FOR OUR EXAMPLE

1. DO NOT LUST AFTER EVIL
V. 6: “To the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”
Parents, we must speak to our children and families about lust. We must teach them to steer away from it because it is all around us these days.

2. DO NOT HAVE IDOLS
V. 7: “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them: as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Refer to Numbers 32:6-8.

3. DO NOT COMMIT FORNICATION
V. 8: “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.” Fornication is the Greek word “porneuo” and means “to have sex outside of marriage, to indulge in unlawful lust.” It includes homosexuality, harlotry, and all types of sexual perverseness. The Bible warns us against all sexual sin.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NET) states: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

4. DO NOT TEMPT CHRIST
V. 9: “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” We read in Numbers 21:4-9 how God sent fiery serpents among the people because of their complaining.

5. DO NOT MURMUR
v. 10: “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” IN Exodus 17;2 it says: “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? Wherefore do you tempt the LORD?”

The word “chide” in the Hebrew means “to wrangle, hold a controversy, complain, contend, debate.” When you murmur and complain, you tempt God.

Arguing and debating with God’s given authority, whether parents, pastors, or the authority of government and law (police) must be discouraged because it tempts God to judge and discipline in His displeasure.

Next post we will look at the 10 ways the children of Israel tempted God in the wilderness.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell