As a Texan, there are few things I love more in life than a good barbecue. Doesn’t matter if its ribs, sirloins, ribeyes, burgers, or a brisket that’s set for a day-long smoke, BBQ is a way of life. I can’t imagine it not being a part of my life.
But imagine if it weren’t, and not because we don’t have a good smoker, but because it’s not allowed by God.
It’s one of those “blink and you miss it” type of verses. Way back in Leviticus 17:3-4, God tells everyone that if they want to eat meat, they can’t kill the animal at their camp. They have to bring it to the door of the sanctuary, let the priests slaughter it, burn the fat as a peace offering, then return home and kill it.
There is some disagreement here, though. Some commentators argue that the “slaughtering” here only speaks to animals offered in sacrifice, and not to the everyday killing and eating of animals.
That certainly seems to fit the context: Immediately before the text in Deuteronomy 12, Moses talks about centralization in worship, whereas the verses after Leviticus 17:3-4 talk about not sacrificing to idols.
But there also seems to be a difference in the type of animal used. Leviticus 17:3-4 mentions domesticated animals specifically (ox, lamb, or goat), whereas game animals, like birds, are excluded.
If that’s the case, then the Law in Leviticus mandated that all domesticated animals be brought before the sanctuary before you eat it. It had to be part of a religious service that acted as a sacrifice; then, and only then, could you take it home and consume it with your family and friends.
Deuteronomy 12 removes that prohibition. God argues that you can eat meat within “any of your gates, whatever you desire.” Any type of meat is able to be killed and eaten at any time. Even those who are ritually impure (“the unclean and the clean”) can eat whatever they want. Ritual purification doesn’t apply here.
Why does this all matter? Because eating meat was considered a luxury.
Even when Brookshire’s has their weekly meat sales, eating steak is not an everyday activity in our house. It’s usually reserved for semi-special occasions and/or Sunday Night Baseball.
When God tells them they can eat as much as they want, it implies that there will be plenty available. They won’t have to wait; if they can afford it and they desire it, go ahead and eat it. There won’t be a need to travel to the Temple, first, which could be a long way away from home.
It’s yet another verse that speaks to the bountiful blessings that God provides in the Promised Land. It won’t be a place of scarcity, but a home that abundantly supplies their needs in ways they can’t yet imagine.