1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.
6Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. 7Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” 8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
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A bit of a fire and brimstone letter from Paul! He is warning the people of Corinth to be wary. God, though loving and forgiving, does not tolerate sin and evil. He reminds them of Exodus story. Their ancestors were a beloved, chosen people of God. They were a people who experienced blessings, deliverance, baptism, food, water and the presence of God with them in the wilderness. Yet, Paul tells Corinth, they could be lead astray and into sin. If that can happen to them, it can certainly happen to the complaining, sinful people of Corinth.
Even though Paul is reminding them of the consequences their ancestors suffered because of sin and that they could also suffer if they test God, he also reminds them of God’s love and faithfulness. He asks them to remain strong in their faith.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to remain strong in my faith. Amen.
—Lori Thomson