What Pleases God? (A case study)

1 Corinthians 10 recounts the mistakes that the Israelites made in the wilderness. This immense crowd makes a good case study in "Dumb Choices People Make." Verses 1-4 explain the background of our case study: 100% of the people were under the guidance and protection of the Lord. They followed God in the pillar of cloud and saw his mighty hand at the parting of the Red Sea. They were all given the same spiritual opportunities as the magnificence of Christ was with them.

When the results come in, our findings are inconsistent with what we would expect. Wouldn't those who were given such opportunity have amazing outcomes? But no, we instead read "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased..."(v. 5) And they died there in the wilderness, never to partake of the promises to come. 

We must then consider the findings of this study and apply them to our hearts. "Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved."(v. 6) From the Israelites' mistakes we learn to avoid idolatry, immorality, testing the Lord, and grumbling. But Paul urges us not to be prideful in our avoidance of such for, like the Israelites, we are all subject to temptation. God is pleased when we trust Him and His ability to provide an escape for us from ensnaring evils.

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12