The Use of Food as Symbol in the Pentateuch - Case Study Example

Food is used symbolically throughout the Pentateuch. The symbolic nature of food takes on various forms but centers on a few key themes. Food is used to differentiate between the sacred and the profane. It is used to display the power, might and majesty of God. Food is also used as a powerful way of differentiating between people of the covenant and those outside of the covenant. The use of food in this way is not surprising. The ancient Hebrews of the Pentateuch were just like most of the other civilizations of the time period. A tremendous amount of time and effort went into sowing, cultivating, herding, harvesting, preparing and storing food. It is difficult for us in a modern society with such variety of choices and convenience associated with our consumption of food to fully appreciate the day-to-day labor that was required just to get enough food to stay alive in these ancient societies. For many in ancient civilizations, hunger and starvation were only a drought or a poor harvest away. A lack of medicine for herds of animals meant the spread of disease meant flocks could be decimated in a short span of time. These precarious circumstances mad food an especially powerful subject to use symbolically. The recognition that God’s pleasure or displeasure could be measured by good or bad harvests links the earthly need for physical sustenance to the divine nature of God. In many ways, food is the perfect medium to use for symbolic teaching of great spiritual truths. From the very beginning of creation, food has been used as a symbol of the forbidden and the allowable, the sacred and the profane. The Garden of Eden, created for the first man and woman to inhabit was a place brimming with food and fruit of all sorts. Adam and Eve were invited by God to partake of any fruit they wished, save one. Adam in this sense is portrayed as a sort of farmer without labor. Fruit was produced spontaneously in the garden as a symbol of Gods immense goodness and his love for the creatures of the creation. The guidance given to the first man and woman were to live freely in the garden and to avoid only the fruit of the tree that would give Adam and Eve knowledge of good and bad. Without the partaking of this so-called forbidden fruit, Adam and Even would have dwelt eternally in a state of close association with God. However, their existence would have been one without growth and without true free will. They would have remained as obedient children, never understanding the true nature of obedience or discipleship. Eve partook of the fruit and convinced Adam to do the same. Their eyes were indeed opened and the consequence was a separation from God due to their disobedience. This separation is a gain symbolized by a change in the method of procuring food. God said to Adam, “Cursed be the ground because of you; By toil shall you eat of it all the days of your life; Thorns and thistles shall sprout for you. But your food shall be the grasses of the field; by the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground.” The freely given fruits were taken away from Adam. Food now would include labor. This establishes a parallel that is revisited time and time again in the Pentateuch. The spiritual food was given freely in the garden, as was the physical food. Now that Adam and Eve were fallen, they would need to labor, petition and seek that spiritual food from God, just as they would need to bear children in pain and deal with thorns and thistles as they cultivate the crops for physical sustenance. God also used food as a symbol of his great power unto salvation during in the Pentateuch. An especially significant example of this symbolic use of food is found in the story of Joseph in Egypt. In this instance, God sees fit to exercise his powers of physical and spiritual salvation through the patriarch Joseph. As a young man, Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt. Through a series of events that are shaped by Joseph’s good character and the hand of God, the one-time slave finds himself in charge of much of Egypt. While in prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and his Baker. The cupbearer was returned to his position but the baker was executed. The baker’s dream is significant because in it he had prepared baskets of food for the Pharaoh. This food was devoured by birds and never reached the table of Pharaoh. This is significant symbolism-involving food, for the devoured food symbolizes the ungodly advice given to Pharaoh by devious advisors. This is more clearly shown when Joseph is called to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. Pharaoh dreamed that seven fat cows came up from the Nile and stood by Pharaoh. Seven lean cows that came up from the Nile immediately devoured these seven fat cows. The next dream involved seven ears of solid, healthy grain came up to the Pharaoh from the Nile. Again, seven wasted ears of grain devoured them. The coming up from the Nile is significant in that this was the source of all food in Egypt for the Pharaoh. The Nile and the gods associated with it provided for the people through a regular cycle of flooding. The regularity of this flooding was key to Pharaoh’s hold of power in Egypt. A loss of the flood meant a failed harvest, famine and political crisis for the house of Pharaoh. Joseph was asked to interpret the dream. He said he could not but that, “God would see to Pharaoh’s welfare.” Joseph used the gifts of the Spirit that were within him to tell Pharaoh that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of scarcity. Pharaoh paid close attention to Joseph and commanded him to make preparations for the coming famine. This scarcity of food was prepared by God to force the entire House of Israel to reside in Egypt. Joseph was reconciled with his brothers and reunited with his father. The Lord’s covenant people were preserved in a miraculous and the power of God unto salvation was manifest through the patriarch Joseph. The theme of receiving food directly from God is again visited in the story of the Exodus. Not since the Garden of Eden had God provided food for humans where he required little or no work from them. So in some ways, the manna that came from heaven to feed the throngs of Israel on their Exodus could be viewed as a return to close communion with God. But this is not really the case. Manna was provided freely, as was the food in the Garden of Eden, but it came with even more strings attached. Stipulations were put on when the manna would arrive, when it was to be gathered, how much was to be gathered and how it was to be consumed. The restrictions and stipulations were placed on the manna in order for the food to become a means of teaching the Israelites. God needed Israel to relearn some important lessons before they could enter back into Canaan. Chiefly among these lessons was that God would provide for them in a miraculous manner if they were obedient to His will. When the rules for gathering manna were broken, the manna would spoil or people would go hungry. In a sense, the manna was symbolic of God’s paternal feelings towards the covenant people of Israel. It was sent to sustain them physically in a forbidding environment. It was also sent to teach them that they needed to rely on their God for spiritual sustenance. They, like children, needed to learn to obey their loving parent. Perhaps the grandest use of food as symbolism in the Pentateuch is found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. These books are full of vivid imagery involving oil, animals and loaves. The purpose of this symbolism is two fold. The first purpose is to identify foods that are considered “unclean” for covenant people to partake. This is another symbolic measure (along with circumcision) that is to distinguish the covenant people form the Gentile. Guidelines are offered for the preparation of animals for sacrifice and consumption by the Levitical priesthood. Some food is considered unclean under all circumstances. Other foods require special preparation in order for them to be clean. Modern science confirms the wisdom in some of these food-based prohibitions, such as the command to abstain from pork or pork products. This eliminated the threat of food-borne diseases such as trichinosis. But the Pentateuch clearly shows that the real purpose of these symbolic food prohibitions is to mark Israel as a people set apart to covenant with God. The second important symbolism associated with the guidelines pertaining to food in Leviticus and Deuteronomy is to act as a type pointing towards the future Messiah that would come to save the world. The symbolism is rich in the slaying of the firstborn lamb, the broken loaves of bread and the various animal sacrifices that took place in the primitive tabernacle. They point to the coming of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most direct connection between these ancient sacrifices and Christ is the institution of the sacrament with the consumption of bread and wine. This ordinance instituted by Christ has its roots in the food sacrifices of the tabernacle. Ultimately, all of these offerings of food were intended to increase the level of spiritual understanding for the covenant people so that they would recognize the Messiah when he came. Food played a central role in the lives of ancient people. Much energy was expended to secure a reliable source of food. It is little wonder, given the precarious nature of the food supply for ancient people that God would use this resource symbolically time and time again to convey spiritual meaning. The later sacrifices of Leviticus and Deuteronomy were intended to tell of a future Messiah. They were to teach of a faith and dependence on God. Considering each animal that was sacrificed on the altar or at the door of the tabernacle represented food security, it is apparent that the Israelites learned that God could be depended upon to provide. The use of food as symbol in the Pentateuch is ubiquitous and enduring. Clearly the message is that physical and spiritual sustenance are both central to prosperity and salvation. Read More