We're examining sins that the people of Israel committed while wandering in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 10:6 warns that "these things became our examples", and they will keep us from entering into the abundant life that God has for us.
2. Idolatry - "And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play". 1 Corinthians 10:7
The reference is to Exodus 32:1-8 when the Israelites crafted a golden calf to worship in place of the living God. Idolatry is defined as "the worship of images as divine or sacred", or "paying divine honors to any item of human fabrication" (Wycliffe Bible Dictionary). The Israelites were impatient because Moses had not returned from his mountaintop meeting with God, so they asked Aaron to made them "gods that shall go before us". God wasn't showing Himself to them in the way or timing they desired, so they created their own god that was more tangible. Any time we exalt something or someone above God in our hearts, it becomes an idol.
Thought Question: What has priority in your thought-life and schedule? Is God on the throne of your heart or are you consumed with lesser things?
3. Immorality - "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell" 1 Corinthians 10:8
Numbers 25 begins, "Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifice of their gods and the people bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel". It's interesting that the Israelites' sexual immorality with people of the "world" also joined them to their false gods. Suffice it to say that immorality on any level is very dangerous and will lead us astray from the Lord.
4. Testing God and Complaining - "nor let us tempt Christ...nor complain" 1 Corinthians 9a & 10a
This refers to more situations where the Israelites were dissatisfied with God's provision and complained bitterly against Him.
Rather than dwell on the negative, let's flip these around and see what a heart ready to enter the Promised Land would look like:
1. Content with God's provisions
2. Worshipping God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength
3. Pure in body and mind
4. Trusting God and expressing thankfulness in all circumstances
I'm guessing these were characteristics of Caleb and Joshua, who are described in Numbers 32:12 as the only ones from that generation who "wholly followed the Lord".
Thought Question: What would it look like to "wholly follow the Lord" in your own life"? Do you have any sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven in order to move forward?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Thanks Jennifer! It's important for me to understand the sin of idolatry. It seems so foreign yet when you ask about "what has priority in your thought-life and schedule" hits the spot. It allowed me to see idolatry in my life and within my frame of reference.
That will be my question of the day, What would it look like to "wholly follow the Lord" in your own life"?
Great thoughts Jen. I am so glad you are doing this. Many of your points hit home for me and now I have many things to ponder, confess and the hard one...change. Katie
Post a Comment