First Read Leviticus 11:1-47
In Leviticus 10:10 God told Aaron that part of his job was to distinguish between the clean and unclean to teach people how to do so. In Chapter 11 we see the unfolding of this as what follows through chapter 15 are rules on distinguishing between the clean and unclean in different areas of Israelite life. These chapters, although done away with in practice due to Christ’s work on the cross, still have much to say to us today in how we think about life with and for God. Today we can often lose sight of the fact that the God we serve is holy and perfect, and our identity is intertwined with His character. The laws of Leviticus, especially on the unclean and clean, kept people from forgetting about the holiness, wholeness, and perfection of their God.
Chapter 11 deals with what types of animals were considered clean and unclean to Israel.
11:1 The LORD again spoke to Moses and to Aaron… We find God is now going to tell Moses how to carry out the command He gave him in 10:10.
11:4 Nevertheless you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof; the camel, for those it chews cut, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. One could not be partially clean or “clean enough.” It was either clean or unclean. No grey area. God also said, “it is unclean to you.” These are not rules for everyone in the world, but to the nation of Israel. God’s people were to identify themselves with Him in how they lived.
11:8 You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.There is no ambiguity with God when it comes to clean or unclean. He makes it clear.
11:24 By these, moreover, you will be made unclean: whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until eventing, and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. The period of uncleanness here in chapter 11 is very short, it is always only until evening and only deals with dead animals. Notice even removing a dead animal transferred its uncleanness. Death was a consequence of sin in Genesis 2:17.
11:29 Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth… What follows is God giving directives on “swarming” creatures, insects, etc. This category can get into houses and onto household items so God gives directives in these verses how to deal with that issue.
11:36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass hall be unclean. It was have been difficult of a dead animal fell in a water source, for the people relied on it greatly in the ancient near east. Therefore, the cistern is still considered clean. Perhaps this is God showing great mercy to His people, or simply the fact that natural water gives life and overpowers death, after all fish die in the sea all the time, and it would have been difficult to put entire seas in the unclean category.
11:44 For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. This sums up what clean and unclean is all about. God’s people are to be consecrated, set apart for him. Whole, complete, clean.
Also notice that throughout this chapter the order of the animals are laid out the same way as the order of the animals given in creation in Genesis.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US:
- We ought to be strive to live lives holy and set apart for God. And do no be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2
- We should be careful and distinguish between the “clean” and “unclean.” Although we no longer have to worry about distinguishing between animals, there are still items that are unclean to us and which we should have no part of. For example, pornography, lying, slandering, etc. are areas that we could consider in our lives “unclean”. Again uncleanness is contagious and it pollutes. Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
