by Ester yusufu | 6 April 2021 08:46 pm04
Exodus 22:31
“You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.”
Shalom, beloved,
In the Old Testament, God gave Israel more than just rules—He gave them principles for living holy and healthy lives. In Exodus 22:31, God commands them not to eat meat from animals torn by wild beasts. On the surface, this was a practical concern for health and hygiene. Torn flesh left out in the wild could be contaminated by disease or decay. But spiritually, this law pointed to a deeper truth: God’s people are to be discerning about what they consume—both physically and spiritually.
God says,
“You are to be my holy people…” (Exodus 22:31).
Holiness means being set apart—not just avoiding sin, but also walking in wisdom and purity. God didn’t want His people feeding on anything questionable or contaminated. In the same way, today, believers must be cautious about what teachings they receive and embrace.
In the New Testament, the Apostle John echoes this need for discernment:
1 John 4:1
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
We live in a time filled with information—sermons, podcasts, social media teachings. But not everything labeled “Christian” is biblical or truthful. God calls us to test every teaching against His Word. Just because a message sounds inspiring doesn’t mean it is from the Holy Spirit.
If someone offered you a half-opened bottle of soda from a store, you wouldn’t drink it—you don’t know if it’s spoiled or poisoned. Spiritually, the same principle applies. We should not carelessly receive teachings or revelations we don’t understand or haven’t tested against Scripture.
Proverbs 14:15
“The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
If we aren’t careful, we may consume harmful doctrines that weaken our faith, confuse our identity, or mislead us entirely. That’s how many fall into heresies, legalism, or spiritual bondage.
God desires every believer to take responsibility for their spiritual nourishment. Don’t rely solely on what others say—dig into the Word yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you:
John 16:13
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…”
This means learning to “hunt” for your own spiritual food—reading Scripture, praying for insight, and seeking sound teaching rooted in biblical truth. Be like the Berean believers:
Acts 17:11
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character… for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
In Exodus 22:31, God says the torn meat should be thrown to the dogs. Why? Because dogs were not discerning. They ate anything. We are not dogs. We are God’s holy people. We are called to walk in wisdom, not blindly consume everything we hear.
Jesus also warned about spiritual dogs—those who reject or trample on holy things:
Matthew 7:6
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs…”
So, ask yourself:
If not, it’s time to start. As deception increases in the last days (Matthew 24:24), only those grounded in truth will endure. Don’t eat just anything because it looks spiritual. If it’s torn, questionable, or compromised—leave it for the dogs.
You are not a dog—you are a child of God. Be holy. Be wise. Be grounded.
Exodus 22:31
“You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.”
May the Lord bless you with discernment and a hunger for His truth.
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