15/12/2022
WHY DID GOD COMMANDED THE ESCAPING SLAVES FROM EGYPT TO EAT BITTER HERBS?
By: Iluminado “Boy” P. Comandao Jr.
EXODUS 12:8 (KJV)
“AND THEY SHALL EAT THE FLESH IN THAT NIGHT, ROAST WITH FIRE, AND UNLEAVENED BREAD; AND WITH BITTER HERBS THEY SHALL EAT.”
WHY WERE THEY COMMANDED TO EAT BITTER HERBS?
This question had been lingering in my mind for quite some time already until very recently. Thanks GOD He finally gave me the answers to my question. I now understand it has something to do with the 40 year journey of the escaping slaves. It concerns with the health of the people in that journey.
COMMENTS FROM PASTORS
I tried to ask the question from some pastors previously and all of them had similar answers, “To commemorate their bitter experiences as slaves in Egypt”, to which I could not understand because the slaves then were in haste to escape lest the Egyptian army might catch up with them if they will tarry for doing the ritual of commemoration.
Granting, the slaves were really to perform their ritual of commemoration before their actual escape, there is the possibility later that the slaves might be caught by the Egyptian soldiers and brought them back to be slaves again. If that will be the case, their commemoration will be useless and ironic.
WHEN IS THE TIME TO CELEBRATE?
I believe the commemoration aspect is more appropriate to be celebrated when their escape was already successful or when the slaves have already reached their destination.
BACKGROUNDER:
There were more than a million slaves then who were to escape from Egypt with the blessing of God through Moses. They were to travel on foot as a few only had the means of transport like donkeys, etc.
The escaping slaves were to endure a 40 years journey before they will reach their destination, Canaan which is now Israel.
They were commanded to eat bitter herbs together with the other foods before they commenced with their journey.
WHY BITTER HERBS?
There was no specific kind of bitter herb mentioned in the bible. It was mentioned in general terms.
Presently, there is a plant variety from the family of bitter herbs known as the “King of Bitters” with the scientific name “Andrographis Paniculata” that originated from Sri Lanka and India of Mainland Asia.
This plant had been the subject of numerous scientific studies by many countries some of which were by the University of Toyama, Japan and Khon Kaen University of Thailand, among others.
It was studied and concluded that the said particular plant have so many health benefits that could possibly address to so many various health issues of man.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BITTER HERB ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA
For more understanding on Andrographis Paniculata, please allow me to present the list of its health benefits as a result of many scientific studies.
1. ABORTIFACIENT – can abort pregnancy
2. ANALGESIC – pain killer
3. ANTIBACTERIAL – fights bacteria
4. ANTICARCINOGENIC – inhibit or prevent the development of cancer
5. ANTIDIABETIC – stabilize blood glucose levels in people with diabetes
6. ANTIDIARRHEAL – alleviates diarrhea
7. ANTIFERTILITY – contraceptive
8. ANTI-HIV – effective against HIV infection
9. ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC – lowers glucose level in the blood (high blood sugar)
10. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY – reduces swelling
11. ANTI-MICROBIAL – destroys microorganisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms
12. ANTIOXIDANT – removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism
13. ANTIPARASITIC – treats parasitic diseases, such as those caused by helminths, amoeba,
ectoparasites, parasitic fungi, and protozoa, among others.
14. ANTIPERIODIC – prevents or cure malaria, dengue, etc.
15. ANTIPYRETIC – fever reducer
16. ANTI-SNAKE VENOM - specific antidote to snake venom actions
17. ANTISPASMODIC – relieves spasm of involuntary muscles
18. ANTIULCEROGENIC – prevent or treat ulcers and especially ulcers of the wall of the
stomach or duodenum
19. ANTIVIRAL – inhibits viral activity
20. CANCEROLYTIC – fights, even kills cancer cells
21. CARDIOPROTECTIVE – protects heart muscles
22. CHOLERETIC – alters the properties and flow of bile
23. DEPURATIVE – cleans and purifies the blood
24. DIGESTIVE – promotes digestion
25. EXPECTORANT – promotes mucus discharge from the respiratory system
26. HEPATOPROTECTIVE – protects the liver and gall bladder
27. HYPOGLYCEMIC – blood sugar reducer
28. HYPOLIPIDEMIC – treats high cholesterol level in the blood
29. IMMUNE ENHANCER – promotes good immune system ( increases white cell phagocytes,
inhibits HIV-1 replication and improves CD4+ and T lymphocyte counts)
30. LARVICIDAL – kills insects larvae
31. LAXATIVE – aids bowel elimination
32. NEMATOCIDAL – kills plant-parasitic nematodes like worms ascarids, filarias,
whipworms
33. OVICIDAL – capable of killing eggs especially the eggs of insects, mites, or
nematodes
34. RENOPROTECTIVE – protects the kidney against harmful effects such as of a drug or
other chemicals
35. SEDATIVE – promotes calmness and induces sleep.
36. THROMBOLYTIC – blood clot preventative/buster
37. VERMICIDAL – kills intestinal worms
38. PROTECTS AND CURES UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is an illness caused by an acute infection, which involves the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, sinuses, pharynx, or larynx. This commonly includes nasal obstruction, sore throat, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media, and the common cold.)
From the above-enumerated health benefits, it is but amazing how and why God created this plant. He created this plant beforehand because He knew there will come a time more than a million slaves from Egypt will be needing this plant in their quest for freedom, not to mention the need for this plant by the entire humanity.
God knew the escaping slaves then will be exposed to all the elements of nature, i.e., heat, cold, rain, diseases and illnesses, accidents, etc. in their entire journey of 40 years.
Thus, when God commanded the slaves to eat the bitter herbs, it was to prepare them to be protected from possible illnesses, diseases and many other possible health issues that the slaves may encounter in their journey.
Based on science, eating of bitter herbs will enhance the energy and stamina. Thus, another reason for eating bitter herbs by the escaping slaves is to have the needed extra energy in their 40 year journey so they will not get tired easily.
Moreover, the bitter herbs will strengthen the immune system and make their bodies strong to be able to ward off possible illnesses such as cough, colds, fevers, diarrhea, snake bites, respiratory and digestive problems, and many other health concerns like wounds, inflammations, allergies, accidents, etc.
ABORTIFACIENT and ANTIFERTILITY
On the other hand, still based on science, bitter herbs could probably serve as a contraceptive because of its antifertility property. It possesses also an abortifacient property which means the bitter herb can possibly abort pregnancy.
If God has a commandment in Genesis 1:28 “… AND GOD SAID UNTO THEM, BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND FILL THE EARTH…”, it might seem these other properties of the bitter herb are contradictory to God’s will.
But knowing that God’s mind is way far from ours, I was actually amazed of God’s wondrous creation of such particular herb.
Considering that the slaves will travel on foot for forty years, it would be very hard for the women to become pregnant during the journey, much more delivering a baby on the trail.
Is it not wondrous God created the bitter herbs incorporating into it the extra ANTIFERTILITY/ABORTIFACIENT properties so as to spare the women from the harshness of pregnancy along their journey?.
STILL, SOME WERE BORN DURING THE 40 YEARS JOURNEY
We may be baffled, how come there were still some born during the journey despite of God’s preparing the women not to be pregnant?
In Exodus Chapter 32, there were some escaping slaves who were still worshipping other gods as told.
It simply tells us that not all of the escaping slaves were followers of God.
Therefore, those that got pregnant and delivered babies along the 40 years journey may have not followed God’s instructions for some reasons. It is also a big possibility that some were not able to eat the bitter herbs due to its extreme bitterness.
WAS IT REALLY THE ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA THAT IS WRITTEN IN EXODUS 12:8?
There is some debate about exactly which bitter herbs qualify since different sects may have different customs and traditions. The Mishnah is the first major written work that describes Jewish traditions and it specifies five types of bitter herbs that may be eaten as maror. Maror refers to the bitter herbs eaten at the Passover Seder. They include lettuce, chicory, horseradish, dandelion greens, and possibly clover. Other potential bitter options would include parsley, endive, green onion, and celery.
However, amongst all the bitter herbs that are in existence at present time, the Andrographis Paniculata (AP) surpasses all the above-mentioned herbs in terms of health protection. AP may not be the herb mentioned in Exodus 12:8 but certainly it comes up to be the closest if we are to consider the functionality aspect of the said bitter herb. That is, it addresses to almost all the requirements of the body in that particular situation, their 40 year journey with its corresponding possible scenarios.
HOW DID THE ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA REACHED THE PHILIPPINES?
Egypt is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. Some countries similarly located in mainland Asia are Sri Lanka, India and China to name a few.
As per scientific studies, it is claimed that ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA (AP) is an herb native to Sri Lanka and India. It would not be impossible for the AP from Egypt to reach Sri Lanka, India and China all being situated in a single vast of land.
AP has a peculiar characteristic of spreading its seeds by catapulting to an average distance of 2-3 meters every season. Therefore, it is very possible for AP to reach very far distances by itself alone starting from the biblical times to the present. It is also very possible the seeds may have been unintentionally brought by migrating birds and animals. The most possible explanation is AP may have been brought by the migrating people.
During the period of the Galleon Trade, AP may have been transported by the Chinese traders across the South China Sea to the Philippines.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am a Christian, Filipino, 66 years old, a resident of Davao City, Philippines.
I am not a pastor nor an authority of the bible. All my writings here are all the gift of God as I have been asking the Lord for quite some time already to enlighten me on the wisdom of Exodus 12:8 particularly on the aspect of the bitter herb.
Today, September 20, 2019, I have put in writing the understanding that I received from God in view of the above.
DISCLAIMER
I understand I may not have the complete discernment about the said topic, thus, I am open for corrections that would be appropriate so as not to mislead other people.
I also invite the critics to disprove my claims with proofs/basis.
