Seasonings, Spices, and Herbs
Spices and herbs consumed as food in the Bible were used to flavor bread, cakes, meats, soups, stews, and were taken as digestive aids. Coriander, the seed of cilantro, is known today to be a powerful anti-oxidant with natural cleansing qualities.
- Anise (Matthew 23:23 KJV)
- Coriander (Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7)
- Cinnamon (Exodus 30:23; Revelation 18:13)
- Cumin (Isaiah 28:25; Matthew 23:23)
- Dill (Matthew 23:23)
- Garlic (Numbers 11:5)
- Mint (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42)
- Mustard (Matthew 13:31)
- Rue (Luke 11:42)
- Salt (Ezra 6:9; Job 6:6)
Fruits and Nuts
People of the Bible ate many of today's most nutritious "superfoods" in this grouping of fruits and nuts. Pomegranates, for example, are believed to have highly beneficial anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor properties.
- Apples (Song of Solomon 2:5)
- Almonds (Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8)
- Dates (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3)
- Figs (Nehemiah 13:15; Jeremiah 24:1-3)
- Grapes (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 23:24)
- Melons (Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8)
- Olives (Isaiah 17:6; Micah 6:15)
- Pistachio Nuts (Genesis 43:11)
- Pomegranates (Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8)
- Raisins (Numbers 6:3; 2 Samuel 6:19)
- Sycamore Fruit (Psalm 78:47; Amos 7:14)
Vegetables and Legumes
God provided vegetables and legumes packed with nutrients, fiber, and protein to power the people of the Bible. In Babylon, Daniel and his friends observed a diet of only vegetables (Daniel 1:12).
- Beans (2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
- Cucumbers (Numbers 11:5)
- Gourds (2 Kings 4:39)
- Leeks (Numbers 11:5)
- Lentils (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
- Onions (Numbers 11:5)
Grains
Healthy grains were a primary staple in Bible times. Grains are some of the easiest natural foods to keep preserved for years. Throughout the Bible, bread is a symbol of God's life-sustaining provision. Jesus Himself is the "Bread of Life"—our true source of spiritual life. The bread that Jesus represents never perishes or spoils.
- Barley (Deuteronomy 8:8; Ezekiel 4:9)
- Bread (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 6:19; 16:1; Mark 8:14)
- Corn (Matthew 12:1; KJV - refers to "grain" such as wheat or barley)
- Flour (2 Samuel 17:28; 1 Kings 17:12)
- Millet (Ezekiel 4:9)
- Spelt (Ezekiel 4:9)
- Unleavened Bread (Genesis 19:3; Exodus 12:20)
- Wheat (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)
Fish
Seafood was another staple in the Bible. However, only certain fish and other seafood were suitable for eating. According to Leviticus 11:9, edible seafood had to have fins and scales. Shellfish was prohibited. Today we know that fish such as Tuna, Salmon, Cod, Red Snapper, and many others are high in protein and healthy omega fats, which can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and provide many other health benefits.
- Matthew 15:36
- John 21:11-13
Fowl
These birds were considered clean and suitable for eating in the Bible.
- Partridge (1 Samuel 26:20; Jeremiah 17:11)
- Pigeon (Genesis 15:9; Leviticus 12:8)
- Quail (Psalm 105:40)
- Dove (Leviticus 12:8)
Animal Meats
The Bible distinguishes between clean and unclean animals. According to the book of Leviticus, clean meats are those from animals that have a cloven hoof and chew the cud. Jewish dietary laws taught God's people not to eat the blood of animals or any meat that had been sacrificed to idols. These foods were considered unclean. Clean animal meats of the Bible were:
- Calf (Proverbs 15:17; Luke 15:23)
- Goat (Genesis 27:9)
- Lamb (2 Samuel 12:4)
- Oxen (1 Kings 19:21)
- Sheep (Deuteronomy 14:4)
- Venison (Genesis 27:7 KJV)
Dairy
Along with bread, fish, meat, olives, grapes, and other fruits and vegetables, dairy products were important foods of the Bible. They provided great variety and significant nutrition to the ancient world. Fresh, raw products from grass-fed cows, sheep, and goats constituted the dairy portion of the biblical diet.
- Butter (Proverbs 30:33)
- Cheese (2 Samuel 17:29; Job 10:10)
- Curds (Isaiah 7:15)
- Milk (Exodus 33:3; Job 10:10; Judges 5:25)
Miscellaneous Foods of the Bible
Many of these foods of the Bible, such as raw honey, contain disease-fighting and energy-boosting nutrients, allergy defense builders, and probiotic support.
- Eggs (Job 6:6; Luke 11:12)
- Grape Juice (Numbers 6:3)
- Raw Honey (Genesis 43:11; Exodus 33:3; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 14:8-9)
- Olive Oil (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)
- Vinegar (Ruth 2:14; John 19:29)
- Wine (Ezra 6:9; John 2:1-10)
Unusual and Supernatural 'Foods' in the Bible
- Fruit From the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:6, 22)
- Manna (Exodus 16:31-35)
- Gold Dust (Exodus 32:19-20)
- Human Flesh (Deuteronomy 28:53-57)
- Miraculous Bread and Water in the Desert (Genesis 21:14-19; Numbers 20:11)
- Two-Sided Scroll of Lamentations (Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:3)
- Bread Baked Over Human Excrement (Ezekiel 4:10-17)
- Angel Cakes (1 Kings 19:3-9)
- Animal Diet of Grass (Daniel 4:33)
- Bread and Meat From Ravens (1 Kings 17:1-6)
- Miraculous Flour and Oil (1 Kings 17:10-16; 2 Kings 4:1-7)
Proverbs 4:5-7, 10-13, 20-22
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Geta wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,b get understanding.
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
As you know, my mother and I are deliverance ministers, and part of our ministry is to uncover deception and break down paradigms or strongholds as the Bible calls them
Definition of stronghold: Place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld.
The topic of what we eat is a very powerful stronghold, and there is a lot of deception about food that I am going to talk about – so hang on to your “sacred cows” (ha-ha). There is a lot of deception about the food we eat and American corporate greed. There is also a tie-in with the very powerful pharmaceutical and medical industries.
Years ago, my mother did a teaching called, “Does God mind what we eat?” In this teaching she taught on what the Torah or the Old Testament says about what God considers to be food for us. We personally believe that the Apostle Paul and also Peter’s vision in the Book of Acts created some confusion about meat:
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (1 Corinthians 10:25)
Peter’s Vision in Acts 10 was about the clean and unclean animals – but as you remember, the vision required an interpretation – it was not literal:
9 The next day about noon, while they were still on their way and approaching the city, Kefa went up onto the roof of the house to pray. 10 He began to feel hungry and wanted something to eat; but while they were preparing the meal, he fell into a trance 11 in which he saw heaven opened, and something that looked like a large sheet being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, crawling creatures and wild birds. 13 Then a voice came to him, “Get up, Kefa, slaughter and eat!” 14 But Kefa said, “No, sir! Absolutely not! I have never eaten food that was unclean or treif.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time: “Stop treating as unclean what God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and then the sheet was immediately taken back up into heaven. 17 Kefa was still puzzling over the meaning of the vision he had seen, when the men Cornelius had sent, having inquired for Shim‘on’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask if the Shim‘on known as Kefa was staying there. 19 While Kefa’s mind was still on the vision, the Spirit said, “Three men are looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and have no misgivings about going with them, because I myself have sent them.”
The story goes on… the men were Goyim or non-Jews, or “unclean” in a Jew’s eyes. And they wanted to be baptized and follow Jesus…Peter figured out that the vision meant that God wanted to save and baptize the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Peter NEVER thought the vision was to be taken literally, you see.
There is an audio teaching on our website called Food and Holiness–my mother talks about what the Torah says about eating the flesh of animals, the blood of animals, the fat of animals and the type of seafood we should and should not eat. I am not going to talk about this today, but I really encourage you to listen to this teaching because this is part of the food problem in America, and the deception which we are under which is definitely leading to all the sickness we experience. There IS a connection. So please pay attention to this and ask the Lord if this is truth. Jesus said you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free, so ask Him.
But today, I am going to talk about other kinds of food and many things you may or may not know about our food system and how it appears we are all getting increasingly sicker even though we have more food than ever before. How can this be? I am going to tell you.
This past year, I have learned a lot about food because I started visiting a functional medicine or wellness doctor/nutritionist. He has successfully treated people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, gastro-intestinal disorders and thyroid conditions by putting them all on the same diet, not necessarily to lose weight, but just to get healthy. Weight loss just happens naturally on his program, but it’s not really the end goal.
In the process of going through his program, he asked me to read a couple of books and watch a couple of food documentaries. Well, I started learning so much and was so surprised at what I learned, that I started watching a lot of food documentaries and became even more astounded at what is going on in American farming and the meat industry. This is what I am going to share with you today. If you will listen to what I have to say and follow some of my advice, I can save you the money that I paid this doctor to learn this and you might possibly improve your health, and come more into God’s will, as you will see in a minute.
Let’s begin with some statistics over the last several decades:
[Show historical and projected graphs of obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease]
Then there is also cancer which hits close to home here at our church. Why have these statistics all increased and continue to increase? One reason could be the food we are eating or not eating.
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. – Hippocrates
Genetically modified food
Definition: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.
19 ‘You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you. (Leviticus 19:19 )
• Corn and Soy and #1 and 2 – nearly all in US is GMO
• Wheat is not GMO, but…”Modern wheat has been hybridized (crossing different strains to generate new characteristics; 5% of proteins generated in the offspring, for instance, are not present in either parent), backcrossed (repeated crossing to winnow out a specific trait, e.g., short stature), and hybridized with non-wheat plants (to introduce entirely unique genes). There are also chemical-, gamma-, and x-ray mutagenesis, i.e., the use of obnoxious stimuli to induce mutations that can then be propagated in offpspring. This is how BASF’s Clearfield wheat was created, for example, by exposing the seeds and embryos to the industrial chemical, sodium azide, that is highly toxic to humans.” (Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly)
• And there are others, like Canola Oil
Google: “top genetically modified crops in the U.S.”
Let’s talk about corn, the #1 most GMO crop in the U.S.
I hate to bring the bad news, especially because I love corn – corn chips, corn tortillas, cornbread, etc.—but US GMO corn is very bad. If you’re interested in more details, watch a documentary called King Corn. You’re going to be surprised. I will give you the highlights:
Most of the corn grown in the US goes toward two things: (1) feeding cattle and (2) making HFCS (high fructose corn syrup).
First of all, the corn is GMO to resist insects and herbicides. All this is in Wikipedia, but it is also in some of the food documentaries we watched. In other words, certain insects that bite into growing corn ingest something that has been genetically altered in the corn that kills them. Also, if a farmer sprays weed killer in a corn crop, the weeds die but the corn doesn’t, because it’s been GMO’d to resist weed killer. And that’s what we’re eating.
Remember this company’s name: Monsanto. They are the ones who are creating GMO seeds that our farmers are planting.
Now, let’s take this a step further. Now that same corn is being fed to cattle. This touches on the meat industry which will get into next. But when you go to the grocery store, you can buy either grain-fed beef or grass-fed beef. I will tell you right now, grass-fed beef is more expensive. Why?
Because someone discovered a long time ago that if you keep a cow from moving around too much and just feed them corn, they get big and fat real fast, which means they can be slaughtered faster, and the cycle can start again. Which means more money. So there are what they call “feed lots” where they cram cows for the duration of their lives. They can’t move, and all they eat is corn. The main problem is cows were not designed by our Creator to eat corn. They were designed to eat grass. Guess what happens when a cow eats nothing but corn? Its gut starts to deteriorate, it gets ulcers. Then it needs antibiotics to fix the ulcers. But they are slaughtered just before it gets real bad or else they would die. That’s why the meat has antibiotics. Not only that, but being fed so much corn and not moving causes the beef to full of fat–it’s not lean–the kind of fat that clogs up your arteries. And also you’re eating cows that have been fed GMO corn. All so that someone can get rich selling you this beef.
Grass-fed beef is more expensive, but it’s leaner, and it’s the way God designed it to be.
Now let’s talk about HFCS. HFCS started being mass-produced in the 1980s. It has become a cheap sweetening alternative to sugar. This sweetener is in EVERYTHING that is processed or packaged or at a fast food restaurant. This sweetener is made with GMO corn. Read the labels, and beware – it goes by a variety of names. Very rarely will you see actual cane sugar in anything.
The documentary King Corn is about two guys who did an investigation into corn. They found out their ancestors were from Iowa, one of the corn-growing centers of the U.S. First they had their hair analyzed to see what it was made of, and they were told it was made of mostly corn. So, they went to Iowa to analyze the corn-farming industry.
One of the most surprising things I found in the movie is that one of the farmers they interviewed said he was growing “c–p” and he himself wouldn’t eat it. But he like all these farmers in the USA are in the government subsidy program so they just keep growing GMO corn.
So, now think of all the millions of fast-food restaurants in the U.S. serving corn-fed beef, and HFCS sodas and shakes, and frying French fries and onion rings in GMO canola oil.
And lastly, in this video, a scientist fed lab rats nothing but corn, and the females developed tumors all over. The males developed some other ailments. But I started wondering if this is why there is all this breast cancer nowadays – because we are large consumers of GMO corn – again, it is everywhere: in our beef, in our packaged products in our desserts and in our chips.
The meat industry
Two of the documentaries we watched were so very sad. They made me cry, they made me nauseated, and they would have made me become vegetarian, except that I personally believe we need animal protein to be healthy. It’s definitely in the Bible.
The way animals are treated in our country in the food industry is absolutely stomach-turning and abhorrent. I am sure that our God does not approve. God even ordained a Sabbath not only for man but also for the animals
…but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.(Exodus 20:10)
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10)
As I mentioned, the cattle are treated cruelly. Not only are they cooped up and fed food that wasn’t made for them, but also the undercover videos showed sheer cruelty as the animals are rounded up for slaughter. You can tell they are in terror. Surely that rush of adrenalin all over their bodies cannot be good for us to eat.
The birds have it even worse. What we saw were how the chickens were treated. Again, the tip here is you want to eat free-range chickens–chickens that are allowed to roam around outside and eat from the ground like chickens are supposed to.
In these video baby chicks and chickens are thrown around like balls, kept in overcrowded cages their entire lives, fed hormones to the point where the breasts get so large they can’t even walk anymore. The undercover videos were absolutely horrible. And that’s what these poultry companies are selling to you which cute little marketing packages and TV commercials. Oh, and notice the words “undercover videos” – the meat industry does not want you to know what they are doing because it’s nauseating.
Here is how the Lord told the Hebrews to slaughter animals – this is an explanation of biblical Kosher slaughtering of animals, from Wikipedia:
The Torah (Deut. 12:21) states that sheep and cattle should be slaughtered “as I have instructed you” but nowhere in the Five books of Moses are any of the practices of shechita described. Instead, they have been handed down in Judaism’s traditional Oral Torah.
The procedure…involves severing the trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins and vagus nerve in a swift action using a special knife with an extremely sharp blade. In practice, this causes a rapid drop in blood pressure in the brain and loss of consciousness, rendering the animal insensitive to pain and to exsanguinate in a prompt and precise action.
Soy
Soy is the second most GMO crop in the US. There is a lot of controversy about soy. It is very cheap to produce. It is not native to the U.S. There is a lot of info on the Internet about soy, so I am not going to go into a long discussion here. But I am not eating soy because it is GMO. And men shouldn’t eat soy because it has estrogen.
Hidden sugars
I tell my friends that just because something does not taste sweet doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have sugar. Although your tastebuds taste the difference, your body does not know the difference. One of the books they asked us to read was Wheat Belly. In this book written by a cardiologist, he advocates a banishment of wheat from our diet because he says the wheat being produced in the U.S. now is so different than the way God created it. It’s not technically GMO, but it might as well be. It has been hybridized to grow shorter, and therefore mature faster so that the crop can be planted and harvested in a short time. On the surface this sounds really good, i.e. you can feed more people, but now what has happened is you have people developing all kinds of gluten sensitivities, like Celiac disease, Crohn’s diseaseand Hashimoto’s disease.
The doctor claims that the glycemic index of a slice of bread, whether white or whole wheat, has a higher glycemic index than a teaspoon of sugar.
Glycemic index: An indicator of the ability of different types of foods that contain carbohydrate to raise the blood glucose levels within 2 hours. Foods containing carbohydrates that break down most quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic index.
So could this be why we have such a rise in diabetes? Think of all the wheat products we eat:
• Bread, rolls, hamburger and hot dog buns
• Crackers
• Muffins
• Pastries
• Cakes
• Pies
• Pizzas
• And it goes on and on.
All these foods that you think are good for you because they are grains are actually full of sugar. Your body thinks its sugar, even if your tongue does not. Not only that but if you start reading labels, you will see how much sugar is in processed and packaged foods. You would be surprised. Did you know spaghetti sauce in a jar is loaded with sugar?
Did you know something else? On food labels that show the RDA – recommended daily allowance – for vitamins, minerals, etc., you will not find the RDA for sugar. Somehow the sugar lobby was able to persuade our government to omit that very important fact. Watch That Sugar Film for more info.
Organic produce vs. non-organic produce
So, if you’ve noticed at the grocery story, the organic section is starting to grow, I think because of these documentaries, and the fact that people are getting wise to the ways of big business America, out for the money only and not caring about people’s health.
So, yes, organic food is more expensive. What makes it organic? It is not sprayed with pesticides. The farmers are using other methods to keep the food pest-free. Why is this important? Because you don’t want to eat pesticides, right? Even if you wash the produce, it’s inside it. And we don’t know if those things are causing cancer. If it’s killing insects, then can you conclude it might be causing cancer? I can. I personally sleep better at night knowing that I am eating organic food and not pesticide-laden food.
The rule of thumb is if it has a thick skin like a watermelon, you probably don’t have to buy organic. Like grapes, you’d better buy organic, they are full of pesticides. Coffee too.
The US Food Pyramid fallacy
So our government says this is how you should eat. But I say this is a bad idea, since all the wheat products are at the bottom. The pyramid really should look a little more like this:
The SAD diet – Standard American Diet
[Show graph of food pyramid, from bottom up: Bread, cereal, rice, pasta/ Vegetables, fruit/ Dairy/ Meat, poultry, eggs, nuts / fats, oils and sweets]
Optimal Health Diet
[Show graph of food pyramid, from bottom up: Vegetables/ Healthy fats, nuts and seeds/ Lean protein/ Fruits/ Soup, broth/ Treat]
The interesting thing is that God not only created us from the ground–He said “dust you are, and to dust you shall return” – but he also created man to “till the garden”. Interesting….what’s in a garden besides flowers? Lots of vegetables!! So since we are made of that same substance, it would seem logical to me that we need to eat mostly of that same substance.
Also, here’s another Bible scripture to ponder, from Daniel chapter 1:
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.” 11 So Daniel said to the steward[a] whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
So, enough said! We need to eat a plant-based diet to be optimally healthy. We do need healthy fats, like nuts and seeds and oils (and the recommended oils are olive, coconut, flaxseed, avocado). I would stay away from canola and vegetable oils, etc. We need lean meats, mostly chicken, fish 3x week because of mercury, and red meat once a week. We need to drink lots and lots of purified water. And as we get older, we thirst less, but our need for water does not diminish, so we need to drink, drink, drink, even when we are not thirsty. (Organic herbal teas are good too.)
Conclusion
So to summarize, in the U.S., it’s all about the money – powerful lobbyists in the food industry and our government who do not have our best interests at heart…who have hidden the truth from the American public. I have learned that other countries, like European countries and even Haiti, for example, do not allow GMO food to be grown and sold. So why does the US? If you watch these documentaries, you will just be shocked like we were. I have only touched the subject. Please learn for yourself. God says get wisdom and get understanding because if you do, you just might live longer and healthier. I am going to end by reading Proverbs again:
Proverbs 4:5-7, 10-13, 20-22
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Geta wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,b get understanding.
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
Daniel Fast in the Bible
The book of Daniel tells the story of the Israelites carried off into exile after many years of straying from God’s ways, but mostly from the perspective of a handful of individuals. It also contains prophecy.
Daniel was one of the youths selected to be educated in the ways of the Babylonian court, the center of the Chaldean empire. He learned literature, another language, court etiquette, and many other skills that would make him useful to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s diet first comes up in chapter one of the account of his life:
“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).
Centuries before, God instituted rules for which foods were clean and unclean for Hebrews to eat, which the Chaldeans did not know or obey.
There are two important factors that went into Daniel’s request to eat differently than everyone else in his cohort. First and foremost, he wanted to continue to obey the Lord’s commands. Throughout the course of the book of Daniel, his dedication to the Lord is clear. He prays even under threat of death. He boldly interprets prophecy under the guidance of the Spirit of God, knowing it could anger the king.
Keeping his diet was part of being obedient to God. It was also important because it was a part of maintaining his identity as an Israelite. Being chosen for service in the court of Nebuchadnezzar cost the Hebrew men a great deal, even their own names. The Bible records, “And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meschach, and Azariah he called Abednego” (Daniel 1:7). They were no longer in their homes, had to learn a new language, lived as well-dressed and well-fed prisoners, but they had to go by new names. Daniel clung to his identity and his God, in part by eating cleanly.
The Daniel Fast is a religiously inspired dietary plan based on the biblical story of Daniel, particularly the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. The fast is often undertaken by individuals or groups as a form of spiritual discipline, prayer, and seeking God's guidance.
The Daniel Fast typically involves abstaining from certain types of foods for a specified period, often 21 days. The guidelines for the fast are derived from the Bible, specifically Daniel 1:8-14, where Daniel and his friends chose to abstain from rich and luxurious foods and only ate vegetables and drank water. The idea is to focus on simple, plant-based foods and eliminate certain indulgences from the diet.
The chief eunuch had compassion for Daniel and his request to eat according to his principles, but he had concerns that the king would get mad when Daniel and his friends were less healthy because they were not eating approved food. As a response, Daniel gave a challenge to the Babylonian court. He said: “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see” (Daniel 1:13-14).
The king’s men still ate meat and wine and were less healthy than Daniel and his friends. Today, believers will sometimes adopt this diet to get healthier and get closer to the Lord, as they often incorporate a fast with it. In the Bible, it lasted for ten days initially, and then it was implemented for a longer period of time.
During the Daniel Fast, participants typically avoid:
Meat and animal products: Including beef, poultry, fish, dairy, and eggs.
Sweeteners: Such as sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners.
Leavened bread and processed foods: Participants usually stick to whole grains and avoid leavened bread.
Solid fats: Avoid fried foods and choose healthier fat sources like olive oil.
Beverages: Often, participants limit their beverage intake to water and herbal teas.
The emphasis is on consuming fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. The Daniel Fast is not just about dietary restrictions; it also encourages prayer, meditation, and spiritual reflection.
The Daniel fast is a partial fast, meaning it does not require the individual to give up all food for a period of time, though some people will abstain from eating before dinner. It is very strict about what foods can be consumed. The Bible does not go into great detail about what specifically he ate, though it does say Daniel and his friends consumed vegetables and water. The Daniel fast is built around this knowledge, an understanding of Levitical law, and clean foods.
Vegetables: all fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned vegetables
- Fruit: all fresh, frozen, dried (with no added sugar), juiced and canned fruit
- Whole grains: amaranth, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, millet. Freekeh, oats, purple rice, wild rice, whole wheat, spelt, forghum, rye, quinoa
- Beans and legumes: black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, pinto beans, split beans, black-eyed peas
- Oils: coconut, olive, sesame, etc., but not for deep-frying
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, soy nuts, sesame seeds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, pistachios, poppy seeds
- Unleavened bread, herbs, spices, and seasonings
- Beverages: water, some fruit juice, unsweetened non-dairy milk
Foods to Avoid for the Daniel Fast
- Alcohol
- Added sugars: any foods with added sugar are prohibited, such as agave, artificial sweeteners, brown sugar, cane juice, corn syrup, honey, sugar, molasses, etc.
- Meat: beef, bison, chicken, goat, lamb, pork, turkey, fish
- Dairy: butter, cheese, cream, milk, yogurt
- Eggs are prohibited
- Yeast: this includes all leavened bread
- Refined grains: white rice, white flour
- Processed food: any food with artificial flavorings, colorings, chemicals, additives, and preservatives are prohibited
- Fried food: corn chips, potato chips, French fries, fried vegetables (tempura) etc.
- Solid fats: butter, lard, margarine, shortening
- Chocolate: milk chocolate, semi-sweet, dark, syrup, cacao
- Caffeinated drinks
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5
As Christians, we are to realize the emphasis is to be put upon the spiritual man; however, just because we have an understanding of our spiritual position in Christ does not mean we can break His physical laws of health and not suffer the consequences. The spiritual man should always be given top priority as it needs to be in ascendancy. Its influence over the physical man is greater than the physical man’s influence over it. We need proper balance between neglecting our bodies and giving them too much attention.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
It is easy to recognize that one of the greatest sins in the United States is gluttony. Food has become the god of millions. Jesus has never been made “Lord of the Fork.” The Word of God has much to say about man’s eating habits. Many sicknesses that are plaguing mankind stem directly from unhealthy eating habits. How should Christians eat? Are all the so-called health foods the answer to our diet problem? The Word of God not only addresses what is healthy for us to eat, but also the spiritual problems we have in this life. Since the Lord created the human body, He certainly knows what is best for us to eat.
So many have been eating according to the tradition of men instead of seeing what God’s Word says about this subject. If we do not eat by the Word of God, our eating habits will be dictated by the patterns of what we have been exposed to in our lifetimes. I will not address the kinds of food we should eat here other than to say that natural foods that are “living foods” (fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, certain meats, and dairy products) are the best for us. The “dead foods” or “junk food” are those that are highly refined and processed and have little nourishment in them.
Daniel and his companions proved the wisdom of eating properly when they refused to eat the King’s meat and instead ask for “pulse” (vegetables and grains) and water to drink for ten days. After that period of time they appeared more healthy than the other servants of the King.
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:12-17
If we are overweight it came about not suddenly, but rather “little by little”. This “little fox” begins adding the pounds before we realize it. Each day we over indulge until we become fat. (I realize some people do have overweight problems that stem from hereditary problems; however, these can be overcome too, with help from the Lord.) We can tackle this problem with the Lord’s help and He will give us the power to trim down. As we seek the Lord and ask for His help in this area, He will not fail us. He will give us the strength to overcome gluttony and over indulgence or other bad eating habits.
Here are some helps to overcoming weight problems which usually come about through lack of knowledge or lack of discipline or lust for food:
- First, repent for yielding to the temptation of lust for food. Philippians 3:19: “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”
- Then, submit to God and ask Him for the power to overcome gluttony through His Holy Spirit and resist the devil through prayer and obedience to God. James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- Next, ask for God’s plan for your weight loss. Allow Him to lead you as to what He wants you to do. He knows your body and He will direct you as to how you are to eat or direct you to a nutritionist or doctor or good books on nutrition. Ask for a desire for healthy foods and ask Him to remove your cravings for unhealthy foods. 1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
- Daily, thank God for setting you free and do not allow the devil to discourage you by his condemning whispers to your mind. Sometimes the Lord does a quick work at other times it may be slower. Don’t be discouraged even if at times it seems slow or you fail occasionally. Remember, this overweight condition came “little by little” and it is sometimes more healthy to lose it “little by little” (Losing as little as 2 lbs. a month amounts to 24 lbs. in a year). In the process you will be developing new habits and disciplines that will eventually become established eating patterns with a change in our life styles. Romans 8:1-4: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
- Add fasting periodically as the Lord leads. Even fasting one meal or one day a week will help in disciplining your body to be subject to your spirit man. Matthew 6:17-18: “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
God’s Approved List
As to fish, the clean and unclean are listed. Jesus, after his resurrection, ate fish and honeycomb, and cooked a fish breakfast for his tired and discouraged fisher-disciples. (John 21:9-13)
Jesus the night before his crucifixion, ate the Passover lamb with the twelve in the upper room. (Luke 22:15)
Jesus called an egg a “good gift,” saying the same of bread and fish. (Luke 11:12-13)
The land of Canaan was described as a land “flowing with mild and honey” thus putting God’s stamp of approval upon these items. Other foods on God’s approval list include:
- Grapes – Deuteronomy 23:24
- Figs – Numbers 13:23; Mark 11:12-13
- Apples – Joel 1:12
- Pomegranates – Numbers 13:23
- Palm Dates – Leviticus 23:40
- All Fruits – Genesis 1:29
- Herbs – Genesis 1:29
- Olives – Deuteronomy 8:8
- Olive Oil – Leviticus 2:4; Leviticus 8:8
- Wheat – Psalm 81:16
- Bread – Luke 22:19
- Corn – Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 17:17
- Roasting Ears – 2 Kings 4:42; Leviticus 2:14
- Barley – Ruth 2:23
- Salt – Leviticus 2:13; Mark 9:50
- Honey – Psalm 81:16
- Pottage (Stew) – 2 Kings 4:38
- Milk – Isaiah 7:23-22
- Butter – Isaiah 7:22
- Cheese – 1 Samuel 17:18
- Goat’s Milk – Proverbs 27:27
- Locusts, Grasshoppers – Leviticus 11:22; Mark 1:6
- Almonds – Genesis 43:11
- Nuts – Genesis 43:11
- Beef – Deuteronomy 14:3
- Mutton – Deuteronomy 14:3
- Goat Meat – Deuteronomy 14:3
- Fish – John 21:9-13
- Eggs – Luke 11:12-13
- Venison – Deuteronomy 14:5
- NOTE: Leviticus 19:19 says, “….thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed.” This would even suggest that the Lord foresaw man’s tampering of seeds which have now produced GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), which have been banned or significantly restricted, due to their ill effects on ones health, in 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all of the nations in the European Union.
Strong drink is forbidden to God’s children. When we see the wrecks, both of cars and men, that result from drink. America is fast becoming a nation of drunkards and in danger of going the way of all drunken nations before her.
The crux of the whole question is whether we will believe that God is all-good and all-wise and all-loving, and knows much better what is good for us than we do ourselves; or whether we think, as did Eve, that His ideas are “old fogey” and His commandments can be broken with impunity.
The safe rule in our eating is to make everything we eat, if not classified in God’s Word and approved by Him, pass this test:
- “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do it all to the glory of God.“ 1 Corinthians 10:31
- Can you glorify God by eating something because we “like it.” when He has forbidden it?
- Can you glorify God by drinking intoxicating beverages when He has forbidden it?
- Can you glorify God by smoking, when tobacco is known to be harmful and often dangerous to heart and lungs?
- Can you glorify God by eating many of the rich, spicy, sticky “messes” that many people consume.
- Paul warned in Philippians 3:19 of some whose God was their belly, and we have many such today.
God has been progressively, over the years, teaching me how and what to eat. A number of years ago we felt impressed to stop eating pork, and I found myself less susceptible to colds, as well as inwardly blessed, as we always are when we obey God.
For many years I had suffered hours and hours of pain in my stomach, brought on by ignorance of eating, as well as worry, nervousness, and emotional upset. Many things I “couldn’t eat.” They would upset my stomach and cause nausea and pain. About five times I was dangerously sick with food poisoning, from old grease, tainted meat, swollen canned corn, salad dressing, and spoiled milk. On top of that, I suffered from chronic indigestion, colds, frequent attacks of influenza, sinus trouble, and hay fever.
Healed
Then the Lord gave me the grace to stand on His promise in Exodus 23:25: “And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee,” for that’s where I was sick, right in the my “middle.”
And, Praise the Lord for His goodness and power. He has been my only Physician for some 29 years, and the Bible and His grace my only medicine. When I begin to feel badly, I take a “Gos-pil,” rebuke the devil, and thank God for keeping me well. And, to His glory, I can say that He has not suffered me to miss a day’s activities because of sickness, in the past 29 years. There hasn’t been a day when I was not able to get up and “put my shoes on” and go about His business.
To me it is a mockery, almost blasphemy, for a person to come for prayer and expect God to heal them when they are breaking almost all His rules of health. Some smoke, many eat things that positively poison their bodies. Many never exercise or breathe the fresh outdoor air. They drink coffee, caffeinated tea, “cokes,” eat candy, cakes, etc., and then grumble because they “suffer so many afflictions” as though it were God’s fault.
I pray that the Lord will use this to your good and His glory, and truly “…satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:5
Food For Thought
- We can only be free of self consciousness as we become God conscious.
- A gift is imparted. A fruit is cultivated.
- Jesus did not “spill” His blood by accident; He shed it willfully.
- Don’t talk the talk if you don’t walk the walk.
- When God sees the blood He cannot see sin. When Satan sees the blood he cannot enter in.
- A talent is something you work for through God given abilities. A gift is a supernatural ability that has not required work or practice.
- Fasting is a decision of your will.
- My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am claimed, redeemed, and sanctified by the blood of Jesus. Therefore, the devil can have no part of me nor have any power over me.
- God will give us only as much of Himself as we want, but we must ask.
- If you have the Word without the Spirit you dry up,
- If you have the Spirit without the Word you blow up,
- If you have the Word and the Spirit you grow up.
- You will never be able to receive anything from God that you don’t know is His will to give you.
- God afflicts or blesses us with people we need at that time for our growth.
- If you like to repeat what someone has done to you, you have not forgiven them.
- If you want to know what God thinks about occult practices and horoscopes read Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and Isaiah 47:12-15
- Satan drives you; the Good Shepherd leads you.
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