1 Now I want to explain this to you, brothers and sisters. Our forefathers lived under the cloud, and they all passed through the sea.10:1. The cloud of God’s presence, and the passage through the Red Sea. 2 Symbolically then they were baptized "into Moses" in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink, for they "drank from a spiritual rock" that accompanied them. That rock was Christ. 5 However, God wasn’t happy with most of them, and they perished in the desert.
6 Now these experiences are examples to us to show us we should not desire what is evil, as they did. 7 You must not worship idols, as some of them did, as it’s recorded in Scripture: "The people feasted and drank, and indulged in pagan worship."10:7. See Exodus 32:6. 8 We must not commit sexual sins, as some of them did, and as a result 23,000 died in one day. 9 Nor should we push God to the limit, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. 10 Don’t complain at God, as some did, and died at the hands of the destroying angel.
11 All the things that happened to them are examples to us and were written down to warn us, we who are living close to the end of time. 12 So if you think you’re strong enough to stay standing—be careful you don’t fall!