After the flood, God allowed humans to eat the meat of clean animals (Genesis 9:3). This was because the flood had made this a necessity. With the temporary shortage of all plant life during the Flood and the running of the food supplies that were taken into the ark, there was a clear need that God met by allowing men to eat the flesh of animals.
Why didn’t God provide food supplies for humans instead of allowing them to eat meat?
It could be that God wanted to shorten the lives of humans by allowing them to eat meats. People before the flood lived over 900 years due to their Eden diet but after the flood and eating meat, the age of men dropped quickly and drastically to around hundred years. God probably wanted to restrict the life span of evil doers to limit their wickedness and influence. Thus, the short life would serve only as a limited time enough for men to make eternal decisions either for God or against Him.
During the Mosaic period, meat eating was part of the ceremonies of Passover (Exodus 12:8). In the OT, the Passover lamb was a memorial to God passing over the houses of the children of Israel when He killed the firstborn of man and beast in Egypt. The Lamb of sacrifice pointed to the sacrifice of coming Redeemer Jesus Christ who was to shed His blood for the salvation of the world (John 1:9).
Also, in the Sanctuary services, the priests were to eat the meat of sacrificial animals that were offered on the altar of sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. This act by the priests represented their bearing of the sins of the people as they interceded for them (Leviticus 6:26).
In the New Testament and after the death of Christ, the sacrificial serveries were abolished (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:16). And the Passover service was substituted by the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34) where believers partake of the bread and the wine that points to the body of Christ that was sacrificed for humanity (Hebrew 9:14).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
