1 Corinthians
10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were
written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.
Much of the writings
of the Apostle Paul to the churches throughout Asia and Europe were a warning
to Christians, not only in the first century but down through the ages. The warnings
were designed to make all followers and believers in Christ Jesus aware of the
dangers that Satan places in the paths that all children of God are walking. In
our text verse today, Paul was using the failures of the Nation of Israel to
exemplify the importance of following the doctrines and values of the Word of
God. These things that happened to the Children of Israel were not captivating
entrancing stories or fabricated anecdotes, there were actual confirmable accounts
of the history of Israel. These factual accounts were recorded in the Holy Word
of God for a specific reason, to teach the Christian Church some very
imperative and crucial lessons.
At the beginning of
Chapter 10, we see some explicit illustrations of the great and wonderful
spiritual blessings that Gods had bestowed upon the Children of Israel. They
were all under the cloud, as the Shekinah glory of God
surrounded them and brought them out from slavery of their Egyptian masters.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea, meaning
they were all acknowledged and recognized with the servant of God chosen to
lead them to the Promised Land. They crossed the Red Sea on dry ground as the
greatest military force on the planet at that time was bearing down on them.
Still, they failed miserably to honor God by following the precepts laid out by
God at Mount Sinai.
As their journey
continued every one of them was nourished by the spiritual food that God
provided when every morning the ground was covered with manna from heaven.
Their thirst was quenched when the water of God flowed from the Rock, an
illustration of Christ Jesus the Rock of Ages. God was with them every step
they took on the journey to the promised land and through all of their trials
and tribulations that followed when the promised land became theirs. However,
they took on the gods of the people in the land because they did not drive them
out as God called on them to do. They continued to grumble, complain, and sin
so the Apostle Paul, in his writings, is encouraging us not to follow them down
that rough and rocky path.
As followers and
believers in Christ Jesus today it is critical that we understand and
comprehend the repercussions of the dissatisfaction and discontent of the
Children of Israel. Moreover, we must not follow their example of discontent.
Moaning, griping, and whining about anything that comes into our lives is a
sure indication that we are not pleased with God, and we do not believe Him
when He promises that He will never leave or forsake us. It is also a signal
that we are putting God to the test to see if He really can provide for our
every need. Paul learned a valuable lesson and applied it to his life, one that
would do us all a great service to ourselves, those around us, and more
importantly to God. The Apostle Paul was content in whatever state of being God
placed Him in (Philippians 4:11).
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