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.
This passage of scripture tells us in precis form what The Lord originally intended that man should eat, namely fruits, nuts and grains. As our Creator, He would obviously know what is for our best good so that we can operate at maximum. However in our day there is growing debate as to whether or not a person can lead a healthy lifestyle using just these products. There a many diets that have surfaced as a result, which purport to be the best for weight-loss and a healthy life. There are the Jenny Craig, the Atkins, the south beach, the Flexitarian, the weight watchers, the Ornish and the Biggest loser diets, and so we are now bombarded with a slew of fad diets that have regrettably supplanted God's original purposes, and as a result, multitudes have tried them for a while, only to put back on the pounds once the diet is discontinued.
However, the Bible gives us glimpses into the effectiveness and efficiency of God's original plan, and although He permitted the consumption of flesh foods after the flood, sacred history shows that a non-flesh diet is the best for man, for strength, longevity and overall health. After the children of Israel left Egypt, God in his wisdom sought to wean them off of what they had become accustomed to while in bondage, and while it is true that The Lord did not have an easy time in doing so, yet the sacred record shows that some did follow the instructions given, and the results of their compliance are recorded so that all may read and receive instruction. Let's read:
Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
The results of a non-flesh diet were also manifest in Moses who was able to climb mount Nebo, a distance of about three miles without any assistance at the age of one hundred and twenty years. This journey was made just prior to his death and thus we conclude that Moses did not die of old age, but rather because he disobeyed God by striking the rock, and by so doing was permitted to pass under the domain of death which is satan's territory according to the Bible. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
And of the many others who subsisted on manna for forty years, the scripture tells us that they suffered no loss whatsoever as far as health and strength are concerned. Let's read:
Psalms 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
And last but not least, we have the experience of Daniel and his companions who were found to be superior both mentally and physically after deciding to stick with God's original diet for man. Let's read:
Daniel 2:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
There is an obvious disconnect between the dietary research that promulgates a flesh diet as opposed to the ideal original God gave to us in the beginning. The Lord is therefore calling earth's inhabitants back to the original so that we can enjoy good health and length of days as is promised to those who trust in the wise leadership of the Eternal God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture encouraging us to do just that, for it is the will of God that we prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
May this be the theme of our song as long as life shall last. God bless!