WHAT YOU NEED TO EAT 2
After the flood the people ate largely of
animal food. God saw that the ways of man were corrupt, and that he was
disposed to exalt himself proudly against his Creator, and to follow the
inclinations of his own heart. And he permitted that long-lived race to eat
animal food to shorten their sinful lives. Soon after the flood the race began
to rapidly decrease in size, and in length of years. There were a class of very
large animals which perished at the flood. God knew that the strength of man
would decrease, and these mammoth animals could not be controlled by feeble
man.
Sin has prevailed since the fall. While a
few have remained faithful to God, the great majority have corrupted their ways
before him. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was on account of their great
wickedness. They gave loose rein to their intemperate appetites, then to their
corrupt passions, until they were so debased, and their sins were so
abominable, that their cup of iniquity was full, and they were consumed with
fire from heaven.
When the Lord brought his people from
Egyptian bondage, he led them through the wilderness to prove them, and try
them. He promised to be their God, and to take them to himself as his peculiar
treasure. He did not prohibit their eating meat, but withheld it from them in a
great measure. He gave them food which he designed that they should have, which
was healthy, and of which they could eat freely. He rained their bread from
Heaven, and gave them purest water out of the flinty rock. He made a covenant
with them, that if they would obey him in all things, he would put no disease
upon them. But the Israelites were not satisfied with the food which God gave them.
They murmured against Moses and against God, and wished themselves back in
Egypt, where they could sit by the flesh pots. God in his anger gave them flesh
to gratify their lustful appetite, and great numbers of them died in the act of
eating the meat for which they had lusted. While it was yet between their teeth
the curse of God came upon them. God here teaches his people that he is
displeased with their permitting their appetite to control them. The Israelites
at times would prefer slavery, and even death, rather than to be deprived of
meat.
Tanzanian Shilling Converter
0 comments: