Learning from History

Good Morning!

We really had a good Bible study last night. It is fascinating to read the history of Israel and see the parallels to today. God had brought the nation out of bondage … just like God has brought us out of bondage. God had provided Israel with all the material blessings they needed … just like God provides for our needs today. God had given them a leader in Moses … just like God gives us Jesus today. And still with all this before them, Israel wasn’t satisfied. They craved irrelevant things. They practiced idolatry. They engaged in immorality. They challenged God’s love for them. They grumbled. Here’s what Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 10:6-10New International Version (NIV)

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
b. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord

Paul points out that many of the Israelites (in fact all but Caleb and Joshua) never got to the Promised Land because of their lack of self discipline. Paul was warning the church at Corinth that their ministries would be similarly thwarted because to the same reason.

I am a big believer in the current applicability of Scripture. I believe what Paul writes is available to us because God knows we need to see it. In short, the same admonition Paul was giving to the church at Corinth is an admonition we, the Ecclesia, should be listening to today. And when we do, we will see God’s blessings. When we don’t … well, what’s that verse about the wilderness:

1 Corinthians 10:5New International Version (NIV)

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Agape’


Mr. Jim

Note: Miss N and I are going to be away from home beginning Monday through Wednesday so there won’t be a Good Morning on either Tuesday or Wednesday. But I will be back….