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Warning against Overconfidence (1 Cor. 10:1-13)

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2 and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 All ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. 6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. 7 And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.” 8 Let us not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell within a single day. 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did, and suffered death by serpents. 10 Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. 13 No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.

Paul reflected on the Exodus in the OT to demonstrate that even those called by God can be condemned for lack of fidelity to God (cf. Ex. 13:21; 14:21; 16:4, 14-18: 32:6).  Paul assumed that the Corinthians knew about the Exodus and used ‘baptized into Moses (v. 2)’ as Christians used baptized into Christ.  The saving event of the Exodus was to Israel as the saving event of Baptism is to Christians.  The Corinthian converts shared the same heritage as the Jewish converts.  Paul recalled the spiritual food, manna, which fed the Israelites (Ex. 16:4-15), and the spiritual water that flowed from the rock for the Israelites to drink (Ex. 17:1-7).  These were an allusion to the Christian Eucharist.  No spiritual rock followed the Israelites as they wandered through the desert, but Paul was using Christian thought to make a comparison between the rock that followed the Israelites then, with Christ now. 

Even though God provided all those things for the Israelites He was not pleased with them and most of them died in the wilderness (Num. 26:65).  Paul explained key parts of the Exodus as an example because some of the Israelites had become idolaters which was the root of their sin.  Some Corinthians still participated in pagan cult meals, so Paul was warning them against becoming idolaters.  They must avoid immorality and testing Christ lest God strikes them down.  Some Corinthians considered themselves spiritually superior, but they must be aware of the trials that befall every human being and be careful not to fail.  God will allow trials but never a trial where they will fail.  God always provides a way out. 

Almighty God, our journey through life mirrors the journey of the Israelites through the desert.  Feed us with the bread of life which heals and strengthens us on our journey.  Never let us be tried beyond what we can bear. This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

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