Exodus 22:31
““You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.”
What does Exodus 22:31 mean?
God's call to holiness here isn't about earning favor through dietary rules, but about Israel being set apart as His people. The instruction to avoid meat torn by wild animals reflects practical wisdom (such meat could carry disease or decompose quickly in the heat), but it's framed as something that matters to God because His people matter to Him. When you're in relationship with someone, even ordinary choices like what you eat become expressions of that bond. The point is that being holy means letting your allegiance to God shape even small, everyday decisions, not perfectly, but genuinely.