Blessing is not a license to sin

The Israelites in the wilderness had been blessed by God. They had been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt. The ten plagues had meant the destruction of Egypt and the birth of Israel. They left their bondage rejoicing.

When they came to the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind them, God parted the sea and they walked through on dry ground. They witnessed the mighty Egyptian army washed up on the shore. They had seen the hand of God and rejoiced.

At Mt Sinai they saw the fire, heard the thunder and God's voice. Terrified, they pledged obedience.

God provided food for them. Their clothing did not wear out for 40 years. He protected them from their enemies.

"Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Cor 10:5).

They continually chose to sin.

Sexual immorality, idolatry, grumbling, rebellion and testing God. With all these God was not pleased, so He judged them.

They had experienced magnificent blessings from God, yet they chose to rebel.

You would never do that, would you?

All this was written to serve as a warning to us (v 6). Even though we might experience God's blessings in abundance and even give Him the credit for doing what He has done, we don't earn the right to indulge in sin.  Rather, we are commanded to flee sin in the midst of God's blessings (v 7-11).

Often I have assumed that because God has been blessing me, I must be doing the right things.

Using the evidences of God's blessings as an excuse to continue in sin sounds ludicrous, doesn't it?

Because it is!

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed, lest he fall" (v 12). The moment that we think we are invincible because we have received God's blessings is the moment that we need to watch out!

"God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (v 13).

The temptations that come in the midst of the blessings are still temptations. Temptations at those times are perhaps the most precarious. Our response must be the same - head for the fire escape!