Genesis 18:1 YHVH appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. 2 He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don’t leave your servant. 4 Please let me send for some water, so that you can wash your feet; then rest under the tree, 5 and I will bring a piece of bread. Now that you have come to your servant, refresh yourselves before going on.” “Very well,” they replied, “do what you have said.”
6 Avraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, three measures of the best flour! Knead it and make cakes.” 7 Avraham ran to the herd, took a good, tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds, milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it all before the men; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
There are 3 verses that state “you are not to boil a young animal in its mother’s milk.” Three times it is mentioned so it must be serious, right?
Why is this important?
These days, this command is culturally taken to mean you are not to eat both meat and dairy in the same meal.
But if this is true, why would Abraham have offered up both milk and the calf together?
Well, it could be that Abba’s commands didn’t exist back then but there is a strong argument that they did exist (but that’s beyond the scope of what we’re considering here today).
Maybe this verse only applies to goats. But why prohibit cheeseburgers? I’ve personally never had a goat and cheese burger. Does that mean I’m keeping the command because it sounds horrible to me? I doubt it.
What if this has nothing to do with food at all?
If we look at the references in context we see there is a connective piece that may shed some light on its meaning.
Exodus 23:19 “You are to bring the best firstfruits of your land into the house of YHVH your God. You are not to boil a young animal in its mother’s milk.”
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Exodus 34:26 “You are to bring the best firstfruits of your land into the house of YHVH your God. You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
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Deuteronomy 14:21 “You are not to eat any animal that dies naturally; although you may let a stranger staying with you eat it, or sell it to a foreigner; because you are a holy people for YHVH your God.
“You are not to boil a young animal in its mother’s milk.
22 “Every year you must take one tenth of everything your seed produces in the field, 23 and eat it in the presence of YHVH your God. In the place where he chooses to have his name live you will eat the tenth of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep, so that you will learn to fear YHVH your God always.
We see that this theme of firstfruit offerings is closely attached to this phrase. But how is a young animal in its mother’s milk possibly related?
Consider the mother goat. She brings forth new life in the proper season and perhaps this young animal is the firstborn or firstfruits of your increase.
The mother goat clearly was not a firstfruits offering because she is still alive. But she does bring forth a firstfruit that is marked for an offering. This young animal is set apart and should not be contaminated by something deemed less than the best.
That addresses the specific case of a young animal in its mother’s milk but perhaps this has an extension beyond just that case.
What if this is a principle that applies to ANY of our increases? Maybe this is saying,
“Do not mix last year’s grain with this year’s grain and offer that as your firstfruits”
“Do not bring an animal born in the previous season as an offering in this season”
“Do not mix the wine from last year with the wine from this year”
I believe Abba is seeking the true measure of your increase. And that is the best.
Let’s now pivot into our own lives.
Most of us see an increase year-by-year. So do you just let that mix with your resources from the year before and offer up some diluted version of an offering? Maybe in the form of an increased tithe amount that just rolls on its own through the next year?
Most people get a raise each year of some amount in some way. It may not be much or it could be a lot. It varies.
Do you just look at your check and carve out 10% as usual?
Or do you consider the increase you’ve been given closely?
Recognizing the exact measure of your increase and giving the first fruits of that yield IN FULL?
Now this isn’t the full amount of your raise for the year (necessarily). It is the best part. The first amount that hits your bank account. That’s what brings joy to your being, correct? Seeing the new amount causes your heart to flutter a little -- on the first one.
Six months later, you will be considering how you’re getting screwed in this deal and you most surely need more.
But that first amount. That’s what Abba wants. That’s the best because that’s where your heart finds joy and appreciation in Him as your source of life. The excitement you feel when you see that added amount to your account is the same excitement Abba feels when you give it to Him (x1,000,000,000).
He wants you to recognize the source of your increase. It wasn’t the benevolent boss that gave you an increase. It was Abba.
You can thank your boss for being obedient to Abba for being the vehicle of increase, but they aren’t the source of your increase. And you must recognize this.
You aren’t entitled to a raise or new position. You are entitled to death eternal in the Lake of Fire. Beyond that, it is Abba extending His grace and mercy to you in tremendous measure.
This new year carries with it an entirely new reality that must be recognized continually. Increased provision, life-giving events, and the excitement of what Abba will do as we make another trek around the sun -- this is what is happening now.
Do not take what happened last year and dilute His blessing this year. This is why we dig up the ground during Unleavened Bread. We get rid of the old and trust for the new. We don’t need the grain in our storehouse, we need the grain that is set to come forth in this season before us. This requires faith and trust that Abba will honor His promise to you.
He will feed you. He will house you. He will clothe you.
What else do you need?
Seriously, what else do you need?
Stewardship requires an entirely new way of living. If you were a true steward, you would never again worry about your provision and resources. But we worry, nonetheless.
Do not bury the talent you’ve been given.
Have the increase He’s given you be multiplied for your Master because He will come and ask for an account. On that day you do not want to be ashamed.
So let’s look at your life today. Will you be ashamed on that Day He asks for an account?
Or will you hear those words we all desperately long to hear:
Matthew 25:23 …‘Excellent! you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!’
And how is this done?
By taking the talents He has given you TODAY and putting them to work for the Kingdom.
By taking the best firstfruits of your increase and giving them to the One that gave you life.
Do not mix together what Abba gave you last year with what He’s doing now. They call it resting on your laurels. Sure you had a great year last year but that was last year. Separate that from what is happening today.
If you have to, burn the storehouse. If that idea shakes your internal being, be warned you may be like the Rich Young Ruler.
This requires a huge fight against your selfishness. Oh, if only you could get out of your own way…you may end up with life and life in full.
Look closely into the mirror. Beg that person there to let you leave the ways of the previous year. Ask that person to let you walk in faith and no longer seek to preserve your own life.
They say what you give is what you get. So give your life away.
Trust Abba will be there every step of the way. Because He will be.
Let the mother continue to yield milk and more young animals, but never mix what happened in the past with what is happening today.
“You are to bring the best firstfruits of your land into the house of YHVH your God. You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”