"1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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 drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was CHRIST.
5 Nevertheless, WITH MOST OF THEM GOD was not pleased, for they were overthrown (perished) in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as EXAMPLES FOR US, that WE might not desire evil as THEY did.
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put CHRIST to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by 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, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come."
The Children of Israel were being led by GOD HIMSELF in "THE CLOUD" (speaks of it {"THE CLOUD"} as a form under which GOD was pleased to show HIMSELF), according to one commentary. "THE CLOUD" did not leave them during the day or night (Exodus 13:22) yet they still were disgruntled and complained (Exodus 16:22-27) when their water source was interrupted. One would think that if GOD HIMSELF were leading you that you would know that HE would take care of you, even with no water!
About 1,500 years later Paul was writing about the escapades of the children of Israel's exodus and their unfaithfulness to GOD. Paul writes that GOD was not pleased WITH MOST OF THEM and caused the nation of Israel NOT to experience the Promised Land until the unbelievers perished in the wilderness. Not pleasing GOD is "serious" business! The Israelites were no longer captive to the Egyptians, but they could NOT enjoy the riches GOD had for them because they did not "trust and obey" in HIM!
We see the lessons taught to the children of Israel nearly 3,500 years ago, but have we learned from them? The children of Israel did not take serious the commandments of GOD and HE gave them their reward.......ultimate death? Yes, Israel is the chosen people of GOD (Deuteronomy 7:6) but they are also the ones who didn't honor GOD and experienced the wrath of GOD! Should we expect GOD treat us any better? "THE CLOUD" of GOD's protection is only available to those who chose to live within the confines of "THE CLOUD"!!
Just as "THE CLOUD" always protected the Children of Israel, we too are told in Hebrews 13:5-6 to "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for HE has said, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Trusting in "THE CLOUD" takes confidence that you will be led where YOU NEED TO GO, not where the road is easiest! If we trust in "THE CLOUD" to LEAD and GUIDE us, HE will protect and provide for us. If we elect to live outside of "THE CLOUD" our hope must be in what we can accomplish for ourselves! I choose to live inside "THE CLOUD"!!!
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