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“Flee from idolatry…” Institute of Biblical Discipleship.com Bible study # 71 by Nolan McFadden A Bible text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-14 Referring to the Hebrews when they were in the wilderness with Moses, the apostle Paul declared, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 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. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 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. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-14) As Christians, why does our Lord Jesus through the apostle Paul command us to “flee from idolatry”? Before we are able to understand why this command is found in the New Testament, we must first consider our LORD’s commands through His servant Moses to the descendants of Israel. While they were camped at mount Sinai, Jehovah made a covenant with “the children of Israel.” The LORD God of Israel sent His servant Moses to deliver and establish His covenant with the Hebrews. In Hebrews 8:1-13 this is known as the “old covenant” (or Old Testament). It is also known as “the law of Moses” (Luke 24:44, Acts 13:39; 15:5, 1 Corinthians 9:9). This covenant included very specific commandments, ordinances and laws for the descendants of Israel who are known today as the Hebrews or Jews. Two of these important commands are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. The LORD God of Israel commanded: 1) “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:3-6) In this Bible text the LORD is commanding His people not to practice idolatry. Idolatry was the common practice of the people of the pagan nations at that time. Those who made the wise choice to obey