Lessons From The Animal Types In Leviticus 11

Uplook – March 2019 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Lessons From The
Animal Types In Leviticus 11

Leviticus, the book of the Levites, shows our Lord speaking from within the tabernacle to His people through His servant Moses. Our God is in the midst of His people; this is ever His desire. In this book He tells how the offerings were to be presented by those in a relationship with Him. It has been well said that an offering is for God . The offering is to be suitable to Him; it may or may not suit man, but that makes no difference. His people were to give up something, and it was to be presented in a method that was consistent with His instructions. In Leviticus we read: “... And it will be accepted” (1:4 KJV ). This book presents God’s holiness. However, the very history of Levi shows God’s mercy.

The first mention of Levi after he grew up is in relation to an act of violence (Gen. 34). There, Levi and his brother Simeon were instruments of cruelty. They slew all of the males in the city of Hamor and his son Shechem. Yet our God is gracious and forgiving, for He later called Levi’s descendants, the tribe of Levi, to be His, serving Him as priests. A lesson to be learned is that no matter how black our past, how great the failure in our personal life, our God is still able to use us for His glory! When God decides to use you for Himself, then, just as in the case of Levi, He is more than able to do so. Do we remember that Moses wrongly killed an Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Ex. 2:12)? Or consider the deeds of King David in the matter of the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 11). David paid dearly for his sins, but in the end God used him to write more than 70 psalms, and the Lord still helped him fight the enemies of Israel.

We may wonder why this book of the Levites, which specifies the offerings of Jehovah, gives lists of animals that are clean and unclean in Leviticus 11? In the first few verses of that chapter we have animals that chew the cud and some that have cloven feet. A second question might then be: “What purpose did our Holy God have in categorizing animals according to their digestive process and feet?” As disciples of our Lord and Savior the answers to these two questions should morally speak to us as to right behavior in the eyes of God. For clarity, we must get the context by considering the preceding chapters.

The Grand Finale
At the end of Leviticus 9 we have what might be called the “Grand Finale.” In the Scriptures leading to this chapter, our God had given rather detailed instructions on how things were to be offered by the priest and the sinner. These instructions concluded at the end of Leviticus 9 with events that were impressive. The people fell on their faces from the experience itself and the sight of what was taking place. Now it was up to man to do continually what had been outlined. How would man handle what was given to him? To answer, we need to gain a clear understanding of the origin and continuation of the fire for the altar.

The Fire For The Altar
As recorded in verse 24, God – not man – started that fire! Also, according to Leviticus 6:13, the fire on the altar was to never go out. God started it, and the priests were to ensure that it burned continuously. Does this not say that the judgment that fell on Christ could only have come from God? We find insights into this from the prophet Isaiah: “We did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (53:4). Isaiah revealed that the Jew would think the Lord Jesus was a bad person because of the horrible things that happened to Him. However, Isaiah continued, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (v.5). This was all God’s doing, and He did it for our well-being.

Man Has His Turn
Leviticus 9 ends with the people on their faces and the instructions regarding the offerings clearly before them. The fire had been started, and now it was up to man to continue with what he was given. Alas, man failed in his responsibility – and he did so very quickly. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu brought their own fire, called “strange fire” (10:1), ignoring what God had established. These two were slain by Jehovah, and Aaron lost two of his children in an instant. Later, when speaking to Moses about the sin offering, Aaron said, “... And such things have befallen me” (v.19). One can feel the sadness he was experiencing. We should note that Nadab and Abihu were possibly drinking and likely drunk at the time when they sinned in this serious manner (see v.9). What a warning for us!

The moral lesson of Leviticus 10 is given as Moses spoke to Aaron: “This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified” (v.3). All Christians are seen as priests, and as such we are called upon to handle the precious things of Christ. This chapter should remind us of God’s holiness, which should never be far from our minds.

The Animal Types
Now we come to Leviticus 11 where the LORD spoke to Aaron and Moses concerning what His people were to eat and not eat. To the Christian mind it should seem odd to restrict what may be eaten (consider Acts 10:10-15). Does controlling what people eat really alter how they act? However, once we understand the overriding teaching of the Old Testament we come to clearly understand that placing laws on the un-regenerated heart of man does not work. How enormously important it is to grasp the truth that the law given by Moses did nothing whatsoever to improve man’s behavior. Our God in His wisdom wrote the rather large Old Testament to show this grand theme over and over. He took His time to reveal that grace is the only way man can approach God. Stipulating, or establishing, what the Israelites ate did not improve them any more than the rest of the law did. Remember, our goal is to gain the moral teaching of these things.

For a New Testament believer, the important lesson that comes out of Leviticus 11 relates to how we handle the things of Christ. Aaron’s two sons paid with their lives because of their disregard for God’s holiness. If we grasp the central spiritual lesson from this chapter we will find lessons that will keep us in line with God’s thoughts and away from fleshly actions.

Cloven Hoofs And Chewing The Cud
Some animals have cloven hoofs, or split hoofs. These are beasts that are viewed as separate from the world. Their split hoof depicts for us that their walk clearly separates what is of God and what is of the world. We may of necessity be in the world, but our split hoofs keep our view of the world as being under God’s judgment and needing His mercy. Likewise, we are “in the world” but hopefully “not of the world” (see Jn. 17:13-18).

Next, we have animals that chew the cud. The Spirit that is within us gladly teaches from God’s Holy Word. As we read our Bibles each and every day we can follow the instruction made by the apostle Paul to Timothy: “Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly unto them” (1 Tim. 4:15). This is for us as Christians – the chewing of the cud.

In Leviticus 11:1-8 we find animals that chew the cud but do not have cloven feet: the camel, the coney or rock hyrax, and the hare, or rabbit. Lastly, we have swine, which have cloven feet but do not chew the cud. Let’s consider lessons from each animal.

The Camel: The camel is a bearer of the burdens of the world. The moral import of this animal-type should speak volumes to the New Testament Christian, for this is a very important lesson. New Testament believers are not called upon to make this world a better place, this is not his or her calling. We should in our jobs seek to honor our Lord by putting in a full effort, but being involved in bearing the burdens of this world is not what we are called to do. “Love not the world neither the things of this world” (1 Jn. 2:15). In my mind a good example of being to close to the world is the matter of being taken up with politics, although there are many more examples of being mixed up in the world and its ways.

Remember, it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4). Is it not the case that the more we seek to bear the burdens of this world the less we are morally equipped to recognize God’s goodness and to see it in many places all around us? May the Lord open our eyes – those of His dear saints – as to how good He is to us each and every day.

The Coney or Rock Hyrax: Conies or rock hyraxes spend most of their time resting in the sun, often on top of each other. In Proverbs 30:26 we read: “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” The Lord provides for them just as He provides for us, and often in ways we may not be aware.

The term “sluggard” comes to mind when I consider this animal-type. Proverbs talks of the sluggard, telling us he is lazy: “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing” (20:4). We have a type here of an individual that enjoys the good life but has no interest in hard work. The New Testament believer will often receive great rewards by putting in effort directly related to the Lord’s work. We can work hard at earthly things and exert effort in heavenly things.

I bring our attention to the local assembly and needs there. Oh that the Lord would give us a heart, especially for those of us with God-given responsibilities, to do something special at every meeting. We should be prepared for each meeting with a hymn, have studied the portion for the Bible study, or constructed a fresh list of items for prayer. I have heard it said that the Lord’s chief interest on this earth now is the Assembly, His people, the body of Christ. If you are one of God’s people, then it is your charge to care for His people.

The Hare or Rabbit: This animal-type speaks of a very dangerous sin that can ruin people and bring down kingdoms. The rabbit is an animal that multiplies rapidly. He speaks to us of sexual sin and of being occupied with a lustful mind. This can easily become an addiction as it was with King David and King Solomon, as well as current and recent leaders, athletes and numerous men and women. This can lead to many evil things, including pornography and sexual relations apart from God’s design. If you have this addiction then I beg you to seek help before it ruins you, your family and business.

The Swine: Generally, people do not want to be close to a pig. These animals are seen as separate from the world, but their eating habits are our consideration. Pigs eat without discretion. I have heard it said that you cannot hand feed a swine lest you lose a finger in the process. Scripture tells us that by meditating and giving ourselves wholly to the study of God’s Word, our “profiting may appear to all” (1 Tim. 4:15).

In my view, the Bible is full of verses that we might refer to as “speed bumps” – verses we do not understand when we first read them. To understand such passages takes meditation and study. The rewards for chewing the cud, so to speak, are most encouraging. The Lord can and does reveal things to all of His people as they give time and energy in reading and understanding His Word.

I conclude our consideration of the swine by stating that we need to be on guard as to how much we take in of the world’s news and entertainment. When our minds are stayed on Christ then the garbage that most often pours out of the Internet and other media should offend us. When I was a young believer I would sometimes be offended by the judgments older saints pronounced on the world and its ways, but over time the Lord has shown me just how correct these faithful Christians were in their warnings.

Conclusion
The animal types of Leviticus 11 present valuable instruction to us as we seek to honor God and His desires in our lives as Christians. We serve a merciful God, but we must appreciate His holiness. This too should impact our lives, the result of which will be manifested in what we do and how we live from day to day.

By Scott Cassell

God has in grace associated us with His dear Son. Thus belonging to the priestly family, and brought near to God, fellowship with Him must mean dissociation from all that is contrary to His mind and will. Linked with God on the one side, we cannot on the other link Him with what would dishonor Him. Our associations become in this way a matter of the most vital importance to our highest interests here. Innocence is gone from us; the knowledge of evil is that from which we can no longer escape; and God in His wondrous way has turned this into a means of holiness and of fellowship with Himself. “Man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil” (Gen. 3:22 KJV); and we are to be of those “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14).

Even when born again, our hearts turned to God, it has not pleased Him to deliver us at once from that indwelling sin, which if any man says he hath not, he deceives himself (1 Jn. 1:8). No, it is then we are brought face to face with it, not surely to fulfill its lusts, but to realize it in its abominable character, and to learn in the light with Him His own hatred of it. —F. W. Grant, Numerical Bible (edited)