There are a handful of verses that are used by some to try and prove the preexistence of Yeshua, which, according to modern orthodoxy, equates with Yeshua being Elohim. One of those verses is found in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (NASB) For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Messiah. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them Elohim was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. (emphasis added)
Those who believe in the preexistence of Yeshua interpret verse 4 to mean that Yeshua literally followed the Israelites in the wilderness. But is this what Paul intended to communicate to his first century audience? We will explore the context of this passage, as well as Paul’s Christology as stated in 1 Corinthians, to arrive at a proper exegesis.
Context
Considering the context of a passage, whether it is modern or ancient, is vital to understanding the meaning of an author’s words. What is the context in which Paul’s statement about Yeshua occurs? What is the subject matter he is addressing? The answer is found in the preceding chapter.
In Corinthians 9:23-27, the apostle says that he does “all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”[1] Moreover, Paul states that he disciplines his body and makes it his slave, so that, after he has preached to others, he might not be disqualified.[2] He realizes the possibility, though tragically ironic, that he might personally fail to attain to the same resurrection in the coming kingdom that he has been preaching to others. Paul’s solution, therefore, is to not only preach the gospel to others, but to himself as well.
By way of exhortation, Paul uses athletic events, that of running and boxing, as analogies to instruct his readers to likewise persevere in the faith. Just as athletes must persevere when competing, lest they be disqualified, believers are to persevere lest they fail to gain the imperishable prize of eternal life found in Messiah Yeshua. His point is that some will compete but to no avail. They will not attain victory because their disobedience will disqualify them.
Paul continues this theme in the passage under consideration. He reminds his audience that their fathers all experienced the presence and power of Elohim during the days of Moses:
1 Corinthians 10:1-4a (NASB) For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink…
They all were under the guidance of the supernatural cloud that led them through the wilderness.[3] They all experienced Elohim’s supernatural deliverance from the pursuing Egyptian army when He parted the Red Sea.[4] What’s more, the Israelites all ate from the spiritual food and drink, that is, the miraculous provision of manna from heaven and water from a rock, that Elohim provided during their years in the wilderness.[5] One could say, therefore, that because Elohim worked through His mediator Moses, the Israelites were in effect, baptized into Moses. And yet, even though all of Elohim’s people experienced these things, He was not pleased with most of them:
1 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB) Nevertheless, with most of them Elohim was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
The Amplified Bible’s translation of verse 5 helps us understand what the phrase laid low in the wilderness means:
Nevertheless, Elohim was not well-pleased with most of them, for they were scattered along the ground in the wilderness [because their lack of self-control led to disobedience which led to death].
Paul then gives five reasons why Elohim was displeased with most of the Israelites and why they failed to enter into the Promised Land:
Remarkably, the Israelites committed these sins even though Elohim sent His agent, Moses, to work wonders on His behalf. Elohim gave them every reason to trust and obey Him but most of them did not. Paul then uses what happened to the Israelites as a warning to New Testament believers:
1 Corinthians 10:6-12 (NASB) Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. (emphasis added)
The context, therefore, for the passage under review, is an exhortation and solemn warning for believers not to follow in the footsteps of the unfaithful Israelites, but to obey Elohim if they hope to enter into the Promised Land, that is, the coming kingdom of Elohim. The context is not about the preexistence of Messiah, but about the importance of obedience.
The Rock That Followed Them Was Messiah
As a part of his summary of how Elohim worked through Moses to provide spiritual food and drink, Paul makes a parenthetical statement comparing the supernatural water that flowed from the rock in the wilderness with Yeshua, stating that the rock that followed them was Messiah:
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (NASB) For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Messiah. (emphasis added)
Deity of Messiah believers insist on a literal interpretation of verse 4, that Yeshua was literally following the Israelites in the desert. But there is ample reason to believe that Paul was speaking figuratively.
Figurative Language
If we are to interpret the passage to mean that Yeshua was literally the spiritual rock that followed the Israelites, then we must also take Paul’s statement that the people were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea literally. But of course, we understand that Paul is speaking figuratively when it comes to Moses. The word baptized here can mean to be immersed, but it can also mean to be overwhelmed or overcome by someone or something.[6] In this context, we understand it to mean that the people were fully immersed in or identified with Moses as the one who mediated with Elohim on their behalf.[7] The people believed in Elohim and in Moses.[8] In like manner, the Israelites also understood that another prophet, like Moses, was to follow after him.[9] Moses prefigured the coming Messiah, who, as one greater than Moses,[10] would serve as the ultimate mediator between Elohim and man.[11] Thus, as the Israelites received sustenance from the water that Elohim provided via Moses, they were, in effect, drinking from the spiritual rock that was to come, that is, the Messiah. The one prophesied to follow Moses would be a source of living water, just as Moses was used to provide life-saving water in the wilderness. Yeshua is indeed the fulfillment of that prophetic picture:
John 4:10 (NASB) Yeshua answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of Elohim, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”… 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”…25 The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Messiah); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Yeshua *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.“
John 7:37-39 (NASB) Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet glorified.
Some also interpret the rock in the wilderness as prefiguring Messiah in that, just as the rock was struck and produced life-giving water, so Yeshua was also struck (beaten and crucified) and became the source of eternal life to all who obey Him.[12]
Paul’s Christology in 1 Corinthians
If Paul believed in a pre-incarnate Yeshua and therefore his divinity, then we would expect this belief to be affirmed elsewhere in his letter to the Corinthians. Instead, Paul’s statements contradict the post-Biblical view that Yeshua is Elohim. Paul clearly writes that Messiah is not Elohim, rather that Messiah belongs to Elohim, and that Elohim is the head of Messiah:
1 Corinthians 3:23 (NASB) and you belong to Messiah; and Messiah belongs to Elohim.
1 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB) But I want you to understand that Messiah is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and Elohim is the head of Messiah.
In this same letter, Paul identifies the one Elohim as the Father. Not the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but simply the Father. On the other hand, Paul identifies Yeshua as the Lord and Messiah:
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 (NASB) For even if there are so-called Elohims whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many Elohims and many lords, 6 yet for us there is but one Elohim, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Yeshua Messiah, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (emphasis added)
Not surprisingly, Paul also writes in his letter to the Corinthians that when Messiah comes, he will hand the kingdom over to the Elohim and Father so that Elohim may be all in all. Not so that Yeshua, Elohim, and the Holy Spirit can be all in all, but so that Elohim, who is the Father, can be all in all. Indeed, Yeshua is and forever will be subjected to Elohim:
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (NASB) then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the Elohim and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that Elohim may be all in all. (emphasis added)
Conclusion
Contrary to what some Christians claim, Paul’s statement that Messiah was the spiritual rock that followed the Israelites in the wilderness is not a reference to a pre-existing Yeshua, nor is it proof that Yeshua is Elohim. Instead, the context demonstrates that Paul sees Moses as prefiguring Messiah. Just as the Israelites were to look to Moses to be saved from the Egyptians and the trials in the wilderness, so believers are to look to Yeshua for salvation. Paul uses this comparison to warn believers in Corinth to walk in obedience lest they, like most of the Israelites, be disqualified from entering the kingdom of Elohim.
[1] 1 Corinthians 9:23.
[2] 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.
[3] Exodus 13:21-22; Psalm 78:14
[4] Exodus 14:21-30.
[5] Exodus 16:4, 35; 17:6-7.
[6] Jeremy Myers, What is Baptism? Redeeming Elohim, https://redeemingElohim.com/what-is-baptism/ accessed 6-13-21.
[7] Jeremy Myers, Have you been Baptized into Moses? Redeeming Elohim, https://redeemingElohim.com/baptized-into-moses/, accessed 6-13-21.
[8] Exodus 14:31.
[9] Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Acts 3:19-26; 7:37.
[10] Hebrews 3:1-6.
[11] 1 Timothy 2:5.
[12] Hebrews 5:9.