Articles
Israel Not Pleasing To God
Israel Not Pleasing To God
They were the descendants of Abraham. They had seen the miracles that God did through Moses. They had followed the pillar of fire, crossed the Red Sea, seen the glory of God at Sinai, and entered into covenant relationship with God. They continued experiencing the blessings of God as they received the manna and drank the water that God provided. Paul parallels that with the experience of the Corinthians in becoming Christians. The Israelites believed and were baptized into Moses, the Corinthians believed and were baptized into Christ.
The analogy continues, however, for as 'some' of the Israelites proved unfaithful to all these blessings and experiences, so some of the Corinthians were being drawn away from Christ and back into idolatry. Hence, Paul warns them that the falling of the Israelites is to be a warning example for them (vs. 6, 11).
The Israelites bad examples included:
1. coveting food (Num. 11:4)
2. engaging in idolatry (Exod. 32:4, 6, 19)
3. committing immorality (Num. 25:1–9)
4. testing the Lord (Num. 21:5)
5. grumbling (Num. 14:2, 36; 16:1–35)
They believed and entered into Covenant relationship with God. They were unfaithful to that covenant - in particular, the idolatry & immorality. They fell (8), were destroyed by serpents (9), and destroyed by the Destroyer (10). God was NOT pleased with them and they were overthrown in the wilderness.
In the last incident, even in their rebellion, God provided a way of escape. Moses lifted up the bronze serpent and those who looked upon it were spared the punishment. EVEN so, Jesus was lifted up that those condemned could be spared (cp. John 3). Yet, it remains, that not everyone will take advantage of the mercy and grace of God.
Does the temporal judgments against these OT idolaters ONLY indicate a similar temporal judgment against NT idolaters? So states/implies the NT Application Comm. This was also the way Calvin dealt with the passage. Yet, the problem of 1Cor. 6:9-11 persists in that such will not just die physically, but will not inherit the kingdom of God.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
It is THESE who have been washed, sanctified, and justified who are being warned about such acts of immorality and idolatry. These who have been baptized into Christ and have now returned to their former practice of idol worship are in danger not just of temporal judgment, but of missing the kingdom of God.
Paul again warned: "you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:5-6). Let us take heed.
Hugh DeLong
