1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10.
A Warning against Carnal Security. 1 Cor. 10, 1—13.
Warning against the corruption of idolatry and related sins: V. 9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. V. 10. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
A third offense: Neither let us tempt the Lord, as some of them tempted and were destroyed by the serpents, Numbers 21, 5. 6. By saying of the bread which the Lord gave them daily from heaven that their soul loathed that light bread, they dared God, they committed the sin of presumption, they challenged His judgments. Their dissatisfaction with the food furnished by God was due to their unbelief, and this unbelief was punished through the fiery serpents sent by God.
The same sin, that of presuming upon the divine forbearance and patience, is committed by Christians that are not satisfied with the solid and nourishing food given them in Gospel-preaching, but insist upon frequenting the places of the world's idolatry in the hope of obtaining food which suits their jaded appetites better. Such a conduct is tempting Christ and will be punished accordingly.
A fourth offense: Neither indulge in murmuring, even as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer, by the angel of God that executes the commands of God, 2 Samuel 24, 16; Isaiah 37, 36. The entire history of the journey in the wilderness is one of murmurings, but several occasions stand out most prominently, notably the revolt of Korah and his friends, and the subsequent uprising of the entire congregation, Numbers 16. If it had not been for the standing of Moses between the dead and the living at that time, the entire people might have been wiped out.
The lesson should be applied by the Corinthians in time, for they were disposed to manifest opposition against the teachers given them by God, an opposition which struck directly at the Lord Himself. And in our days we need but refer to the general discontent and dissatisfaction with God's ways and government in both Church and State. It is time that we recall what the Lord says in Lamentations 3, 39: "Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?"