The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 343

on, and they walked out qf the peril. They were hedged in, but God made for them ~ path throngh the waters. God always leaves one saie way for those whom he tarnurs. God helps us when we are at our wits' ent.l. Everything fails, but God never fails. 3. 'J'hey wei·e all "baptized unto Moses." They became his disciples-were under his leadership; be, under God, was their ruler and head. A great privilege, tor Moses was a prince among men. Association with such a man, divinely commissioned for his great "·ork, was no slight mark of God's favour. ,ve are baptized unto a greater than Moses. The "cloud and sea" were their baptism, typifyin" the "water and Spirit" of ours (John iii. 5). 4. They were all fed. A table was sp~ead for. them in the wilderness-and a good table too; God does not half-starve his children. No ordinary fare was theirs; it was "spiritual meat." It was not coarse; it was "angelH' food" (Ps. lxx~iii. 25). It was "spiritual," being derived from the great Spirit; Go,l fed them. This meat had, therefore, a message for their spirits, as well as sustenance for their bodies; it spoke of the love of God; it was thus still further "spiritual meat." Moreover, it pointed to the bread which should by-and-by come down from heaven (John vi. 35), of which it is now our privilege to partake, and which the pious Israelite fed upon by faith. 5. They were all supplied with drink. "They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." The water which came to them was from God, and was thus like the meat, "spiritual;" and, if intelligently received as from Divine love, quenched spiritual as well as physical thirst. But we are told that "that Rock was Christ." Not only did it foreshadow him, who was smitten that the waters of salvation might flow out to a perishing world (Isa. liil. 5), but from him came the supply of the physical wants of the Israelites. He, having had all things connected with the administration of the world committed to him, was with the people of God in the wilderness and ministered to their needs. The expected Messiah was in their midst as Ruler and miraculous Worker; yet then, as afterwards, he was hidden from their eyes. The spiritual Rock "followed them; " Christ ministered to their physical and spiritual need continuously. Divine favours never fail the believer. Always in the wilderness here, but always cared for. II. A PICTUllE OF TRANSGRESSION. As five special privileges are enumerated, five instances of transgression are recorded. 1. They lusted after evil thirtgs. They :were not content with the goad things provided by God. They complained of the manno. and longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt. That these were identified with their bondage seemed to matter to them but little. Professors of religion sometimes hanker after old delights, though these are associated with their -earlier years of disobedience and sin. The provisions of God's house are "light bread;" they want the more tasty dishes of the world. The Corinthians were temptet.l by meats identified with idol-worship; they were in danger of imitating the sin of· Israel. Egypt-tastes cling to us; we should mortify them. 2. They became idolatrous. .Almost insensibly, but very truly. When they made the golden calf, they no doubt intended it only as a symbol of deity, and -desi(Tned to worship the true God through it (Exod. xxxii. 5), but they began by dis- obedience to an express command (Exod. xx. 4, 5), ac.d they terminated in gross idolatry and in many evils often connected with it. They went near to the fire, and were burned. People do not become idolatrous instantly, but by steps. 'l'he Israelites were impatient, had a (Treat sense of their own importance and of their privileges, cast off restraint- and fell. On the spot where they had solemnly promised odedience they transgressed. The danger of the Corinthians was similar. They <lid not intend to worship idols when they inclined towards the sacrificial feasts of the heathen, but this was the practical })eril, and those who participated in these feasts were in danger of becoming apostates ni"h to the very spot which had witnessed their confession of Christ. We should not se~k to go to the cud of our tether; under the strain the tether may break. Those who seek to go as far as they may, often go much further. Liberty and licence live next door to each other. 3. Tl,ey fell into immorality. False worship leads to false life. Idolatry to the Israelites was the door of sensuality (Numb. xxv. 1-9). It threatened to be so to the Corinthians. First idol-recognition, then participation in idol- rites, many of which were scandalously impure. It might be 1ifficult to draw the line; not theoreticcilly perhaps, but practically. .And the tcmptat10n to go further would assurecll_v be strong. ,vhen we g.et away from God, corruption soon masters us. On the devil's ground the devil has great power. We laugh at the t.langcr, but the author c11. x. 1-33.J THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORl:NTHIA:NS. 347