Bible Notes... |
Boiling a Newborn Goat in its Mother's Milk |
W. A. Dillard |
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| Text: Exodus 23:19 "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." This commandment is repeated in Exodus 23:19, and in 34:26. In each instance it is connected with the law of firstfruits, the bounty of harvest, and how to properly acknowledge God as the One Who provides prosperity and health. What does it mean? Think with me! Although this simple, but strong command may seem somewhat strange to modern ears, it made important sense in the context of its day. The Hebrews had learned much in the pagan world of their environment, even much that they must unlearn. It was an apparent custom of many religious, superstitious nations to boil a very young goat or lamb in its mother' milk as a sacrificial offering to the gods of harvest. The kid was the product of life and the milk the sustenance of life. They would sprinkle this life-soup around their fruit trees and fields believing this would be accepted by idols of their imagination, and their crops made to be bountiful next season. God demanded the firstfruits of harvest, but He also demanded to be recognized and worshipped as the Living God Who blessed and prospered His people. They were not to engage in heathen practices, and particularly one so cruel as to boil a newborn in the life-giving milk of its mother. The Living God of love and compassion toward His people would suffer the death of animals only under specific conditions, mostly for food, and for depicting in sacrifice the awfulness of sins, and the hideous sacrifice it would take of the Sinless God to expunge those sins from the repentant. Heathen practices remain in our modern world. Men think to gain the favor of God through personal sacrifices, good works, rituals, etc. etc. These are nothing short of mockery and cruelty to the blessedness of the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb of God. What then does God require of every member of the condemned human race? Not to trust in or practice silly, cruel, vain things, but to look to God's sacrifice and "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house" (Acts 16:31). |
