The prohibition against eating meat with blood in it is first mentioned in Genesis 9:4, where God tells Noah, “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” This command came after the Flood, when God allowed man to start eating meat for the first time (Genesis 9:3). But there was an important stipulation – the blood had to be drained from the meat before eating it.
There are a few key reasons why God instituted this command:
1. The sanctity of life
In the Bible, blood represents life. As Leviticus 17:11 states, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” When an animal is slaughtered, its lifeblood is drained out. Consuming that blood would be akin to consuming the life itself. By commanding Noah to drain the blood, God was establishing the sanctity of life even in animals used for food.
This respect for life fits with God’s abhorrence of murder and bloodshed among humans. Draining an animal’s blood before eating it reminds us that life is precious and not to be treated lightly. Even though the animal is used for sustenance, its life is honored by properly draining its blood.
2. Separation from pagan rituals
In pagan rituals, drinking or eating blood was common as it was thought to impart vitality, strength or holiness. By prohibiting the Israelites from consuming blood, God distinguished His people from the pagan practices of surrounding nations.
This command served as a form of separation unto God. As Leviticus 17:10-12 explains, the prohibition against eating blood distinguished God’s people from the spiritual practices of pagan society. It was a way to consecrate oneself to the Lord.
3. Respect for God’s creations
As the giver of life, God values all living creatures, not just humans. By requiring the blood be drained, God was instilling a respect for animal life in His people. Though the animals could be used for food, they were not to be treated in an undignified way by consuming their blood.
This prohibition reminded the Israelites that God cares for all His creations, great or small. People are accountable for how they treat animals under God’s authority. Even though humans were given dominion over the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26), animals are still part of God’s handiwork and are not mere commodities for careless consumption.
4. For health reasons
On a practical level, avoiding intake of blood prevented certain diseases. Consuming blood can result in ingesting toxins, bacteria, pathogens and other substances that can make a person sick. So this command offered health benefits to the ancient Israelites.
While they did not have an understanding of modern germ theory, God still instituted healthy regulations to protect His people physically. His commands concerning food, sanitation, quarantine, burial practices, and other aspects of daily living set Israel apart as a notably healthy civilization for that time period.
5. Foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice
On a symbolic level, blood represented atonement for sins. Bulls, goats and lambs were sacrificed as substitutes for the punishment humans deserved because of sin (Leviticus 17:11). The shed blood of these animals provided purification and remission of sins before God.
This foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Jesus’ blood, which He called “My blood of the covenant” (Mark 14:24), would provide the only true atonement for the sins of the world. No longer would animal sacrifices be required. Jesus took our place once and for all (Hebrews 10:1-18).
So while God certainly had physical and ceremonial reasons for prohibiting the consumption of blood, this command also took on spiritual significance in pointing to humanity’s need for an ultimate blood sacrifice – the Messiah.
6. Established reverence for God
At its root, this prohibition was about honoring God’s directives. By obeying God’s commands, including those without explicit reasons, the Israelites cultivated reverence for God’s holiness and authority.
Closely following God’s instructions distinguished His people as set apart for His purposes. Though they did not have full understanding, their obedience displayed faith and trust in God.
Similarly, Christians today obey God’s commands not just for tangible benefits but as an act of worship and surrender to the Lord. Obeying God’s moral law helps us honor Him with our lives.
7. Taught dependence on God’s grace
The sacrificial system also ingrained a realization that man is helpless to atone for sin apart from God’s intervention. No amount of human effort can provide redemption. Forgiveness comes only through God’s grace and mercy.
This fostered humility and dependence on God, rather than pride in one’s own goodness. The OT sacrificial system was meant to point people to their need for God’s righteousness, paving the way for the arrival of Christ.
So by restricting the use of blood, God reinforced the concepts of atonement, redemption, grace and humility in His people. These principles prepared them for their Messiah, who would bring true reconciliation with God.
8. Test of faith and obedience
This dietary restriction also served as a test of Israel’s faith and obedience to God’s commands. Would they trust God even in practices that seemed inconvenient or strange? Or would they conform to the rampant paganism surrounding them?
This test of obedience distinguished between the true worshippers of God and those just going through the motions. Submitting even to God’s more mysterious directives fostered depth of relationship and alignment of will.
So this prohibition checked their hearts and commitment level. Were they wholly devoted to God or not? Total obedience displays genuine love for God.
For Christians today, God may not lay out an explicit reason for every command He asks of us. But obeying God even in faith and without full understanding can strengthen our character and purify our hearts.
9. Part of God’s ordered design
Some aspects of God’s commands are simply because He is God, and this order aligns with His purposes. The world operates best when following the maker’s instructions.
Though humans may not grasp all the reasons behind His commands, we can still follow in faith because of who God is. He is perfectly good, righteous, loving and wise, so His way is the optimal way.
Regarding food prohibitions, God as designer of creation determined that consuming blood offered more detriment than benefit. So He commanded avoidance for mankind’s good within His ordered plan.
10. Allowed freedom within bounds
At the same time God prohibited blood, He also granted more freedom concerning food, now allowing meat along with earlier-permitted vegetables and fruits (Genesis 9:3). But this freedom was not unchecked.
God retained a boundary to preserve His purposes. Without any constraints, man tends toward excess and abuse of God’s good gifts. God’s commands aim to protect us, not restrict us.
His people also needed reminders that their conduct still required careful adherence to God’s ways. Freedom must operate within the bounds of God’s law to avoid degenerating into license.
So this command served to confirm man’s obligations before God for responsible use of creation, while also allowing greater variety in his diet.
11. Established penalties for disobedience
Along with this prohibition came strong penalties for defiance. Consuming blood was punishable by being cut off from God’s people (Leviticus 7:26-27, 17:10). This conveyed the gravity of obedience.
But it also reminded people that every infraction required atonement to restore fellowship with God. Severity of punishment reflected the costliness of sin before a holy God.
At the same time, God’s justice was tempered by His mercy. His laws sought to turn His beloved but wayward people back to Himself. Punishment aimed to refine and redeem, not just penalize.
12. Provided wisdom for godly living
In summary, God’s prohibition of eating meat with blood provided boundaries and wisdom for His people wanting to please Him. It trained their conscience, transformed their appetites, fostered respect for life, elicited faith in God’s plan, and cultivated gratitude for God’s grace.
Though details of conduct can change across biblical covenants, God still calls His people today to honor Him with every aspect of their lives. How we eat, drink, work and play matters to God.
As Christians, we have freedom in Christ. But God still gives us directives in Scripture to guide us into joyful abundance, moral excellence and wisdom for life. His commands aim for our joy and growth in godliness by following divine patterns.
We may not always understand every reason behind them. But we can trust that an all-wise, all-loving God has good purposes for his people as He transforms us into Christ’s image.