(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 14:1-21)

All in is a term in poker when someone bets all the chips that they have. All in represents a total risk, no retreat, and represents a full commitment, putting everything on the line, and no holding back. In today’s Scripture, we see a discussion about clean and unclean animals in relation to Israel being holy to the Lord their God.

In the Old Testament, “holy” means set apart—belonging uniquely to God. Being holy means to be 100% committed to God, and to be His and His alone, just as He is ours. Holiness requires the people of God to be all in with full commitment to the Lord.

Interestingly, if we look carefully at the discussion about clean and unclean animals, we will find that there is a direct relationship to this and holiness, that is being all in. Clean animals fully conform to the way God created their category to function, while unclean animals blur boundaries.

For example, a land animal must chew the cud and have a completely divided hoof. However, land animals that only chew the cud, but do not have a divided hoof, or have a divided hoof, but do not chew the cud were considered to be unclean.

Israel is to learn to be holy, set apart for God. This is the relationship and covenant they have with God. Anything that blurs the boundaries is dangerous because it introduces other things into their relationship with God.

This also requires us to consider the things in our life that blur the boundaries. What are things that do not completely conform to the way God requires His people to be in covenant with Him, and are these the things that cause us to compromise our faith?

Holiness is a process and a journey that all Christians need to embark on. We are justified by grace through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, but sanctification or holiness is something we must continue to learn and grow into, in our relationship with God.

Growing in holiness, and becoming sanctified takes commitment, requires us to go all in, to put everything on the line, and to let God work in us so that we can become more and more like Christ. Let us go all in together, and when we are weak, when we stumble and fall, may we carry one another, encouraging one another to love and good works.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy 14