Monday's Message: Why repeat the mistakes of others?

Why repeat the mistakes of others? 

The Hebrew Nation was delivered from bondage in Egypt by the mighty hand of God.  In the Scriptures, Egypt is often used to picture the world; also, the Israelites, as we see in our text, are examples to the New Testament believers including you and me.  Just as Christ freely offered His gift of salvation to us all, He saved every Israelite who was willing to leave Egypt and follow Him.  God symbolically baptized His children when He parted the Red Sea and placed His pillar of cloud over them.  As born again believers, we too should be baptized after salvation.  God provided meat for each of them throughout their journey.  He has given us the Word of God, which is meat to sustain us and strengthen us in our walk with Him.  God produced water out of the rock for them, and we are able partake of the all-sufficient grace freely supplied by Christ. 

We have a loving heavenly Father who equips us and guides us as we journey through life; yet, even though we all have the same God and the same Book and the same Holy Spirit we will not all live in a manner pleasing to the Lord.  While the children of Israel were guided by the hand of God and also having every one of their needs met by Him, many of them began to backslide.  They began to indulge in the sinful practices they were accustomed to back in Egypt.  It is likely that we all clearly understand the appeal of this world and the enticement of sin, but it would be wise to consider the mistakes of the Israelites and the high price they were forced to pay for them.  It has been said this way, “Let somebody else pay your stupid tax!”  In other word, we should learn from the good and bad experience of those who have come before us.

I Corinthians 10:1-11:

1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 

2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 

3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 

6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 

7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 

8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 

9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 

10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 

11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.