Lesson 7 — A Lesson From the Old Testament Escape 101

I Corinthians 9:24 -10:13


Introduction

In God’s Own Words:

Before you start this lesson, please read the following passages to enrich your understanding and to hear Gods message to you in His own words: Exodus 13:17-14:31; Psalm 78; I Corinthians 9:24 -10:13

From time to time we all need an escape. It might be from our busy lives, or a hard situation, or a trap that Satan has set. If you need an escape, Paul has something to tell you. 

Outline

I. Paul Warns about Disqualification (9:24-10:1a) 
II. Paul Describes the Lord’s Deliverance (10:1b–4) 
III. God Declares His Displeasure (10:5)
IV. The Rebellion of Israel (10:6-10)
V. Paul Warns Against Falling (10:11-12)
VI. God’s Faithful Way of Escape (10:13)

Contextual Overview

Paul addressed a number of issues in I Corinthians, some of which he had perhaps heard about and other questions which the Corinthians had specifically addressed to him in their letter. After a brief introduction, he spoke to an array of issues ranging from matters of unity and the simple gospel message which unites believers, to sexual conduct and marriage concerns. In the passage for this lesson, Paul encourages the Corinthians by using the analogy of a race, the importance of commitment to the goal, and some examples from Jewish history to show the way in which God dealt with evil conduct and how that should serve as a warning to Christians. Paul continues by discussing feast, the Lord’s Supper, conduct of worship, spiritual gifts, unity in the body, and love. He closes with thoughts about the resurrection, a collection to be taken, and some personal comments. 

Textual Review

I. Paul Warns about Disqualification (9:24-10:1a)
“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren . . .”

Paul begins his lesson on escape by saying this to you, “Do not be caught unaware. Do not be ignorant of the facts. Do not think, ‘it could never happen to me’.” It could happen. You could fall during the race; you could be disqualified. You could allow attitudes and actions to creep into your life without perceiving their eternal importance, without being aware of their affect on your soul, without knowing your true status before God.

To shock us into awareness, Paul pulls some graphic pages from the Jewish history book. He spreads the children of Israel across the wilderness and begs us to watch the consequences of their rebellion so that we might soften our own hearts.

II. Paul Describes the Lord’s Deliverance (10:1b–4) 
“Baptized in the cloud and in the sea . . .” 

Picture the Israelites as they flee through the wilderness to escape bondage in Egypt. See the pillar of cloud, inhabited by Jehovah God as He leads them (Ex. 13:21). When Pharaoh and his army of chariots take up the chase to reclaim their slaves, the cloud moves itself to the rearguard between the Israelites and the Egyptians to protect the chosen people. As the cloud keeps the chariots at bay throughout the night, the wind or breath of God blows the Red Sea apart, drying the ground. The chosen people are delivered as they cross the dry seabed and a wall of water piled on their right hand and on their left. In recalling this powerful event, Paul bathes it in the imagery of baptism. The Israelites, he says, were baptized into Moses through the cloud and the sea.

Jehovah God is not content, however, to stop at deliverance, even a spectacular deliverance. He continues his care for the Israelites as they endure the wilderness, sending them the bread of heaven. They called it “manna,” literally meaning, “What is it?” because they had never seen anything like it before. Every day, no matter how much manna the Israelites gather, they end up with God’s specified one omer for each person (exactly enough). He tells them not to save anything for the next day, but just to rely on His daily bread. When His children are thirsty, He splits the rocks in the wilderness, and gives them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brings forth streams also from the rock, and causes water to run down like rivers (Psalm 78:15,16). God sets a table for the Israelites in the wilderness and gives them spiritual food and spiritual drink.

Just like many old covenant stories, this one has fuller meaning in the new covenant of Christ. As the Lord leads us out of the bondage of sin, we are baptized into Jesus Christ through the water and the Spirit. He also prepares a table for us where he gives us the bread of heaven and the water of life.

III. God Declares His Displeasure (10:5)

“Nevertheless . . .” 

Our story travels a parallel road with Jewish history right up to the point where Paul stops and stands us at attention and says, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well pleased, for they were laid low in the wilderness” (I Cor. 10:5, NAS). They escaped from Pharaoh, but they couldn’t escape from themselves.

Like the Jews, we may think of ourselves as God’s chosen people. We may see ourselves as Christians of the highest order: baptized for the remission of sins, and communing at His table every first day of the week. Our standing before Him seems secure, but we, too, can be laid low in the wilderness.

IV. The Rebellion of Israel (10:6-10)
What were the sins of Israel in the wilderness?

Sin #1: They craved evil things (Numbers 11:4). The rabble among the Israelite camp had greedy desires. They wanted more than they needed, and much of what they wanted was impure and unholy.

Sin #2: They worshipped idols (Exodus 32). Shortly after their spectacular rescue, the Israelites perpetrated the stunning golden calf debacle. Aaron’s excuse, saying he merely threw the earrings into the fire and out jumped an idol, would be funny if it weren’t so pitiful and degrading to God. The people were not satisfied with God alone.

Sin #3: They acted immorally (Numbers 25). Once again, the Israelites played the harlot and joined themselves to Baal of Peor with the priestesses of Moab and Midian. God sent a plague and the seventy judges out to execute the offenders. One offender, Zimri, ran with his harlot, Cozbi, into the tabernacle to hide from Gods wrath. Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, pinned them both with one spear right to the floor of the tabernacle stopping the plague. For the 24,000 who died, being joined with God was not enough. 

Sin #4: They tried the Lord (Numbers 21). The people became impatient. Scripture says literally the soul of the people was short because of the journey. They actually said to God, “We hate what you have given us.” They were not content with God’s provisions, so He sent a plague of poisonous snakes to bite them. In their defense, Moses fashioned the bronze serpent, and God stopped the plague as Moses lifted up the image among the people. Just as they had done at the waters of Massah and Maribah (the waters of testing and quarreling), the Israelites again tested the Lord, saying “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7) They asked God to prove Himself, as if He hadn’t already.

Sin #5: They grumbled (Numbers 16). Constantly from the day they left Egypt, the children of Israel complained about everything God gave them. I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I don’t like these leaders; they are way too harsh. Can we just go back to be slaves in Egypt? After God chose Moses over the rebellious Korah, the people complained again. God’s wrath went forth and 14,700 died. The plague was stopped by Aaron taking his stand between the living and the dead as he waved the censer of incense, typically used for a thank offering.

V. Paul Warns Against Falling (10:11, 12)
“The Edge may be Closer than You Think . . .”

After recalling these horrific events, Paul turns to the Christians of today and says, “Hey, you guys, all these things happened so that you could learn a lesson from the mistakes of others. The Israelites were chosen, but they lost their status, and instead of God’s blessings they received His curses. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” Once again Paul warns us, “Be careful to examine yourselves. Be aware of the attitudes of your heart. Don’t be ignorant of what is going on between yourself and God.”

VI. God’s Faithful Way of Escape (10:13)
“The Whole Point . . .”

What God tried to tell the Israelites for forty years in the wilderness and what He has tried to tell you for your whole life, is this: “I am faithful.” He created the perfect way of escape for the Israelites from the armies of Pharaoh. In these end times, He has made the perfect way of escape for us, too. Our Savior and brother came before us to open and show us the way. The way of our escape is to crave Him, worship Him, be joined to Him, trust Him and thank Him. If we do, He will make us stand.

Conclusion
Passing the Course - Escape 101 

Spend some time in self-examination to see if you are harboring any of the sins of Israel. Read back over the list of their sins above and see if anything in your life bears any resemblance to them. Pray a prayer of repentance, humility, of thankfulness, and praise to the One who says we will not escape if we neglect the great salvation He has given us (Hebrews 2:3).

Discussion Questions
1. Throughout Scripture, the glory of God appears frequently in a cloud or as a cloud. God led the Israelites through the wilderness in this form and descended as a cloud when He came to inhabit His tabernacle and temples. The Rabbis named this display of God’s glory the “Shekinah” from the root verb “sakan” meaning “to dwell.” Some see the “Shekinah” to be an old covenant equivalent to the Holy Spirit. What new covenant appearances of the cloud can you think of and what do you learn about God from these appearances? (Luke 9:34, 35; Acts 1:9; Luke 21:27)

2. In 10:4, Paul says that the spiritual rock that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness was the Messiah or the Christ. Several other metaphors for Jesus show up in this passage, such as the bread from heaven. What other images do you see and how does Jesus fulfill these roles of rock, bread, etc. in your life every day?

3. Recall a time when you were laid low in the wilderness from your own sin or from the circumstances of life. How did God care for you during that time? Could you see God’s care for you when you were in the wilderness or only after you had been delivered?

4. What do all the offenses of Israel have in common? How do they relate to pitfalls you face as a Christian, especially in your relationship with God? How aware are you of these dangers and what consequences or plagues have you seen in your life because of these sins?
5. What are some of the ways of escape God provides when you are tempted by these and other sins? How can you recognize or find that way?

References
R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul’s First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1937)

The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1980)

-Linda Parker



(Linda Parker, a member at PV for 10 years, enjoys working with the Education, Worship and Women’s Ministry teams. She has written Bible study materials and articles for various church journals. Linda, and her husband Mike, have three daughters: Jeni, Alicia and Rebecca.)