Young Goats in Mother's Milk

“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.”

Exodus 23:19, 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21

“For years scholars were puzzled by the Mosaic prohibition: “Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” (Exodus 23:19; cf. 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21). Adam Clarke felt that the design of the commandment was basically to prevent blunting moral sensitivity and developing hardness of heart (n.d.,1:422). It now is known, however, that boiling a kid in milk to appease certain deities was a common Canaanite ritual. A Ugaritic text says: “Over the fire seven times the sacrificers cook a kid in milk...” (Driver, 1956, p. 121). The Mosaic regulation, therefore, was to prevent mimicry of heathenism.” 1

This can’t just be about opposing paganism.

The contexts of these passages is, at its core, about holiness.

If this command is only to opposed Canaanite paganism, it is pointless for God to give this command to the Israelites so early before they are in Canaan. They are at least 40 years away from entering the Promised Land.

More sensible to understand this command as independent of where they were or who their enemies might be.

Yet, it is still an odd command. Understanding its place in the greater context of Scripture can help us understand why it was given.

Holiness is the core of walking with God.

Deuteronomy 14:2 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. - This was well known by Israel, but they tended to desire this status without living under its conditions.

As Paul wrote, “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.” (Romans 7:10)

Their decision to NOT be God’s holy, set apart, special people meant that they ultimately suffered.

This stretched on into the 1st century and culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

How we use God’s gifts affects our holiness.

Romans 8:1-11 - Those who are “fleshly” in mindset will misuse anything that God gives them.

For our reference example, the gift would be the young goat. Such a goat could be sacrificed as a sin offering to the LORD.

To use the mother’s milk - a life-giving, sustaining element for the young goat - to boil it, would be a misuse of the gift God had given.

This raises many important questions about the greater view of what God is telling us in the Bible.

What is the relationship between life and death?

How does God give us abundant life, and how does He save us from death?

In what ways might we misuse the life we are given by using it for the cause of death?

It is not certain that the Israelites themselves even understood why this command was given. It doesn’t seem like a goat boiled in milk would be particularly appealing.

However, the fact that it occurs three times gives it importance, and shows us that God puts many things in Scripture that help us to understand His will.

The true glory of God’s salvation is staggering.

It is a gift.

Romans 6:23 ...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

It is a choice.

Galatians 5:24; Romans 7:14-25 - Choosing Christ means that you choose to stop serving self, and serve Him.

It is a life.

John 10:10-11 ...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ... The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

God gives us ABUNDANT life. Not only that, but He secures it by offering Himself!

The “gift of the Holy Spirit” mentioned in Acts 2:38 is related to what the prophet Joel wrote.

Joel 2:32a And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

The Old Testament authors looked forward to God’s salvation.

Jacob: Genesis 49:18 I wait for your salvation, O LORD.

David: Psalms 14:7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Asaph: Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!

Isaiah: Isaiah 45:17 But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.

We can misuse our salvation.

God’s gift of grace is misused

Romans 6:1-14 - We can claim allegiance with God, but still live a worldly life.

Grace is the only way that a Christian can live. Without it, a Christian is spiritually dead.

To misuse this gift of life in grace is the same as boiling a young goat in his mother’s milk!

God’s gift of sonship is abused

Hebrews 10:26-31 - To be adopted into the Lord’s family is an awesome gift.

Our place as sons and daughters of God will never be taken away, but we can become UNFAITHFUL sons and daughters.

So many point a finger at the sinful world, but never consider that they have rejected the Word of God themselves, and thus become unfaithful children of God.

To abuse our relationship with God is the same as boiling a young goat in his mother’s milk!

God’s gift of shepherding is overlooked

John 10:10-15 - The contrast is given between the shepherd and the thief.

In application, the “thief” in Jesus’ parable can be shown to be the Pharisees and the Jewish rulers of the 1st Century.

These were indeed boiling their young goats in mother’s milk!

The Law was intended for life, but they were using it to enact death upon others by not being God’s righteous shepherds of the people.

We can do this by never having shepherds for the congregation, or claiming that they are not necessary.

Thank God that we have the True Shepherd as our leader!

Use God’s gifts in His ways.

Work His work in His way.

1 Peter 4:11 - We must never misuse the incredible gifts we have been given.

Know that all our works will be judged.

Mark 9:49 (NKJV) “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

1.) The Ras Shamra Discovery, Wayne Jackson, M.A., Apologetics Press,