These Things were Our Examples 1 Corinthians 10:6

Paul the apostle shared with the Corinthian church members how “God was not well pleased” with the Israelites in the wilderness after they escaped Egypt, and as a result, they were “overthrown” there. In chapter ten and verse six of First Corinthians, Paul shared how “these things were our examples” where we read:

Now these things were our examples,

to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

The verse begins, “Now these things were our examples,” Paul began with the word, “Now” which means “moreover and also” “these things” or “the references given by Paul” “were our examples” which means “were Paul and the church members' pattern of warning worthy of imitation”. Paul concluded that the “examples” of the people in the wilderness were to be as “patterns” of the way the church members in Corinth should or should not live accordingly.

The verse continues, “to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” Paul continued with the words, “to the intent” or “toward the point and reason that” “we should not lust after evil” which means “so Paul and the church members would not covet and desire bad natured, wrong, wicked, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive and baneful” “things” which refers to “ways, activities and belongings”, “as they” which means “the children of Israel” “also lusted” or “desired, coveted, fain for and were inclined”. Paul said the reason these “examples” were given was to keep the church members from “lusting” or “desiring” after the same “things” as the “overthrown” children of Israel.

When we consider these words from Paul, we realize the value of the “examples” given in the Old Testament. God desires to “redeem” people from their sins, and His motive to do so was demonstrated through the children of Israel. When they rebelled against Him, they suffered even though this was not God's desire for them. Jesus Christ came to the “wilderness” experiences of our lives to forgive us of our sins, be with us by way of His Holy Spirit, and to have “fellowship” with us every day. We only harm ourselves when we “lust after evil things”, and if we examine these “examples” and ask the Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit to help us keep from “desiring” the “evil things” the children of Israel “lusted after”, we shall be “pleasing” unto Him.

Next time Paul instructed the church members, “neither be you idolaters”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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