Can a believer really fall like Israel did in the wilderness?
Yes, believers can fall like Israel did in the wilderness. Their experiences were recorded for our admonition, and Scripture warns, 'Let him that thinketh he stands take heed, lest he fall.' Every one of us is a candidate for falling, and no one should be puffed up claiming it could never happen.
Les explains that the wilderness failures of Israel are written for our admonition, so we are supposed to learn from them. In verse 12, the warning is directed at every one of us: let him that thinketh he stands take heed, lest he fall. Les emphasizes that every one of us are candidates for falling as Israel did. None of us can get puffed up and say, 'That would never happen to me,' because yes, it can. The repetition in these verses is there for a distinct purpose, to drive home the seriousness of the warning.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.