First Corinthians 10 Part 1 Remember The Past And Look To Christ

We now move into chapter ten of First Corinthians and Paul has two main subjects that the Spirit of God guided him to address. 

Idolatry is the first topic Paul speaks to and doing all for the glory of God is the second.

Idolatry happens when we give more of our love, time, energy and resources to something or someone other than our wonderful God.

Relationships, hobbies, vocation pursuits, academic achievement, wealth, real estate, cars and many more things can be idolatrous.  

The Corinthians were ignorant of spiritual truth about idolatry.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4  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; 2)  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3)  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4)  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Some Corinthians believed that since they  participated in baptism and the Lord's Supper, that also they had liberty to fellowship with idolaters. 

They wrongly assumed that they could remain friends with idolaters and eat their meats because they "knew" an idol is nothing in this world (1 Corinthians 8:4).

If this dangerous error was not corrected it would lead the Corinthians down the same self destructive path of the Old Testament Jews. 

In order to persuade the Corinthians about the dangers of participating with idolaters and immorality, Paul uses the Jews as an example. 

The word "all" was used to enumerate five wonderful blessings from God that He poured out upon them. 

It is inclusive because every one of the Hebrew people from the youngest to the oldest, received the benefits of God's blessings. No one was excluded or overlooked. 

They were "all" under the cloud. 

They "all" passed through the Red Sea. 

They were "all" baptized to Moses. 

They "all" ate the same spiritual meat. 

They "all" drank the same spiritual drink.

These were literal, historical events that happened in Jewish history, but these are also spiritual pictures pointing to the work and person of Christ. 

Paul's Spirit guided use of the word "spiritual" means that these Old Testament events foreshadowed that which God would accomplish through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Jews enjoyed great privileges in the Old Testament by receiving the right worship of God, the scriptures from God and the hope of His promises. 

But they were guilty of consistently being seduced into idolatry and immorality. 

Jehovah chastened them many times, with increasing severity but also with space to repent and return to Him.

Christians should be aware of this principle: when we think we can hang out with lost people in order to win them for Christ, most often we will be dragged down by their sinful tendencies. 

This is why Christians must separate from idolatry and immorality.  

The pillar of the cloud and crossing the sea were pictures of Christ.

1 Corinthians 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;

What about the cloud? Paul goes back to the book of Exodus as Moses led the redeemed Hebrews out of Egypt. 

He uses this illustration to rebuke the Corinthians wrong assumptions of being free to associate with idolaters.

Paul refers to the pillar of cloud and column of fire that Jehovah blessed Israel with for forty years in their wilderness wanderings.

The cloud and the fire had both common and specific functions. They were reminders that God was with His people. 

Paul's reference to passing through the sea refers to when the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea on dry land and when Jehovah drowned the army of Pharaoh.

A pillar of fire and a cloud from God to lead them by night and by day. 

Exodus 13:21-22  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22)  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. 

The cloud was a visible manifestation of the presence of God just as was the column of fire was at night. 

The cloud and the fire were indicators that Jehovah would lead His sheep and that He would protect them from the enemy. 

Sometimes the cloud was shaped like a pillar to guide them as they traveled through the wilderness. 

Sometimes the cloud was spread out as a fog like covering so that their enemies could not see the Hebrews.

Jehovah shielded the Hebrews from the Egyptians with His cloud.

Exodus 14:19-20  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20)  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 

In this narrative, the Egyptian army led by Pharaoh were pursuing the Hebrews, intent on making them into slaves again. 

The angel of the LORD is generally agreed to be a "theophany" or an appearance of the pre incarnate Christ.

He moved between the Egyptian army and the Hebrew people to protect them and shield them from prying eyes.  

Pharaoh's army was smothered by darkness from the cloud but the Hebrews had light and joy in their camp.

The pillar of cloud and fire was a reference point for God's people. 

Psalm 78:14  In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 

Psalm 105:39  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. 

The pillar of fire and the pillar of a cloud is referred to in the Old Testament about 70 times. 

They were a vivid reminder of God's presence dwelling with His redeemed people. 

They demonstrated that Jehovah would protect them and guide them day by day.

They also demonstrated that Jehovah would provide for their needs both spiritual and physical.

Our children or grandchildren are often afraid of the dark and we plug in a night light to assuage their fears.

Imagine living through all of the mighty works Jehovah did in Egypt in order to free them from oppressive slavery.

Imagine knowing that Pharoah's army is pursuing you for the intent to re-enslave God's people. 

Most of us would be fearful, but our kind and compassionate God did two things to remove their fears.

He gave them the cloud by day to lead and guide them in their travels. In addition, the cloud provided a covering and relief from the sun's scorching rays.

Second, He gave them a pillar of fire to cheer their hearts at night and to protect them from enemies. 

Moses reminded the people of Jehovah's faithfulness to them.

Deuteronomy 1:30-33  The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; 31)  And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. 32)  Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God, 33)  Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. 

Moses is speaking to the new generation of Hebrews who would conquer the promised land. 

He reminded them of what God did for them so that they would rely upon Jehovah and not rebel against Him, as their fathers did. 

He reminded them that God fought for their freedom and delivered them from Egyptian slavery. 

He reminded them that God tenderly cared for them fully supplied for all their needs, and protected them during forty years of wilderness wanderings.

He reminded them that their fathers all perished in the wilderness through the sin of unbelief and that they should avoid the same folly.

Idolatry leads to sinful living and judgment from God.

Jeremiah 25:4-7  And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5)  They said, Turn ye again now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: 6)  And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. 7)  Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 

Jeremiah seems to echo the message Paul is bringing to the Corinthians. God is faithful to keep His Word. 

He is faithful to judge sin and He is faithful to warn His people and give them chances to repent and return to Him.

Jeremiah is speaking to the Jews in Judah right before Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar. 

However, what he says here is the same thing that the historical narratives bear witness of: God is faithful and he warned His people and pleaded with them to repent of idolatry.

God sent His prophets early in the morning to preach the Word and to warn them of the consequences of their idolatry.

The Jews consistently refused to hear and heed what the prophets declared.

This is a major theme Paul is going to hammer home to the church at Corinth. 

Those Christians needed to see the potential for being seduced into idolatry from their association with idolaters. 

We see the love and kindness of God in seeking to lead us day by day.

We see the grievousness of idolatry and its painful consequences.

We must be those people who hear and heed what God is saying to us. 

Let us ask the Spirit of God to show us if there are any idols in our lives, so that we may confess and forsake that sin. 

Let us then seek the forgiveness and cleansing promised by our Father in heaven (See 1 John 1:8 to 2:2).

Bob