This isn’t the most scary verse, Matthew 6:14-15 takes the winner on that one, but this is close. Paul recounts the history of Israel and it’s people.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
They all experienced extraordinary miracles, God’s presence, his favor, his love, his accompaniment, and yet. And yet God was not pleased with them.
It was his love and grace that he did such extraordinary works among them. And seeing these things with their own eyes and experiencing them personally, they felt like they could ride on these things. They thought they were good.
That’s scary.
Just because we experience miracles, sense His presence, hear his voice, see answers to prayer, and more, do not mean that we are pleasing to God. It is a testament to God that He is good to us. We can’t ride on his involvement in our lives as proof of God’s favor.
What, then, were the Israelites doing that was not pleasing to God? What can we learn from their example?
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
What does the text say of them:
- They desired evil
- They were idolators with self-indulgence in food and drink
- They engaged in sexual immorality
- Put Christ to the test (complained and spoke against their leaders)
- Grumbled and complained
Hm. Does this sound like anything we would do? Grumble and complain? Slander leaders? Engage in sexual immorality?
Their example is a warning. God was not pleased with them.
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
And lest anyone should make excuses that it feels impossible, Paul has a few things to say.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Temptation is a reality of all humans–lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
God will protect you from being tempted beyond your ability.
He will provide a way of escape from that temptation if you will just take it.
Yes, temptation is something to endure.
And overcome.
No more grumbling and complaining.
No more sexual immorality.
No more self-indulgence.
It is time we do not get complacent simply because we experience the miracles and presence of God.