OUR EXAMPLES

1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Many New Testament bible lessons have used the pilgrimage of the Jewish Nation, from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, as an example of the earthly journey of the Christian to the Promised Land of Heaven. Certainly this chapter of Paul's letter to the church at Corinth contains such an analogy. And what more memorable incident could be cited than the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea - how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (Vss. 1 Cor. 10:1-2). Being led by the cloud overhead, and with the sea being walled up on either side of them, they followed Moses through the sea as if it were on dry land. The Jewish people were all baptized, in that they went down into, and came up out of the sea, in order to be saved from the pursuit of Pharaoh and his army. Likewise the Christian journey obediently culminates by being immersed in, and raised from the water baptism, which symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This act symbolically frees one from the "Egypt" of sin, and from the power of the "Pharaoh" of death - that is, Satan.

Just as God fed the Jewish people with manna from heaven, and gave them to drink of the life giving water from the rock, so Christians are spiritually fed by the word of God, and drink freely from Christ's fountain of life - from the spiritual Rock (Jesus Christ) (Prev. Vss. 3-4). The next verse, verse 5, makes another comparison - one which should serve as a warning to all Christians that have heard, believed, and obeyed God's call, and were baptized into the body of Christ for the remission of sins. The example is that all of the Jewish nation heard God's call, through His prophet, Moses; all obeyed his directions, by following him; all were "baptized" by Moses' direction in the sea; all were fed by God; all drank from the life-giving stream that came from the rock; all were God's chosen people; yet, all were not saved! Many that began the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, returned to their sinful ways. The result was that with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness (Vs. 5) - that is, they died without ever passing over to inherit the Promised Land of Canaan. Christian, the Promised Land of Heaven, is not assured until the faithful, obedient journey of life is completed.

Now these things were our examples. Paul, now, gives us the reasons why many did not remain faithful, and obedient to God, and were overthrown in the wilderness. Many of God's children lusted after evil things. Although sufficiently fed with manna from God, Israel was not satisfied. They began lusting ...for flesh to eat (See Num. 11:4-34). While in Egypt, they had a great variety of foods to eat; the world around them had meat to eat; they were not satisfied with that which God was feeding them. Therefore they lusted for the things other people of the world had. Idolatrous people of the world surrounded the Jewish nation. Desiring to be like them, Israel participated in their idol feasts - they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play with them. Israel violated their trust in God by committing fornication ...with the daughters of Moab. This resulted in God sending a plague that caused the death of over three and twenty thousand (See Num. 25:1-9). Israel tempted, or tried God's patience, on many occasions during their flight from Egypt into the land of Canaan. They continually demonstrated their discontent, during their hardships, by desiring the sinful pleasures of Egypt, and other nations around them. In one instance of Israel's discontent, ...the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died (See Num. 21:5-6). Israel also murmured against God (See Num. 14:2-3). Such are the examples of the sins of Israel after they were saved from Pharaoh and the armies of Egypt. Christians, be not like these Israelites.

These were examples to the Christians at Corinth, and to all Christians today; they were written for our admonition.