Leviticus 20:24
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
God promised to give Israel the land of Canaan as their own inheritance and possession, a rich and fruitful land. He set them apart from all other peoples to belong to himself as his own. That separation required them to keep his statutes and judgments instead of following the practices of the nations driven out before them, so that living by his principles would make them a just and good people and honor them before the world. Belonging to him was to be open and visible, shown in obedience to his commandments, separation from the world's customs and works of darkness, and a life of sanctified works and praise. This distinct, holy life included distinguishing clean foods from unclean and avoiding what defiles the body and hinders communion with him, and it remains a call for his people still to keep separate from the world.
Land Gift and Separation
God promised Israel that they would inherit Canaan and possess it as his gift, a richly fruitful country described as flowing with milk and honey. He himself undertook to give them that promised land to possess as their inheritance. He was the Lord their God who separated them from other peoples and set them apart as his own people. That separation made them his own special people, belonging to him.
The land was taken from the Canaanites, who were dispossessed because of their cruel and licentious practices. In that promised land each family received its own possession. That arrangement placed them in healthful, natural surroundings.
Holy Distinct Life Required
Separation to God requires keeping His statutes and judgments instead of following the practices of the nations driven out before Israel, in order to be holy and to belong to Him. Living by His principles was designed to make Israel a just and good people and to bring them honor before the world. That distinct identity as His own special people calls for holiness through obedience to His commandments and separation from the world's customs, habits, sentiments, evil practices, and works of darkness. This lived distinction is what marks those who serve Him.
Belonging to Him calls for open, visible allegiance as His holy people. His mark is to appear in the life, shown in sanctified works, holiness, and the showing forth of His praise. In diet this separation meant distinguishing clean animals and foods from unclean ones and avoiding what He had declared unclean. Foods declared unclean were harmful, and avoiding them taught that injurious food defiles the body and can hinder communion with God and holy service.
The same separation encompassed strict cleanliness in the wilderness camp, where refuse was not to remain in or around the tents and the camp was to be kept holy. The instruction to Israel to remain separate from the surrounding peoples continues as a call for God's people to keep separate from the world.