These things were our examples

The Old Testament events of which Paul writes are meant to convey truth by example to the Corinthian church, as well as to all believers everywhere from the first century to the present day, 1 Cor. 1. 2. Of course, examples may be good or bad. The same word is used to describe the outstanding witnessing example of the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 1. 7. In 1 Corinthians chapter 10 it is the decidedly evil example of the Israelites in the wilderness during Moses’ day that is in view.

Despite the spiritual advantages that the Almighty gave to the Israelites, vv. 1-4, their wicked behaviour included idolatry, v. 7, immorality, v. 8, and irreverently testing God, v. 9. Each of these are base and egregious disloyalties to the Creator and Redeemer. The first error substitutes false, impotent deities, Ps. 115. 1-11, in place of the only true and living God. He is uniquely glorious, all-powerful, and wise, Isa. 42. 8. What is more, He has a proven record of providential kindness towards His creatures, Acts 14. 17; Rom. 2. 4. The second sin - often linked with the first, as in the case of the veneration of Baal Peor, Num. 25. 1-9 - still plagues the church in many different places. The third is perhaps the most common of the three iniquities among professing Christians. Where the King James Version has ‘tempt’ others render it ‘put to the test’ ESV. The temerity of these wayward Israelites was unbounded. They were unthankful to the Lord who delivered them out of Egypt and fed them throughout their desert journey. Each of these things brought swift and severe judgement upon them.

Israel’s lamentable sins stemmed from lack of true spiritual life and its attendant self-control. Paul’s example - or ‘type’ as the word literally is, 1 Cor. 10. 6 - is much more spiritually salutary. Using athletic imagery from the race course and the boxing ring, he says, ‘But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified’, 9. 27 NKJV. He wants to compete according to God’s rules and gain the crown. Believers today must restrain themselves from lust and be temperate, Gal. 5. 23.