Learn From the Mistakes of Others

Paul takes the sins of Israel during the time of Moses and warns the church at Corinth to learn from their mistakes.

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 CSB

1 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. 7 Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. 8 Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died. 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

The word “now” or maybe you have “for” or some version of that, connects the following verses with Paul’s argument in chapters 8 and 9.

Paul has challenged the church to practice self-discipline and now he reminds them about the miraculous events Israel has seen but…

Don’t take God’s work in our lives for granted.

Look at all God did for Israel, He delivered them from captivity in Egypt, He parted the Red Sea so they could escape, He led them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night, He fed them, He gave them water, and so much more…

Even after seeing the land God promised them only 2 of them got to go in because they did not believe.

What has God done in your life to show Himself to you?

We can learn from where others have failed.

Just like the church at Corinth was to learn lessons from the failings of Israel we can too.

We can also learn from others right here are First Baptist - the catch is we have to be willing to share not only the victories but the failures also.

God has given us His word - written for us to learn, to grow in our faith and to follow Jesus.

Don’t get over confident in your stand for Christ - keep alert so not to fall.

We cannot avoid temptation completely but God has given us a way out.

To be clear, Paul is confirming that we will be tempted.

He also confirms that we are able to withstand whatever temptation comes our way.

We can stand because God is with us and because God has provided a way out.