The Poor Example of Israel

EXPOSITORY ARTICLE – 1 Corinthians 10
Sean Cavender | Bald Knob, Arkansas

God communicates to us and teaches us by example. Many teachers in the Bible used examples, including the Lord Jesus (cf. Luke 17:32). Concerned for the church of God at Corinth, the apostle Paul offered exhortation based upon the poor and negative example of national Israel (1 Corinthians 10). He expected the church to read his epistle and notice the sins of Israel, and how to avoid the same. Notice the statements in 1 Corinthians 10 which show who Paul is concerned for:

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren…” (1 Corinthians 10:1)
“Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved…” (1 Corinthians 10:6)
“Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did…” (1 Corinthians 10:8)
“Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did…” (1 Corinthians 10:9)
“Nor grumble, as some of them did…” (1 Corinthians 10:10)
“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” (1 Corinthians 10:11)
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Corinth was following a course set for destruction. The apostle beseeched them to not fall into the same spiritual pitfalls which Israel had done. The church in Corinth had been suffering from division (1 Corinthians 1:11), trusting in the teaching of men (1 Corinthians 1:26), and pride which led to a lack of respect for apostolic authority and correction (1 Corinthians 4:18-21). They were guilty of sexual immorality, going to court against one another, and offending one another’s conscience in matters of liberty. There were problems in their worship and with the abuse of spiritual gifts. Paul desired for the church to be better; so he wrote about the wicked example of Israel.

Temptation And The People Of God
Paul is specific in his reason for warning the church. He states that he did not want them to be ignorant of sin’s destructive nature (1 Corinthians 10:1). He warns that those who think they stand can easily fall (1 Corinthian 10:12). The people of God – whether Old Testament Israel or the New Testament church – could quickly be led astray through temptation. Temptation is a struggle all people must endure, whether Christians or not. It is a basic part of our life on this earth. However, Paul wants us to realize that temptation and sin can be overcome if we are prepared.

We must avoid a spirit of haughtiness. Pride and arrogance will deceive us into thinking “since we are the children of God, God is on our side, therefore we have nothing to worry about.” Such reasoning is dangerous and lackadaisical. Christians have the assurance that God is faithful and will provide the way of escape, and we may be able to endure the temptation that is presented before us. Even with those promises and assurances, there is no reason to become haughty. The promise of God ought to cause us to rely upon Him even more! Temptation will certainly bring its struggles upon us personally, or collectively, but we do not have to give in to temptations. The people of God have been given the assurance that God is with us and will provide the way of escape.

Israel Was Saved
Paul’s appeal to Israel begins with the fundamental acknowledgement that they were a saved people. The nation had left behind the slavery and bondage of Egypt and had crossed the Red Sea. They were led by God in the cloud and pillar of fire. They had been “baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). They had the food and water which God provided, nourished and blessed by Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). The children of Israel had spiritual agreement and fellowship with God. Israel had been freed from slavery and delivered through the water. They had been saved, protected, nourished, and cherished by the Lord.

Notice the parallel. Just as Paul spoke of the Israelites to be God’s chosen and precious people, so he affirmed the church as the chosen of God today. The church at Corinth was made up of individual saints who had been washed in water and sanctified by the blood of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 12:27). They were saved people. Yet, they were falling for the same snares as Israel before them.

Israel Was Tempted And Failed
After describing Israel’s spiritual condition and fellowship with God, Paul transitions. He says, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased…” (1 Corinthians 10:5). The apostle proves this conclusion with the statement at the end of the verse. “For they were laid low in the wilderness,” (NASB), or as the King James reads, many were “overthrown.” The New King James Version plainly states, “for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” Many Israelites died for their sin. Though Israel had started out well, they were destroyed. The implication is obvious: God was not pleased with Israel. There was a change in how He looked at Israel based upon their choices and actions.

Israel craved evil things, fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God, the children of Israel built a golden calf. They “sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play” (Exodus 32:6). They feasted and mocked the power of God by attributing His power to an idol. They worshhiped and sacrificed to the image and boastfully claimed the calf had delivered them from Egypt.

Paul listed a number of specific sins Israel engaged in. After the golden calf incident, they committed fornication with the Moabites (1 Corinthians 10:8; cf. Numbers 25:1), which caused Israel to further embrace idolatry. They tried the Lord’s patience, long suffering, and goodness (1 Corinthians 10:9-10). They boastfully, arrogantly, and constantly accused the Lord of bringing them out of Egypt just to die in the wilderness. There was an ongoing antagonism against God’s forbearance (cf. Numbers 21:5). Their endless grumbling and testing of God was a sin that must be avoided by any who claim to follow the Lord.

Sin Is Not Overlooked By God
We understand that anyone who does not believe in God nor His Son, and openly lives in sin will be punished with eternal destruction in hell (cf. Matthew 10:28). God is a just God – He does not ignore sin, but brings His vengeance upon those who rebel against His laws and commands.

Some mistakenly believe that once they are saved, then God simply overlooks their sin. One of the lessons from the example of the children of Israel is that God does not overlook sin, especially the sins of His own people!

The chosen people of God are expected to live holy lives. Israel was told, “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). His justice demands sin be punished. Thus, after many Israelites committed fornication with the daughters of Moab, God destroyed them, 24,000 died in one day (Numbers 32:28). God’s justice demands that sin be punished.

Many people subscribe to the teaching of “once saved, always saved;” that once you are a Christian, nothing you do can cause you to be lost. The apostle Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 10 proves the exact opposite to be true. Even those who were saved, like Israel who had fellowship with God, when they sin against the word of the Lord, will be punished. A whole generation of Israelites died in the wilderness because of their stubbornness and wickedness. These serve as an example so that we might avoid the same attitude. God will punish all who abandon His will to live in ungodliness. Paul warns the Corinthian brethren, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

If it were true that once you are saved there is no sin that could cause you to be lost, then Paul was warning of an impossibility. And if it were impossible to fall and be lost, then what would be the purpose in mentioning it? Paul’s admonition is poignant and strong – Israel fell and died in the wilderness; the sanctified of God who turn against HIm and His commands will be destroyed. If we sin and fall away from the Lord then we will face retribution for our evil deeds.

God Provides The Way Of Escape
Paul concludes this section by noting the faithfulness of God. He acknowledges the common nature of temptation. Temptation to sin is universal – every human of a responsible age that has lived on the earth has been tempted. However, that does not mean God is unfaithful, unkind, or unloving. He allows our faith, will and obedience to be tested; however, He does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to handle. He provides the way of escape. Paul does not assure us that we will never face temptation, nor that God will make temptation lose its attractiveness. God will provide a way of escape so we may be able to endure and overcome the temptations the devil hurls at us. The Scripture exhorts us to “watch and pray” so we may be strengthened in the hour of adversity. We do not have to give in to temptations; we can overcome them. We can rely upon God to lead us by the instruction of His word to overcome the devil. With each temptation Jesus encountered from the devil, He answered with, “it is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). The Psalmist said, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word … Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:9, 11). The word of God is our strength in times of temptation.

We should also note that God provides a way of escaping the power of sin. Even if we succumb to temptation, the Lord loves us and desires for us to be in a right relationship with Him. We must humbly repent of our sins and confess them before God, like the children of Israel (cf. Numbers 21:7).

After Israel sinned in the wilderness and many died, having been bit by serpents; God instructed Moses to build a bronze serpent. Any who looked upon it would live (cf. Numbers 21:8-9). The bronze serpent was a foreshadow of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15, NKJV). Not only does God provide the way of escape from temptation, but He also supplies atonement for sin. Not only can we overcome temptation, but we can have victory over the power and strength of sin. Through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of our sins.

Conclusion
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, encouraging them to learn from the example of Israel. The children of Israel sinned and forsook the Lord. Even though they had many advantages and had fellowship with God, that fellowship was severed because of their sins in the wilderness. For every unrepented sin there was (and continues to be) a just punishment will come. Christians must be proactive and careful to avoid the same spiritual pitfalls that befell Israel. The church at Corinth was on a destructive path, but Paul exhorted them to repent and seek God’s way. When facing temptation, saints must take heed and seek the way of escape.

* All passages quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.

17.07.04 | GROW magazine