February 6- How To Cook A Baby Goat

Exodus 23:14-25:40
Matthew 24:29-51
Psalm 30:1-12
Proverbs 7:24-27

I crack up whenever I read Bible verses that seem to be out of place. As I read Exodus 23, I see one of these passages in verse 19. God is speaking about religious festivals and Jewish celebrations, when out of the clear blue he says, "Don't cook a young goat in its mother's milk." Now, that is a strange verse. Why in God's law would he care about how one cooks a baby goat? While the Bible says a lot about food, having a recipe for goat here seems a little strange. However, this text shows us something about God. The Lord isn't cruel. Why should one not cook a goat in its mother's milk? Because that's cruel. This is why it's wrong to torture puppies. Because God isn't cruel. That's why it's wrong to trick the blind. Because, God isn't cruel. Wow, if we just believed this text and lived it in our lives! I can just hear my elementary school friends now "Chris. let's go pick on the retarded kids." I could have responded "Don't cook a young goat in its mother's milk." No. God isn't cruel.