Murmurers Destroyed 1 Corinthians 10:10

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth not to “be idolaters, commit fornication or to tempt Christ” which each resulted in death and destruction for the children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness. In chapter ten and verse ten of First Corinthians, Paul added how the church members in Corinth were not to “murmur” where we read:

Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

The verse begins, “Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured, ...” Paul began with the word, “Neither” which means “nor, not once or nor at any time” “murmur” which means “mutter, groan or say anything against in a low tone such as those who confer secretly together and discontentedly complain”, “as some” or “like certain ones” “of them” which refers to the children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness “also” or “even so and indeed” “murmured” which means “muttered, grumbled, said things against in low tones who conferred secretly together and discontentedly complained”. Paul added the idea of “grumbling and complaining” to prohibited behavior from the church members.

The verse goes on to say, “... and were destroyed of the destroyer.” Paul continued with the words, “and were destroyed” or “were put out of the way entirely, abolished, put to an end and ruined, rendered useless and killed” “of the destroyer” which means “by the ruiner and venomous serpent”. Because they “murmured”, the children of Israel were subjected to a fatal “plague” by the one who “destroys”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how he referred to Numbers chapter sixteen and verses forty-one thru fifty where the children of Israel “murmured” against Moses and Aaron his brother and the Lord sent a “plague” upon them which resulted in the death of fourteen thousand and seven hundred of them. Only because Moses and Aaron took “a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense...and made atonement for them” was the “plague stayed” and their dying ceased. Paul knew the seriousness of “murmuring and complaining”, and those who follow Jesus Christ should never practice it. If we have been “murmuring”, for any reason, may we repent, turn to Jesus, and allow Him to “forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Next time Paul told the church members, “the things happened unto them for examples”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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