God forbids
eating (or, logically, drinking) the blood of any animal, and gives a very
important reason and reminder - the life of any creature is in its blood.
This fact,
which is repeated in Leviticus, could not have been known by ancient man nearly
as literally as it is by modern scientists. After all, even if one argues that
technology was as good right before the flood, Noah wrote Leviticus at a time
when such technology would have been the very low level we are used to knowing
about around a thousand years after the flood.
Not only that,
but God had doubtlessly shown something like that even at the very beginning,
when as mentioned the system of sacrifice was given and honored by Adam and
Eve's son Abel back in Genesis 4.
God also shows
the incredible problem of violence which head come upon the world because of
sin entering the world, as Romans 5:12 shows. By one man sin entered into the world and
death by sin so that death passed unto all man for that all have sinned. God is
upset at this, but allows the consequences to continue because he gives me and
free will. The consequence of blood bering required for blood is because man is
created in God's image and God sees such violence as harming Him because it is
His creation.
Notice,
however, one very important thing. God decides when and how the consequence
shall occur, and not man. God is a much wiser judge, and the only righteous
Judge. His ways are perfect, and while he gives human government the right to
punish wrong, even this is only at his discretion.
We must never
think that we have the right to overrule God, or the right to take matters into
our own hands because of a desire to get back at someone or something. That
fleshly nature must be battled by the Holy Spirit, and that can only happen if
one is born again. Then, one grows the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 22:23, and
can be controlled by the Spirit as in Ephesians 5:18, keeping in mind the spiritual warfare which
occurs as the fallen angels and devil himself battle against the believer,
forcing him or her to take on the whole armor of God so they can withstand.
Ephesians 6:10-18.
Finally, let's consider for a moment the importance God places on being made in His image.
Because all people are made in God's image, He places
emphasis on not doing damage to His creation. This is different than the
way he considers animals. Animals are not made in His image, and
therefore they are inferior.
This does not mean, of course, that we may do damage to
them. God forbids cruelty, and He also wants to ensure that people do
not start to be cruel to animals and continue onto people. So we must be
kind to animals as well.
We must, however, all people - of whatever race, tribe,
language, or whatever - as worthy of our respect. We must never consider one group of people inferior to another.
The warning against false pride and the downfall that comes
from yet is very apropos here. What is it but false pride to consider
that one is better than another because of their position in life, their
family, or whatever. Certainly, there will always be someone better
than you and always be someone worse than you at some endeavor. However,
that simply shows that God made us different, but we should all
consider ourselves equal before the cross. And, before our loving, holy
God, who made us all special. I have things that I can't do because of
my handicaps, but I have other things I never could have done without
these handicaps, opportunities I had to reach people who may never have
been reached otherwise.
That is how to use your situation for God's glory, by
simply taking stock of the chances you have to share the Gospel or to
help someone and serving the Lord in that matter not for your own glory,
but for His.
