Summary
The dietary law says nothing about what we can eat. Eating is a symbol for learning. It tells us who we should learn from, and who we should not learn from.
Each animal was used as a symbol for a type of teacher; some good, some bad.
God's 'play' was acted out by the Hebrews for many years and they did not know it was a play. God told them they would be a 'proverb' or 'parable'. These are other words telling us that their lives would be a symbol to teach the world about God.
The dietary law was just a small part of the play. As God taught which teachers we should choose, he taught about his character.
His desire for us is
- to do good, not to curse us. He does not hide his treasure as the coney does. [1]
- to do mercy, not judgement as the camel would do.
- we know truth, and not believe just anything that comes along like the swine, or rabbits.
- we pursue his word motivated by the love he has for us, like the clean fish.
- we meditate on his word and allow it to produce a life dedicated to God.