03-11-07 1 Corinthians 10 1-13
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.”
8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
I. Examples The factors that led to Israel’s destruction (10:1-10):
A. The advantages enjoyed by Israel (10:1-4)
1. They were led by the cloud of God’s glory (10:1)
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
a) They had God’s presence, protection, providence, & God’s leading in their life
b) Israel was delivered from Egypt by the blood of the lamb just as Christians are delivered from the world and sin by the cross
2. The waters of the Red Sea parted for them (10:2).
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
a) They were all baptized
b) A miraculous deliverance from those who sought to take their lives Ex. 14:21-28
c) God opened the sea to let the Israelites through, thus separating them from their slavery in Egypt
d) In like manner, the resurrection of Christ has separated the Christian from the world and the bondage of the flesh
3. They were supernaturally provided with food and water (10:3-4a)
a) Christ, the supplier of the water, was with them all along the way
(1) Israel drank water supernaturally provided, and Christians drink the living water (John 4:10-14)
(2) Of salvation and the refreshing water of the Spirit (John 7:37-39)
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
4. The Lord’s Table
a) The Jews ate manna, and Christians feed on Christ, the Bread of Life, as they partake of the Word
5. Signs of membership in God’s community
6. Christ himself accompanied them (10:4b)
for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
a) The original language denotes a continual access to the supernatural source of supply
B. The apostasy committed by Israel (10:5-10)
1. They displeased God, and many were killed (10:5-6)
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
2. Craving for the pleasures of Egypt, summarized in their plaintive cry, “Give us meat to eat!” (Num. 11:4-34, esp. v. 13)
3. God gave them what they wanted but while the meat was still between their teeth, He struck them with a plague
4. The Israelites named the cemetery for those who were killed “Kibroth Hattaavah” (“graves of craving”; Num. 11:34)
5. The application to the Corinthian situation was obvious
6. Christian freedom was not meant to lead to self-indulgence but to selfless service
Gal. 5:13
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Cor. 8:13
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
7. Paul warned the Corinthians to beware of lust
a) There was a total lack of self-restraint
b) Lust for …..
(1) Give us what we had when we were in slavery to Egypt
(2) The leaks the onions
(3) The quail
(4) Our old life was better then the new provision God has for us
8. They died in the wilderness
C. Being disqualified
1 Corinthians 9:27
27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1. Man, this is a hard verse for me what about you all?
D. Israel was barred from entrance into the Promised Land
1. Paul used Israel’s experiences as an example that the Corinthians would be wise to heed
2. Paul was making it clear that being a member of God’s community did not insure against disqualification
II. The I’s have it
A. They were guilty of idolatry (10:7):
1. They engaged in pagan revelry
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.”
B. They were guilty of immorality (10:8):
1. Twenty-three thousand of them died in one day.
8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
C. Note on v. 8 for those who are checking up on me ….
1. Paul gives 23,000 slain, while Num. 25:9 says 24,000
a) Paul is recounting how many died in one day
b) Moses records the total number of deaths, for obviously some died later …the leaders…
Num. 25:4
4 The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.”
D. They were guilty of impunity (10:9):
1. (A presumed assumption they had freedom from unpleasant consequences)
2. They presumed to question the plan and purpose of God on their trek to Canaan
a) As a result they were killed by snakes (Num. 21:4-6)
b) Do we or our worldly friends think that they know a better way than God
c) There is no path but Jesus
3. They died of snakebites
9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
4. Testing God
Numbers 21:4-6
Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey.
5 The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.”
The Bronze Serpent
6 The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
E. They were guilty of ingratitude (10:10):
1. They grumbled, and God sent the angel of death.
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Num. 16:41-50
Murmuring and Plague
41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people.”
42 It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared.
43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting,
44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces.
46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!”
47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.
48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked.
49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah.
50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked.
III. Exhortations (10:11-13): The factors that lead to our deliverance
A. The faithfulness of God (10:11-13): Paul speaks of God’s faithfulness in the hour of temptation
1. God has not promised to shield us from temptation (10:11-12)
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
B. The problems with temples, idols, meat, and the Lord’s Supper
1. The list of problems drawn from Israel’s history was a perfect match to the problems at Corinth
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
2. God has promised to see us through temptation (10:13)
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
a) After outlining the sins problematic to both Old Testament Israel and the Corinthian church
b) Paul assured the Corinthians of God’s faithfulness to give initial endurance and a path of escape from falling into sin (10:13)
Prov. 4:14-15
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
c) Often we know beforehand whether a certain set of circumstances is likely to lead to sin
(1) Therefore, the obvious way to avoid sin is to avoid those circumstances
d) Temptation which cannot be fled must be endured
(1) Often the only escape is through endurance
Jas. 1:12
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.