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Priscilla: I Corinthians 10:1-13
Bad Examples of the People of Israel

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I offer You my praise and gratitude for Your Eternal Living Word that You grant me every day, so that I can be nurtured in my spiritual life and become more like Christ. May the Holy Spirit grant me wisdom as I meditate on Your Word.

Father, today I would like to reflect on my thoughts regarding I Corinthians 10:1-13 about the bad example of the Israelites, as follows:

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Verses 1 and 2: The Apostle Paul spoke to the people of God in the Church at Corinth about his forefathers, who belonged to the Israelite people and who were freed from slavery in Egypt by God. He performed a miracle to help the Israelites pass through the Red Sea when they were being pursued by Pharaoh’s army. He made the sea split into two parts, forming a dry path for them to cross. God also led them with a pillar of cloud to guide and shade them during the day and with a pillar of fire to give them light and warmth at night. Moses was the person whom God used to lead them out of Egypt. Therefore, the Israelites became one with Moses.

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Verses 3 and 4: After the Israelites left Egypt to go to the land of Canaan, God performed a miracle to feed them by providing manna from heaven as their food. He also performed miracles, causing water to flow from the rock at Horeb and from the rock at Meribah for them to drink. The Apostle Paul referred to these as spiritual food and drink because they symbolized the body and blood of Christ, which bring eternal life to the people of God. He compared the way Christ provides life to the people of God to the way water flowed from the rock to provide drink for the Israelites.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Verse 5: After the people of Israel heard the report of the ten spies who lacked faith that they should not go up and fight against the people of Canaan because they were stronger, they became afraid and complained against Moses and Aaron. They said they would rather die in the wilderness or return to Egypt and live as slaves but enjoy the things they wanted. Even though the people of Israel had seen many miracles that God had done for them, they were ungrateful, rebellious, and lacked faith. Therefore, God was displeased and punished all those who were 20 years old and older, except Joshua and Caleb, to die in the wilderness and not enter the Promised Land.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Verse 6: The Apostle Paul advised the people of God in the Church of Corinth not to follow the bad examples of the Israelites. He told them not to imitate the evil desires of the Israelites, such as their improper desire for food and sexual immorality. He also warned them not to be cowardly when facing the enemy and not to complain against God. The Israelites made their “selfishness” into an idol. They only wanted to live according to the desires of their flesh, without trust or reverence for God. They committed both physical and spiritual adultery, living in rebellion against God’s commandments and laws.

7 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.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Verses 7 and 8: The Apostle Paul talks about the event in which the Israelites asked Aaron to create an image of God for them. Aaron gathered their gold and made a golden calf, following the beliefs of the Egyptians, to represent God. They worshiped God, offering thanksgiving offerings to Him through the image of the golden calf. On another occasion, the Israelites ate the food of the idolatrous sacrifices with the people of Moab, committed adultery with the women of Moab, and bowed down to the false gods of the Moabites. As a result, they were punished by God with a plague that caused 23,000 people to fall dead in one day. Paul advised the people in the Church not to commit similar sins.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Verses 9 and 10: The Apostle Paul advises the people of God in the Church not to test Christ as the Israelites tested God. Also, do not murmur like the Israelites, complaining that what God has given is not what they wanted. The Israelites were often severely punished by God, such as when they complained about manna, and God sent fiery snakes to bite and kill many people.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Verses 11 and 12: I understand that these things refer to all the times God punished the disobedience of the Israelites, and they were recorded as examples for the people of God in the Church. Therefore, the Apostle Paul advises the people of God who are living in this last age to be careful to guard their souls. If someone is proud and thinks they have a deep understanding of the Word of God and can stand firm, then they should be careful not to fall into temptation. The Word of God teaches clearly: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Verse 13: I understand that God allows temptations from the devil to test the faith of His people. The people of God only need to live holy, obey the commandments and laws of God, and have faith in Him, and then they will overcome all temptations and trials. God is faithful. He will always provide a way out of every temptation and trial for His people. He will not allow them to be tempted or tried beyond what they can bear.

I thank You, Father, for giving me redemption through faith in Christ Jesus. I have been set free from the bondage of sin because Christ died to bear my sins. I have been brought out of darkness into the marvelous light of God, to be Your holy people. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
05/12/2023