What are we supposed to learn from Israel's example in 1 Corinthians 10?
Israel’s wilderness experiences were written as examples and object lessons for believers, so that we learn not to lust after evil things as they did and not to become idolaters. Their failures, including the incident in Exodus 32, warn us that God is not pleased with such behavior and that these lessons remain applicable.
Les explains that 1 Corinthians 10 points back to Israel’s experience after coming out of Egypt—through the Passover, the Red Sea, and gathering around Mount Sinai while Moses received the Ten Commandments. Yet with many of them God was not well pleased, and they were overthrown in the wilderness. These things, Les teaches, were written for our learning and were our examples, like object lessons that tell a distinct truth. The intent is that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted, neither be idolaters as some of them were. The example includes the people sitting down to eat and drink and rising up to play, and Les points back to Exodus 32, saying it is just as applicable for us.
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
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