Chapter summary (TSK) 1 Corinthians 10:1, The sacraments of the Jews are types of ours; 1 Corinthians 10:7, and their punishments, 1 Corinthians 10:11. examples for us; 1 Corinthians 10:13, We must flee from idolatry; 1 Corinthians 10:21, We must not make the Lord’s table the table of devils; 1 Corinthians 10:24, and in things indifferent we must have regard of our brethren.
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (WEL) 1 Moreover, brethren, I don’t want you to be ignorant of how all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. 2 All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 All ate the same spiritual food. 4 All drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from that spiritual Rock that went with them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not pleased, for they were strewn about the wilderness.
V1 Moreover, brethren, I don’t want you to be ignorant of how all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.
This is the cloud of God covering the Shekinah glory. See Exodus 14:19-20 and Colossians 2:9. In Exodus it was a cloud covering God’s glory, His presence. In Jesus it was His earthly body covering God’s glory.
The fathers were under the cloud is the shield. It protected them from the bright burning rays of the sun and provided a night light for safety. See Psalm 105:39 and Isaiah 4:5-6. They crossed the sea with walls of solid water on each side.
Albert Barnes writes: “The Red Sea, under the guidance of Moses, and by the miraculous interposition of God; Exodus 14:21-22. This was also a proof of the divine protection and favor, and is so adduced by the apostle. His object is to accumulate the evidences of the divine favor to them, and to show that they had as many securities against apostasy as the Corinthians had, on which they so much relied.”
V2 All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
This is a picture of a baptism and being willingly under the authority of God and Moses, God’s servant. Christians have a spiritual baptism by the Holy Spirit, indicating that we belong to God, His family, His protection, His leadership, etc. The physical baptism by water is a symbol of identification with Jesus Christ and His leadership, a clear, clean conscience, and joining with other believers in the family of God.
V3 All ate the same spiritual food.
The spiritual food for Israel was manna given by God for nearly 40 years, the teaching and guidance of Moses, and the priestly ministry of Aaron. The spiritual food for Christians is in reading and studying the Bible.
V4 All drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from that spiritual Rock that went with them, and that Rock was Christ.
The spiritual drink was the water God provided for the nation and their animals. The spiritual drink for Christians is in the Holy Spirit’s ministry to encourage, rebuke sin, teach through the Scriptures, and make aware of God’s ways.
V5 But with most of them God was not pleased, for they were strewn about the wilderness.
All of that generation of 20 years and older died except Caleb and Joshua. Some also mention Phineas, the grandson of Aaron.
We learn:
- Having a spiritual heritage is no guarantee of spiritual life.
- Growing up in a Christian family is no guarantee of salvation.
Questions:
- What are your actions and attitude towards the spiritual food and drink provided by the Holy Spirit?
- Is God pleased with you?