What does 1 Corinthians 10:5 mean?

In the previous verses, Paul has made a connection between the Israelites in the wilderness and the Christians in Corinth. He has described the experiences of Israelites being led and protected by the Lord, baptized into Moses, and being fed with spiritual food and drink from Christ.

Now Paul shows that none of this was enough to earn God's favor for them during their time on earth. Paul writes that God was not pleased with most of them. Nearly all of them were "overthrown" or died in the wilderness as a result of God's discipline (Numbers 14:29). Even Moses was disqualified from entering the promised land because of his disobedience (Numbers 20:12). That punishment doesn't imply—or symbolize—a lack of salvation. It does, however, indicate that believers are not immune from consequence when we sin in this life.

No wonder Paul expressed concern about being disqualified in the previous chapter (1 Corinthians 9:27). The following verses will show that Paul wants the Corinthians to see themselves as vulnerable to God's discipline, as well.