- Guilty of impunity: Corinthian Christians were more concerned with their own desires and self focussed than God’s glory just like when Israelites murmured against God. They spoke against God and against Moses. Then the Lord sent venomous snakes and many Israelites died (Num. 21:4-6). The same issues were giving trouble to Corinthian Christians who will not yield their right to eat meat sacrificed to idols for the sake of another brother. It seems the Corinthian Christians believed they were safe from the danger of being destroyed because of their past spiritual experiences or accomplishments. But Paul was giving warning that if it happened to Israel, it can happen to Corinthians also.
- Disobedience and grumble: (10:10): The disobedience of Israelites has caused the angel to strike some of the people. Here Paul was probably referring about the angel of death which caused death to Egyptian first born. This is again a warning to Corinthian Christians that any disobedience is severely dealt with.
The faithfulness of God (10:11-13):
Apostle Paul cautions us to remember the experiences of Israelites and so that we can learn from their failures. We must take heed, lest we fall . We must take warning from bad examples. Because all the history is available to us, we have greater responsibility in avoiding and overcoming the temptations.
The factors that lead to our deliverance in the hour of temptation.
Ex: Temptation works like rocks in a sea-harbour. When the tide is low, everybody sees the danger and avoids it. But Satan’s strategy in temptation is to raise the tide, and to cover over the dangers of temptation. Then Satan would like to crash upon us like the covered rocks. We often would like to excuse our particular tempting circumstances saying very unique and a very difficult. But God reminds us that our temptation is not unique, many people have faced same or similar temptation, and have found the strength in God to overcome the temptation. Further God would limit our temptation according to our ability or capability to endure it. “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” (10:13). It is again according to our capability as we rely on Him but not relying on ourselves or others.
Ex: A girl once said, whenever Satan comes with temptation to the door of my heart, I send Jesus to answer to answer. When Satan sees Jesus, he says: oops, I have come to a wrong place.
A few points that we can see in temptation and how we can overcome are as follows:
- Wrong desires and temptations happen to every human being and we must remember that we are not singled out.
- Others have resisted and overcame such temptations.
- Any temptation however big it may be can be resisted with the help of God by drawing the strength from Him.
- God would help us to recognize those situations and the persons causing the trouble and tempting us.
- We must run away from tempting situations just like Joseph.
The fellowship with God: (10:14-22): The two kinds of fellowship:
- Divine fellowship (10:14-18):
Apostle Paul is again using the term idolatry. Every believer must flee from idolatry and the things that were offered to idols. In Corinth there were many pagan temples. The wood, the stone are not evil in itself, but the people who gave credit to it as gods and goddesses and offered food to them is to be forbidden. Idol itself is nothing but Satan would use it to lead us into temptation. Here Paul used the Divine fellowship giving example of Lord’s Supper. When the believer partakes the Lord’s table, he is in a spiritual way having fellowship with God through the bread and cup at the Lord’s table. By remembering Christ’s death, the believer enters into a communion with the risen Lord (1 Cor.10:18). The OT temple altar and sacrifice is again an illustration of the past (Deu.12:17ff).