August 15

Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13

“You gave them kingdoms and nations…. But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they put your law behind their backs.…But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them… and in your great compassion you delivered them time after time” (Neh. 9:22-28).

It gets a little painful to read about this cycle of obedience, blessing, rebellion, oppression, repentance, obedience, blessing, etc. and etc. and etc. Seems like we read and reread so many accounts of the Israelites' history in this same cycle over and over again. But that’s what happened. Why couldn’t the Israelites learn? It can be easy to judge them from a distance.

But what about a little closer to home? What about in the teachings of Paul? Here he is in 1 Corinthians still exhorting the Israelites (and now followers of Jesus) to the very same thing: obedience above all else. Paul reminds his audience that their forefathers were all spiritual and even drank from the spiritual rock of Jesus, but God was not pleased with them. Paul tells his readers that “these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6).

They had to be reminded over and over and over again about the mistakes of the past, so that they wouldn’t commit them again in the future. Therein lies the problem: people forget. The ancient Jews forgot the sins of their forefathers. They forgot their own sins. They became arrogant, thinking it was by their own might that they received blessing.

We too forget. We forget what it feels like to live under sin. We forget that we need Jesus every second of every day to help us keep in step with his Spirit and walk according to his ways and not our own. We think we have it under control. We think that obeying God’s laws are not important anymore in this culture and in this age. We think we have a special circumstance that will allow us to live according to what is wise in our own eyes. We forget.

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:11-13).

This passage says it all. I couldn’t say it better. What a great, great exhortation to us today. Heed the warnings. Be careful. Don’t think you are all okay all the time. Don’t think your case is the exception to God’s clearly written laws. Don’t think you can walk right up to the edge of sin and not fall over the cliff. I know that may sound harsh, but it’s so clear in Scripture. Don’t have history repeat itself.

Instead, walk humbly with our God, knowing that he can deliver us from every temptation to stray from his ways. He will always provide a way to stay in obedience to him. Break the cycle. Remember. Heed the warnings and examples from the past. He is our deliverer. He will help us stand.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps. 34:8).

- Mary Matthias

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