Warnings From Israel's History

2 Corinthians Chapter 10: 1-13)

1. For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

2. They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

3. They all ate the same spiritual food

4. And drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the same spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

5. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

6. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

Some of the evil things they did were: They were idolaters, sexual immorality, grumblers, and testing God.

11. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

12. So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

13. No temptation has seized you, except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear (with His help). But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.


Who were these people and where did they come from?

a) They were Israelites who lived in Egypt, the land of bondage.

b) God heard their cries and had mercy on them.

c) God had Moses lead them out of Egypt in order to bring them into the promised land.

d) First, all the families had to sacrifice a one year old male lamb without blemish and brush it's blood over the door posts of their homes to show they were obedient to God's command... proving they had put their faith in what He had promised. They would have understood this sacrifice pointed toward the Promised Messiah of God.

e) They were led out of the land of Bondage by a cloud by day and a fire by night, and then passed through the Red Sea.

f) God provided for their journey; even their clothes and sandals, over the 40 years, did not wear out. God provided "daily manna" for them to feed on, and all drank the same spiritual drink from the rock that accompanied them. That rock was Christ.



1. Why did an eleven day journey take 40 years? (Actually more, because the original generation, all over 20 years of age, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, died out and it was the 2nd generation that finally crossed the Jordon into the promised land).

2. Even though God rescued them from bondage and provided for their needs, what were their hearts set on?

3. The Bible "warns" us we are to learn from their mistakes. What were their mistakes?

4. How do the type of mistakes they made relate to our day? To our life?

5. Are we "practicing" any of the above mentioned things the Bible warns us of?

6. Have we been freed from any particular bondage? If so, would you like to share as an encouragement to others?

7. Why is "grumbling" so bad? The Bible calls it "evil."

8. In what ways might we "test" God? The Bible also calls this "evil."

9. What do we spend most of our spare time on but find so very little, if any, time for God? What is my definition of an idol?

10. Who do we give glory to (credit), our self or God, when things work out? How about when things don't work out the way "we planned"?

11. Who sits on the throne of my heart, God or myself? What percentage of time would God occupy the throne ,and what percentage do I occupy the throne of my heart?

What are some ways we can begin changing who is going to direct our lives?

*****

These people were all covered by the blood of Christ (the promised One, the Lamb without blemish) because they took God at His Word and put their faith in the blood of the Lamb.

These people were rescued from the land of bondage that was under the rule of an evil, heartless, ruler. They were given hope for a new life in a new land of freedom. Bountiful blessings would be theirs as long as they looked to, and relied on God, and did not forget their deliverance and rebel against Him.

They were baptised into Moses under the cloud and in the Red Sea.

The history of God's people was one of rebellion and after being disciplined by God, they returned to Him and God had mercy on them. This scene repeated itself over and over again with God showing much patience with them and having to discipline them after a time (sometimes hundreds of years), then having mercy on them every time they called out to Him.

How would we describe our own sins of any of the above? Idolatries, sexual immoralities, grumblings and testing God?


We live in an age where every one of these things are all around us. We cannot help but recognize them because they are often "in our face" wherever we go. They are on TV, the internet, on signs in buses, malls, on the highways, on magazine covers etc. In our own strength, we cannot avoid falling to temptation to any, or even most of these things. We need supernatural, power of the Holy Spirit to live for Christ Jesus, and we need the Word of God to direct us and encourage us along our journey.

I think we all need to take occasional inventory of where we are spiritually, and ask ourselves, what are the things of this world that entangle me and hinder my walk with Christ Jesus?

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

~Annie~