#DailyDevotion Let Us Use Wisdom & Learn The Lesson From The Israelites
1 Corinthians 10 I want you to know, fellow Christians, our fathers were all under the cloud and all went through the sea, 2and by baptism in the cloud and in the sea all were united with Moses, 3all ate the same food of the Spirit, 4and all drank the same water of the Spirit, because they drank from the spiritual Rock that went with them, and that Rock was Christ. 5Yet God wasn’t pleased with most of them – they were killed in the desert.
Jesus had said, “Many are called but few are chosen.” The LORD desired to free and save all the Israelites and bring them into the promised land. He indeed did free them all and brought them out of Egypt. They all were covered with the cloud and went through the sea. They experienced a baptism into Moses. They all heard the voice of the Almighty on Sinai. They received the commandments and the word of testimony from Moses—such was the spiritual food and drink the LORD through Moses provided them. That Rock, the one so often referenced in the Psalms and prophecy was Christ himself before he was incarnate. Paul then points out God wasn’t pleased with most of them and they were killed in the desert. They did not believe Moses’ word. They did not trust the LORD who had delivered them with a strong hand or his promises.
Paul tells us these things were written down for our instruction. We should take heed lest we fall away from faith as the Israelites did. Our LORD Jesus Christ delivered us with his strong outstretched arms upon the cross, taking our sin, guilt and shame into himself and paying the price for it. He had his servants proclaim this good news to us and baptized us into Christ Jesus, his life, death and resurrection. So, how are you responding to that?
Jesus has given us the means of grace to give and strengthen our faith. Are we making use of them? Do we give thanks for the great salvation won for us and given to us? Do we grumble against the LORD for having us participate in his suffering? Do we think he doesn’t do enough for us? Do we forget that Christ has delivered us from sin and go back to it like a pig to his mud? Do we put the LORD to the test?
Having been given such a great and wondrous salvation let us hate our old sinful ways and do not return to them. Let us quickly repent of our sins, confess them to one another and hear the sweet gospel of Jesus to mortify our flesh. Instead of grumbling about our suffering let us rejoice in it knowing Christ Jesus has sanctified it by the cross in his own suffering. Let us not commit sin thinking to ourselves, “We’ll just ask for forgiveness later.” If the LORD so cut off the Israelites who sinned wantonly against him in the wilderness and prevented them from entering the Promised Land, do you not fear he will cast you out on the Last Day and you will not enter the New Heavens and New Earth?
So now in your daily life rejoice in the LORD Jesus Christ and all he has done for you. Put your trust in him daily to live out your life in him a life of faith. If you fall quickly return to the LORD your God in Christ Jesus seeking his mercy, grace, long-suffering, kindness and forgiveness. Don’t delay. It is not his desire that any perish but that all repent and turn to him.
Heavenly Father, let us learn from the Israelites teach us so we may not put you to the test, return to our sinful life, or grumble against you but give us faith that we may trust you, give your thanks and live your will and life in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.