Leviticus 11:29-32

²⁹ “These are unclean for you among the creatures that swarm upon the earth: the weasel, the mouse, lizards of every kind, ³⁰ the gecko, the land crocodile, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. ³¹ These are unclean for you among all that swarm; whoever touches one of them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. ³² And anything upon which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether an article of wood or cloth or leather or sackcloth, any article that is used for any purpose; it shall be dipped in water, and it shall be unclean until the evening, and then it shall be clean……

Not being orthodox Jews, most of us aren’t that familiar with the concept of clean and unclean animals. So rather than dealing with this passage from a dietary standpoint, I look at it as more of a biblical animal picture book.

When I think of the variety of things in God’s creation, I am in awe. A weasel and a mouse are similar. But lizards are another deal. And then there are even unique characteristics among the members of the lizard family — geckos, crocodiles, and chameleons…..

It’s marvelously true in the human family.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for including me in the list of your creatures. Thanks for making me. And thank you for making me — me. Amen.