Learning from History

Introduction:
I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “history repeats itself”?  It seems like I used to hear that often, but not as much anymore.  Yet history does repeat itself, not with specific people, or places, or nations,   but certainly in human behavior, and God’s interaction with mankind.  History repeats because mankind thinks we’re going to know better than the ones before us and that we can break the pattern of foolishness and consequences that’s as old as man.  Today we’ll be reminded of the pattern of foolishness connected with human wisdom.  A pattern evident 4,000 years ago in the early days of Israel, a pattern evident 2,000 years ago in Corinth, a pattern evident today in 2013, and a pattern that can only be broken by forsaking human wisdom and living by God’s wisdom.

Last week we were in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.  The context is about fleeing from idolatry and not abusing of liberty.  God calls us to be slave to all and gives some examples: to the Jew, to those with law, to those without law, and to the weak, we are to become as they are.  That does NOT mean we engage in their sin.  We are still under the Law of God and Christ.  Also, I don’t do this just so I can just “fit in” or be a friend, but…it is for the sole purpose that some of them may be saved.  Recall our theme verse for 2013 – “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).  In these verses we see Paul being an example of following our perfect example who is Jesus Christ.  That we are to forsake our liberty and do all for the sake of the Gospel.  To do that requires discipline.  Our live is then compared to running a race in that we are to focus everything on the goal living for Him and advancing the Gospel – no self indulgence, no cruise control.

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Spirit continues to focus on the problems if idolatry and abuse of liberty where we see that those problems are more deeply rooted in the problem of living by human wisdom.  Human wisdom says, “this isn’t idolatry, it’s liberty and I can handle it” and, “I’m entitled to my liberty,”  That human wisdom kept the ancient Israelites in the pattern of foolishness and consequences, kept the less-ancient Corinthians in the pattern of foolishness and consequences, and keeps us in the pattern of foolishness and consequences of ignoring God’s wisdom.

So, let’s hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Learning from History:

OT Examples of God’s Wisdom (10:1-5)
The Spirit reminds us of how God, in His wisdom, provided a way for Israel.  Q way out of slavery in Egypt, a way into a covenant relationship with Him, a way into being His people.  The unity and fellowship among the Israelites was very important!  Much of the Law dealt with proper treatment of each other and that violation of the Law often meant being put out of that fellowship.  Fellowship within Israel was a BIG DEAL!   

That fellowship is emphasized in the next phrases…”ALL our fathers were:”
Under the Cloud
For the nation of Israel traveling from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Cloud was their guide by day; it was what they followed (Psalm 78:14).  The Cloud was also a covering to give them protection from the scorching sun (Psalm 105:39).  The point is, they were all together, being led and protected by God through the Cloud.

All passed through the sea

The miracle where God divided the Red Sea so Israel could escape Pharaoh’s army is a central unifying event to the Jews.  God opened the way of their final escape from their slave masters and delivered the nation from bondage.  The point is, together, God redeemed Israel.

All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea

This is an obvious connection with Christian baptism.  The nation of Israel was united in Moses by the cloud and in the sea.  That is, it was through Moses that God led them and made them His people.  We are united in Christ by His death, burial, and resurrection (which water Baptism symbolizes).  The point is, that it is through Christ that God leads us and makes us His people, and thus we are united in Him.

All ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink

This is making an obvious connection to Communion.  The nation of Israel was united in their basic but miraculous provision for food and water.  Even then, that provision was the manna and the Rock who is Christ!  They didn’t much appreciate it either did they.  By the way, the Hebrew word “manna” means “what is it?”  Now guys, I don’t recommend that when your mom or your wife makes you a meal you ask, “What is it?” 

As believers, we are united in the Body of Christ, which is part of what we celebrate during Communion.  But like ancient Israel, we don’t always appreciate that fellowship either.  And like the Church at Corinth, sometimes we get offended with each other like the “weaker brothers” in that church.  The point is, the Israelite were united by God’s provision, and we are united by Christ’s provision.

Then in 1 Corinthians 10:5 it says, “but with most of them God was not well pleased.”  Why?  Because they complained about, and rejected God’s provision.  They didn’t like the “what is it?”, they didn’t like the direction they were going, they didn’t like Moses, and they didn’t like each other!  Remember that Moses was so occupied with their quarrels, his father-in-law suggested he set up a hierarchy of judges to handle all the disputes!  Then, nearly 2,000 years later, there were nothing but problems in the Church at Corinth and fighting between them was a big part of it.  And now, 2,000 years after that, division is still a problem in the church.  That’s because life being “all about me” is nothing new.  As a believer, complaining about, and rejecting God’s provision is nothing new.  Putting my desires and wants ahead of the church is nothing new.  Making my liberty a priority over a weak brother is nothing new.

But what was the result of all of Israel’s disunity and rebellion?  “Their bodies were scattered in the wilderness!”  They rejected God’s leading and provision; they rejected fellowship with God and each other, which go hand in hand, so God scattered their dead bodies all over the desert.  Worse yet, we learned nothing from it and we continue to reject God’s leading and provision.  We think we can have fellowship with Him without having fellowship with His Church…so God scatters us.

Our unity in Christ is God’s wisdom!  It is central to God’s leading and provision for us.  We are not to destroy that with idolatry and abuse of liberty that hurts our brothers.

OT Examples of Human Wisdom (1 Corinthians 10:6-11)

Some time ago Kevin filled in for me one Sunday and talked about the list of sins presented here in 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 so I won’t spend much time here.  Just know that these are sins that plagued Israel, they plagued Corinth, and guess what…plague us too.

I must say that 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 makes me challenge people with the question, “Is the Old Testament relevant today?”  Of course it is!  It says here, “Now these things became our examples…”   The account of God’s wisdom and provision for ancient Israel, and their response to God, is recorded in the OT as an example to us.  That sounds pretty relevant to me.  These are our example so that we “should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.”  You see, human wisdom hasn’t changed; we still lust after this same junk, like they did nearly 4,000 years ago, and like they did 2,000 years ago.  Here are some specific examples, and again I won’t spend a lot of time here:

1 Corinthians 10:7 says, “do not become idolaters.”  We’ve been talking about it for weeks, we worship all kinds of stuff.  Anything we love more than God is an idol. 

1 Corinthians 10:8 says, “do not commit sexual immorality.”  That’s a huge problem among God’s people, whether it was in Moses’ time, Paul’s time, or today.  
1 Corinthians 10:9 says, “do not tempt Christ.”  This is a reference to Exodus 17:2 where they contended with Moses about his leading, when the water first came from the Rock.  We also contend with Christ, though maybe not openly, when we contend against His Church and His will.
1 Corinthians 10:10 says, “do not complain.”  Like complaining about someone else in the church, or the leadership, etc.

 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, that “all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.”  That is a powerful statement.  The testing and consequences  of failure happened to them to be examples to us.  After 4000 years, maybe we better start paying attention.  When are we going to figure out that unity in the church is important to God, that community health is more important than individual liberties, that sacrificially loving one another is God’s wisdom and command, that doing whatever I want is sin (idolatry and abuse of liberty)!

 
So we’ve got God’s wisdom which brings unity and community among His people, and human wisdom which brings idolatry, immorality, contention, complaining…

NT Admonition to Follow God’s Wisdom (1 Cor 10:12-14)

In 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 it says, “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  The Israelites contended and complained because they thought they were right.  They got into immorality and idolatry because they thought they could get away with it.  In Corinth, the church was divided because they all thought they were right.  They got into immorality and idolatry because they thought they could get away with it.  In both cases they are called out for their carnality and spiritual immaturity and a warning was given saying, “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Then in 1 Corinthians 10:13 we see that there is no new temptation, it’s the same stuff today, 2000 years ago, and 4000 years ago.  God always gives you a way out, so take it.  By the way, the easiest time to look for, and take the way out is before the temptation has escalated into a self-inflicted compulsion.  So run early!

I’m ending today where we’ll pick up next Sunday, Lord willing.  That is with 1 Corinthians 10:14 which says, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  See, we’re still talking about idolatry and the abuse of liberty

Conclusion:

Idolatry and the abuse of liberties are human wisdom that tear down the unity of God’s people.  These are products of living by human wisdom instead of God’s wisdom.  These are problems that have always been trouble for God’s people.  My challenge to you this week: READ 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 everyday, and pray that God will alert you anytime you start to operate by human wisdom instead of His wisdom.