11: No Idols. (1 Cor 10:1-22)

A pastor was in the middle of his sermon when he noticed a man had fallen asleep with his head on his wife’s shoulder.

“Wake up your husband,” Pastor Riley snapped.

The wife smiled and replied, “You put him to sleep. You wake him up.”

I HAVE put some of you to sleep before…even last week. So, I commit that if I put you to sleep today…I’ll walk over and wake you up MYSELF!

I hope you are finding 1 Corinthians to be challenging and encouraging. It’s not easy to find a good break in the passage to start and stop because this WAS written as a letter. So, to make sure to get the context, I hope you will read 1 Corinthians over multiple times over the next few weeks.

Today we turn to 1 Corinthians 10 where Paul reminds Christians that we should have NO IDOLS in our lives.

Idolatry. What IS that? In short, IDOLATRY is following any other God besides Yahweh - the One True God. And that “god” doesn’t have to be a statue that we bow down to. Some of us look our “god” in the face every day in the mirror.

AR Bernard said it well: “Idolatry is seeking security and meaning in someone or something other than God.”

John Calvin said, “For what is idolatry if not this: to worship the gifts in place of the Giver himself?”.

(John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4.17.36)

Americans might not bow down to statues, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have idols - something or someone (besides God) we seek for security. Today we are reminded that there is no room for idols for followers of Jesus.

The contemporary Corinthians Paul was writing to - like the ancient Hebrews who had been a part of the Exodus experience out of Egypt - were surrounded by idols.

So, when the One True God set the Hebrews free from Egyptian slavery, He made sure to communicate that He expected their allegiance to Him, and no other.

Exodus 20:1–4 (CSB)

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord [YaHWeH] your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.

Exodus 20:5-6 (CSB) Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord [YaHWeH] your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.

BTW, the focus is NOT on but on a ‘generational curse’, but on God’s generous desire to show faithful love to His people!

But if you know the rest of the story, you know that the Old Covenant Hebrew people didn’t consistently obey this command, and neither do many New Covenant Christians.

So, Paul dives back into the Old Testament history of Moses, the Exodus and the Hebrew people as warnings to contemporary Christians of his day and of ours.

PRAY

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 (CSB)

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, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

The presence of Yahweh in the form of a cloud led the people through the desert in the daytime and a pillar of fire at night (Ex 13:21-22).

God’s presence was obvious when he caused the waters to split and stand up like a wall as the people passed through the sea (Ex 14:21-22).

Further, God provided food EVERY DAY for forty years! The people would wake up and find manna on the ground - as small as seeds, but tasty like wafers made with honey (Ex 16:13-16, 31, 35). God also provided quail for them to eat.

And then there is the reference to 2 moments in the Exodus when God caused a rock to gush enough water for thousands and thousands of people to drink from (Ex 17:6, Num 20:11). These events occurred at the beginning and end of the Exodus experience.

With those images in mind Paul writes that these people were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea but what’s THAT mean? God used the cloud and the sea to lead them and deliver them from their enemies.

And they consumed the same spiritual food and the same spiritual drink...from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.” Jewish traditions developed that...a well of water actually followed God’s people during their travels”.1

Understanding that God the Father, Son, and Spirit have always existed means that Christ - the Messiah - the Lord Jesus - was with the Jewish people, bringing refreshment to their bodies and souls.

1 Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 191–192.

There IS a clear correlation Paul is drawing between the Old Covenant people and the New Covenant followers of Jesus. We have been baptized into Jesus - delivered from sin and following our Leader toward the “Promised Land”. Further, Jesus has provided the spiritual food & drink for our lives by giving His body and blood for us, something we remember together every time we take communion together…as we will next Sunday.

It’s also intriguing to consider the imagery Jesus uses with the Samaritan woman when he says these words to her:

John 4:13–14 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus is our HOPE. Jesus is our LIFE! It’s through HIM that our thirst for something more - our thirst for purpose & eternal life - is quenched.

But then there’s the warning that Paul writes to the Corinthians and to us, that despite God’s incredible provision and protection given to our ancient spiritual ancestors, many STILL turned back to false gods - IDOLS. And WE are in danger of doing the same thing.

1 Corinthians 10:5-7a (CSB)

Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. Don’t become idolaters as some of them were;

And now Paul gives 3 examples of their idolatry.

1 Corinthians 10:7b–10 (CSB)

as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died. Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

Example #1: When Moses went up to the mountain and received the 10 commandments, and didn’t come back quickly, the Hebrew people asked Aaron, brother of Moses, to make gods for them to worship.

So, Aaron took their gold and made it into a golden calf, the kind of idol they likely saw every day in Egypt. The next morning they Hebrew people mixed the worship of this golden calf idol with building an altar to Yahweh right in front of it (Ex 32:1-6).

Then, Ex 32:6 says, the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. The phrase “got up to party” is also translated as “rose up to play” (NET) - a phrase Jewish rabbis interpreted as sexual play.1 * This is the same term referring to Isaac “caressing” his wife in Gen 26:8. Ben Witherington III, Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 221–222.

Evidently, the Hebrew people - the people that God had powerfully delivered from Egyptian slavery - had some sort of sexual orgy…in the name of Yahweh! How despicable!

This is the kind of thing that happens when people disobey God and try to remake Him into their image - a god who winks at or even encourages impurity.

Because of this idolatry, Moses called down judgment as the priestly tribe of Levites killed 3,000 men - their brothers, friends, and neighbors - with swords (Ex 32:26-28). They might be ‘playing’, but God AIN’T playin’!

Example #2: On another occasion 23,000 people were killed by a plague from God when the men of Israel committed sexual immorality by sleeping with with Moabite women and even bowed down and worshiped their false gods (Num 25). God had Moses kill the leaders who allowed this idolatry and immorality (probably accounting for another 1000 people, since Num 25:9 gives the total number who died as 24,000 compared to Paul’s mention of 23,000).

Example #3: In one of the many times the people became impatient and spoke against God and Moses, complaining about the food and drink God provided. So God sent poisonous snakes to bite them and many people died (Num 21:4-6). We are to trust Christ [Messiah], not test Christ by grumbling, complaining, and being ungrateful.

In all these examples, the Hebrew people were disobedient, impatient, and idolatrous - wanting God to be made into their image instead of them being made into His image.

1 Corinthians 10:11–12 (CSB)

These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

Have you ever thought that you were safe - that YOU have the strength to overcome the temptation…on your own? Or do you think that you are somehow immune to the impact of idolatry & immorality? Watch out!

We must learn from the examples of others who compromised. The same God who punished them for disobedience CAN punish us as well.

So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

No one here is immune to temptation, nor is anyone here alone in temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)

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.

Many people misquote and misapply this passage to say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Actually, yes He will! That drives us TO Him and TO other believers. You and I need help!

Turn to someone and tell them: “You need help!…and so do I”

This should SO encourage us! First, the temptations you are facing are NOT brand new to mankind and you aren’t the first to face the struggle. Every temptation is common to humanity - pride, lust, lying, & greed have been around a LONG time, despite the different applications of today.

But the good news is despite the tug of the temptation that we all face, God is faithful to provide the way out!

If you’ve ever been on a cruise there is a moment that seems like a waste of time, when you must report to a certain area of the boat, put on a life vest, listen to instructions, and make your way to your life boat. WHY go through all that? Just in case of emergency, you will know the way to safety.

So too, the next time you are tempted with the drug or drink, the sexual image or the person, the chance to make a quick - yet - illegal buck, or to to deify yourself while devaluing others…stop and remember - God is faithful to provide the way out!

Sometimes its a Christian friend who calls at just the right time.

Sometimes it’s knowing you can call that Christian friend at just the right time.

And sometimes, it’s just getting your rear end up and getting out of the place were you are being tempted. This is what Paul points to when he writes...

1 Corinthians 10:14–17 (CSB)

So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the Blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the Body of Christ? Because there is One Bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the One Bread.

Are you struggling with sin? Flee from idolatry.

Don’t STAY in the situation. Look for the life boat or fire escape and Get out!

Second, stop thinking & acting like Jesus’ death isn’t enough to forgive you and FREE you from your sin! Jesus’ blood was shed and body was brutalized to PAY for your sin! Every time you partake of Communion (like we will next week), this is a visual reminder that Jesus forgives and frees us from our sin!

Remember that we’re in this TOGETHER! We are one body because all of us share the One Bread - Jesus & His forgiveness! Even the Long Ranger needed Tonto.

Turn to someone and tell them: “Sista and brotha, we need each otha! I’m here for you!”

Paul then takes everything we’ve talked about and challenges the ancient audience AND US to stop flirting with idols and take our permanent seat at the Lord’s table.

1 Corinthians 10:18–20 (CSB)

Consider the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!

1 Corinthians 10:21–22 (CSB)

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Are we provoking the Lord to jealousy thinking that we are stronger or smarter than Him?

Have we somehow convinced ourselves what so many in our culture have...that it’s okay to worship the One True God while we bow down to idols?

That didn’t turn out well for the Hebrew people and it won’t turn out well for us either. We began by noting that “Idolatry is seeking security and meaning in someone or something other than God.”

Is there anyone or anything besides our God and Savior Jesus Christ that is sitting on the throne of your heart?

Are you FLIRTING with idolatry or FLEEING from it?

AUGUSTINE - way back in in the 4th century said “You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless till they find rest in You.”

Augustine of Hippo, “The Confessions of St. Augustin,” in The Confessions and Letters of St. Augustin with a Sketch of His Life and Work, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. J. G. Pilkington, vol. 1, A

But way before that, “one day in August 386, a professor of rhetoric named Aurelius Augustine sat despondently in his garden.” He had walked away from his mother’s Christianity and took a mistress that he lived with for 13 years. After hearing the preaching of the Gospel Augustine became convinced of the truth of Christianity. Problem was, as he wrote, he was “prevented from accepting the faith by weakness in dealing with sexual temptation”.

While in his garden that day, Augustine heard the sound of child’s voice singing in Latin, “take and read”.

He writes what happened next:

I stemmed my flood of tears and stood up, telling myself that this could only be a divine command to open my book of Scripture and read the first passage on which my eyes should fall... I seized it and opened it, and in silence I read the first passage on which my eyes fell:

I will read it from this translation:

Romans 13:13–14 (CSB) Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

I had no wish to read more and no need to do so. For in an instant, as I came to the end of the sentence, it was as though the light of confidence flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled. (Confessions VIII, 12, translated by R. S. PineCoffin [New York: Penguin, 1978])

John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), 261–263.

Augustine knew that it was time to kick his idolatry and immorality to the curb…because he realized that...

God... “You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless till they find rest in You.”

PRAY - What do you want me to do with what I heard today?

It’s time to start weighing the reality of WHO or WHAT you are finding security and meaning from.

Or it might be time lay your sin at the feet of Jesus and trust that HE is the one who brings meaning, purpose, hope, and LIFE to your soul!

Maybe it’s time to ask God for another same-sex Christian to help you find a way out of temptation.

As always, you are welcome to touch base with our STAFF and DEACONS/wives for help!