1 Corinthians 10 -- Keeping Our Hearts Out Of Egypt

Paul tells us what we can learn from the mistakes in Israel’s past.  I loved some of the descriptions in my commentary:

“Although all Israel left Egypt … yet the sad truth is that although their bodies were in the wilderness, yet their hearts were still back in Egypt.  They enjoyed a physical deliverance from the bondage of Pharaoh, but they still lusted after the sinful pleasures of that country … The children of Israel were actually examples for us, showing us what will happen to us if we also lust after evil things as they did … The Israelites did not practice self-control with regard to their bodies.  They did not discipline their bodies or put them in a place of subjection.  Rather, they made PROVISION FOR the lusts of the flesh, and this proved to be their downfall.”

Hearing all that, we might be tempted to think that, if they had God present among them on a daily basis, in the pillar of fire and the covering cloud, and still were so tempted, then what chance do we have?  Paul answers in verses 12-13:  “If you think you are strong [that you won’t be caught in sin], you should be careful not to fall [you are setting yourself up to fail].  The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has.  But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand.  But when you are tempted, He will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand.”

So how should we then live?  If we would think of ourselves as having weakened immune systems (in regard to sin) and stay away from those things that tempt us as such a person would avoid a quarantine wing of a hospital, we’d be smart.  And when we find ourselves in the middle of temptation, rather than thinking of even dabbling in it, we should take the method of escape God offers and run from it at once.  Here God is not promising to deliver us, but He is promising to limit the intensity of the temptation, my commentary says.  So He provides the way, but we must move our feet in that direction.  Unlike Israel, we must keep our hearts out of Egypt.

Father, how I wish You’d given us the ability to forget our past sins as You are capable of doing, for I know that it is tempting to relive them, just as the Israelites were doing.  Sharpen my senses to allow me to see BETTER when temptation is coming, including the temptation to remember, and remind me in those circumstances of the way out the You’ve provided.

Your Brother In Christ