1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea;
2 and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and they 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 pleased; for their dead bodies were spread out in the wilderness.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”
8 Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
9 Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and were killed by the snakes.
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed 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 the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He 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.
The Lesson in Israel’s Failures
The events of the Old Testament
To teach how important it is to persevere diligently in the pursuit of salvation, Paul presents four examples of Israel’s failures. The people of Israel were protected by the glory of God as they crossed the Red Sea. They ate the manna, drank water from the rock, and journeyed toward the Promised Land. Yet in the end, only Joshua and Caleb received the prize. Although the Israelites had experienced God’s grace, they committed the following sins and gradually turned away from that grace. (1) They made the golden calf and engaged in idol worship (Ex. 32). (2) They worshiped Baal of Peor, the god of the Moabites (Num. 25). Since the worship of Baal of Peor included sexual relations with temple prostitutes, participating in that worship also meant committing the sin of sexual immorality. (3) They complained about having left Egypt in the first place (Deut. 21). Those who complained were bitten by venomous snakes and died. (4) They grumbled at Kadesh-barnea, just before entering the Promised Land (Num. 14). This sealed their fate of wandering in the wilderness for forty years, and the entire generation that had experienced the exodus from Egypt died, except for Joshua and Caleb.
The lessons for the New Testament Christians
Since the death of Christ on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension, we have entered the last days. Paul urges us to stand firmly on the foundation of Christ. Then follows that well-known verse. “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He 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.” The phrase, “No temptation has overtaken you,” may also be translated, “No trial has overtaken you.” Here Paul declares two important truths: (1) there is no trial (temptation) that you are unable to endure, and (2) along with the trial (temptation), God will also provide a way of escape. This was Paul’s own experience and conviction. Let us pray that it may become our experience and our firm conviction as well.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, whatever trials I may face, there is no trial that I cannot endure. You will always provide a way of escape. Hallelujah! I thank You from the depths of my heart. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.