Is Wheat Healthy Or Not? A Biblical Perspective

The Old Testament scripture of Ezekiel 4:9 says,grains from antiquity served to protect against pests.
"take thou also unto thee wheat and barley, andwhen this protection was removed, the use of
beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and putcarcinogenic pesticides increased, demonstrating that
them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof...."one instance of interference with God's foods only
This scripture is an actual recipe for whole grainleads to a multitude of problems. The tough outer
bread that is still being made today and that hasshell also served to preserve the nutrients inside of
even been marketed under the name of "Ezekielthe grain for very long periods of time. It's estimated
Bread" and sold in modern grocery stores. Obviously,that real grains stored in simple granaries, may be
the bread, in keeping with how bread was made inkept fresh for approximately two hundred years.
history, is whole grain.However, that time may be longer considering that
Most health conscious people believe they're doingwheat found in king Tutankhamen's tomb was
well when they include whole wheat in their diet.removed, planted, and sprouted. This is documented
Nevertheless, many end up disappointed when theyby archaeologists and means that wheat more than
discover they don't tolerate it very well. Practically allthree thousand years old germinated.
breads and pastas sold in the United States, whetherWhen the scripture of Ezekiel 4:9 speaks of wheat
from white or whole wheat grain flour, are madeas an ingredient to use in the making of bread; it is
from some form of wheat. Wheat is mentionedspeaking of the wheat that God created, not man's
numerous times throughout the Bible as a good andbotched "wheat". The Lord's wheat is perfect in
wholesome food and symbolizes things that God'snutrition, requires no need of pesticides, is tough
word labels as good. Why then is it causing so manyenough to survive hundreds of years of storage, has
people serious health problems? The answer lies ina gluten that doesn't damage the body, has a flavor
the fact that modern wheat is not the samethat is revered among great chefs, is hearty enough
substance as the wheat of which the scripturesto grow in poor soil, and that even grows wild to
speak.supply food for the nomads.
Archaeologists have discovered many differentThe hybridization of a plant or animal involves the
varieties of grains that are often generically referredmixing of two similar, but distinct animals or plants to
to as "wheat" in ancient manuscripts. These realcreate a new "variety" of that animal or plant. This is
grains (heirloom varieties) have not been hybridizedhow the modern wheat health danger has come into
or genetically modified by man in any way, unlikeexistence. Such a happening cannot help but cause
modern wheat. They are significantly higher insome to more closely consider not only the spiritual;
nutrients and contain a gluten that is unlike the glutenbut also, the natural reasons why God said, in
that resulted from man's attempt to play God byLeviticus 19:19, "...thou shalt not let thy cattle gender
interfering with wheat's genetic make-up. Manywith a diverse kind (crossbreed). Thou shalt not sow
people who are allergic to modern wheat are not atthy field with mingled seed (the mix of two different
all allergic to the real and original wheats that Godkinds of seed growing together as one)."
created. There are also medically confirmed celiacsThe Bible speaks on every aspect of life for all
who are able to consume the wheats from antiquity.nations for all generations as it's recorded in Psalm
What then are the varieties of real wheat? One100:5 that, "...his truth endureth to all generations."
variety that is believed to have been a staple inThe modern world may appear to offer new things
ancient Egypt is known as kamut (kah-moot). It isand face new ideas, but whatever the activities may
usually sold only in health food stores or in the healthbe, they are motivated by the very same mindsets
food section of major grocery stores. It can be usedthat have existed since the dawn of civilization. For
to make breads, pastas, pastries, pancakes, and aexample, whether it's a question of a genetic
variety of other dishes. It is considerably lighter andengineer tampering with genetic code in a laboratory
fluffier than the unnatural modern wheat of today.or of an ancient shepherd tampering with the genetic
Another ancient wheat grain that is believed to havecode of animals in the field by crossbreeding them; it
been extensively cultivated in Mesopotamia is knownamounts to the same thing.
as "spelt". Again, it's much lighter than modern wheat,This is why Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, "the thing that hath
is considerably richer in nutrients, and usually toleratedbeen, it is that which shall be. And that which is done
very well by those with wheat allergies. It may beis that which shall be done; and there is no new thing
found in health food stores or sections of theunder the sun. Is there any ting whereof it may be
average grocery store.said, see, this is new? It hath been already of old
Other real grains include, but are not limited to:time which was before us".
einkorn (difficult to locate), emmer, sorghum, millet,The laws, commandments, statutes and precepts
quinoa, and amaranth. All of these grains have beenthat God gave were for the protection of his people.
around since antiquity and nourished the people of oldHowever, many choose to view these laws that
including the servants of God who often lived wellthey don't understand as nothing but a ridiculously
past one hundred years.stern rule over people. Little children rarely fully
What motivated the "creation" of modern wheat?understand why they can't do something or why
Spelt, an ancient grain that was once grown in thisthey must do another thing. Nevertheless, they
country, like many of the other real grains, takes ashould obey and one day they will understand and be
little longer to grow and is more difficult to processthankful for parents who cared enough to prohibit
due to its extremely tough outer shell. Therefore,them from doing anything their childish and
man, in his impatience and greed for riches, decidedmischievous mind fabricated. On a higher and spiritual
he would make his own wheat, customized to hislevel, a similar parental control is in effect with God. Is
specifications. Someone once compared such anit the Lord's commandments that are distasteful or
attitude to that of the fictitious mad creator ofthe reality of his supreme and perpetual sovereignty?
Frankenstein who ended up with a monster. ModernChange in anything major is often slow and
wheat is now suspected of being a contributor to aworrisome but not impossible. Ultimately, it is the
host of diseases and ailments, including cancer. Shouldconsumers who fill the pockets of those who
it really be referred to as a relative of ancient wheat,produce tainted, altered, dangerous, and freakish
or as a monster food whose man-made gluten hasfoods. Grocers and restaurant owners are now being
and continues to cause damage? Although somecompelled to hear the demands of informed
celiacs cannot tolerate any gluten at all, not even thatconsumers who want and need to return to the
of the ancient grains, one has to question if theywholesome, life-giving foods that God gave in
would have ever had such a problem had they neverabundance. Every request to the heads of grocery
consumed modern wheat in the first place.stores for the availability, at fair prices, of real grains,
Another problem arose from the creation of moderncounts. Every refusal to support the production of
wheat. While man embraced a grain with a protectivemodern wheat counts. Every voice can make a
covering much less tougher than that of real grains,difference and every action can influence someone
he ended up throwing away God's built in guardelse. So, is wheat healthy or not? Man's modern
against pests. The tough outer shell of the truewheat is not healthy. God's wheat is.