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 were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased. For they were struck down in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us act in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed 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 arrived. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who 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. 1 Corinthians 10: 1-13 LSB
1 Corinthians 10: 1-13 Common to Man
Wayne Barber observes that in chapter 10 we "are going to talk about a caution to the strong... the whole context... beginning in chapter 8, is to the strong, those who understand, who have experienced, who have had the high privilege of the things of God. And once we have understood and God has allowed us to experience the Word of God in our Christian walk and we are labeled "the strong," we have a greater responsibility...The responsibility is always heavier upon them. The apostle Paul has been talking about sports (1 Cor 9:24-27) No athlete,who is running to win the prize, wants to be disqualified and taken out of the race. The apostle Paul is saying that the Christian life is like a race from beginning to end. Just like an athlete, no Christian who has experienced the things of God, who understands the Word of God, wants to be taken out of the action and benched. He wants to be where God can use him. He wants to be a vessel through which God can do His work. (cf 2 Ti 2:21) When an athlete stops making the choices of self-denial, it is at that point he becomes disqualified. But in the Christian life it is the same way. Being saved and experiencing the things of God does not necessarily guarantee you are going to be used of God. In other words, the way you started is the way you continue and finish. That is what Paul is trying to get across in making his comparison of the athlete and the runner. His whole context is to the strong, to those who understand, to those who have experienced the grace of God. He says, “You guys need to understand something. You are about to be disqualified. You are not mixing love with your knowledge, therefore you have become arrogant. That is his whole context back in chapter 8. So he says to all of us who have experienced being used of God, those of us who have experienced the grace of God and the understanding of His Word, “Now listen, you continue to learn the discipline of denying self. It never stops, because if you stop and choose the other way, you will be benched and somebody else will take your place. You are not indispensable. You are dispensable when it comes to being used in the Christian life.” Well, because of this, in chapter 10 Paul brings a caution to the believers, trying to shock them back into reality, and so he brings up the nation of Israel and gives a warning. To those who have experienced (the privileges of God - see their "privileges" in 1 Cor 1:2, 4-5, 7, 9) look out. Israel was a nation that experienced the privileges of God, but a nation who by their own choosing, chose the way of the flesh rather than the way of God and missed out on all the things that God had prepared for them. Paul says, “Believers, don’t you do the same thing. Learn from Israel.” - PA
V. 1 Under the cloud and all passed through the sea - So with Barber's back drop let us proceed. Israel was brought out of bondage in Egypt, experienced God in the wilderness, the Shekinah glory, the cloud by day that became fire by night and kept their outward enemies at bay. Paul is speaking to the Corinthians who think themselves strong and mature. He is telling them, "this is nothing new, you are not the first to receive knowledge of God, to experience the things of God." Israel was set apart by God to be a light and beacon to the nations, and though they willfully chose not to glorify God, to return to the idolatry of Egypt, yet God is still glorified in His justice against their sin. This is the warning to the Church today.
…19And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, 20so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other. 21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,… Exodus 14: 19-21
V. 2 And all were baptized into Moses - This brings up a picture of baptism, in most minds, of being dunked in the water, but this is not the picture here. It is more about the who, and they were baptized into the leadership of Moses, as Christians are baptized into the leadership, headship of Christ. They were identifying with Moses' relationship to God as their mediator as well. He brings them the law of God on the stone tablets. It is the covenant of do this and you shall live, and they all agreed to it.
…28Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.” 30“That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.… John 9: 28-30
…2He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.… Hebrews 3: 2-4
…2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.… Romans 6: 2-4
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.… Galatians 3: 26-28
Vs. 3-4 And the Rock was Christ - Look back at Exodus 14 above. Throughout the OT we hear mentions of the Angel of the Lord (Angel means Messenger), and here the apostle identifies Him as Christ.
MacArthur explains "God used a boulder (petra) to provide water for Israel on one occasion. (IN OTHER WORDS IT THIS WAS NOT A ROCK CONTINUALLY ROLLING BEHIND ISRAEL) But the spiritual rock which followed them throughout their journeys was not that small boulder but the great rock of Christ. That supernatural rock protected and sustained His people and would not allow them to perish. Old Testament believers did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but even during the Exodus they had the sustaining presence of the preexistent Messiah, the preincarnate Christ, caring for and fulfilling the needs of His people. The point of all these affirmations is to recount the privileges of Israel, the assets of her deliverance." (Bolding added) - PA
Meaning of the Term: The Hebrew word malák simply means "messenger". However, unlike standard angels who refer to God in the third person, this specific figure regularly speaks in the first person as Yahweh ("I AM") - Covenant Baptist Theology
11Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” 13Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.… Genesis 22: 11-13
20Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him. 22But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.… Exodus 23: 20-22
Vs. 5-6 Nevertheless - God was not pleased with most of them, though they had been physically set apart, removed from Egypt together, heard the law together, knew what God's commandment was, yet even seeing the miraculous they still turned to follow other gods and their own lusts. Those two things are so cojoined, what a man desires and his idea of God, which becomes a god. Men will always prefer the god of their choosing, the idol that doesn't talk back to them about the life they want to lead, that prefers the sacrifices and burnt offerings over obedience. They play down the true God, and in the end worship something of their own invention, calling it God. From atheist to Mormons to Satanist, it's all the same. In that Theocracy in the wilderness the repercussions for their actions were often immediate. Many died for breaking covenant, and the apostle points out that they were an example for us. God has not changed; he still hates sin, is still opposed to it, and will still reward it with it's due wages. Going to church on Sunday, singing in the choir, does not dilute the offense of your sin; it only heightens it, as you are supposed to be part of the people of God, the light in this present darkness, and God will not be mocked. The early church had been given a very clear sign and example this in Ananias and Sapphira.
1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?…
…4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!” 5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.…
…7About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.” 9“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”…
…10At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events. 12The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade.… Acts 5: 1-12
Vs. 7-8 Nor let us be idolaters - Just because you don't have a wooden idol in your house doesn't mean you don't have an idol. It is anything you put above God and what He says. For some it is working out, some video games, some food, some success, their wife, their children; fishing could even possibly become an idol for some. Paul also here again, as earlier, addresses the issue of sexual immorality, and how God dealt with it in the old testament. In this particular church recall from earlier that not only was it going on but they still were going about boasting and thinking, "how mature we are." This is one of the first disqualifying things to ministry, and if you are not dealing with that at the thought level then you are not maturing.
…19I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first. 20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.… Revelation 2: 19-21
Vs. 9-11 Upon whom the end of the ages have arrived - The things that happened then will be pertinent for our understanding all the way till the end.
…15For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. 16Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah. 17You are to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has given you.… Deuteronomy 6: 15-17
V. 12 Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls - Some of these falls have been felt through the whole forest, and seen by those who live outside, and they laugh because it makes light of the sin against which some preached and the world embraces lovingly. Paul is cautioning the strong again, take a measure of yourself, humble yourself, use Christ as the bar, and know that your boasting proves the opposite of what you say.
…17The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life. 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.… Proverbs 16: 17-19
…19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.… Romans 11: 19-21
V. 13 Will provide the way of escape - No unusual temptation, they all have their most base element, whether lust of the flesh, pride of life. It comes down to this, do you actually, or when will you actually believe the God Who you say you believe in.
Wuest A testing time or a temptation has not laid hold of you with the result that these have you in their grip, except those to which mankind is continually subject. But God is faithful who will not permit you to be tested nor tempted above that with which you are able to cope, but will, along with the testing time or temptation, also make a way out in order that you may be able to bear up under it. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission)
Zodhiates Absolutely no testing has overtaken you which does not pertain to mankind, but God is trustworthy who absolutely will not permit you to be tested beyond what you are able to endure, but will, together with the testing, provide the way out. - PA
…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-10
14If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. 15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—… John 14: 14-16
…7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ”… Matthew 15: 7-9
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