Study Desk

Warnings From Israel's History

For I do not want you to be ignorant^(a) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud^(b) and that they all passed through the sea.^(c)

They were all baptized into^(d) Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

They all ate the same spiritual food^(e)

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock^(f) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.^(g)

Now these things occurred as examples^(h) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

Do not be idolaters,⁽ⁱ⁾ as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry."^[a](j)

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.^(k)

We should not test Christ,^[b](l) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.^(m)

And do not grumble, as some of them did⁽ⁿ⁾—and were killed^(o) by the destroying angel.^(p)

These things happened to them as examples^(q) and were written down as warnings for us,^(r) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.^(s)

So, if you think you are standing firm,^(t) be careful that you don't fall!

No temptation^[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;^(u) he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear.^(v) But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Therefore, my dear friends,^(w) flee from idolatry.^(x)

I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break^(y) a participation in the body of Christ?^(z)

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,^(aa) for we all share the one loaf.

Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices^(ab) participate in the altar?