God is Good

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 34:8           

Meditate on taste.

 God is good—there is no doubt about that! But this Psalm that David wrote says… Taste and see that the LORD is good. Taste and see. Those are two different sensations. We taste with our tongue and see with our eyes. After God created man, He created all the plants.

Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life." And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. Genesis 1:29-31

Of the wonderful plants that God created for food, there are several foods that we have here in Israel that are considered not only tasty to eat, but are well known as good for healing, too. As the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses gave them God’s message. Those seven foods are the ones that are known for their healing properties.

Harvesting grain in Israel.

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. Deuteronomy 8:7-8

These are all favorites of mine, and my mother can fix them in so many ways. The grains are harvested in the spring, but we use them all year round. Remember, Ruth, David’s grandmother, gleaned in Boaz’s barley fields when she first came to Israel with her mother-in-law. Barley has medicinal qualities. I heard mothers in Nazareth talk about using barley water for upset stomachs in their families. My own mother, Mary, makes a wonderful barley bread. Yes. All these plants produce tasty foods. God is good to have designed and made all these great foods.

 

Prayer – Lord God, thank you for Your creativity in making all these plants that are so good to eat…and are good for our bodies. Miraculously good.  

 

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "God is great!" Psalm 70:4

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

This is similar to the barley cakes of Jesus’ day.

 

Barley Cakes

1 cup barley flour

6 Tbsp sesame oil

2 Tbsp water

Several pinches of salt

 

Mix water, oil, and salt. Work into flour and knead for 5-10 minutes, or until elastic. Add more water or oil, if necessary. Dough should be oily. Roll the dough flat on a floured surface. Cut circles with a glass or cutter. Place cakes on an oiled or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F until lightly browned.

            Optional: sprinkle with sesame seeds or “Zaatar” (thyme) before baking.

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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