For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
When the Hebrews were released from their slavery in Egypt, Moses led them through the Red Sea as it was split, leaving a dry path through it, and God went with them in the form of the pillar of cloud the whole time they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
So they were all "baptized" in the sea and under the cloud. From the primary verb, bap-to, to whelm, or cover fully as with a liquid. So they were all inside the sea, and the cloud covered them all, protecting and leading them.
and all ate the same spiritual food;
The Manna was the "food of Angels" (Psalm 78:25), supernaturally provided six days a week for 40 years.
and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual Rock which followed them; and that Rock was Christ.
This was the Rock God told Moses to strike with his staff the first time, but then told him to "speak to the Rock" later. The water that came from this Rock was supernaturally provided.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
Even though God did all these miracles for these people, that didn't mean that He had saved them, except from Earthly situations. They weren't right with God, in spite of His goodness to them.
Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
God wanted us to know what happened then, so that we would learn that just because God is good to us, even in supernatural ways, it doesn't mean that we are right with Him.
These people wanted all the material things that would make life easier, but they weren't seeking to have a real relationship with Him.
Do not be idolators, as some of them were; as it is written,
The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play (Exodus 32:6).The verse before this one in Exodus tells us that they had first sacrificed to the golden calf as an idol, then they sat down to eat the sacrificial meal, and stood up to dance and participate in sexual rites associated with pagan worship.
Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day (Numbers 25:1-9).
This was when Balaam was hired by King Balak of Moab to curse these Hebrews, because he was afraid of them. But, since God would not let Balaam curse them, he instead arranged for the Moabite women to entice the men into Baal worship, including the sexual practices associated with this cult.
It seems like men of every culture are susceptible to sexual sin. We women have this great power over men, so we need to be careful, too.
Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents (Numbers 21:5-6).
The people were saying that they were sick and tired of eating the same manna every day, and were complaining against both God and Moses. Not appreciating God's sustaining miracles didn't sit well with God, so He sent "fiery serpents" among them to turn around their attitudes.
Nor grumble as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Numbers 14:2 is when the people complained again, for the tenth time, and God said in verses 22-23 that,
Because all those men which have seen My glory, and My miracles, which I did in Egypt, and in the Wilderness, and have tempted Me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I swore unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked [despised] Me see it;Then God had them wander for all those years, until every one of those men had died, except for Caleb and Joshua, who had believed Him.
Now all these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.
So God wants us to learn the lessons those people back then refused to learn. God did everything He could to show these people how much He loved them, but they were stubborn and proud and refused to take to heart all God was doing for them.
Let us not be like them, and take their experiences to heart, to realize God's Love for us, and appreciate all He does for us every day meeting our needs, even if they're not miraculous.
Jesus is coming soon, that's why Paul said that the "end of the ages" is coming on us, this generation.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
So let us take care; and if we think we're doing all right, then be careful that we don't let things slide, and end up in a pickle.
O my Father, please don't let us think that we're all right when we're not! Our own hearts lie to us, and the World and our enemy just add to the deception and confusion.
Father, show us when we're fostering negative attitudes, and not appreciating the good You are bringing into all of our lives every day. Open our eyes to see, and open our minds and hearts to perceive and appreciate all the wonderful things You give us and do for us all the time.
Father, Your patience is long, but when everyone has heard about Your Love for them and understood well enough to make an informed decision to accept or reject Your generous offer, then Your patience will end, and You will allow Your Son to return as Judge, and set up His Kingdom here on this Earth (Matthew 24:14).
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Christ and Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
