Paul spends considerable time in 1 Corinthians on the topic of food. Chapters 8-11 all look at the use and abuse of such a humble human necessity when it provides a symbolic means of dining with the divine. This week's epistle text lies midway through his discussion.

In chapter 10 Paul begins by reaching back into Hebrew history to show how the fickle tendencies of the human spirit can undo the exquisite acts of love and deliverance God may perform. Paul spends the first four verses citing some of the most impressive life-sustaining miracles the human race has ever known. He reminds his Corinthian listeners, so that they won't be "unaware" or "ignorant," that God's presence, as promised, stayed with the fleeing Hebrew slaves, guiding them as the pillar of "cloud" and then using that protec…