For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. (vv. 1-4)
Let’s talk about baptism. What is baptism? The non-religious definition of baptism according to American Heritage Dictionary is, “A ceremony, trial, or experience by which one is initiated, purified, or given a name.” I think this definition is applicable here.
Prior to the Exodus, there was really no nation of Israel. During the famine in Joseph’s day, Israel and his sons and family moved into the land of Goshen in Egypt. They multiplied there. Then some time after Joseph’s death a new king arose to power, realized how many Israelites there were (600,000 or so) and enslaved them. The Exodus is the trial or experience which is referred to in the passage as baptism. This baptism was the transition from the ancient times into the era of Israel. The purification came at Sinai when Moses brought God’s law to Israel.
OK, here is the important part. The spiritual food and drink which was metaphorically eaten and drunk, is the same spiritual food that we eat and drink today, because they were drinking from the same spiritual rock that we drink from which is Jesus Christ. God is unchanging. The era of Israel and even the ancient times are all part of the same eternal plan.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. (vv. 5,6)
God wasn’t pleased with the way that most of the Israelites acted in relation to the law. God did not allow them to sin as examples for us, but the following accounts of discipline which the nation of Israel underwent are to be examples for us,
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” (v. 7)
This is when Moses was up on Sinai in Exodus 32 and Aaron made an idol for the Israelites to worship. The account of idolatry is this festival that they held in honor of their god—the golden calf.
Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. (v. 8)
In Numbers 25, the Israelites mixed with the Moabites. They began to worship their gods and as punishment, God struck them with a plague which killed 23,000.
Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. (v. 9)
This passage has to do with a lack of faith. The Israelites had just defeated the Canaanites because God delivered them into their hands, but quickly became impatient and accused God of bringing them into the wilderness to dye. So, God sent deadly serpents to bite them. After this, God took mercy on them and allowed them to make a serpent statue, which when they looked upon it, they would live if they had been bitten. The interesting thing about this account is that it required them to have faith to become cured from the punishment of their lack of faith.
Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (v. 10)
This is no ordinary grumbling. The sons of Korah suffered punishment—an amazing story from Numbers 16. The grumbling which happened here was against Moses and Aaron. They were accusing them for causing the death of the LORD’s people, specifically the sons of Korah who had just been carried alive into Sheol and other who were burned with fire by the LORD.
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (v. 11)
Paul says that all of these Old Testament ‘tragedies,’ if you will, happened as examples of the impending wrath which is to come in eternity—it’s for those whom the ends of the age have come, which is those who live in the church era, today.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. (v. 12)
Keep in mind that this letter is addressed to the saints of the church era, who are covered from any immorality or idolatry by the blood of Jesus Christ. The warning is not that you might fall from grace, but that you might fall. He says, “him who thinks he stands” implying that you may not actually be standing on the rock, which is Jesus Christ. This could also be translated, “Therefore, let the supposed one perceive lest not he fall” (author’s translation). It’s a bit sarcastic, really. He is saying that if you think you are standing firm you better be right. It’s a challenge not to be wishy washy about our faith—saying we are Christians and living like the world.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (v. 13)
What is interesting about this passage is that God does not tempt us, but as we are tempted, God is there. He is providing us a way to escape temptation and to endure temptation. So often this passage is quoted to give us hope that we can endure trials and temptations, but it is far more than hope. It is the means to the end. The man who is constantly giving into temptation is not living according to his calling. Again, it is about wishy washy faith.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (v. 14)
Because of this, flee, run get away from idolatry.
I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. (v. 15)
This is incredible. Up until this point in the letter, Paul has continually called them children, mere infants in Christ. This is not talking about godly wisdom. This word wisdom is actually better translated as prudent or discerning. He is basically calling them out to deny or accept what he is teaching them, because as he goes further into the challenge, he is going to challenge them on a cultural level, so they must agree at this point that he is telling them the truth.
APPLICATION
There is no direct application at this point, but what is clear is that God is calling us to live righteous lives. We have the examples of the Israelites. Many of them will suffer for eternity for defying God. But, the question begs, “Weren’t they saved through atonement?” The sons of Korah were swallowed up and taken to Hell, Sheol. So, no. Atonement saves because atonement is provided by grace and grace is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who lacked faith in the Old Testament were not atoned for by sacrifices.
So the application is to flee from all forms of immorality so as to avoid the eternal wrath of God.
Image Credits: asifthebes, sxc.hu
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry"–1 Corinthians 10.1-15
