“Nothing in Scripture is written in vain. God had wise and gracious purposes towards us in leaving the Jewish history upon record; and it is our wisdom and duty to receive instruction from it.”
Matthew Henry
Some Christian pastors believe that Christians should “unhitch” their faith from the Old Testament. I strongly, strongly disagree with them. The following is one reason why.
In I Corinthians 9:27 Paul said “…but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified”. Paul did not want to be disqualified from serving God in the gospel cause but he knew it was a possibility, if he did not control his body. He had received instructions from the Old Testament examples of people not controlling their body and being disqualified from serving God. In the original letter to the Corinthians there were no chapter divisions, therefore chapter 9:27, is followed immediately by chapter 10: 1-11, where he warns us about being disqualified:
[1] … For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
[2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
[3] and all ate the same spiritual food;
[4] and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
[5] Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
[6] Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
[7] Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO play.”
[8] Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
[9] Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
[10] Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
[11] Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
[12] Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” (Emphasis added)
As you can plainly see in verses six and eleven, Paul tells these New Testament Christians that Old Testament events “happened as examples for us” and “they were written for our instruction…”.
Why?
“…so that we” (New Testament believers) “would not crave evil things as they“ (Old Testament Israel) “also craved.” (V6) And suffer punishment from God (v 5).
The Amplified Bible puts it this way:
Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did. [Num. 11:4, 34.] (Verse 6)
And
“Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction…” (verse 11)
You do not need a theological degree to understand that. Paul cites four Old Testament events to warn these New Testament Christians that craving or lusting after evil things will bring the chastisement of the Lord:
1. The idolatry with the golden calf in Exodus 32: 4-6 (verse 7);
2. immorality with Moabite women in Numbers 25:1-9 (verse 8);
3. testing the Lord when the serpents attached in Numbers 21:4-9 (verse 9); and
4. grumbling in response to God’s severe treatment of Koran in Numbers 16:1-50 (verse 10).
God’s character did not change from the Old Testament period to the New Testament period and He is the SAME today as He was back then, therefore, He can warn His New Testament children not to be involved in idolatry, immorality, testing the Lord or grumbling using Old Testament Israel as an example. Because HE remains the same. What was an abomination to Him in the Old is still an abomination now in the New. What He highly esteemed then, He highly esteems now. God has not changed.
In closing, first read the Old and New Testaments and receive wisdom and instruction from both. Secondly, Paul summed up this discourse with a warning (verse 12) which Matthew Henry addresses:
“…let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” Note: The harms sustained by others should be cautions to us. He that thinks he stands should not be confident and secure, but upon his guard. Others have fallen, and so may we. And then we are most likely to fall when we are most confident of our own strength, and thereupon most apt to be secure, and off our guard. Distrust of himself, putting him at once upon vigilance and dependence on God, is the Christian’s best security against all sin.”
Thank you for your time. God bless you. Carl
Psalm 119: 38 