Admonitions from Israel's History
Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 10
Idolatry is the practice of paying divine honor to any object that is created.
There are three forms of idolatry:
1) Fetishism: the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.
2) Nature worship: the worship of the sun, the moon, and the stars as the supposed powers of nature.
3) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors or heroes.
During their long residence in Egypt, the Hebrews fell into idolatry.
Eze 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
The world before the flood was a wicked and idolatrous world:
Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
What is the first commandment given to Israel after Jehovah freed them from Egypt? Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Today, throughout the world, people worship everything but Jehovah God!
Those who worship themselves have made themselves to be God.
*****1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
As Paul gets further into this epistle, he will eventually get to the security of the believer.
The security of the believer is one of the great doctrines of Scripture, but unfortunately, it is taught without much understanding and without the warnings that come from the Word of God.
We know that when the time of judgment comes, God will first judge the Church.
There are multitudes in the Church who are not truly converted to Jesus Christ, but they have a false security and are overconfident.
They say they are saved, but their lifestyle says different.
Saying and knowing are two different things.
Being baptized and belonging to a church does not mean we are saved.
Taking part in the Lord's Supper does not mean we are saved.
Being greatly gifted and very active in the Church does not make a person safe and secure in Jesus Christ.
These things were problems in the Church in Corinth.
As Christians, we are in a race for an incorruptible Crown, but this crown is not given on a silver platter.
We must actually be in the race!
The nation of Israel was a prime example of a people who had been greatly privileged by Jehovah, and it led to a people who felt safe and secure, yet many of them perished in the wilderness after Jehovah had saved them from Egypt.
All of them shared the many blessings of God, but none of that group but a few entered into the Promised Land.
The Israelites were as much a people of God as we are today, yet most of them fell in the wilderness of sin.
In truth, the possession of great privileges does not secure us from the danger of falling from the "Grace" of God.
The worst sins of Israel were a direct result of idolatry!
Idolatry is not a light matter to Jehovah God!
Today, many in the Church are willing to be delivered from Hell but shy away from living life like Jesus Christ, which is the standard for being a Christian, and which is the standard for repentance.
What did Jesus teach the Jews?
Mrk_1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What has Jesus taught the Church?
Rev_2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The Israelites accepted the position as God's people, but failed in the duties of being God's people.
Is the Church doing the same thing today?
We love to say we are the children of God, but is the Church fulfilling the duties of the Church?
Many who say they are Christians were never truly converted and have never really repented of their sins before God!
Israel passed through the Red Sea as if on dry land.
Archaeologists have found the place of the crossing of Israel, even finding the chariot of that Pharaoh, but now Egypt will not allow any more research because it changes the narrative that they want remembered.
Many more like them do not want the Bible to prove itself to be the truth, but it is.
Israel had the presence of Jesus Christ with them.
God gave His Son the Leader to lead them to the Promised Land. That Rock was Christ!
God took care of their day-to-day needs.
Jesus Christ was the source, the Energy and the Power, and the Person who caused water from the Rock, caused the Red Sea to part, who caused the cloud to guide Israel, and rained down the manna, and who gave Moses the promises of God.
Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament!
We should remember there were over six hundred thousand men alone who broke away from the bondage of Egypt.
This means we do not know the actual number of the children of Israel.
We know that only two families, the family of Caleb and the family of Joshua, stayed true to the Lord; the rest died and were replaced before they entered into the Promised Land.
So, we have proof that God will save people from one tragedy, but still not allow them into His Heaven.
We must know that we know we are saved according to the Word of God, or we could still end up in Hell.
These things are a warning to the Church!
*****1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
These things were examples for the Church to learn from!
God has given us a Jewish history lesson for the Church to learn because we know that God never changes.
The things that happened to the Hebrews (Jews) are valuable lessons to Christians, and we must not ever forget this!
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Then God gives us some of these examples.
*****1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
**Warning number one: While Moses was upon the Mountain with God, the children of Israel began lusting after the things of the flesh.
Many of them turned to idolatry. Aaron made that golden calf, and the people began dancing around it.
In typology, we know our Lord Jesus is now on Heaven's Mountain, and the Church is lusting after the flesh and worshipping idols.
**Warning number two: Immorality took over the children of Israel.
And the Lord Jesus says to the Church, Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
**Warning number three: Neither let us tempt Jesus Christ. They tried the Lord's patience.
You want to get to Hell! Go ahead and see how far you can go to test the patience of the Lord Jesus Christ. These children of Israel always felt that God expected too much from them. Many in the Church still feel this way today!
Many of them even longed for things they left behind in Egypt. Even onions. Who can believe that? Many people love onions, but I doubt they would choose slavery to get them.
Many Christians think they will be forgiven even if they take that second look.
If they just get a taste, or if they could just touch, or if they slip just a little, or if they hold back just a little, which is the sin of covetousness.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
**Warning number four: These people could not go a day without murmuring, complaining, and grumbling.
It is the same for the Church of today. So many today are not satisfied with the truth and seek to make their own truth. Much of the Church has moved away from the truth of solid preaching and seeks a church and a Bible that goes along with their own thoughts of Christianity, forgetting what being a Christian is all about.
Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
All these things are examples for the Church not to get caught up in!
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must be sure of our salvation, and we must know what it is to be Christian!
To be Christian is to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This name was given to the followers of Jesus Christ by unbelievers.
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This name was given to the followers of Christ in sarcasm.
How many in the Church today would the world call Christian when the word I hear the most is hypocrites?
All these things that Paul has mentioned today should cause us to look at ourselves and just see what our standing is with God.
*****1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
We must understand that was impossible for any Christian in Corinth to avoid coming in contact with idolatrous practices in its many forms.
We can also say this about America today!
We must understand this warning from the Holy Spirit.
Most every church acknowledges that we are in the last days of the Church Age.
The Church Age is the Age of Grace. There will be no other Age of Grace as Jehovah moves forward with His plans!
Grace is the way God deals with people today. We are a foolish church if we do not heed the warning Jehovah is showing us in the examples of how He dealt with Israel.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Any person can fall, especially when we get to thinking we cannot fall.
As long as we are still in the Church Age, there is no way to escape temptation!
We can be encouraged that there will be no temptation that is not common to everyone else.
This means we can prepare for those temptations.
No temptation will be superhuman.
No temptation will be unique to the Church.
No temptation will be beyond our capacity to handle.
No temptation will be terrifying in any sense of the word.
Every temptation that attacks the believer is common to all humans!
Most every Christian has already overcome most of these temptations, and yes, some of us have fallen and caved in, but we have repented and asked for forgiveness, and we can still be overcome if we are not prepared for them.
We should also understand that the Lord limits every single temptation within our limits to overcome it.
We must have enough faith to believe this. God will provide a way out of that temptation!
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
We of the Church have a greater responsibility to overcome temptation than the Jews because we can read of the mistakes they made and see how Jehovah dealt with them.
The modern Church has no excuse for sinking into sin!
*****1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1Co 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1Co 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
1Co 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
We must know that Satan is out to cut the heart of Jehovah and to destroy God's purpose in saving mankind.
Satan smiles every time he turns a person away from the Lord Jesus Christ by enticing us to give our lives to the things and the false gods of this world.
When we become consumed by the things of this world, then we have fulfilled the will of Satan, the Devil.
We had better understand that God will not allow us to be a guest at His table and be a guest at the table of idolatrous devils.
This is being a hypocrite, and we will provoke the Lord's wrath, and there will be no hypocrites in Heaven!
Even if we know that a certain thing is legal for us to do without it being a sin, should we do it?
There are limits to Christian freedom!
Should Christians attend social functions with our neighbors and fellow employees who are not saved?
We should ask ourselves:
1) Is it beneficial to me as a Christian?
2) Will it violate my conscience; will it grieve the Holy Spirit?
3) Will our actions affect our relationship with another Christian?
4) Are we just being courteous and kind to that unbeliever, who may just be seeing how far we are willing to go against his thoughts of God?
5) Does it hurt the conscience of another believer?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then we should not attend.
Even if our own conscience is not bothered, we are to act for the sake of others!
We are not to do anything that might offend another brother or sister in Christ!
Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
*****1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
No man has a right to interfere with the liberty that is enjoyed by another if his own conscious, his own conduct, and his own convictions are not affected.
If I am doing no harm according to the Word of God, then why should I be judged by another Christian after I have asked God to bless my meal?
In fact, I do not have the right if it causes harm to another brother or sister who may think that I am worshipping idols when I should know better!
Bearing the criticism of another brother or sister in Christ will not be worth my attending such a social event.
We must keep in mind that everything we do outside the Church is to be for the glory of God!
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
We are not to be so concerned about our own rights that we have forgotten that all things we do are to be for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The Lord tells us: Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
We cannot allow our light to grow dim!
We are never to be stumbling blocks to the Jews, to unbelievers, nor believers!
We are to do absolutely nothing that will offend another person or cause them to stumble because this goes against the Lord's rule of love!
We are God's children, and again Jesus says: Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
We are not to seek our own profit because we are left upon this earth to seek the profit of our Savior!
Again, our Lord Jesus says: Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
The world might ignore our Savior, but our life outside the Church is to bring Him glory every day that God the Father gives us!
Amen
