11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Many things were recorded in the Old Testament in order for us to benefit from their example, both positively and negatively. We can see from their lives the results of both obedience and disobedience. Paul has included in the verses just prior to this verse several of those examples. The examples all deal with the tendency to ignore God’s work and continue in a sinful path. God showed up again and again, but the Israelites continued to ignore His warnings, His calls to repentance. I hope that is not true in our lives. I hope we are quick to repent and yield. But, all too often we are just like the Israelites. We are slow to respond, and slow to turn. I have found that the sooner I turn, the better off I am in the end. Unfortunately, I am like the Israelites at times. I don’t turn, but instead chose sin. I am ashamed to say this, but it is true. I chose sin sometimes. I don’t respond the way the Lord wants me to when He wants me to. There, I’ve said it. I bet you need to say it too! There are times when you don’t respond the way the Lord wants, when He wants. There, you admitted it. You see we are very much like the Israelites, rebellious and stubborn. When we read these examples in the Scriptures we sometimes think, “I would never do that.” But the reality is that we all too often do exactly what the Israelites did. We chose our way over God’s way. We chose the status quo rather than change. We chose comfort rather than conformity to the image of God in our lives. We chose the old rather than embracing the new in Christ. Will you chose Christ today?
The Arnold Journey 