Remember Displeasure as a Prevention

(1 Cor. 10:5-6) - "Neverthless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved."

In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul discussed how the ancient Israelites together bore witness to the miraculous powers of God in cloud, sea, food, drink and rock, which were foreshadowing (typological of) the deeper spiritual realities of protection, provision and salvation founded in Jesus Christ. Paul adds then that although the Israelites witnessed such wonders, they ("most of them") were "nevertheless" laid low in the wilderness as a result of not pleasing God. One might ask why God was not well-pleased with most of them.

(Numbers 14:11) - "The Lord said to Moses, 'How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?'"

God was not pleased with them because they spurned Him and did not believe in Him.

(Numbers 14:22-23) - "Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it."

Also, God was not pleased with them because they did not listen to His voice and spurned Him.

(Numbers 14:27) - "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me."

Again, God was not pleased with Israel because of their grumbling and complaining against Him, which were expressions of doubt and the fear of man.

Therefore, God's displeasure with Israel here is not merely arbitrary, but is based on obejective actions and attitudes flowing from disobedient hearts. In verse 6, Paul clarifies that this telling of Israel's mistakes are to now serve as examples to us of the danger of displeasing God and not listening to the warnings of Scripture. So Paul, what is the purpose of this warning in the first place? To prevent us from craving evil as they did. It therefore seems that Paul's recommended method for fighting sin (not craving evil) is to remember the end results(effects) others felt in guilt, shame and displeasure who practiced a sin you may be tempted with, taking each sinful temptation immediately in your mind to that end, in order to see its futility and inability to provide any lasting joy. For example, knowing someone who had an abortion and seeing the numerous effects that she is faced with, should serve as a pretty good prevention for her friend never to contemplate or entertain the thought of having one. So also, if you yourself have ever been tempted with anything, given in to temptation, and at the end seen how joyless and futile the indulgence really was, use that memory for the rest of your life as a prevention against committing that same sin again. Now, don't indulge sin just to have a reminder, but have faith that if you do sin God is able to use your failure for His good purposes.