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Writer's pictureQuin. A

A Way Out



The beautiful thing about the Bible is that it provides us with examples. Be it good or bad—we have scriptures to teach and aid us daily. In 1 Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul stated that God’s chosen people were baptized in their exodus from Egypt. When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they were under the clouds with walls of water surrounding them on every side. Clouds are vapors of water, and when the Children of Israel passed under the clouds with walls of seawater all about them, they were engulfed in water and, therefore, baptized upon their departure from Egypt.


Their example is a model for us. They left their old lives in Egypt behind, were baptized, and moved toward the Promised Land.  Believers are to leave their old lives of sin behind and become baptized into Christ. After our baptism, we journey towards the Promised Land, which is our eternal resting place with God our Father and Christ our Lord in heaven. The Israelites’ exodus and journey to the promised land is a perfect example of our exodus from bondage and excursion into glory.


Paul also explained that when the Children of Israel drank water from the rock, they drank water from Christ. Paul wrote, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Scripture tells us that the Israelites had gone without water in the wilderness. Often, when we hear that they were in the wilderness, we may think of a wooded land with limited resources. However, the wilderness was a desert. Going without water in a wooded land is one thing, but the lack of water in a desert paints a better picture of the Israelite’s experience. They were desperately thirsty in a parched land.


And yet, God provided them with water from a rock in the middle of the desert—he quenched them through the rock that was Christ. This is another example for us today. God has provided us with that same rock. Water is still available to all who thirst in the desert today through Christ Jesus. We don’t have to remain thirsty and unsatisfied in the dry places of our lives. We can have satisfaction in abundance.


Be mindful that there were millions of Israelites in the wilderness. When the water flowed from the rock, it was enough to quench the thirst of every soul who escaped bondage. Psalms 78:16 – 15 states, “He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.”


God gave them more than enough from that rock, and he has given us more than enough as well. The same Rock has the power to satisfy us in abundance today. Streams of living water still flow down from Christ to quench the souls of those who have escaped the bondage of sin. Jesus is still water in a dry land, but drinking is up to us. 


These are beautiful examples to cleave unto. They give us hope because we see how God provided and cared for his people—how he was with them every step of the way and how those who believed in him eventually made it to the land that flowed with wheat, barley, honey, olive oil, pomegranates, and so much more. God’s children made it to that land of promise, and we will also make it to our land if we believe and follow God just as the faithful Israelites did.


And yet, some examples of old aren’t about salvation and provision. Some examples are warnings. Paul states this in 1 Corinthians 10:5: “But with most of them God was not well pleased…” In the following few verses, Paul explains why God was not pleased with many of his chosen people. He warns us not to become like them.


After God’s children were freed from bondage, Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive instructions from the Lord. While Moses was gone, the people became impatient. They supposed that Moses was taking too long and that they needed another leader—another god to go before them. So, they asked Aaron to create a god for them so that they may have someone to go before them. Aaron obliged, and a golden calf was created.


The Israelites then celebrated: They “sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (1 Corinthians 10, Exodus 31). Paul warned us not to follow this pattern of idol worship. There are times when we may become impatient waiting for the Lord and be inclined to look elsewhere for guidance. But the warning against idolatry is clear here. We must be patient, wait for the Lord, and have no other gods before him.


Paul also wrote to the Corinthians about how God destroyed 23,000 souls in one day because of sexual immorality. This sin was rampant in Corinth, so Paul reminded them of what happened to God’s people before them. Likewise, sexual immorality appears to be at an all-time high in America. Our example is placed before us. We are to flee sin and remain holy regardless of the pressures of society. God is still the Righteous Judge whose wrath will one day come upon the sons of disobedience.


We are not to tempt God or complain like the Israelites. Paul mentioned that serpents destroyed those who tempted God, and the destroyer destroyed those who complained. In Numbers 21, it is written that the people spoke against God and Moses by saying that they had no water or bread. They also began to hate the manna the Lord gave them because they were tired of eating the same thing every day. So, God sent serpents to their camp, and many of them died.


There are also many examples of the Israelites murmuring and complaining against God and his plan. Often, they would say, “You have brought us out of Egypt so that we may die!” They didn’t trust God. They didn’t believe God had a plan for them, and they often blamed Moses when they thought they lacked necessities. So, in Numbers 16, it is written that a deadly plague that took the lives of 14,700 Israelites.  


And although these are unfortunate events, Paul mentioned these things to the Corinthians for a reason. It was a warning. We aren’t to complain, we aren’t to murmur, and we aren’t to live unholy. We need to be grateful and remain holy before God. But if I were to be honest, in a desert without water, I fear that I may have also complained. The serpents may have bitten me, and the plagues may have killed me because I very well may have murmured instead of praying or giving thanks.  


These Old Testament teachings are for our learning, but how can we avoid being like the Israelites? Glory be to God that Paul wrote this verse for our hope. He said, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)


How encouraging is it to know that we have a way out? Although we might be tempted to murmur, complain, or sin against God, we have a way out because God is faithful. When Thomas asked Jesus how can we know the way, Jesus said “I am the way.” (John 14:6).


Jesus is our Rock from which water flows to satisfy our thirst, and he is also our escape from temptation. When we feel our flesh pushing us to complain or sin, we should think of the Way. We should think of all the ways Christ has made a way—how he has saved us and provided a way not only to God the Father, but how he made a way out of difficult situations more times than we can count.


There is no temptation that we cannot overcome, and there is no entity in heaven above or earth below that can keep us from God if we follow the Way out. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians warns us, but it also encourages us. No matter what we face in this life, we have a Way out. We have an escape route from darkness both now and forevermore.


I pray this message blesses you, may God keep you, and may we always remember that we have a Way out.


 

Thank you for reading this week's Write on! Wednesday article. Browse the website for more articles or check out www.amazon.com/author/quinarrington if you are interested in my books. Thank you for your time. God Bless!

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