When I first learned about the principle describing where Jewish children start their learning of Scripture— not with Genesis filled with stories of the patriarchs—with Leviticus, I knew that there must be more value in it for me than only lists of priestly duties.

Leviticus follows the deliverance story of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  God’s gift of redemption must be followed by holy living and spiritual growth in order to become a worthy image bearer.

How do we find more than just a list of what to eat and not to eat in the dietary laws given in Lev 11?

Can there be a hidden message for me on how to sanctify my life to take a step closer to restoration to Eden ?

Then I discovered something that caused new understanding of this “list”.

My aim with this short writing is instil a desire to delve into this yourself and discover more of the sanctification gems in Leviticus.

In Lev 11:2-3  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘These are the living creatures which you do eat among all the beasts that are on the earth: Whatever has a split hoof completely divided, chewing the cud, among the beasts, that you do eat.”

For practical insight, I had to refer to nature. A split hooved animal has two prominent  hooves on every foot. This enables them to walk with ease on rocky terrain , for these two hooves can function on different heights. Sand —for them— is a more difficult environment as the points of impact with the soft sand are small and therefore they penetrate the sand and do not walk on top of it. To walk on soft sand you need a big flat surface to make the weight baring area bigger. This brought Mat 7:24-27 to mind. We all know the words of our Master about building your house on the rock and not the sand to make it withstand storms.

Mat 7:24  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,”

Here we have a rocky terrain that is strong and can withstand storms, a terrain which cloved hoofed animals were created to  walk on with ease. In the text Yeshua referred to not only hearers of the Word, but to those that hear and do. Two definite requirements for building on THE ROCK.

But why do we need to ascend to the rock, to the high place ?

The Higher places are where we meet Him, they are a symbol of Eden. Our mission is to become His image bearers and return to Eden.

James in his teaching yesterday— Drenched in love— mentioned Psa 18:33: “Making my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places”

There are at least 2 more Scriptures with the same principle:

2 Sam 22:34 “Making my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places,”

Hab 3:19 “ יהוה the Master is my strength. And He makes my feet like those of deer, And makes me walk on my high places.”

We are His sheep and follow our Sheppard to dwell where we can withstand all storms in His presence. Here in His presence, we find Eden. A place where we can meditate on the Word day and night. That is where chewing the cud comes in.  It is necessary for us to not only absorb the Word, but to rechew on it until it is properly digested. Until our own insights and doctrines are totally drained.

There is also a hidden warning in the split hoof text. There is an emphasis on the split, the Word says : “Whatever has a split hoof completely divided”

If you were to look at a camel’s feet the hooves seem to be divided at first glance. But if you pick it up, you will find that it is solid at the bottom. It is not completely divided. It is made to walk on soft sand, the place Mat 7 warns us not to build our house, for there it will not withstand the storms.

Sometimes something can look balanced, but on closer examination it is one-sided. It is therefore very important to test all things to the Word. Not to hear and follow man’s doctrines, but to be balanced and equipped with the feet of a deer. To listen and obey the pure Word of God and filter out all the additional things.

All to the glory of God!