Yes, Israel's history serves as examples and object lessons for believers today, as God and human nature have not changed.
Les Feldick teaches that events like the wilderness wanderings and the golden calf incident were written for our learning, warning against idolatry and unbelief. Since God's character and human nature are constant, these lessons remain relevant for modern believers, even though we are not under the Law but under grace.
1 Corinthians 10:5-13 — Paul explicitly states that Israel's experiences were written as examples for us, warning against idolatry and immorality.
In 1 Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul reminds the church that the Israelites experienced miraculous deliverance from Egypt, passed through the Red Sea, and were under the cloud of God's presence, yet God was not pleased with most of them because of their idolatry and unbelief. Paul says these things were written for our admonition, as examples to prevent us from desiring evil things as they did. The Old Testament record of Israel's failures, including the worship of the golden calf and their rejection of God's leadership, serves as a warning that we must not fall into similar patterns of disobedience.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Israel's history is a living example of New Testament doctrine. He points out that God has not changed from Genesis to today; what He hated then, He still hates now. Since human nature is the same, believers today are just as prone to idolatry, unbelief, and worldliness as Israel was. Les stresses that these Old Testament accounts are not just historical records but object lessons designed to teach us about God's holiness and righteousness, and to warn us against repeating Israel's mistakes.
Les teaches that all these Old Testament events are a living example of New Testament doctrine or teaching. Just as Israel was told to stay in the promised land, believers are admonished to separate themselves from the world (Egypt). When a believer goes into the world, they get into trouble, just as Abram did when he went to Egypt.
Les points out that the golden calf episode shows how quickly people turn to idolatry when their leader seems absent. This remains relevant today as human nature is no different; people still fall for spiritual counterfeits and immorality. God brought a plague because of their gross immorality, showing that He has not changed and still expects holiness.
Les clarifies that although believers are not under the Law but under grace, God's character remains the same. What He hated in Israel's day, He still hates today. The moral principles and warnings are applicable, even though the legal system of Israel does not govern the church.
Les highlights that the primary warning is against unbelief. Even after Israel's gross immorality, God reminded them of their unbelief at Kadesh Barnea when they refused to enter Canaan. This shows that unbelief is the root sin that prevents us from entering God's rest, just as it did for Israel.
God Not Pleased with Many
Les sets the context from 1 Corinthians 10, showing that all Israelites experienced miracles, yet God was displeased with many—proving the need for personal faith, not just outward experiences.
Old Testament Examples for Today
Les explains that Old Testament events are examples of New Testament doctrine, and believers today must separate from the world just as Israel was told to stay out of Egypt.
Human Nature Unchanged
Les observes that human nature is no different today; people still reject Christ and fall into idolatry, as seen when Israel demanded a golden calf.
God's Unchanging Holiness
Les stresses that God has not changed from Genesis to today; what He hated then He hates now, applying to modern issues like immorality and corrupt influences.
Why Israel Rejected God as King — 1 Samuel 8 Explained
For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and they had feared of the God. And they walked in the statutes of whom? The heathen. Imagine. They became just exactly like those heathen Canaanites all around them.
Unbelief as the Core Sin
Les points out that despite Israel's immorality, God emphasized their unbelief as the reason they didn't enter Canaan, showing that unbelief remains a barrier to entering God's rest.
Exposure of Human Nature
Les reiterates that Israel's history exposes the unchanged human nature, and people today would still crucify Christ or reject His kingship, just as Israel did.
Why the 12 Disciples Never Preached to Gentiles — Acts 1:8
You can't practice that, because we're not under those circumstances. But we can certainly learn from all this, the mind of God, His righteousness, His holiness, and all the rest. And so we have to be so careful how we use the Scriptures. Now let's come back for just a couple of minutes to Acts once again.
1 Corinthians 10:5-6: But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
This verse directly states that Israel's failures were written as examples for believers today.
1 Corinthians 10:7: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Paul cites the golden calf incident as a warning against idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
This reinforces the purpose of Israel's history as instructive for the church age.
Exodus 32:1: And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
This records Israel's quick turn to idolatry when their leader was absent, showing human weakness.
No, believers today are not under the Law but under grace. However, God's character and moral standards have not changed. What He hated in Israel's day, He still hates today, so the principles remain applicable.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that the Old Testament is a living example of New Testament doctrine. We can learn about God's holiness, righteousness, and human nature from Israel's history, even though the legal requirements of the Law are not for us.
The main lesson is to avoid unbelief and idolatry. Israel's failure to trust God and their quick turn to golden calves serve as warnings for us today. Unbelief kept them from entering God's rest, just as it can hinder our spiritual lives.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Golden Calf Still Matters — 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 Explained