Take the moment after the Flood, when the world is starting over. God gives Noah and his family a new covenant, a new set of rules. And smack dab in the middle of it, we find this: "Every creeping thing which lives shall be to you for food" (Genesis 9:3).
Seems straightforward, right? Eat what you need to survive. But is that all there is to it? The rabbis of the Midrash certainly didn't think so.
The Midrash of Philo, a collection of interpretations and expansions on the Torah, zeroes in on this very verse. Why, it asks, did God specifically mention "creeping things?" Was this just a divine endorsement of a snail-filled diet?
Well, probably not. The Midrash suggests that there's a deeper meaning lurking beneath the surface.
Perhaps, it's about recognizing the inherent worth in every creature, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Even the lowliest "creeping thing" has a place in God's creation. And by allowing us to consume them, God reminds us of the delicate balance of life, the interconnectedness of all things.
Think about it: After the devastation of the Flood, humanity needed a new perspective. They needed to understand their role in this new world, a world where they were given dominion over all living things. But dominion doesn’t mean destruction or exploitation. It means stewardship, responsibility.
So, maybe that little phrase "creeping things" isn’t just about what's on the menu. Maybe it’s a reminder to appreciate the intricate web of life, to treat every creature with respect, and to recognize the divine spark in even the smallest among us. Maybe it's about understanding that even what seems insignificant has a purpose, a value, in the grand scheme of creation.
What do you think? Is there more to this verse than meets the eye? Perhaps the real nourishment isn't just the food we consume, but the wisdom we gain from understanding our place in the world and our relationship with all living things.