In the Scripture there are spiritual warnings. G-d gives us revelation, He tells us His truth, so that we can make a proper response – that we can fall under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. G-d leads us in a different way to the way that we would naturally go (our ways and G-d’s ways are never the same unless we submit to His ways). Conviction is a spiritual warning. As we move around in this world the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, of unrighteousness etc as these things are in contrast to the character and purposes of G-d. If spiritual warnings or convictions are neglected or ignored, then disaster takes place. G-d doesn’t want us to experience spiritual disaster. He wants us to experience spiritual and physical blessing in this world, but we have to be sensitive and obedient to His leadership – and that involves a time of falling under spiritual conviction. This is what Paul teaches us about in this chapter.
v1: Brethren: Paul is still speaking to believers.
· Unaware: Ignorant. This word is probably better translated “against knowing”, wilfully ignorant. When we walk in the flesh then we are not interested in, and do not pay attention to, the things that G-d tries to communicate with us through the Holy Spirit. This is what G-d is going to reveal about the children of Israel. In their past they were not interested and were against knowing these things, but we are called to a greater spiritual maturity.
· Under the cloud: The glorious Presence of G-d was in the cloud (Ex 13:21-22). They followed the leadership of the cloud.
· The Sea: The Red Sea (Ex 14)
v2: Baptised into Moses: Baptism speaks about commitment. It is a spiritual preparation. It did not begin with the new covenant, but goes all the way back to when the priests and
Levites (before they served in the tabernacle or the temple) would immerse themselves before service.
· In the cloud and in the sea: Both are references to water. In a sense, the Israelites went under the water. Going under the water symbolises death and burial. This serves to remind us that our flesh or carnal nature is done away with and we are supposed to walk in the Spirit (in obedience, according to the order and purposes of G-d).
v3: Ate: This comes from the same root as the word that appears in John 6:5. They needed to eat for survival – their lives depended on this eating.
· The same…food: Manna (Ex 16). G-d supernaturally supplied manna from the heavens. It would fall to the ground and then the people would collect it daily for 6 days a week. It taught them to trust and depend on G-d for their physical needs.
v4: Spiritual Rock that followed them: Water supernaturally poured out of that rock (Ex 17) and it was what they all drank. Biblically there is a connection between water, blessing and the Holy Spirit. G-d provided for them spiritually.
v5: G-d was not well pleased: G-d reached a conclusion about these people based on the evidence of what He saw. Only Joshua and Caleb had a good testimony before the L-rd – they heard the Word of the L-rd and they believed it. Their obedient lifestyles reflected their faith.
· Their bodies were scattered: G-d judged them.
· In the wilderness: A place of emptiness. If G-d leads us into the wilderness it is to teach us trust and dependence on Him. Those people did not demonstrate that trust and dependence upon G-d and so He threw them down – the implication is that they were the recipients of a curse because they died in that wilderness.
v6: This verse tells us why they perished.
· Lust(ed) after evil things: The problem was with their desires. They came out of Egypt, but they did not come out with the proper motivation or desire – which should have been to obey and serve G-d, to manifest His Presence in their lives. They left Egypt to escape subjection to Pharaoh, but the problem was that they didn’t want to be in subjection to G-d – they wanted to do their own will.
· Evil things: Things which are against the will of G-d.
v7: Idolaters: When we desire to do those things which are evil in G-d’s eyes it leads to idolatry.
· Rose up to play: They chose to please themselves, rather than to be pleasing to G-d. Ex 32:6. These people should have reached the pinnacle of spiritual maturity at Mount Sinai, but they missed out as they fell into idolatry. Instead of worshiping G-d they began to participate in the desires of their flesh.
v8: 3000 people fell for the misdeed at Mt Sinai (Ex 32:28), so Paul is probably thinking of another event here – Num 25.
v9: Nor let us tempt Messiah: If we are testing or tempting Messiah by our disobedience then we can and should expect G-d’s judgment to fall upon us – not in the context of salvation, but in the context of discipline (Heb 12:6)
· Destroyed by serpents: Num 21:4-9
v10: Murmur: Grumble.
· Destroyer: The one that G-d sent to bring destruction.
v11: Admonition: Warning. G-d inspired these things to be written down to serve as warnings to us of who G-d is and how He responds to His covenant people.
· The ends of the ages: This is the time when this world transitions into the Kingdom to come. These were written down as warnings and examples for us who are living at this time. We want to be found prepared, faithful and in obedience to G-d when this time of final judgment and transition comes.
v12: Thinks: How a person thinks is very important. If we think incorrectly, and we act based upon those false assumptions, it is going to lead us into a place where the enemy wants us to be – where his evil purposes can be fulfilled rather than the holy purposes of G-d.
· Thinks he stands: This is written in the perfect tense. This person has successfully stood against temptation in the past. Because of his past and present success he assumes that he will have success in standing against temptation in the future. This is not a guarantee. In fact, when we are confident in ourselves and not in G-d then we are laying a foundation for a fall.
· Take heed: This is a warning. This is a word for perception – seeing properly. This person needs to watch himself.
· Lest he fall: Every believer struggles with temptation. Paul is warning us to not succumb to it.
v13: Common to man: The temptations we go through are not unique to us. All human beings (believer and non-believer) go through temptation. Unbelievers can also struggle with right and wrong. The difference between the two groups though is that we have the Holy Spirit, access to prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome.
· G-d is faithful. The faithfulness of G-d is only available for believers. He provides two things for us in the face of temptation: He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to handle/overcome (He Himself does not tempt us but, because of our free will, He allows temptation in our lives – James 1:13-14) and He will provide a way out of temptation, an escape route.