1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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 drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. – 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 ESV
Paul is still dealing with the problem taking place in Corinth. They are experiencing disunity within their fellowship over the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols. Actually, it was about much more than that. There were those within the church who were using their newfound freedom in Christ to excuse their continued participation in the sacrificial feasts or meals offered on behalf of false gods. These individuals had rationalized that there was no harm in participating in these pagan practices because they false gods don’t really exist.
But others, who once worshiped the same false gods, felt that it was wrong for a Christian to have anything to do with idols. While Paul agreed that the logic behind the first group’s argument was sound, their motivation was not. They were more concerned about their own rights than they were about the spiritual well-being of their fellow believers. He let them know that their rights needed to take a back seat to the spiritual health of the church, and he used himself as an example.
Now he lets them know that they are overlooking something even more dangerous: the serious threat of falling into idolatry. While there were those in the church who, in their pride, felt free to associate with others who worshiped false gods, Paul warns them that they are playing with fire. While idols pose no danger because they represent non-existent gods, idol worship is real and dangerously deadly.
Paul wanted his audience to know that their relationship with God, as His chosen people, was not an antidote or protection against the temptation to idolatry. Paul uses the people of Israel as a primary example and uses five comparative illustrations to make his point. First, he talks about the pillar of cloud that guided them in the wilderness during the exodus. This manifestation of God’s presence represented His glory and power and was used to lead, direct, and protect them.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. – Exodus 13:21-22 ESV
As they were leaving Egypt, the cloud settled between the people of Israel and the advancing armies of Pharaoh, protecting them throughout the night.
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. – Exodus 14:19-20 ESV
The next day, the people of Israel passed through the sea on dry ground, and Paul uses that miraculous event as his second illustration. God intervened on Israel’s behalf and provided a way of escape, delivering every one of the Israelites to the other side, while completely devastating the armies of Pharaoh. God’s people were eyewitnesses to the Lord's salvation.
Next, Paul refers to their “baptism” into Moses. In following the cloud and passing through the Red Sea, they were submitting to, or immersing themselves under, the leadership of Moses, God’s chosen deliverer. He was to be their God-ordained instrument of redemption, leading them all throughout their time in the wilderness.
During their days traveling through the wilderness, God provided all the food they needed for the journey. Paul refers to the spiritual food they enjoyed from God's hand. In His mercy and grace, Yahweh provided them with manna and quail, as well as water from a rock. He miraculously provided for their physical needs, providing food and water when none was available, and He did so despite their grumbling and complaining. Paul makes it clear that the rock symbolized Christ, the provider of living water.
For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. – 1 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
But Paul brings all of these marvelous illustrations to a sudden and surprising close when he states: “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5 ESV).
Regardless of their unique status as God’s chosen and redeemed people, and despite all that God had done for them, they were “overthrown in the wilderness.” In reality, they all died. An entire generation of Israelites would spend the rest of their lives wandering in the wilderness and never experience the joys of entering the promised land. Paul is going to unpack exactly why this was the case and how their mistake was meant as a warning to the people of God living in Corinth.
One of the most significant moments in the history of the people of Israel occurred early in their wilderness wanderings. They had not been free from bondage very long when God called Moses up to Mount Sinai to receive the law. While he was there, something took place down in the valley. Moses records the tragic event for us:
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. – Exodus 32:1-6 ESV
In Moses’ absence, the people engaged in idol worship. They had been delivered, led, fed, and protected by God and were about to receive the law of God. They would also receive instructions to build the Tabernacle, a structure designed to house the very presence of God. But they responded to the unmerited favor of God with unfaithfulness. They had seen God perform ten miraculous plagues in Egypt. They had seen Him part the waters of the Red Sea. They had walked across on dry land, then witnessed the devastating destruction of Pharaoh’s army. And yet, they chose to put their trust in a false god rather than the one true God.
Paul explains, “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did” (1 Corinthians 10:6 ESV). Their deadly mistake serves as a warning to God’s people. Their ingratitude and unfaithfulness are a powerful reminder to all those who call themselves children of God. As His chosen people, they enjoyed His presence, provision, and protection, but that did not make them immune from His punishment for their disobedience. That seems to be Paul’s point. As God’s chosen people, we must never think that we are incapable of sin or insusceptible to temptation. Unfaithfulness is a real and present danger for each of us. Paul warned the Ephesian believers of the ever-present potential for unfaithfulness.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. – Ephesians 5:8-12 NLT
As God’s chosen people, the Israelites had been set apart and were expected to live distinctively different lives. They were to shine as lights in the darkness that surrounded them. Their behavior was to be determined by God and designed to bring Him glory. Their lives were supposed to be marked by righteousness and faithfulness. And yet, Paul states, “with most of them God was not pleased.”
Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to learn from the Israelites’ mistakes. He longed to see Christ-followers embrace the grace, mercy, and love of God with a determination to live godly lives. He told the believer in Colossae that he prayed for them constantly, “asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV). And that should be the prayer of every believer.
Father, the story of the Israelites fills the pages of the Old Testament and paints a bleak picture of their unfaithfulness in the face of Your goodness and grace. You showered them with undeserved blessings and they returned the favor with ingratitude and spiritual infidelity. Yet, as Paul points out, their mistakes were meant to serve as powerful lessons for us. While it’s easy to to judge them for their ungratefulness and disobedience, their actions serve as a mirror, reflecting our own behavior back to us. We can be just as prone to idolatry and spiritual infidelity. We too, can end up spending all our time complaining about our lot in life or wasting our time pursuing the pleasures of this world. We have been blessed and You have called us to be a blessing to the world around us. We are to shine like lights in the darkness. We are to live as Your children and display Your character to a lost and dying world. Help us walk in a manner that is worthy of Your name and brings joy to Your heart. Amen
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.