Animal products were acceptable. Thus we have the following mentioned:-

(1) Honey and the honeycomb (Genesis 43:11; Luke 24:42).
(2) Eggs (Luke 11:12).
(3) Milk, cream, butter and cheese (Proverbs 27:27; 2 Samuel 17:27-29; Isaiah 7:15).

Today we eat sugar (from the sugar cane) which was not apparently available in Biblical times. Similarly there is the milk which is found in coconuts: the vegetable equivalent of the animal product.The pulses were very acceptable (Daniel 1:12). These presumably covered peas, beans and the like. Root vegetables were eaten in Egypt and although they were not available in the

Wilderness the eating of them was not forbidden (Numbers 11:5).

The spiritual equivalent of bread is Christ (John 6:48). He is also in his death the true sacrificial animal i.e. the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Fruit suggests the things listed in Galatians 5:22/23, that is, the fruit of the Spirit. The flesh only produces works which end in death (Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 6:21).

Scripture supposes that not all food will be eaten raw. Animals were roasted with fire (Exodus 12:8), cakes and bread were baked (1 Kings 19:6; 1 Samuel 28:24). Sometimes food was boiled (1 Kings 19:21; 2 Kings 4:38). All this suggests that work is often involved in preparing food. Spiritually the situation is the same. Exercise (work) is to be involved if we are to assimilate

properly spiritual things (Proverbs 12:27; 1 Timothy 4:7/8; 2 Timothy 2:7).

December 2000