1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 10I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, Verse 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, Verse 3and all ate the same spiritual food, Verse 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Verse 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.
Verse 6Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Verse 7Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play." Verse 8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. Verse 9We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. Verse 10And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Verse 11These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Verse 12So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. Verse 13No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Devotion
The ancient Jewish midrash, a commentary on the Old Testament, says that while the Israelites wandered in the desert, a stone rolled alongside them. Every night when they made camp, it gushed forth water to satisfy their thirst. The stone was complemented by manna, the miraculous food God replenished each morning. Both the water and the manna came daily and couldn't be stockpiled for the future. One was to accept today's gifts today, and trust that tomorrow's gifts would come tomorrow.
What if we believed it was true that when we were hungry, God would send bread; that when we were thirsty, God would send water; that we could take each day as it comes in faith that tomorrow would take care of itself? How would it change how we live, spend our energy, share our abundance?
I imagine it would look something like a porous rock rolling alongside us, or a heavenly meal replenished each morning, providing enough—more than enough—not only for us, but for everyone.
Prayer
God, give us the courage to live in the abundance of your gracious provision. Where there is hunger and thirst, teach us to give generously, trusting that there is more than enough to go around. Amen.