10:3, 4 the same spiritual food . . . the same spiritual drink. Following the analogy with baptism, Paul warns the Corinthians not to find false comfort in their participation in the Lord’s Supper (vv. 14–22). The Israelites also experienced divinely given food and drink. Here “spiritual” does not mean “immaterial”; nor does it merely suggest that the manna and the water had a deeper significance. Paul probably has in mind the activity of the Holy Spirit (2:6, 14; 3:1; 15:44–46; and notes). The Israelites had received a supernatural provision associated with the work of the Spirit.

the Rock was Christ. In the Old Testament, God is often compared with a rock, and Israel (called “Jeshurun”) is described as having forsaken God, the “Rock of his salvation” (Deut. 32:15; cf. Ex. 17:6). The analogy between the Israelites and the Corinthians is not an arbitrary illustration; there is a theological connection. Without minimizing the privileges enjoyed by Christians (v. 11 note), Paul reminds us that the Deliverer of the Israelites was none other than our crucified and risen Savior.