<> Ask the Pastor The Rev. Walter Snyder Q: This may seem trivial, but I'll ask anyhow. I recently saw an article talking about the invention of beer in ancient Egypt, and it got me thinking: "Did the Israelites drink beer? What did they drink?" A: Like you, I like to sit down occasionally to figure out what life was like in Bible times. It helps to understand the people and situations we meet on Scripture's pages. I heard an article about Egyptian beer on National Public Radio. The old recipe was resurrected through modern scientific analysis. A British company made a limited edition, and has been selling it. Evidently, the Egyptians didn't have hops to season their brew and give it a full and tangy flavor. Using what the chemical analysis and logic showed, the company seasoned the mix with juniper and coriander. Archaeology has shown that rich or poor, slave or free, all drank beer in Egypt by the time of Israel's bondage. Perhaps part of Israel's lament in Numbers 11 could have come from missing their daily allotment of beer: "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Israel had beer at the time of the judges, as 1 Samuel 1:13-15 shows: "Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, 'How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.' 'Not so, my lord,' Hannah replied, 'I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.'" Evidently, water, beer, and wine were the three most common drinks. In a hot climate, milk would soon spoil, and was probably reserved for the young or else made into cheese. Fruit would quickly rot, and such things as pasteurizing were unknown. Juice that sat for any length of time would turn to wine, vinegar, or a spoiled mess on its own in a very short time. Hard work probably was rewarded with beer or wine. The Lord warned Israel in Isaiah 24:9 that when Jerusalem fell, they'd lose their day-ending drink: "No longer do they drink wine with a song; the beer is bitter to its drinkers." Isaiah 28:7 cautions the many who abused their drink and misled Judah: "And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions." Beer's mention in the Bible pales to that of wine (over 200 occurrences) and water (over 450). Like beer, wine receives a mixed review. Misuse is condemned, yet the Lord commanded wine for the Passover celebration of his deliverance for Israel. Jesus established the meal of his new covenant with bread and wine. The tithe included wine, which went in part to the salary of the Levitical priests. The time of Messiah was prophesied to be a time of free-flowing wine. Wine was viewed as one of God's greatest blessings, according to Psalm 104: "He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart." Of course, water is the staple. In a dry climate such as Palestine, it was very dear, and fresh water was a treasure. The wells, springs, oases, and rivers were among Israel's greatest blessings. The Bible often depicts salvation and living with the Lord in terms of being rooted in God and watered by his Word. Baptism brings forgiveness and new life through water and the Word. Jesus speaks of himself as the bearer of living water. Revelation brings all the Old Testament river metaphors to a conclusion in the River of Life which flows from the throne of the Lamb to water his people. Even water is seen in a bad light. The chaos of the sea is a metaphor for the forces of satanic evil. The Flood brought God's wrath. Israel was punished for the Golden Calf by being forced to drink its charred remains mixed with their water. Water, wine, or beer - each has its positive place, each can be misused or can cause destruction. The Scriptures show how much is enough of a good thing, and what constitutes abuse. So long for now. Remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951 or via the Internet through xrysostom@aol.com. You can also stop me on the street for a chat. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville, Texas, and coauthor of "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1996 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.