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First Corinthians 10:10-12
Paul has been cataloging for the Corinthians the judgments on the first generation of the nation of Israel - a
result of their unbelief. We come now to the last judgment that Paul lists, which Id like to read in the
context of the others, beginning in verse 6.
[First Corinthians 10:6-10]
On the surface, this last sin mentioned does not sound as serious as a sin like idolatry; or fornication - the
children of Israel complained. And yet the resultant judgment could hardly be described with stronger
words: they were destroyed by the destroyer, which suggests a destroying angel, striking them down with
the divine judgment of God: death.
So we wonder, what could have been this notable occasion of complaint? After all, the children of Israel
complained their way through the wilderness, didnt they? So was there one particular episode, of all their
complaining, that stands out - and why was it different from every other time they did it?
Our first clue can be found in the fact that Paul lists this complaining last. This suggests that it was a
culminating episode of sin and the judgment of it.
This was a culmination of Israels unbelief - with their testing of the LORD, in the wilderness. The occasion
was when the LORD had brought them to the land of promise - to possess it. And their reaction at that time
brought the LORDs longsuffering to an end, and evoked His solemn declaration, that they would never enter
the land.
Lets review the account in the OT record, beginning in Numbers chapter 13.
This was sometime after the beginning of the second year, out of Egypt. The LORD had led the children of
Israel from Mt. Sinai into the Wilderness of Paran. The account tells us later that they were in Kadesh Kadesh Barnea (Deut 1:19), which is just south of the land of Canaan.
The LORD had brought them there in order for them to now go into the land, and possess it; the land
promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their seed after them - the LORD was now giving it to them
(Deut 1:8).
[Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33]
v. 1-3 Moses later recounts this episode to the second generation of Israel - who had been children, at this
time. He did so when the second generation was about to enter the land, as part of his exhortation to them,
to believe and obey the LORD.
And we learn an interesting detail, from that account, in Deuteronomy. Moses indicates that it was the
people who proposed sending men into the land, to search it out; to have them bring back word about the
way they should go up, and about the cities into which theyd come (Deut 1:22).
But here we see the LORD is telling Moses to send men to search out the land. How can we reconcile those
two accounts? Well, I think we can be certain that the people proposed the idea, of searching out the land,
and the LORD chose to allow it.
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Now, the LORD is giving the land to the children of Israel. And they have followed His leading all this way.
So why would the people need to figure out the way by which they should go up? Wont the LORD show
them the way? Of course He will - as He always has.
And why would they be seeking details about the cities into which theyll come? To figure out how large
they are? To access their strength - so they can determine the probability of victory. But if the LORD is
giving them the land, doesnt He have to give them the victory?
This makes it clear that the spying out of the land was the peoples idea. It reveals that they were afraid to
go in and possess it. They were afraid of what was in the land; and they thought if they just had more
information; if they knew what was in there; then they wouldnt be afraid. Then they could begin to make
their plans, and control the situation. And maybe - just maybe - they would have the victory.
Where is the LORD, in their thinking? Nowhere. But notice that the LORD allowed them to have their way to obtain more knowledge, of the land. Why do you think He did that? To show them that knowledge
wouldnt cure them of their fear. Knowledge never cures fear. What cures fear? Trusting in the LORD;
whenever I am afraid, I will. trust in You (Ps 56:3).
So as the LORD instructed, Moses sent twelve men into the land, to spy it out - a representative from each
tribe. Notice that these were leaders among the people; men who were not novices, who were accustomed
to being trusted with responsibility, and making judgments.
The account goes on cite the twelve men by name, according to their tribes. Well continue in verse 17.
v. 17-20 So Moses, under the LORDs direction, sends the men into the land to obtain a full report - of land,
and inhabitants. And notice that Moses encourages them - for they are entering enemy territory, on a
surveillance mission - and that would carry some risk, wouldnt it? And finally, Moses asks them to bring
back a sampling of the fruit of the land - the grapes - indicating it was summertime.
v. 21-25 The geographic locations cited indicate that the spies fully searched out the land. The language of
the passage here, and the reports that follow, make it clear that the spies went through the land together;
they didnt split up. This would mean that they saw the same things.
Two interesting points are mentioned here. The spies brought back the fruit that was in season:
pomegranates, figs and grapes. Look at how they carried the grapes - on a pole; between two of them.
Would they need to do that with an ordinary cluster of grapes? No. This cluster must have been
enormous - a witness to the amazing productivity of this land.
The other interesting thing is the mention of the descendants of Anak being in Hebron - the Anakim,
described in Scripture as a people great and tall (Deut 9:2). So big fruit, big people, in this land.
Then the spies returned to the camp of Israel. How long were they gone? Forty days - and what does that
represent, in Scripture? Forty is the number of testing. For forty days, these twelve spies had tested the
land together; evaluating it - to prove to themselves whether it was good, or bad. Lets see what their
judgment of it was.
v. 26-29 So here were the facts, that the people had wanted; the information, the knowledge of the land,
that they thought would allay their fears, about going in to possess it. Did it allay their fears? No. Now
that they knew what was in there, their imagination concerning that knowledge swept them up to even
greater heights of fear.
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But had they looked at that fruit, from the land? Had they listened to the first part of the report - about the
great prosperity, of that land - that it truly flows with milk and honey? Moses did - and in the account in
Deuteronomy, he relates what his conclusion was - It is good land which the LORD our God is giving us
(Deut 1:25).
Giving us - Moses disregarded the second part of the report, because it was immaterial. What difference
did it make if the people were strong, and the cities were fortified, and there were enemies throughout the
land? The LORD was giving them the land - so would any of that matter? No. And thats how the report
was seen, by those who had eyes of faith - by those who trusted in the LORD.
Then another who trusted in the LORD spoke up - one of the spies.
v. 30 Caleb quieted the people; it means hes shushing them. What were the people doing? Theyre
verbalizing their fears, no doubt; because all they heard was the last part of the report.
But Caleb quieted them down, because he intended to encourage them. Lets not wait another moment.
The LORD has told us He is giving us this land; lets go get it! We are well able to overcome it - literally,
its we have the power to overpower it.
Really Caleb? The people of the land were stronger and greater; their cities were secured by high walls;
and theyre occupying every square inch of the land. The children of Israel would have wanted to know:
in what way do we have the power?
What would Caleb answer to that? We have the power, because we have the LORD. Caleb had seen how the
LORD had delivered Israel out of Egypt, with a strong arm; how He had destroyed the Egyptian armies,
through the Red Sea; and how He had enabled Israel to defeat the Amalekites - though Israel had no
experience, in war.
With eyes of faith, Caleb could see that the LORD would enable Israel to conquer the land that He was
giving to them. Caleb trusted the LORD, knowing that the LORD would be true to His word.
But then ten witnesses came forth, who spoke words contrary to the words of Caleb.
v. 31-33 These men were some of the other leaders who had gone up into the land, to spy it out with Caleb
- ten of them. The remaining leader was Joshua - and we will see from his words, recorded later in the
account, that Joshua was in agreement with Caleb - to trust the LORD, go in, and possess the land.
But these ten men thought differently. Hadnt they all seen the same things? Yes. But these men have
forged their own opinion of what they saw, based on their unbelief - their lack of trust, in the LORD.
First, they completely contradicted Caleb - their first words were, literally, We do not have the power - the
ability - where Caleb said they did have the power.
Notice that Calebs focus was on the land, for that is what the LORD was giving them. But what was the
focus, of the ten spies? The people of that land. They perceived that the people were stronger than Israel.
And they were.
Were those people stronger than the LORD? Of course not. But when you dont believe in the LORD - when
you dont trust Him, to be your protection - then with your eyes of unbelief, you think its all up to you; and
that you are powerless; and that you will be overcome.
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The report of the ten spies is called a bad, or evil report. How so? Their report exaggerated the power of
the people of the land - they devour their inhabitants, meaning theyre oppressors, that consume their
victims. How did they determine that? All the spies came back just fine!
Also, the spies had seen men of giant stature in Hebron, but they report that all the people of the land were
like that; and that they were soooo gigantic, it was as if the spies were the size of grasshoppers. So they
created this greatly exaggerated visual image in the minds of their listeners, which of course stoked the
fears of the children of Israel.
And the worst part of their report was what was missing - the goodness of the land, that the LORD was
giving His people. And by this omission, we can see that these ten spies deliberately intended to skew the
report, so as to win the people over to their way of thinking - to their lack of trust in the LORD.
But in fact, the people were already there. The evil report of the ten simply served to confirm for them
what they had already been imagining in their minds, all along - in their unbelief.
14:1 The congregation broke up, after hearing the report of the spies - which ended in the evil report. And
the people wept all that night. Moses indicates in Deuteronomy that they were complaining back in their
tents (Deut 1:27) - presumably in between the wailing.
Then the next day, out they came from their tents, bringing their discouragement and fears to Moses and
Aaron. Moses had an answer for the people, which we dont find here, but in his recounting of the incident,
in Deuteronomy.
Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 1. This was the response of Moses to the people.
[Deuteronomy 1:29-31] So Moses exhorted the people. The LORD would go before them - this means that
the LORD would prepare the way, for them. But more than that, the LORD would fight for them; He would
strengthen the arm of Israel so that they would be victorious in battle; so that their enemies would be utterly
vanquished.
And Moses sought to encourage the people, reminding them that the LORD had been doing this for them all
along - they had seen His deliverances, both in Egypt as well as in the wilderness. All they needed to do
was to simply trust in the LORD, and follow His leading.
[Return to Numbers 14]
But the people chose to continue, in their unbelief. They refused to trust the LORD - and so continued to
look at the circumstances - and believed instead what they imagined.
v. 2-4 So now the complaint of the whole congregation of Israel has been voiced outright - their
complaining, which would ultimately result in them being destroyed by the destroyer. On the surface of
things, it seems much like their previous complaints.
But there are two things that stand out here. This was the first time that the whole congregation was
complaining against, not just Moses and Aaron, but directly against the LORD Himself: Why has the LORD
brought us to this land, to fall by the sword?
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But the congregation goes even further, than complaining against the LORD, directly to His face. They have
made the decision to appoint another leader - a rejection of Moses, who represents the LORD, to them. They
have decided to return to Egypt - a rejection of the plan that the LORD had for them. Their complaint and
resolve, therefore, represent a categorical rejection of the LORD, Himself.
The response from Moses and Aaron was immediate.
v. 5-9 So Moses and Aaron immediately sought the LORD, concerning the rebellion of the people. But
meanwhile, two of the leaders who had spied out the land sought to address that rebellion directly - Joshua,
and Caleb.
Tearing their clothes in this situation indicated their distress and grief, over this resolve of the people, to
return to Egypt. If Israel will have a change of heart, and trust in the LORD, He will favor Israel, and bring
them into this prosperous land, giving it to them.
And then, the very people whom that Israel feared would devour them, Israel will consume - for those
people in the land would no longer be protected from the LORDs judgment - the cup of their iniquity was
just about full (Gen 15:16).
So here was the response of the people, to Joshua and Caleb.
v. 10a So they had decided to stone Joshua and Caleb to death - the two leaders, who had searched out the
land for them. What does the number two represent, in Scripture? Witness. Here was the witness to the
good land, that the LORD was giving to Israel; the witness that believed God for His word; the witness to
walking by faith, and not by sight.
But the people had decided to put out the light of that witness, with their stones; much as they had decided
in their stony hearts had put out the LORD, rejecting Him with finality.
And it was at this moment that the LORD directly intervened.
v. 10b-12 The word reject in verse 11 has more the meaning of revile here, as it reflects the continual
scornfulness and dishonoring of the people toward the LORD. The LORD had done sign after sign among
them, to point the way to Him as their Savior - and yet they refused to entrust themselves to Him.
So the LORD tells Moses He will destroy them, and make a nation for Himself out of the seed of Moses.
This sounds familiar, doesnt it? When did the LORD say such a thing to Moses, before? After the incident
with the golden calf. And Moses makes a similar case with the LORD, to the one he made then.
v. 13-16 So Moses is pointing out that the LORD cannot destroy Israel, because of His covenant with them.
That would dishonor the LORD, before the nations. He must be true to who He is. Moses is certainly right
about this - and of course the LORD knows it, right well.
Moses continued, now interceding for the people.
v. 17-19 Moses is essentially saying back to the LORD what the LORD had proclaimed before to him, when
Moses had asked the LORD to show him His glory (Ex 33:18, 34:6-7). Obviously these things, then, would
be true. And then Moses concludes by asking the LORD to pardon the people; to forgive them, as He always
has.
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Notice Moses asks the LORD to pardon the people according to the greatness of Your mercy. Moses
knows the people have committed a great sin, for which they deserve to be judged. What he is asking the
LORD is to once again mercifully hold back His judgment from the people - not to destroy them, as the LORD
has said He would; as they deserve.
And this is the LORDs response.
v. 20-24 So in His mercy, the LORD held back from destroying the nation, and even the first generation, at
this time. He pardoned, according to the word of Moses - because that was the LORDs word. But
understand that this was a temporary reprieve. The LORDs word was also that He by no means clears the
guilty.
The LORD indicated that this was the tenth time that the people have put Him to the test - testing Him,
challenging Him. Do you know what the number ten represents, in Scripture? It simply means a complete
number of something.
There were ten spies, who brought Israel an evil report - a report they believed, instead of trusting the LORD.
The report of the ten spies represented their complete distrust of the LORD - the whole congregation of Israel
- the entire first generation.
And that distrusting of the LORD was the tenth time they had tested Him, since He brought them out of
Egypt. The LORD was observing that their testing of Him was now complete; they had an evil heart of
unbelief, which had culminated in them departing from the living God (Heb 3:12).
In Deuteronomy, Moses said that the LORD took an oath (Deut 1:34). The psalmist said, the LORD swore in
His wrath (Ps 95:11). The LORD did not immediately destroy that first generation, but He made a solemn
declaration: They would not see the land, for which He had covenanted with their forefathers. And all the
earth would be filled with the glory of the LORD, because it would be seen that the LORD was merciful - and
that He was just.
Nonetheless, far be it from the LORD to slay the righteous with the wicked (Gen 18:25). Caleb was part of
that first generation, but because he trusted the LORD, the LORD would bring him into the land. Later in the
passage, well see the same is true for Joshua (v. 30). These were the two who provided a faithful witness,
to the people - who the people had planned to put to death.
v. 25 So the LORD gives Moses instructions to turn the people away from the land, and back into the
wilderness. And this is what Moses and Aaron are to tell them.
v. 26-28 Now, notice how the LORD tailors their judgment to the things they have said against Him.
v. 29-30 Look back in verse 2 - If only we had died in this wilderness! Now they will have their wish.
v. 31-35 Their little children - whom they envisioned to fall by the sword of the enemy - the LORD will
bring them into the land, and they will cause their enemies to fall by the sword, instead.
But that would be after forty years of enduring the wilderness with their parents - a year for each day that
Israel had that land spied out, which culminated in their rejection of the LORD. Forty years of wandering
aimlessly in the wilderness - without a destination - by which they would know the LORDs rejection - a just
retribution.
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During that forty years, the children would watch their parents as they perished - destroyed by the destroyer
- because of their rejection, of the LORD. And as they continually witnessed their parents unbelief, they
would see that the LORDs judgment of them was right. In the end, it would tend to strengthen the resolve of
that second generation to believe the LORD for themselves, wouldnt it?
v. 36-38 So the ten spies, who brought the evil report, we struck down by the LORD, in judgment - and
Joshua and Caleb, whom the people had determined to put to death, remained alive.
v. 39-45 The people may have seemed repentant, but the LORD knows the heart. Repentance would bring
obedience, but instead what is seen is continued willfulness. Moses warns the people that since the LORD
wasnt among them, they would fail, but they go anyway - and are repelled by the inhabitants of Canaan.
So lets go back to First Corinthians now, and consider this last judgment that Paul pointed out, in light of
the Corinthian assembly.
[First Corinthians 10]
Lets now read the last two verses of this section.
v. 11-12 In verse 11, Paul says that these things happened to Israel as examples - to show the pattern of
Gods dealings, with His people. The LORD had delivered the people from Egypt, nurtured them in the
wilderness, and led them to the land of promise.
But because that first generation never believed Him, their carcasses were scattered in the wilderness; they
were never allowed to enter the land. Why? Because they refused to BE Gods people; they rejected Him,
which compelled the LORD to set them aside, in the end.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to recognize this pattern, in their own church. Follow along from the
beginning of the chapter, to see the pattern, repeated in Corinth.
They have members who had been water baptized; who assemble with them, and partake of the LORDs
supper with them (10:1-4). But the conduct of these members would suggest that they may never have
placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the first place (10:5-6).
These members had been continuing to participate in the idolatrous feasts, at the temple (10:7). They were
being drawn back towards the pagan lifestyle of fornication - they may even have succumbed to this
temptation (10:8).
Clearly they were drawing no satisfaction from Christ Himself - the Bread of Life. They viewed the new
life in Him as restrictive (did they really have it?) - they wanted to be free to do what they pleased - to have
their own will - and not the Lords (10:9).
As we come to the last judgment Paul lists (10:10), and consider it in light of what was happening in
Corinth, we recognize that Paul is pointing to a culmination, in the dangerous progression that these
members of the assembly are making.
They are rejecting their God-appoint leader, Paul. And they are choosing to follow other leaders, who have
fabricated a less restrictive gospel. What they are doing is purposing to go back to their old life, just as the
children of Israel purposed to go back to Egypt. If they do this, they are rejecting Christ outright, proving
that they were simply returning to something that they never really left.
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Paul then draws his conclusion, about this.
v. 12 Unfortunately this is often taken out of context, and people inject into it the sense that this refers to a
believer who thinks he strong enough to resist temptations. He should watch out, because hes being
prideful, and then hell be sure to fall into sin.
That isnt what is meant, here. Lets think it through. Notice Paul is starting with Therefore. This is a
concluding statement, based on what Paul has been saying, since verse 1.
Keeping that in mind, who would be the one who thinks he stands? The one who thinks he has standing,
in Christ; the one who has observed the ordinances of the church, and attends church, but has not really
believed into Christ.
Such a one may think he has standing in Christ, because he stands with the people of God, but Paul warns
him, take heed. Because if he doesnt really have that standing, he will find himself drawn back in to the
temptations of the world - a world he has never really left.
Eventually, such a one will fall into the LORDs judgment - as the children of Israel did. And if he
presumptuously continues to assemble with true members of Christs Body, the LORDs judgment may fall
on him sooner, rather than later.
Reading: 1 Cor 10; James 1:12-16, 4:1-10.
