When a person becomes a Christian, they begin to receive and recognize the Spiritual gifts that are bestowed on them. Paul warns the Corinthians not to get charmed (by false teachers, whispers, etc.) into thinking that they were immune from danger because of these blessings. He gives them the example of the children of Israel in the wilderness, how they were baptized into the covenant of which Moses was the mediator, under God's protection, but even they had problems.

They witnessed all the signs and wonders and miracles that the Lord worked in Egypt to bring them out of bondage, then parted the Red sea, provided food from heaven and water from rocks, all the while, being protected by Christ. But they got complacent. They made a golden calf and worshipped it, they fornicated, they were ungrateful, they murmured ... So God wasn't very happy with many of them and they were destroyed in the wilderness.

          This is a very important thing to remember. Many people like to blame God for many things that happen to them, not only temptation. But look at the TRUTH. He always gives you the choice to say no to temptation. As for other things that people blame on God, there are many things that aren’t meant for us to understand. If you read the book of Job, you’ll find that a lot of things happened that Job could have asked, Why did God let this happen? And indeed, he did ask. But never did he get angry with God Himself, or blame God. He didn’t like the circumstances he was in, but he always maintained his Faith and Love for God. An important lesson.

Lastly on the subject, Paul implores them to flee from idolatry. That may not really make a big impression on you, since the word idolatry isn't really used much in our day and age, but I'd like to point out two things. First, idolatry doesn't only mean worshipping an image, it means putting more importance on anything other than God. It could be a living person, an addiction, a video game, a collection, a pet, a possession, a car ... just about anything. If it's more important to you than God, it's idolatry. Second, note the word flee. When you think of someone fleeing from something, you don't imagine them simply abstaining from it, you imagine them running from it, so, just so you get the emotion with which Paul is warning us about this practice, remember the word flee.

Now remember, the new Christians at Corinth have devoted their lives to following Jesus. Think of new Christians today. When a person becomes a Christian, do they completely excommunicate themselves with friends and family who are not Christians and never visit them? If that were the case, how would lost sheep ever find their way to Jesus? However ... To participate in idolatry with them would certainly not be the way to glorify Jesus or the means by which to save a soul. Paul recalls to them the Lord's supper.

Paul says in effect ... You're intelligent people ... think over what I say.

 The rest of this chapter is clearly explained in the C-O-O-L RELATED STUDY in the box below, called MEAT WE CAN EAT. Be sure to check it out.