A Way Out

1 Corinthians 10: 1-13 (CSB)

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness.

Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died. Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

This passage contains one of the most mis-quoted verses in all of Scripture. Has anyone ever told you that God won’t give you more than you can handle? I have heard it many times and if I’m honest I have probably said it in the past. It does sound like something that might be in the Bible and it is usually said with good intentions. However, it isn’t found anywhere in the 66 books of the Bible and it may be one of the most damaging things you can say to someone who is hurting or struggling.

That isn’t the reason I wanted to write today but I did want to point it out since I believe this passage is probably the origin of that sentiment. Speaking from my own experience, I know that those words never brough me comfort or peace when I was going through difficult time. I believe that folks were trying to be helpful and encouraging at the time but the only thing it did was make me feel worse. I thought, “If that is true and I am not handling it, what does that say about me?” I wish I was able to apologize to anyone I may have said it to in the past. I really didn’t mean to make you feel that way.

What Paul says here in verse 13 actually is comforting and is something we all need to hear. He is using the Israelites as an example to learn from. He wants his readers to not make the same mistakes they did while wandering in the wilderness. Paul’s words are not only a warning but a very valuable instructions. We need to remember that we all face temptation. Not once of us is exempt. Even Jesus was tempted (Hebrews 4:15) in every way that we are. The good news is that God is faithful even when we are not.

Paul says that God will not let us me tempted beyond what we can bear. When it gets to that point He provides a way out. Jesus quoted Scripture to Satan. Jesus spent time alone in prayer. I believe that those two things are the key. Psalm 119 clearly says (in several places) that faithful adherence to God’s word will keep us from straying. One of its most famous sections says that his word is a “lamp for our feet” and a “light for our path.” When being tempted to choose between bad and good Scripture reminds us of the correct choice.

As important as the Bible is, I believe that an active prayer life is absolutely necessary. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and gives us the strength to overcome them. When we confess our sins God hears us and forgives. Even when we are so broken that we have no words, His Spirit intercedes for us in ways we can’t even understand (Romans 8:26-27). I believe one of the biggest reasons we (myself included) get tripped up is that we forget that. Paul says God will provide a way out. If we are looking to ourselves and not depending on God we are just setting ourselves up to fail. I write that from experience. There is always a way out. We need to make sure we are looking in the right place for it.

Grace and peace.