For Us

1 Corinthians 9:9-10, 10:6

For it is written in the Law of Moses “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

This statement by the Apostle Paul is awe inspiring in its breadth and depth. Paul does not say that from a particular point in the law a lesson can be learned rather he says that the law concerning the care of domesticated animals was not written with animals in view as the one benefiting from the law at all but rather people. He makes the statement that God was speaking “entirely for our sake”. True the ox does reap benefit and animals are blessed when man cares for them as he was commanded in the Garden. Yet, the law was given that man would be blessed, that man would learn something in how to conduct himself around others, about how to treat others.

This style of learning works very effectively as God uses the story of a Lamb being taken from his loving master to prick the cold heart of David. God’s intent was that men would see how they are to treat animals and then understand how they are to treat others. Why is this needed? Is it not needed for the same reason as with David? Just as David was so engrossed in his sin that he would not have heard the forthright rebuke of God through the prophet, so too, are our hearts not also so clouded by sin that we do not see or wish to help when other men are in need? Is it easier for me to care for my pet and love them, than it is for one who bares the image of God?

The next chapter holds another amazing verse. As Christians read through the Exodus, the thought that often permeates the conversation is how can they be so stupid? Yet, Paul tells us that this frustrating part of Scripture occurred for us. Often reading through this section I side with God instead of Moses. Whip them out and start over with Moses. Yet, Paul tells us that God endured that generation so that this generation would learn. How often has God blessed me with good things only for me to turn around the next day and demand more? Is not this the lesson of the Exodus? To depend on God’s goodness and provision “day by day and with each passing moment”?

The first two verses help us understand that God wrote the law out of concern for us, the last verse shows that he endured generations of evil for us. This helps us understand that scripture although not written to us it was written and events did occur FOR US. As you read scripture and the thought comes into your head, “Why did God let that happen” or “Why does God care so much about ___” remember that he has written this for us. Lean in and dig deeper that you might learn the lesson he has for you in that text. As you endure again and again hearing how they fell away and God was faithful to raise up another judge think, “How great is the fathers love for us?”

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO