“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
The Basket Case Chronicles #108
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Cor. 10:11).
We have already seen the parallels between Old Testament saints and New Testament saints. But in this verse we see an even closer parallel, one between the Old Testament saints in the wilderness and the New Testament saints in the wilderness. Israel’s wandering in the wilderness for forty years was a type, and the first generation of Christians were the antitype. The Israelite experience in the wilderness was not a detached and timeless truth (although it does have timeless applications). It was written, Paul says, for our admonition. Whose admonition? For those upon whom the ends of the ages had come. That would refer to the Christians in the wilderness, waiting for the invasion of the world to commence.
Between the Exodus and the invasion of Canaan were forty years. Between the Exodus of Jesus and the destruction of Jerusalem were forty years. The leadership of Moses was established during that time, as was the leadership of the apostles. God’s Torah was given during the forty years, and the New Testament was given to Christians during the equivalent period. Challenges to God’s leadership were mounted in both times. And, as we see here, God’s people were tempted to tempt Christ, and the Corinthians were told to withstand that temptation because they were on the brink of a new age. That happened in 70 A.D., when the old order collapsed, and the church was commanded to fan out throughout the entire world.
Of course, fulfilling the Great Commission can be kind of messy. I figure we are about in the third chapter of Judges. No need for perfectionism—just faithfulness.