Sunday, November 21, 2010 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS (31)
LEARNING LEST YOU FALL
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Chapter 10 begins with the word, “Moreover” (NKJV, KJV), of “For” (NASU) which ties this section to his previous work. The word implies an application of what was previously said (Note: NA27 & Textus Receptus use different words – gar & de, but both words are connective to previous thought). Paul has noted how he must remain faithful. Now he presents the example of Israel in the wilderness as one of failure to be faithful to God. Let us notice the events he refers to and the application he makes in vs. 12-13.
I.
The Example of Israel Delivered
(1-5)
a.
(1) - Paul
wants them to be aware – he did not want these brethren to be ignorant.
As a preacher (and Apostle) Paul wants to teach and will use
examples and illustrations to help them get the point.
Such is the responsibility of every preacher of God’s word.
b.
Our
Fathers (Israel having been delivered from the slavery of Egypt) passed
through the sea (1-2)
Paul here make reference to Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea with the
miraculous help of Jehovah God (Exodus 14).
i.
NOTE how
he describes them as having been “baptized
into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1 Cor. 10:1-2)
ii.
Baptism
actually means “immersion”.
Note how Paul here mentions the cloud they were UNDER, the sea
they passed THROUGH on both sides (Ex. 14:22 says, “So
the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground,
and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left”)
and there was ground under them (Exodus 14:21 described it as “dry
land”). On all sides Israel
was “immersed” as they passed through the Sea.
Contrast this with sprinkling or pouring – such does NOT fit the
picture Paul here describes.
AND in other passages, immersion is emphasized (Romans 6:3-4, Acts
8:38-39).
iii.
Baptism
saved them from the slavery of Egypt.
It was this act which Israel submitted to God by faith (they
trusted God in going through the Red Sea) that they were finally freed
from their bondage in Egypt.
In like fashion, baptism saves us.
When we obey the gospel by being baptized in faith, we are saved
from the bondage of sin (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Pet. 3:20-21,
etc.).
iv.
Why
baptized “into Moses”?
He was their leader in the wilderness, though ultimately it was
God. There is a sense in
which Moses is a type of Christ. In
Galatians 3:27 we are told that when we are baptized into Christ we put
on Christ. Just as Israel followed Moses through the wilderness, when we
put on Christ we follow Him through the wilderness of our life as
Christians.
c.
They were
sustained by “spiritual food” and “spiritual drink.”
(3-4)
i.
The
scriptures cite examples of Israel being provided manna from heaven
(Exodus 16) and on other occasions we read of God providing water for
them (Ex. 15:22-25, 17:6, Num. 20:11, etc.).
The accounts in scripture demonstrate that God physically
sustained His people.
ii.
Why make
reference to spiritual food here?
It is described as spiritual food because it was provided by God
miraculously, reminded them that God would take care of them, and it was
typical of God taking care of us.
iii.
Further
describing their spiritual food and drink, Paul notes that they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
All they did was in anticipation
of the promised Seed (cf. Gen. 12:1-3), even if they did not know it.
In John 4:10-14 Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman and offered her,
“living water” with which we will never thirst and springs up to
everlasting life.
Jesus described Himself as “the
bread of life. He who comes
to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
(John 6:32-33, 35). He
further developed this challenging people to eat His flesh and drink His
blood (John 6:45-58).
Obviously, Jesus was not literally saying we must do that, but
spiritually we must envelope Him into our lives.
Just as Israel ate manna from heaven, so we must eat of our
spiritual food. As Paul told
the Colossians, “So let no one
judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or
Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of
Jesus.” (Col. 2:16-17).
We need to feed on Jesus instead of the world and our sinful pride
(something the Corinthians had a problem with).
NOTE: Some believe this description has reference to the Lord’s Supper,
but to me that doesn’t fit the context.
d.
BUT God
was not pleased with them (5).
Paul notes that MOST of them were lost.
It is truly tragic that a people who had seen such marvelous
things from God including the 10 plagues, the Red Sea crossing, His
appearance at Mt. Sinai, etc. could not trust Him enough to enter the
Promised Land the first time.
Most of those who witnessed these things would perish in the
wilderness and be lost.
i.
Lesson: It
is possible to have escaped the world through Jesus Christ and be
displeasing to God. It is
possible to fall away! Heb.
6:4-6, 1 Pet. 2:20-22, Gal. 5:4, etc.
ii.
Paul’s
point to these brethren is that they TOO could be lost!
Why did Paul equate this to even himself having to secure his
hope of salvation through discipline? (1 Cor. 9:27).
II.
The Example of Israel Rejecting God (6-10)
a.
Paul
appeals to these brethren to consider the example of God’s chosen
people, delivered out of the bondage of Egypt, who refused to submit to
God’s will and were cut off and scattered.
b.
The sins
Israel was guilty of included:
i.
They
lusted after evil things –
this could apply to numerous events in the history of Israel in the
wilderness. One example that
comes to my mind is when they ate birds provided for them – Numbers 11:4
describes the multitude as having “yielded to intense cravings” and
complaining about not having meat.
God provides quail and they yielded to their cravings causing the
wrath of God to be aroused against them (Num. 11:31-34).
ii.
They
became idolaters – even at Mt.
Sinai, while Moses was receiving the Law, they commissioned Aaron to
build them a golden calf (Exodus 32).
As Moses came down from the Mountain they were dancing and
celebrating their idol. (32:17-19)
iii.
They
committed fornication –
Numbers 25 describes the children of Israel being joined to Baal of Peor
so that the anger of the Lord was (again) aroused against them.
(25:1-3). Vs. 6-9 even
describe one presenting a Midianite women in the sight of Moses and the
congregation at the door of the tabernacle.
Phinehas, slew them on the spot and stopped the plague.
Numbers 24:9 records 24,000 perished while our text mentions 23,000.
But our text also says “in one day” which is not in Numbers.
No conflict necessary (i.e. a thousand could have died a
different day).
iv.
They
tempted Christ and were destroyed by serpents
-
on another occasion, as recorded in Numbers 21:4-6 the people again
murmured and criticized their condition.
The Lord in anger sent fiery serpents in their midst and many
died. It was this occasion
that Moses made and erected the fiery serpent which could heal the
people if by faith they looked up at it (Num 21:7-9).
v.
They
murmured – not a specific
event, but we know that they were the most ungrateful people and
constantly complained. When
they refused to enter Canaan the first time and were cursed by God we
are told by the Lord that they had complained some 10 times (Num.
14:22).
c.
Paul’s
point here – DON’T REJECT GOD!
Instead, put your complete trust and obedience in Him.
This is elaborated upon in the next 3 verses.
III.
Let us Learn from Their Example (11-13)
a.
Why
examples are given – for our admonition (11).
i.
Examples
of times gone by can be helpful – much of what we learn is based upon
what we observe. The wise
man is one who can avoid of the mistakes of those who have gone before.
Sadly, most of us don’t.
Eccl. 3:15 says, “That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been, And
God requires an account of what is past.” No matter how many times
something has been done and failed, we seem to think we are the
exception and we do it anyway.
Others simply don’t want to face the reality so they never learn – truly
this is an application of Hosea 4:6, “My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
ii.
NOTE: The
Old Testament CAN be useful – Rom. 15:4.
While we are not under the Old Law, it is helpful in many ways
including to learn how God expects obedience.
b.
Take heed
lest you fall (12)
i.
Paul has
let them know that even he is susceptible and he has demonstrated how
God’s chosen people, having seen His marvelous deliverance still
rejected Him and were cut off.
His warning to these brethren – it could happen to them as well.
ii.
The Bible
warns us of this possibility on many occasions – Heb. 3:12, 4:1,
12:14-15.
Romans 11:20 which speaks of the Jews being broken off because of their
unbelief then notes that even though we stand by faith we must not be
haughty, but fear.
c.
The
promise with temptations (13)
i.
Paul then
gives these brethren a promise of hope.
While we all face temptations – and we can learn from them (Jas. 1:2-3,
12-15), we can take comfort knowing that we are not alone.
Paul said that all temptations are “common to man”.
You will NOT face anything that someone before has not had to
deal with (and overcome).
Even our Lord was tempted and gave us an example that we might overcome
– Heb. 2:17-18, 4:15.
God is faithful – He ALWAYS is!
2 Thess. 3:3, 1 Thess. 5:24, 1 Cor. 1:9, etc.
He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able – the
promise that we CAN handle whatever comes our way.
Never forget this! We
might THINK we can’t handle it, but we can if we have enough
determination and faith. 2 Peter 2:9 reminds us, “then the Lord knows
how to deliver the godly out of temptations…”
2 Cor. 1:10, Paul said he had delivered them out of death, “and does
deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.”
There IS a way of escape – we just need to look for it.
Sometimes it is not found where we are looking or how we want it.
Eph. 6:12-13 tells us to put on the WHOLE armor of God.
Never forget that God knows what is best!
ii.
Considering this in context.
We often apply this verse to God’s assurance that He will not give us
anything we cannot handle.
Such is a true observation gleaned from this verse, BUT consider this in
the midst of Paul’s warnings to these proud and self-willed brethren.
Could he not be reminding them that they have no excuse for their
conduct? Could this be a
reminder that their behavior is of their own doing and free-will?
In other words, Don’t blame God when you fail to obey Him!
And thus we can see the challenge of Paul to these brethren.
It is a call to faithfulness.
When we find ourselves misbehaving, it is time to take a step
back and consider how much God has done for us already.
Be grateful and resolve to serve Him instead of complaining and
rebelling against Him. And never
forget in these things, your eternal destiny is at stake.