Now there may well be some practical reasons behind His prohibitions, and it may also be that they are simply His preferences, or given for some other unrevealed reasons. But we are most unwilling to yield to anything that is simply His preference. We MUST have a solid WHY that convinces us and satisfies us. And herein is the very essence of all of sin’s rebellion.

Laws like these test the soul. They reveal to us our inner and often undiscovered rebellion against His authority and our even deeper suspicion of His love. Not only that, it reminds us of Eden in that we still want to be gods. We want Him to answer to us for His decisions. We want to try Him. To be over Him. How often we think God owes us explanations about all kinds of things. It betrays our inner disposition in a way nothing else does.

As a side note, watch how many times the text of Lev. 11 uses the term “to you.” 13 in this chapter alone. God did not say these things were clean or unclean in and of themselves or for everyone – but only as He designated them as such simply because they were His unique people.

Heavenly Father, forgive me. It is so easy for me to follow this train. To strain incessantly for some answer that may not be there – beyond the fact that it is your desire. And that OUGHT to be enough for me. But so very often it is not. Let me learn to rest content in your appointments, without letting unbelief in your love and wisdom call you into question on any front. Lead as you see fit. And grant me a submissive heart. Where inquiry is reasonable, help me to inquire with reverence and trust. Where it is simply my sinful resistance, help me to die to sinful self.