SUPERFOOD

There is quite a shopping list of foods to be found throughout the Bible and hundreds of scriptures describe foods, drinks and stories of feasting and eating. Some of today’s healthiest known foods – what we call SUPERFOODS – were part of the Biblical diet and their harvest celebrations.

These include olives, pomegranates, olive oil, honey and nuts amongst many others. God’s provision has always been abundant and varied.

Coriander is known today to be a powerful anti-oxidant with natural cleansing qualities and it was part of the biblical diet. We know this because we find, in Exodus 16 v 31, a comparison being made between coriander and the manna God provided.

Pomegranates are believed to have highly beneficial anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor properties. Numbers 20 v 5 tells us that the Israelites complained to Moses about the pomegranates and other foods they had enjoyed in Egypt and were missing when they were in the wilderness.

Today we know that fish such as tuna, salmon, cod, and red snapper are high in protein and healthy omega fats which can help reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. While we don’t know the exact names of the fish eaten in the Bible, one called Tilapia has been found to be a possibility and this is rich in omega fats. God’s menu provision was a healthy one!

Raw honey contains disease-fighting and energy-boosting nutrients, allergy defense builders and probiotic support. God repeatedly encourages the Israelites that their promised land will be ‘a good land – a land flowing with milk and honey’. See Deuteronomy 8 v 8. He is a God interested in man’s health as well as spiritual well-being.

We too live in a land where many foods are continually flowing /available. We no longer live ‘off the land’ where some foods are not available after their growing season, but have exports from all over the earth leaving most foods available all year round.

God told His people that He would provide for them and they would ‘lack nothing’. Their part was to observe His commands, walk in obedience and to praise Him for His provision.

“when you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good He has given you” Deuteronomy 8.

Whatever food we are able to enjoy each day, we are to praise God for it and acknowledge His provision.

Harvest is a time when we would collectively thank Him, showcasing visually in the Church all the ‘superfoods’ and more.

It is a time when we would also remember those in need in our community, taking that same produce out to families and individuals to show the care of a God who provides so abundantly.

As we are unable to do this, we have launched a Harvest appeal within the Church which is two-fold: items and/or monetary donations for The Bags of Hope and monetary donations for The Guinebor II hospital in Chad.

Information on these can be found in the Church newsletter and we will also speak more of these in the next Harvest devotionals.

“Lord of all the harvest, creation brings you praise”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMpM65Ez2hc