His Encouragement: As examples for us

His Encouragement: As examples for us

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This post is part of the series His Encouragement

Other posts in this series:

  1. His Encouragement: Biblical Inspiration for your Thursday
  2. His Encouragement: Psalm 147:3
  3. His Encouragement: Psalm 37:3

Welcome! Welcome, dearest friends, to His Encouragement: Biblical Inspiration for Your Thursday. Every week, I join a few blogging friends to bring you a Bible passage and a little hope-filled discussion. We pray that these devotionals help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you.

Today’s scripture

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

1 Corinthians 10:6, ESV

Have you ever read something in the Bible that was so shocking or horrible that it made you pause and wonder why it was included in the Word of God?

Maybe you found yourself in Genesis 38 reading the account of events that transpired between Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar.

Or perhaps you stumbled upon the upsetting section of Judges 19:25-28 where a supposedly godly man sent his concubine out to satisfy a riotous mob. They raped and abused her all night, and she literally died on the doorstep of her own home.

Or the stupidity of Jephthah in Judges 11:30-1, 34-5 where he made a vow rashly to God and the consequence was losing his daughter in some way. (Biblical scholars do not agree on what actually happened to her.)

I could list dozens more — and so could you! — but I think you get the idea.

How do we make sense of these things?

There are so many confusing and horrifying events chronicled within the pages of the Bible. It can leave you with the question: Why did God have these things recorded? Why didn’t He just have His followers right the good stuff?

Why are bad things recorded in the Bible? How do we make sense of these things? 1 Corinthians 10:6 has the answer. Share on X

As examples for us

I believe today’s scripture verse holds the answer to these questions. 1 Corinthians 10:6 says: “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”

These are clearly not examples that we should follow. They were included to show us how depraved human beings can become when we turn away from the Lord.

Christ even warned us that just because someone proclaims to be a righteous person, does not mean they are. (See Matthew 7:19-23.)

The Bible is filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly. This allows us to get a better understanding of who God is, who we are, and why sin is so horrible.

God is love

The bottom line is this: Remember that God is love!

1 John 4:8 tells us: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Check out His Encouragement: Knowing God for more on this.

We need to measure all things by this very yardstick, sort to speak. When we read something that does not make sense, we need to remember that God is love and some stories are told as examples for us of what not to do.

What verse has touched your heart this week? Share in the comments below!

Person holding up a Bible with 1 Corinthians 10:6 overlayed, saying: "Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did."

Be sure to also visit my fellow bloggers and read their encouragement for your Thursday as well:

Hi there, blogger. Would you like to join us in sharing encouragement from the Word of God every Thursday? Don’t be shy! Contact Trisha or Nicole today!

His Encouragement for Your Thursday, a devotional.

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