Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
This passage of scripture describes the the diet of the Egyptians which the Hebrews had adopted and clamored for on numerous occasions. The passage also shows God's response by providing a non-flesh diet for His people, a diet that has come under fire by many in both Christian and secular circles, even though recent discoveries are proving more than ever before that a diet which consists of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains is in fact the best for the human family. When God created man and beast, the food that was stipulated did not include the flesh meats, however the practice was begun before the flood, and was continued thereafter, on account of diminished natural resources, and more so, because of the ongoing craving for it. Let's read:
Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
Some theologians have argued that the non-flesh diet God provided for His people in the wilderness experience was merely given so that they could walk by faith, and therefore has no actual benefit or merit, in and of itself. In other words, they claim it was a faith experience alone, with the diet itself being of no special nutritional value. Now while it is true that all which pertains to our experiences with God must of necessity be faith-based, yet the question remains whether or not a non-flesh diet has any benefit in and of itself. In other words, if an atheist were to adopt it, would he accrue any physical benefits by doing so, even though he does not believe in God.
If we were to say that the vegetarian diet which God gave to man is about faith alone, then we will have to conclude that His stipulations in this regard are arbitrary, having no material or dietary value whatever to the human family. But if it is that the diet of itself has merit and benefits inherent in it, then there is a burning question that must be urgently answered. If a Buddhist who exercises no faith in God were to adopt a non-flesh diet, would he or she reap the benefits of a superior quality of life and length of days? or would they live the commonly allotted years of any other human being?
The answer to this question is in the word of God and must be addressed sooner or later by every Christian, as we prepare for the final conflict between good and evil, because during the final days of earth's history, a non-flesh diet is all that will be provided by God. So let's stack several passages of scripture line upon line, so that a clearer picture of God's will and purposes on this matter may be firmly established. Let's read:
Numbers 11:4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely" ... 9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. 10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. 11 And Moses said unto the Lord" .....13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
Psalms 78: 1Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old. 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers" .... a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God. 19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth" ..... 22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
1st Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done" .... 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Isaiah 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
It becomes apparent what the will of God is for His people on the issue of diet, and even though it may be difficult at times to comply with what is good and right, yet the scriptures teach us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. May we then follow on to know the Lord in every area of our lives, and may we be enabled to enjoy the benefits of the God-ordained diet. God bless!