Icyspark
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1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Warnings From Israel’s History
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Let's take a look at what Paul means by saying the Israelites are an example to us. According to this passage:
"God was not pleased with most of them" (i.e. the people of Israel). Why not? Well, Paul lists off some of the bad examples the Israelites left for us.
- They committed idolatry.
- They committed sexual immorality.
- They tested Christ.
- They grumbled.
With these examples provided, Paul goes on to say that they were recorded "as warnings for us." Warnings? Now there's a word which is filled with explicit and obvious meaning. God doesn't look fondly upon His new covenant church "setting our hearts on evil things as they did." To those who may think they are "standing firm," Paul admonishes them to "be careful that you don't fall!" That is said in the context of resisting temptation, which he acknowledges that no one is compelled to embrace the temptation. God always provides "a way out" so that we can resist the temptation.
The Scriptures are cohesive and noncontradictory. Look for the main and plain meaning of the Scriptures and almost always you will see the common thread that ties it all together.
I pray this helps.
But for the grace of God go I,cyspark