Warnings From Israel's Past

INTRO

In this week’s lessons, we’ll cover some of the more controversial chapters in Paul’s writings to the Corinthians. It’s really easy to read through the Bible and then move on, but I challenge you to find out what God’s Word says to you. In addition to listening to what I say, dig into the Word of God for yourself, planting the Word in good soil so that when tough times come, you will know what you believe.

Corinth was one of those cities that was kind of like Las Vegas. Paul wanted the believers in Corinth to learn from their forefathers, the Israelites. The Israelites enjoyed many blessings—protection from God, guidance from God, and miracles from God—yet “God was not pleased with most of them” (v. 5), because they turned their backs to God. In Paul’s letters to Corinth, we’ll see God wasn’t pleased with the believers in Corinth either. He gave them an abundance of favor and grace through the Lord Jesus Christ, The Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), who was for them “a life-giving Spirit.” Yet the Corinthians gave in to society and the local culture just like the Israelites had done. Even though God’s hand was on them, they chose to ignore Him and lived according to the culture and the flesh and the temptations of Satan.

TEACHING

1 Corinthians 10:1-2: Paul used Israel as an example. All the Israelites were under the cloud and passed through the sea (v. 1). All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea (v. 2). Over and over and over, the Israelites experienced God’s blessings. From a New Testament perspective, Tom Constable said, “Baptism is the outward expression of the believer’s identification with the object of his or her faith.”¹ The Israelites “were baptized into Moses,” which indicated they followed him. Their experiences “constituted a dry baptism.”² Moses seemed to be a foreshadowing of Jesus. By following Moses, they submitted to his authority and expressed their identification with him. They experienced their faith in the Lord, but it came through Moses.

1 Corinthians 10:3–5: They ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink (vv. 3–4a). This has to be connected back to verse 2. Every one of them experienced the presence of God. Everyone experienced this faith component in Moses because Moses had his faith in God. The spiritual food was the manna that fell from heaven (Deuteronomy 8:2–4). The spiritual drink was the water God brought forth from the rock (Exodus 17:1–7). This account showed the people riding on the faith of Moses, so Moses stepped up as the mediator by asking God what he should do with the people. Yes, the manna and water were literal, but in both instances, it was Moses talking to God on behalf of the people asking God to intervene. The Israelites drank from a spiritual rock—and that rock was Christ (v. 4b). Christ was present with them at all times. “But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness” (v. 5). Only Joshua and Caleb made it through the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:6–13: Paul warned the Corinthians about falling into the same sins as the Israelites—worshipping idols (v. 7), sexual immorality (v. 8), testing the Lord and His patience (v. 9), and complaining (v. 10). Like the Israelites, the Corinthians seemed to say God was never enough. The church today often seems to say the same thing. Because the Israelites complained and went off-track of what God wanted for their lives, God killed them. Ten times in Exodus and Numbers, we’re told about the Israelites complaining against God. God had a purpose—and He wants us to learn from their mistakes so we won’t give in to them as well (v. 11). As Nelson’s Commentary says, “God is truly bringing about the end of all things.”³ Paul warned that those who think they stand strong must be careful lest they fall (v. 12). God will always bring about discipline when people think they are above Him. If we’re not careful, we can fall into the same sin. We may think that because we have Jesus, then it’s okay to go our own way. Instead of giving into the temptation, we should draw upon God who promises to help us escape from it (v. 13).

1 Corinthians 10:14–15: Although Paul understood the temptations they faced, he continued to warn the Corinthians against them (vv. 14–15). Rick Peterson gave four simple ways to deal with temptation.⁴ First, avoid temptation whenever possible. Proverbs 4:14–15 says to avoid the path of the wicked. Second, flee from powerful temptations. Third, chronic temptation is something we need to confess and offer to Christ, and we need to ask for His cleansing work. Finally, resist temptation until it leaves.

1 Corinthians 10:16–22: From the manna and spiritual water, Israel participated in the presence of God and His provision, but they still gave in to idolatry (vv. 3–4). Likewise, the Corinthians partook of the cup and the bread of Christ (v. 16), and they participated in idol worship as well (vv. 18–20). Paul warned the Corinthians, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the cup of demons” (v. 21).

1 Corinthians 10:2–24: Saying something is acceptable doesn’t make it right (v. 23).

The whole point in Chapter 10 is we can’t blend in with the world. We can’t blend walking with the Lord in faith, having been baptized in one Spirit and having become one in the body of Christ, with walking with the world. Paul said if we’re not careful, God’s judgment will come and fall on us.

CLOSING

Avoid and flee temptation. Would you just confess what you’re tempted with to a friend or your spouse? Confess those temptations and resist them, because Scripture says when you resist those things, the devil will flee.