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These Things Happened - 1 Corinthians 10
These Things Happened - 1 Corinthians 10
The Fathers ALL experienced the life changing event: they were ALL baptized into Moses, the ALL ate the same spiritual food, they ALL drank the same spiritual drink. Israel as a people were the people of God. They were all in covenant relationship with God.
Paul then makes the point: Nevertheless, with MOST of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (vs. 5). God was NOT pleased because they desired that which was evil (6), were idolaters (7), engaged in sexual immorality (8), put God to the test rather than trusting Him (9), and they grumbled and complained about everything each step of the way in the wilderness (10).
The result of such attitude and actions toward God was simply that being displeased with them, they were destroyed by the Destroyer (10).
Paul's application is rather straightforward and simple: "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (12). This was directed not to unbelievers, but to brothers (see vs. 1). Yes, brethren CAN (have, do, and will) do these things. Those who do them and do not repent cannot enter the kingdom of God (1Cor. 6:9-11). Those that are sexually immoral will be condemned (Heb. 13:4). Those that are murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars, "their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).
Brethren, while we have confidence that God will provide a way of escape from such temptation (vs. 10), yet it is imperative that WE FLEE from such evil (vs. 14). Take heed unto this warning for it is NOT an idle warning but a serious statement about the judgment of God. You cannot be in fellowship with the Lord AND be partakers of idolatry.
Hugh DeLong
* I resisted the temptation to write that idol threats are not idle threats.
