I Corinthians 10:1-12
1. Text
2. We are not under Old Testament law but its study is profitable.
a. Heb. 10:9
b. Rom. 15:4
3. Here Paul gives a brief summary of the history from Egypt to Canaan.
a. Verse 11
b. Therefore there are lessons to be learned from that history.
4. We will look at that history in general and the things mentioned which are types (parallels or illustrations) for us today.
I. Background (vs. 1) - Egypt was a type of sin, Moses was a type of Christ and Pharaoh was a type of Satan. (How we know. Keep in mind written to Christians.)
A. Living in a lifetime of bitter bondage.
1. Jn. 8:34
2. Rom. 6:16
3. Rom. 6:23
4. II Pet. 2:19
5. You may think you are free but you are under Satan’s bondage.
B. God sent a deliverer (Moses preached a message of salvation.)
1. Gal. 4:4
2. John 3:17
3. Lk. 19:10
4. JN. 8:31-32
5. Israelites had to believe Moses and want to turn away from bondage in order to be a disciple of Moses (same with Christ).
C. But Pharaoh resisted, offered compromises to keep from losing them altogether.
1. "Worship in Egypt"
a. Stay where you are.
b. Today Satan says, "Just live a good life but don’t go to church. ‘
2. "Only go ye not very far."
a. Affiliation without commitment.
b. Bench warmers, one foot still in Egypt (world).
3. "Go, but don’t take your children."
a. May lose our children because we let the things of the world take the place of the things of Christ.
b. Your children will reflect your attitudes about attendance, worship, giving and life.
4. " Leave your flocks, herds, possessions behind (Lk. 14:33)."
II. They were all baptized (2).
A. The Bible makes this a parallel without a doubt.
B. The event itself was an immersion.
1. Jn. 3:23
2. Acts 8:38-39
3. Rom. 6:4
C. "Unto Moses".
1. They looked to him for deliverance, obeyed his commands and authority. (Salvation came from God through Moses - Ex. 14:13)
2. No other means of deliverance.
a. Acts 4:12
b. Baptism is in the name of Jesus Christ.
D. But the particular significance of this as a baptism is in how it was the dividing line.
1. Rom. 6:17-18
2. They were not out of Egypt until they were out of Egypt - they had to pass through the sea.
a. Yes, the offer had been made, they had received it and believe it but still not free.
b. Yes, the Passover lamb had been slain but they...
c. Yes, they had started out to change their lives but...
3. So baptism stands between, God’s dividing line.
III. The wilderness journey was a type of the Christian life (3-4).
A. They were free from the past bondage of Egypt; there were still hardships and temptations before they could reach the Promised Land.
B. But through out God provided for their needs (3-4).
1. Even shoes and clothes (Deut. 8:4; 29:5).
2. But the emphasis is on Christ.
a. Deut. 8:3 (People look too much at the surface, significance is not the gift but the giver.)
b. So, "Rock was Christ" (Eph. 1:3) He is the one that provides all that is good.
3. Listen to the Bible.
a. II Pet. 1:3
b. I Cor. 10:13
c. Phil. 4:19
d. Eph. 3:20
IV. But Paul shows especially how that Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness is an undeniable demonstration of what sin can do, even to the people of God.
A. Look especially at verses 6 and 11.
1. Verse 12 - Note how "wherefore" develops.
2. Some hold a doctrine that one can’t fall.
a. Lk. 8:13
b. Heb. 10:26-27
c. II Pet. 2:20-22
d. Dishonest to cry "Wolf"... Illegal to cry "Fire" in a crowded... And foolish for Paul to warn against falling if not possible.
3. But what is worse is sometimes we live like it is true.
B. Now look at "all"; 5 times inn verses 1-4; then "many" (most) in verse 5.
1. All had the same opportunity.
2. All shared the same benefits.
3. But of the entire nation, 12 tribes, a million people only 2 entered the promised land (I Pet. 3:20).
C. But what were the sins that led to their ruin? (There are no new sins, no new temptations; in principle the very things named are still the same temptations that confront us.)
1. Lust (6).
a. I Jn. 2:16
b. Rom. 13:14
2. Idolatry (7) - What is the appeal of idolatry?
a. Ex. 32:1-16 - revelry, religion of pleasure.
b. Most prevalent sin of modern world (Idolatry is putting anything before God. Col. 3:5).
3. Fornication (8).
a. Plague.
b. I Cor. 6:18
4. Tempted (tested) the Lord (9).
a. They tried His patience.
b. People test His long-suffering and goodness.
c. II Pet. 3:9
5. Murmuring (10) - They complained about God and the leaders He gave them.
a. It is impossible to give thanks and murmur at the same time.
b. One of the greatest sins and hindrance in the church.
D. It has been said that those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are bound to repeat them.
1. So the main emphasis in these verses is to learn from their example (6, 11).
2. It is written for our admonition (11).
3. What is the admonition? Verse 12.
V. The type is completed in the crossing of the faithful over Jordan into the promise land. (Heaven will surely be worth it all.)
1. Notice shift from plural to singular.
a. "All our fathers"
b. "We - us"
c. "Let him"
2. Think you can stand where you are...
a. Out of Christ
b. In unfaithfulness
c. In Hypocrisy
d. Indifference
Being hateful and hating.
Jim Pharr
Lenoir, Nc