I'm not very good at
learning from other people’s mistakes. I try to, but have always found it
easier to learn from my own. It's not a Godly characteristic or one I would
offer as a lifestyle to others. We tend to tell our young people not to make
the same mistakes we did, but perhaps have an unsaid belief that they will
probably make a good chunk of them anyway. As long as they get to adult life in
one piece the mistakes can then be brushed under the carpet. The problem with
this mentality is that every mistake, every fall leaves a scar.
Paul is passionately
asking believers to learn from the mistakes of there forebears. To see how
their collective history is scattered with so many stories of sin and
repentance, that if they could just learn from those mistakes, perhaps they
could be spared the pain.
He asks us to learn
from the nation of Israel
Perhaps the challenge
then for us is not to fall, but to learn from the mistakes of others. Hear
their stories understand the pain, the joy and forgiveness so that when our
chance comes to stumble at the same block we can take the option out.
(lay member of staff)