These are all warning markers—DANGER!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
(1 Corinthians 10:11-12 MSG)
Isn’t it interesting how we can spend our entire lives judging someone else’s failures because we think we’ve got it all figured out, only to find ourselves repeating the same mistakes they did? In First Corinthians chapter ten, the apostle Paul provides examples from Israel’s history and warns his readers to learn from Israel’s past failures so that they don’t repeat their mistakes. After all, “we are just as capable of messing it up as they were,” he writes. I’m very aware of this truth and that’s why whenever I hear of someone’s mistakes, I make it my prayer not to repeat their mistakes. As Paul says, “These are all warning markers—DANGER!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes.” So the next time you learn of other people’s mistakes, think of them as ‘warning markers’ sent to keep you from repeating someone else’s mistakes.
God can use other people’s mistakes to help us grow in our walk with Him.
Rising with the Son 