Nothing More than an Object Lesson

"Now it is quite true that an Israelite could have been saved from the Passover Angel of the Lord at the first Passover in a condition of unbelief, provided there was some blood on the door post.  This was because the Lord needed to have some covenantal unbelievers around to slay in the wilderness later so that we might have their objective example before our eyes." - Wilson, AC, p32.

Sound harsh?  Well, that is exactly what the apostle Paul said, 

1 Corinthians 10:1–6 (NKJV)

¹ Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ² all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. ⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

What do we learn:

1 - God is God and we are not.

2 - God will never be mocked.

3 - Let God be true and every man a liar.

4 - Believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved.  Don't try to hide from God in the covenant people; you will only up being an example the God will use to the glorious wrath of His holy name.