God has given us the examples of the children of Israel to demonstrate His judgment upon willful sin. In this passage Paul urges the Corinthians not to become self-confident and cocky simply because they were baptized and observed the Lord’s Supper. The Israelites had their own form of baptism and a sacred meal, yet they were laid low in the wilderness.
Teaching Notes:
Take Heed Lest You Fall!
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Intro:
In 1 Cor.9:24-27, Paul likened the Christian Life to a Race. The way we live our lives is very serious, because heaven is at stake in how we run this race. The way we run will determine if we are fellow partakers of the gospel (9:23), win the prize of the imperishable crown (9:25), and avoid being disqualified (9:27). Furthermore, Paul insists that we must run in a certain way: With Passion (run in such a way that you may win), With Purpose (I run as not without aim), and With Discipline (I discipline my body and make it my slave).
As we make our way from chapter 9 to chapter 10, notice that Paul is not beginning a brand new thought. He does not begin this chapter with “Now concerning…” which is how he begins each new section in the 2nd half of this letter. Also, notice that he begins with the word “For”, which tells us he is going to go on to expound and explain what he has just said in 9:24-27. You see, Paul in chapter 10 is continuing to enforce the need for self-control and bodily discipline in the Corinthians’ lives so that they are not disqualified. The way he does this is by using the history of the Israelites in the exodus as an example for us. Paul tells us in this section 2 things about the Israelites: 1) They were blessed of God; 2) They fell into sin and received God’s judgment because they didn’t exercise self-control and make their bodies their slaves.
1. The Israelites Were Blessed Of God:
A. They Were Baptized Into Moses: Vs.1-2. At first glance it looks like Paul is mentioning 5 different things, but upon closer examination we find that he’s really listing those 5 things under 2 different clusters. Notice that he mentions the cloud and the sea in vs.1, but then mentions the cloud and the sea again in vs.2 in connection with our baptism into Moses. It seems to be clear that vs. 1-2 belong together under 1 heading. Under the cloud: refers to the divine guidance that Jehovah granted Israel in their wilderness wanderings. Passed through the sea: refers to the Red Sea when God delivered from the Egyptians. Baptized into Moses: this refers to their identification with Moses as their Leader. Paul is showing that Moses is a type of Christ. He’s saying that just as the Israelites were identified with Moses as their Leader when they passed through the Red Sea and journeyed underneath the cloud, so too, you were identified with Jesus Christ as your Lord when you were baptized into Him.
B. They Participated In A Spiritual Meal: Vs.3-4. the same spiritual food: the manna God rained from heaven. The same spiritual drink: this was the water that God provided when He commanded Moses to strike the rock. Spiritual rock: Jehovah was their rock. Paul here says that Jesus was that Rock, linking Him with God. Jesus followed them in the wilderness, providing their needs.
C. Nevertheless They Came Under Judgment: Vs.5. Even though the Israelites had their version of baptism and spiritual food and drink, God was not well-pleased with them. Note: Paul says “all” participated in these Divine blessings 5 times. Then in Vs.5 he says “most” of them displeased God. That’s an understatement. Of the 2-3 million that left Egypt, only 2 made it into the promised land – Joshua and Caleb! Their bodies were “laid low” (strewn about) in the desert over 40 years.
Summary: Paul’s point is that the Israelites had many great spiritual blessings: guidance, leadership, deliverance, provision, sustenance. But in spite of that they came under God’s judgment. The point is clear. The Corinthians must not think that just because they have been baptized and regularly observe the Lord’s Supper that they are immune from coming under God’s judgment!
2. The Israelites Fell Into Sin and Received God’s Judgment: 6-10.
A. These Things Happened As Examples for NT Believers: these things looks back to God’s blessings, but also forward to Israel’s sins. Note: these events took place in Israel’s history, and God ordained that they should be recorded in Scripture for our sakes! God is wanting us to learn from their example. In this case, we are to learn from their bad example. Keep this in mind when you read the OT. God has purposely embedded spiritual lessons for us there. The specific lesson – do not crave evil things! What were those evil things in their lives? Idolatry – Immorality – Testing – Grumbling.
B. Idolatry: Paul quotes Ex.32:6 to demonstrate their idolatry. This is in connection with Aaron fashioning a golden calf while Moses was on the Mountain receiving the Law from God. What is interesting is the text Paul chooses to quotes. He could have quoted 32:4 to make his point, “Aaron took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” However, Paul quoted vs. 6 which mentions eating, drinking, and playing. Playing almost certainly includes the idea of sexual immorality (32:25). Eating and drinking would bring to mind the present situation in Corinth – they wanted to eat cultic meals in idol’s temples. Paul deliberately connects their idolatry to eating and drinking. Later he will tie this together in his strong exhortation to avoid eating in places connected to idolatry.
Judgment: Ex.32:28 – 3,000 died when the Levites executed the lawbreakers.
C. Immorality: Here Paul cites Numbers 25:1-9. The daughters of Moab enticed the sons of Israel sexually. The result was that the Israelites sacrificed and bowed down to their gods. So here Paul shows how intricately intertwined are idolatry and sexual immorality. Sexual immorality and idolatry were integrally connected in Corinth with 1,000 temple prostitutes soliciting men. Immorality was a problem in the church (1Cor.5; 6:9, 18).
Judgment: 23,000 fell in one day. In Num.25:9 it says that 24,000 died in the plague. Probably the best way to reconcile this difference is that 23,000 died in one day, but shortly thereafter another 1,000 died from the plague.
D. Testing: Paul is referring to Numbers 21:4-9 – the story of the Bronze Serpent lifted up to bring healing to God’s people. But why did the fiery serpents come in and bite the people? Num.21:4-5. They became impatient, spoke against Moses and God, and complained about the food and lack of water. It was “testing” the Lord because it was pushing God to see how much God would take before He judged. Interestingly, the word Lord is translated Christ in most of the oldest and best manuscripts, and is probably the correct translation. If so, Paul is tying the history of the Israelites to the situation of the Corinthians, in that they are both putting Jesus Christ to the test by their behavior.
Judgment: destroyed by the serpents.
E. Grumbling: There are many times in which the Israelites grumbled against God and Moses. Paul may be alluding to Num.14:1-10; 26-30. In vs.29 God says that the corpses of the children of Israel would fall in this wilderness, a clear reference to 1Cor.10:5. Note: the first 2 sins are linked together (idolatry and immorality). The 2nd 2 are linked together (testing and grumbling). There is a good chance that Paul anticipated that the Corinthians would grumble against His instruction in this letter about avoiding eating in idols temples, and thus testing the Lord, just as Israel had done and been judged for it! They may have already been grumbling against Paul because in 5:9-11 he prohibited idolatry and immorality.
Judgment: destroyed by the destroyer. This is probably a reference to the destroying angel who would bring judgment for their grumbling (Num.16:41ff).
F. Vs.11: This is a restatement of vs.6 with a little added information. We are told those things were written for our instruction. Also, we are the ones upon whom the ends of the ages have come. In other words, everything in the OT looked forward and founds its culmination in this NT age. The end of the age will terminate upon God’s NT people.
Application:
1. Professing Christians Must Take Heed Lest They Fall! The Corinthians had been baptized, and partook of the Lord’s Supper. Moreover, they had knowledge (8:1) that an idol was nothing, and thus wanted to enjoy their liberty to dine at idol’s temples. Paul gives a stern warning: “You think you stand – take heed that you do not fall!” It’s when we get a little cocky and become self-confident that we are the most prone to falling. The Israelites fell under the judgment of God. Don’t test the Lord! Don’t grumble about Paul’s instructions! Don’t flirt with idolatry which is so often associated with immorality. That’s why Paul says in 10:14 “flee from idolatry!” Paul knew if they dabbled with eating in pagan temples where idolatry was being practiced, they were in danger of falling. Better to flee than flirt! Lesson for us: if there is any question about whether something you want to do can cause you to fall – avoid it! Better to give up your liberty and walk with God than enjoy your liberty and fall under His judgment! Maybe it is a questionable movie you want to watch, a concert you want to attend, music you want to regularly listen to, magazines you want to read. Yes, you have the liberty to do those things, but might you get ensnared in sin by doing so? If so, better to abstain so that you can walk with God with a clear conscience than defile it. Just because we profess faith in Christ, have been baptized, and attend church and observe the Lord’s Supper doesn’t mean we can’t end up under the judgment of God. Just ask the Israelites.
2. In The Midst Of Temptations, God Is Faithful: 10:13. God is faithful! I see those 3 words as crucial to the understanding of vs.13. Just like the Israelites and the Corinthians, we will be buffeted with temptations of many kinds. Now that we’ve seen how the Israelites fell when tempted, we might fear that we will do the same. How can we withstand these temptations and come out victorious? God is faithful! What will He do? 1) He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; and 2) He will provide the way of escape. This verse tells us we have no justification or excuse for sin. When we sin, we can’t say, “that temptation was just beyond my ability to resist.” Neither can we say, “there was just no way for me to escape that temptation.” Neither are true. You might feel that way, but it is not true. God will always provide a way of escape. We must believe this truth, and act on it! This is Good News, because it means I can resist temptation! I can choose God’s way of escape! God won’t give me a temptation I can’t handle. What is the answer to temptation? The faithfulness of God!
3. Temptations Are Lethal, Not Lovely: where do I get this idea? The word “escape.” What kinds of things do people seek to escape from? A kidnapper from his captor; a victim from a murderer’s clutches; a prisoner from prison; citizens from enemy soldiers. In each case, those who “escape” are those in danger of destruction or misery. Temptation should not be seen as alluring, dazzling, and enticing. No, it’s destructive, damaging, and deadly! Next time you are tempted by that thing that is so alluring, remind yourself that it wants to destroy you! Flee!
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