1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Warnings From Israel’s History
10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Reflection
My son has a collection of rocks collected from around the world. They vary in shape and size and colour and texture. Each rock holds a memory. Though they mean something to us, they probably would not mean much to anyone else.
Paul’s image of Jesus as a rock may seem a bit confusing at first. We can understand Jesus as a rock of dependability, but as a “spiritual rock”?
In calling Jesus a spiritual rock, Paul reminds believers that just as God provided water from the rock for his people in the wilderness (see Exodus 17), God continues to provide for his people today. Just as the sustenance in the wilderness came through Jesus, the spiritual rock, so Jesus sustains us today.
Jesus as our spiritual rock is a great comfort indeed. But there’s also a challenge in this image of the spiritual rock. Despite the food and drink provided in the wilderness, the Israelites failed to trust and obey God. Paul uses their failure as a warning and a challenge to the Corinthians and to us. God provides, but we must trust and obey.
Today, as you go about your life, keep your mind and heart focused on the spiritual food and drink that Jesus provides, and then, step by step, trust and obey.
Lord Jesus, our spiritual rock, help us to trust you as our only source of strength and to follow you in loving service today and always. Amen.
A prayer of approach, based on Isaiah 55
The Lord says:
Come to me all who thirst – here is water! Come, you that have no money – buy corn and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk – it will cost you nothing! Listen to me, my people, and do what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all.
Refrain: Your thoughts are not like our thoughts and your ways are different from our ways.Come, all who look for justice – here is hope for the future.
Come, all who long for fairness in trade and employment – here is a better way. Why profit from others’ misfortune? Why benefit from others’ misery?
Refrain: Your thoughts are not like our thoughts and your ways are different from our ways.
Come, all who long to find a purpose to their lives – here is the word of life. Come, all who look for meaning for their existence – here is a lasting covenant. Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry?
Refrain: Your thoughts are not like our thoughts and your ways are different from our ways.
Come, all who long for spiritual fulfilment – here is the God who meets us in Jesus Christ. Come, all who seek a lasting faith – here is the way, the truth and the life. Come, all who hunger and thirst for righteousness – yours is the kingdom of God. Come, all you who are heavy laden – and I will give you rest.
Refrain: Your thoughts are not like our thoughts and your ways are different from our ways.
Turn to the Lord and pray to him, now that he is near. Let the wicked leave their way of life – and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the Lord, our God – he is merciful and quick to forgive.
Refrain: Your thoughts are not like our thoughts and your ways are different from our ways.
Suggested Reading Beauty for brokenness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5_TVy2gHRg I am a rock I am an island https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTKcqOWprRc Rock of ages, cleft for me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmboVILc4rw
