1 Corinthians 10:1-13
My dad would often state that a people who do not remember history had only one course and that was to repeat it. The apostle Paul is reminding the churches at Corinth of the history of the Jewish people coming out of Egypt; “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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.”
Turning back in your Bible to Exodus 13:21-22, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”
How much you and I can learn from what looks to us a waste of time, but God who is all knowing knew that His people were not ready to do battle so he put them into a wilderness, no people other than them, no cities to run to for help, they had only the cloud and the pillar of fire to lead them. We also must not forget God is always teaching us and especially in the wilderness times of our life. His purpose is to establish faith and to bring glory to Himself and awaken people to Him being the only God. If you drop down to Exodus chapter 14, you will see God has hardened Pharaoh heart and it is a set-up and God has plans to destroy this evil man, rescue His people and do it all for them. Are you in the wilderness at this time, are you looking to God, or are you looking to self?
The apostle reminds the church of all the pride and sinfulness of the people and how they kept testing God’s love and the cost of sin in the lives of so many in God’s judgments. It seemed their motto was “everything is permissible” but they did not keep going with what the apostles were teaching, look with me at 1 Corinthians 10:22-24, “Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.” The church was about to repeat the acts of the chosen coming out of Egypt, and Paul reminds them in verses 11-13. “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he falls. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Have you ever wondered why you are called to study the word of God? It is clear in Scripture that God allows us to be tempted, but it is very clear that God is never the tempter. Turn in your Bible to James 1:12-14, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted no one should say, -“God” is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.” Wilderness time is not fun, it will test your faith, but do you recall Jesus in the wilderness and His encounter with the devil, learn from Him, for He reminded the accuser, the tempter, the evil one of this truth; “It is written.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment