5 Bible Verses about Learning From The Past

For everything that was written in the earlier times was written for our instruction, so that by our patient endurance and through the encouragement the Scriptures bring we might continuously cherish our hope.

Now all these things occurred as warnings to us, to keep us from hankering after what is evil, in the ways they did. Now stop being idolaters, as some of them were, for the Scripture says, "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to dance." Let us stop practicing immorality, as some of them did, and on one day twenty-three thousand fell dead.read more.
Let us stop trying the Lord's patience, as some of them did, and for it were destroyed by the snakes. You must stop grumbling, as some of them did, and for it were destroyed by the destroying angel. Those things continued to befall them as warnings to others, and they were written down for the purpose of instructing us, in whose lives the climax of the ages has been reached.

some immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For this is the way the pious women of olden times, who set their hope on God, used to adorn themselves. They were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah, for example, obeyed Abraham and called him master. You have become true daughters of hers, if you practice doing right and cease from every fear.

We must not be like Cain who belonged to the evil one and butchered his brother. And why did he butcher him? Because his own actions were wicked and his brother's upright.