Whose Mistakes Are You Learning From?

Daily Devotional – Monday, November 12, 2023
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)

The statement “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”, in its various versions, is attributed to George Santayana, Edmund Burke, and Winston Churchill. Its accuracy, however, cannot be disputed and is attested to by scripture.

Lessons from History

While warning the Christians in Corinth to shun immorality and other sins, the Apostle Paul cited the example of the Israelites in the wilderness. The apostle contrasted the favors God had lavished on the children of Jacob with their rebellion and apostasy.

The Israelites were idolaters, promiscuous, and whiners who grieved God during their sojourn in the wilderness. As a result, many of them died in the desert. Paul, not wanting the Corinthians to fall into the same trap, reminded them: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

A Fool Learns From His Own Mistakes

Thus, anyone who reads the Old Testament and is appalled by the evil doings of the characters therein should be careful not to fall into the same trap. The bad examples in scripture should serve as lessons to us that God hates it when we “lust after evil things” (Verse 6). Our safety lies in avoiding the pitfalls of the people in the wilderness.

Otto van Bismarck once stated, “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” Instead of facing the doom of not learning from the history of the Israelites, we must choose to be wise and benefit from their tainted history. Our faithful God (1 Corinthians 10:13) promises that He will help those who turn to Him for help to overcome temptations.

Whose Mistakes Are You Learning From?

Whose mistakes are you learning from? God is unequivocal that He will not tolerate sexual immorality, apostasy, grumbling, and all types of sin as exemplified by the Israelites. Do not try God to find out. Learn from other people’s mistakes, not yours. Submit yourself to God and let Him do His will with you.

Prayer
Almighty Father, make me a good student of scriptural and human ministry.