don't eat the fat

Leviticus 7:25 "Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which an offering by fire may be made to the Lord must be cut off from his people."

I came across this command this morning and thought it was strange.

context: Lord giving Moses instructions/rules for living, to pass on to the Israelites

1. What's so important about the fat? Was it natural to eat it//was this a hard command to keep in this cultural context?

-The fat is the offering, and it belongs to the Lord (Lev 3:16)

-it is an offering pleasing to the Lord (Lev 3:5)

-the study notes in my bible says that the fat portions were regarded as the best part

2. But why was the consequence so severe?

punishment= be cut off from the Israelites, God's chosen people. So basically, the person was no longer considered one of God's people. that seems harsh!!

But the answer came as this:

eating the fat symbolized putting your own gratification as more important than pleasing God

it demonstrates:

1. self-centered

2. lack of humility (you think you deserve the best)

3. lack of gratitude (not acknowledging that everything you have belongs to God)

In contrast to those things, God's people need to be:

1. God-centered

2. humble

3. grateful

So yeah! that was what I learned this morning. It was a good reminder to me of what God expects his people to be.