2. What though they were all under the cloud in the moment of revelation, and all passed through the sea,
3. and all ate the spiritual manna
4. and drank the spiritual drink which flowed from the rock. The rock is said to have followed them wherever they went. That rock means the Christ.
5. Now mark and learn the lesson. Many of those original founders of our faith “were slain in the wilderness” (Num. xiv. 16).
6. The perfect will of God was not fulfilled in them and thereby we can discern the truth about ourselves, for they are types. They teach us not to lust, as some of them “lusted” (Num. xi. 4, 34).
7. Yes, our fathers took part in that great piece of history, they witnessed that divine manifestation of God, and yet though part of all that, they were not all elect. There took place in their midst a corresponding reprobation and apostacy of some. They worshipped idols, and made an image to Jehovah, and made a pagan rite of his sacrifice. “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (Exod. xxxii. 6)
8. They committed fornication, and 23,000 fell in one day.
9. They tempted the Lord, and were destroyed by serpents.
10. They murmured, and the destroyer fell on them.
11. On us has come the fulfilment of history. What happened before is the type of that which happens now, what was written before was written for the guidance of those on whom these days have come. All that past is contained in the history that is being made.
12. Therefore let us beware, beware of “lusting,” of “fornication,” of “idolatry,” of doubting and murmuring. If our eyes are not open to the significance of those warnings, we too shall fall, even though we think we stand.
13. It is God alone that can save us; in Him there will always be a way of escape however hotly the temptation press in on us, for such temptation must needs come to those that are but human.
14. But mark me, note what I say.
15. Beware, O beware, of idolatry, of pagan feasts and rites. Study well my words.
16. That cup over which we pronounce the blessing,