Feasting & Fasting Part 2: The Provision Between

In part 1 we began our discussion by recognizing there is a natural provision of rations on the earth and there can be a supernatural provision as well, something incredibly different and capable of sustaining life beyond expectation. Like anything with God there is always a purpose when he intervenes in such an incredible way. Which is where we left off. If there is truly a purpose for everything God does, then what is the purpose of us having to eat to refuel? We know the need to eat is not something that entered the earth with sin because Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of the trees in the garden prior to the fall. Jesus also suggests there will be feasting in heaven, despite those there being in perfected bodies that Revelation 7:16 says will hunger and thirst no more.

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11 NIV

So why didn’t God create us to be solar powered or energized physically through a spiritual connection with him, the giver of all life? It may seem a pointless question, though I believe understanding why God wants us to eat is a key to understanding nutrition and making life choices that honor his purpose. So like an inquisitive child, I asked God and patiently waited for his reply. As I pondered his word and the world around us, it wasn’t long before I understood some of the reasons I believe we were designed to consume nutrients the way we do.

1. In our human condition, our need for food and water keeps us humble and dependent upon him. Whether we acknowledge this fact or not, we truly are vulnerable creatures and no one thing keeps us more humble than our insatiable biological need for food and water. Despite all of our medical advances and established social systems, worldwide nearly 9 million people die every year from hunger and related diseases, while millions more live in constant want of food and water. Seeking God daily to meet our basic needs and living in gratitude of his provision is within this purpose. Unlike the air we breathe it’s something we are consciously aware of and have opportunity to remember him as our body reminds us of our need, yet we often feel finicky and dissatisfied, much like the Israelites, bored and ungrateful for God’s mystical manna, while countless people go without food every day.

2. Food is social and connects us. How many social functions do we attend where there is no food? Probably almost none, and if there was no food at a function where we expected it, we might leave early, feeling confused and frustrated. Food is integrated into every culture and every gathering. That connection is important to us as humans and therefore is important to God. It was no coincidence that Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a social function (John 2:1-11). As the quote goes, “no man is an island”. We were created to live in community, and food is a vital part of communities and has been throughout the ages. Harvest time has often been a community affair, and families not only ate together, but also meal prepped together. In our fast food society it’s a concept many no longer comprehend.

3. God gave certain foods medicinal properties. Once sin entered the world, sickness and disease became something man would contend with in this life, though God in his infinite knowledge had already devised a plan to address some of the problem. In our culture we might refer to it as homeopathic medicine, though long before our doctors became the means to a rapid-remedy for whatever ails us, humans were utilizing remedies discovered in nature, and in the foods they ate. Although doctors and modern medicine are important, I believe there is still value in natural medicine. These age-old remedies are often very effective without as many side effects and at a lower cost. Being able to consume nutrients orally allows us to take and absorb medicine we may need to make us well, whether it is a remedy passed down for generations or the latest and greatest to hit the pharmacy.

4. Food can offer great lessons in overcoming the power of our flesh. Not unlike any other craving of the flesh, our unregulated indulgence of rich and delicious food can demonstrate our lack of dependence upon the spirit of God for self-control. It is something we will discuss further in this series.

5. God loves a feast! Don’t we all? The Old Testament is full of feast days passed down through generations of Hebrew people. We’ll talk about this in part 3.