1 Corinthians 10:1-13

As you consider this passage, remember the context.  We are to live our lives so as to encourage others to know and follow Christ.  Neither food (Ch. 8) nor my rights (Ch. 9) are important.  Remember: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies (8:1).  We must show discretion so as not to unnecessarily offend others.  We must discipline ourselves so that, having begun the race well, we do not find ourselves disqualified by our unwillingness to put the gospel first.  Israel’s good start (10:1-4) and failure to finish well (10:5-13) is an example for us (10:6,11).

When Israel left Egypt they seemed to all start well.  Those who left were all tied together in that they followed God’s leadership in the cloud of glory; they all came through the Red Sea on dry land; they all were identified with (baptized into) Moses’ leadership; they all ate the manna which was actually spiritual food because it was a test of their obedience.  In v4 there is an interesting statement that they all drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ (cf. Exodus 17:6).  There is a Rabbinic tradition (i.e. interesting but not Scripture) that the rock from which Moses brought water early in the wilderness years stayed with the people as their source of water throughout.  Some think Paul referred to that tradition here.  Or he may simply be saying that the rock was a picture of Christ, the One who gives living water (John 4:10-14).  The point in all this is that Israel started well.  

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.  Some who started the race were found to be …

·        Idolators, v7 (Exodus 32:6-8).  This refers to the story of the gold calf which took place during the year at Mt. Sinai.

·        Immoral, v8 (Numbers 25:1-9).  This refers to the event at Baal-Peor shortly before the people entered Canaan.  23,000 died in God’s judgment.

·        Rebellious, v9 (Num. 21:4-9).  This was a time when Israel grumbled against God and God sent poisonous snakes that resulted in the death of many.  Salvation was only found in looking at the bronze serpent on a pole which became a symbol of the cross (John 3:14-16).

·        Complainers, v10 (Num. 14:27-30).  Probably this refers to the biggest failure when they refused to enter Canaan.

Paul does not talk here about saved or not saved people.  For some, their faith was found deficient and they died without hope.  But others, such as Moses, also died but were faithful to the Lord to the end.  Instead the lessons for us are warnings: first, that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted (v6); and second, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (v12).  Paul disciplined himself lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (9:27).  His concern here is to warn us with respect to finishing well in the race of life.  Tomorrow we will devote ourselves to 1 Cor. 10:13 where we will see God’s faithfulness in our testings.  Today, let us be warned.