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Learning from Israel's Failures

¹ For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, 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 all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. ⁵ But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. ⁶ These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. ⁷ So 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 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. ⁹ And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. ¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹² So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. ¹³ No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Avoid Idol Feasts

¹⁴ So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say. ¹⁶ Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. ¹⁸ Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? ¹⁹ Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything? ²⁰ No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ²² Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?

Live to Glorify God

²³ "Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds others up. ²⁴ Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person. ²⁵ Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, ²⁶ for the earth and its abundance are the Lord's. ²⁷ If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says to you, "This is from a sacrifice," do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience— ²⁹ I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? ³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. ³² Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, ³³ just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.