God fed his people. The best protein is instituted by the feasts and sacrifices described in the Old Testament.  Health again instituted for their spiritual and physical wellbeing. 

Food and Faith? Could this be a key to physical health? My thinking process turned to logic: our Creator has given us food grown from the earth, mined (salt) from deep in the earth, fished from the sea, protein from grazing animals.  For those who pay attention!

As we read through the Bible this time, Eric, my husband and I noticed this amazing rundown for health

"He made him ride on the high places of the earth, so that he might eat the increase of the fields. And He made him suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock, butter from cows, and milk from sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the sons of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat. And you drank the blood of the grape." Deuteronomy 32:13,14. 

The physical truth morphs into a deep understanding of our loving Creator’s care. "And Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, ‘That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’’" Luke 4:4.