Eat Your Vegetables
Have you ever considered how prominent food is in the Bible?
Scripture, starting with the book of Genesis, speaks frequently of eating. God allowed Adam and Eve to eat fruit from the trees in the garden, with only one exception. He fed both Elijah and Hagar, in the desert, at their times of great need. He even sent manna from Heaven, when His people cried out in the wilderness. In the New Testament, we see Jesus broiling up some fish, and even eating the Passover lamb. Food is even used figuratively as God says He will prepare a table for us, before our enemies, in Psalm 23:5.
Yes, God is pleased to feed us physically and spiritually.
In New York City, where I am from, we have all manner of culinary delights. Every nation it seems, has at least one excellent restaurant in NYC. Yes, you really can get Ethiopian food delivered at 3:00 a.m! Food matters greatly in NYC. New Yorkers say “jeet”, whichis a quick version of “did you eat”?
No one speaks the entire sentence, it’s simply “jeet”?
The passage that we read this week in Daniel, is also about food. In verses 8-9 we read, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel.”
In verse 12, Daniel says “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat, and water to drink.”
Well, at the end of the ten days, Daniel looked far healthier than the young men who had eaten the royal food. I’m sure Daniel, as a good Jewish boy living in captivity in Babylon, found this strange culture challenging, frustrating, and even lonely. It wasn’t just the food that was wrong, it was the worship of idols, as well. Babylonians had no fear of God. This was a rich, but ultimately hopeless, society.
It is often in the seemingly small things that God will test our obedience.
When Daniel and his friends stood firm and refused “the king’s table” of rich foods, preferring “THE King’s table” of vegetables, God was well pleased. Why? Because this was Daniel’s act of obedience to the one true God, in that godless culture. Daniel passed the obedience test.
Here is spiritual food for thought- would we eat the king’s rich food? Or would we prefer God’s table? This, of course, refers to much more than just food. The king’s table can really be understood as any worldly temptation that looks preferable to what our God offers.
Oh, come on, the world says, just do it! Give in! Stop being so uptight! Why can’t you just go along to get along?
There is always danger in abundance. When God blesses, some people become complacent. Some will become entitled, paying little attention to the things of God. Indifference leads to temptation, and oftentimes, sin.
How do we guard against the “richness” of the world’s table? We must make sure to “eat healthy”, feasting on the things that make us spiritually strong.
How strong is our obedience to the things of God (1 John 2:3)?
Do we love both God and His church (Phil 1:9)?
Lastly, do we have a reverence for God’s Word (Psalm 119:97)?
These are all markers of growing in the Christian faith.
The world and its rich foods will always beckon. But as for you, child of God; eat your vegetables.
~ Originally from New York, Gerry Lutzel has been a NC resident since 2017 and currently teaches in the women’s Bible study. She also serves at Guest Services on Sunday mornings.