I'm pretty sure that Paul was talking about types & shadows in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Check that out and tell me what you think.
Edward,
There are at least 4 different interpretations of 1 Cor 10:3, 'And did all eat the same spiritual meat'. This is not the place to discuss these. They are articulated by Charles Hodge in
A Commentary on 1 & 2 Corinthians (Edinburgh/Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974), pp. 172-174. See
HERE.
We see Israel's example in 1 Cor 10:1-5 (NIV) and that example applied by giving a warning against idolatry (1 Cor 10:6-13 NIV).
In vv 1-5, it is a powerful type with the language of 'our fathers' and their form of 'baptism' and the 'Eucharist'. It prefigured our baptism and the Lord's Supper.
What was the purpose of the type given from the OT and articulated in 1 Cor 10:1-5 (NIV)? It continues with some of the events in Exodus to warn the Corinthians (vv 6, 11-12). These Corinthians enjoyed blessings like those of Israel but the Corinthians were in danger of losing those blessings because of their idolatry: 'Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters....' (1 Cor 10:6-7a NIV).
These things in Exodus happened to be examples to the Corinthians 'so, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall' (1 Cor 10:12 NIV).
That's my understanding of this type. But it is important to realise that it is only a type or shadow because it is specifically mentioned as such in the NT. We are not left to speculate that types and shadows are on nearly every page of the OT. That isn't true.
Yes, there are types and shadows that are mentioned in the NT that draw attention to examples from the OT, but the NT has to mention them as examples to make them types.
Oz