1 Corinthians 10
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
We need to understand, as it says in verse 11, that these things are written for us and not for the Israelites of that dispensation. And now, as we read God’s Word, this text is no longer for the Corinthian believers but is directed at us.
Contemplate on what the Lord is telling us here. Although a huge number of Israelites were delivered from Egypt, and experienced God’s miraculous power, “with many of them God was not well pleased”. It is important to note that though they experienced Christ’s presence (verse 4) they sinned to such an extent that they “were overthrown in the wilderness”.
Think of the time when Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan to bring a report. All the spies agreed that it was a wonderful, abundantly fruitful land. But 10 of them vehemently declared that the giants and fortresses were too strong. They influenced the masses even when the 2 (Joshua and Caleb) spoke with faith in God’s power to give them the victory. The vast majority sided with the unbelief and pessimism of the 10 faithless spies. This wasn’t the first time they complained and rebelled. Some of their acts of rebellion are mentioned in the text and there were many other occassions when they murmured and roused the wrath of God.
This is recorded for us to learn lessons from what happened to them. We can broaded verse 11 and accept that the whole Bible is written for us. It is God’s letter to you. Shouldn’t it be very precious to you? Not a day should go by where you are not busy with God’s Word, reading, absorbing and obeying His Word to you.