A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY

In the Bible, God described the Holy Land, the home promised to Abraham and his descendants, as “A Land of Milk and Honey.” This is certainly poetic, but a melodic characterization does not serve the spiritual purposes of the document. We are searching for meaning and symbolism here. Considering God repeatedly used this phrase to distinguish one special parcel of the earth confirms the momentous merit inherent in that destination.

Being “A Land of Milk and Honey” is praising its ability to provide sustenance, and probably all the needs, of the Abrahamic nation that would come to occupy it. This slogan promises that life in that country will be sweet and fulfilling. Safety seems assured. 

The ability to draw closer to God is strongly implied. 

This achievement is part of a prime directive in the Torah. God said, “You will be Holy, for I, the Lord, Your God, Am Holy.” The meaning of this commandment is discussed at length in an earlier blog. In short, because the word “Holy” means “separate” or “different,” we are being told to be different in the way God is different. God is 100% spiritual. Thus, we must recognize, activate, engage, connect with, and nurture our souls. Living in this Holy Land facilitates that undertaking. The land itself aids our quest to be closer to God. 

But instead of “Milk and Honey,” why not “Beef and Beehives”? Surely one can derive similar metaphors of purpose from either. But compelling differences and implications mediate against substituting the original description.

Milk and honey are produced by animals and bees, respectively. These substances have great nutritional value to people. If harvested, they are easily replaced, without causing harm to the beast or the insect. Cows and goats produce more milk after eating grass. Bees make more honey if they have flowers and hive.

So what? 

I could debate environmental determinants accrued from raising, slaughtering, and preparing meat for consumption. But I won’t. Removing the beehive only delays the ability to produce more honey, adding additional hassle factors for the overworked drones. So, I won’t discuss that triviality.

Understanding the importance of the “Milk and Honey” designation requires revisiting an earlier Torah event. Let’s look back at the flood, for which Noah built an ark. After the water receded, God told Noah that people were now allowed to eat animals, if certain restrictions were observed. Before the deluge, humans lived harmoniously with the other creatures. Amicable and congenial coexistence precluded eating each other, fortunately. 

Eating meat was a novel experience. Vegetarianism had reigned before the rains came. Apparently, human beings are more God-like when refraining from eating any member of the animal kingdom. The dietary inclusion of flesh was a consequence of people’s lifestyles.  Prevailing acts and attitudes downgraded the heavenly attachment, thus instigating the flood. 

Notwithstanding a lot of hype to the contrary, the Kosher dietary laws are not about physical health. They pertain to the spiritual needs of the soul. The first Biblical injunction of this foundational attribute was exhibited after the flood by including Animalia as permitted food. 

Our actions and diets nurture not only our physical health, but also our spiritual well-being. The flood was sent to correct a path toward inhumanity that people were embarking upon. They were acting more like animals: following a simple road of instinct and desire, instead of heeding the call to be more spiritual. Seeking to satisfy animalistic preferences precluded focusing on the God-driven urge to connect with the soul. This resulted in reduced relevance for spiritual hunger. 

Diminution of the celestial link meant weakening of the soul. Our Godly attachments suffered leading up to the episode of the flood. The body could now ingest and digest animal protein without causing spiritual harm. Human beings had descended to a lower level of spirituality, and our dietary tolerances were affected.  

Fast forward to being invited into the “Land of Milk and Honey.” The presumption was that the ethereal essence of this country would enhance the souls of the Children of Israel. Just as people did before the flood, they would instinctively acknowledge the potentially harmful effects a diet of meat, fish, and fowl would have on spiritual actuation. People would naturally reject these foods.

The Promised Land was to be an environment capable of bringing the freed slaves back to a point in time and spirituality similar to the pre-flood era. 

Why make this promise of what the Holy Land could offer?

Words create reality, guiding the evolution of attitudes. God used the words “Land of Milk and Honey” to insinuate the primacy of spiritual focus into the national psyche. By informing people what was around the corner, those Israelites entering the Promised Land were being prepared to take advantage of the intrinsic spiritual contribution gained from this new home. Every man, woman, and child could begin the task of orienting toward the celestial opportunity. Faith in God should have been enough to quiet material concerns as they endeavored to repress egotistical and emotional distractions.

Why this specific real estate?

Climate, geography, weather, natural resources, arability, defendability from invasion, and  transport of goods and people are some of the desirable qualities in a nation’s homeland. The mix is weighted differently everywhere you go. Opportunities and restrictions inherent in that area mold the national character, including its societies, attitudes, aspirations, and rules.

As human habitation in the world evolved and took hold, different areas of the earth offered unique qualities. Some were better for growing. Others excelled in grazing. Dry and wet climates attracted separate ecosystems. Ice-laden countries competed with deserts for appropriate occupancy. Cold or hot environments accommodated societies so inclined.

The earthly soil serves as the source of our material composition, for we are made of dust. The availability and concentration of local nutrients contributed to physical health and learning. The concept that a certain region could heighten spiritual development flows from this observation.   

The land promised to Abraham is imbued with a preponderance of spiritual energy. The future land of Israel possessed a peculiar trait, indeed. It is the sacred center of the earth, designed to ignite a passion of striving to bridge the terrestrial and celestial planes. It met God’s purpose to facilitate the often innate, unrecognized, and untapped human aspiration to be Holy. That is, to be more like the Creator.   

God guided the Israeli people to this “Land of Milk and Honey” accompanied by the promise of an earthly foundation to pursue connections with the heavenly plane. Descriptive foreshadowing clued their expectations toward the ultimate goal of life: wedding the earthly and heavenly powers. This marriage enhances both for an optimal life on this planet.