What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:10? And do not complain Paul’s opening phrase is a clear, present-tense instruction: “And do not complain.” Grumbling is more than a harmless habit; it is a vocal denial of God’s wisdom and goodness. • Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing,” linking a grumble-free life to shining as lights in the world. • James 5:9 warns, “Do not complain, brothers, so that you will not be judged,” tying grumbling to divine accountability. • Numbers 11:1 records that “the people grumbled…and the LORD’s anger burned,” showing that complaint provokes God’s displeasure. For believers today, this means choosing gratitude over griping, trusting that the Lord’s providence is wiser than our preferences. as some of them did Paul points back to Israel’s wilderness history. The Corinthians knew these stories; we need to remember them too. • Exodus 15:24—right after the Red Sea miracle—the people “grumbled against Moses” about water. • Exodus 16:2–3—Israel “grumbled” about food, forgetting the God who just delivered them. • Numbers 14:2—when spies reported giants in Canaan, “the whole congregation grumbled,” preferring slavery in Egypt over trusting God for victory. • Numbers 16:41—after Korah’s rebellion, the congregation “grumbled against Moses and Aaron,” again questioning God-appointed leadership. By saying, “as some of them did,” Paul reminds us that even a redeemed people can slip into chronic complaint if they lose sight of God’s character and promises. and were killed by the destroying angel Grumbling was not merely reprimanded; it brought deadly judgment. “The destroying angel” is a biblical figure who executes God’s wrath. • Exodus 12:23—on Passover night, “the LORD will pass through to strike down the Egyptians,” but would spare the homes under the blood. • Numbers 16:46–49—after Israel’s further complaints, a plague from the Lord killed 14,700 until Aaron made atonement. • 2 Samuel 24:15-16—a destroying angel struck Israel when David sinned by numbering the people. Paul recalls these sobering events so the church will treat grumbling as a sin that invites real, even severe, consequences. God is patient, yet His holiness requires justice when hearts persist in unbelief and rebellion. summary 1 Corinthians 10:10 is a three-fold warning: • Refuse the habit of complaint; it contradicts trust in a sovereign, good God. • Remember Israel’s wilderness failures; redeemed people can fall into the same traps. • Recognize that grumbling can provoke serious judgment, as the “destroying angel” episodes prove. Choosing gratitude, faith, and reverence keeps us in step with the Lord who rescued us and leads us safely home. |
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