E-pistle for April 24, 2009
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation April 24, 2009
Fire and Brimstone
(Genesis 19:1-38)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the sins of Sodom which deserved divine punishment
1. The two angels were sent to confirm the wickedness of Sodom, which
the Lord already has seen, Genesis 18:20-22; 19:1.
2. The angels stayed overnight at Lot's house and were attacked by the
homosexual men of the city, who were stricken blind, vv. 1-11.
3. The angels told Lot to gather his family to flee the doomed city, but his
two sons-in-law thought Lot was joking, vv. 12-16.
4. Lot continued to delay, and succeeded in bringing about a compromise:
rather than fleeing into the mountains, they were permitted to go into a
little city named Zoar, vv. 17-23.
II. Meditation: on God's law of cause and effect
1. Sodom's wickedness ("Sodomy" = sexual intercourse between male
human beings or with animals) brought the burning fires of hell falling
from heaven, vv. 24-25.
2. Lot's compromise with the citizens of Sodom cost him his influence with
his family . . . both sons-in-law scornfully laughed at him and refused
to leave the city with their wives. (See II Peter 2:6-8)
3. Lot's wife "looked back" . . . (held back and/or turned back), and was
overtaken and covered by the burning pitch and sulfur, v. 26; Lot's
wife actually lived, according to Jesus, Luke 17:28-29, 32.
4. Lot's daughters, who had grown up in a notorious sex-crazed society,
got their father drunk, had incestuous relations with him, and bore
illegitimate children . . . whose descendants (Moab and Ammon) were
enemies of Israel for many centuries.
III. Revelation: on God's mercy and grace
1. The two angels could have annihilated the attacking Sodomites, but they
only blinded them, v. 11.
2. In response to Abraham's intercession (Genesis 18:23-33), God had
determined not to send punishment on "righteous" Lot, v. 22.
3. The Lord continued to withhold sending judgment upon Sodom while Lot
and his family delayed their departure . . . finally the two angels had to
literally drag Lot, his wife, and their two daughters to safety, v. 16.
4. God allowed Lot to flee for safety to a small city, which probably had been
originally marked for destruction, vv. 21-22.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Avoid compromising my Christian convictions for the sake of economic gain,
political power, or worldly prestige.
2. Realize that God will surely bring about "payday someday."
3. Know that intercessory prayer does bring God's mercy and grace.
4. Advocate abstinence from alcohol . . . this is the second incident of a family's
damaging sin caused by drunkenness (Genesis 9:21; 19:32-35).
Abraham Backslides Again!
(Genesis 20:1-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the heathen king, Abimelech
1. Abimelech was king of the Philistines in Gerar, vv. 1-2; Genesis 26:1.
2. Abimelech lusted after and sent for Sarah, Abraham's wife, v. 2.
3. Abimelech was warned by the Lord in a dream not to take another
man's wife, v. 3.
4. Abimelech pled his innocence and integrity, on the basis of his ignorance
of the fact that Abraham and Sarah were married, vv. 4-6.
II. Meditation: on God's dealings with Abimelech
1. In obedience to the Lord's revelation and warning, Abimelech returned
Sarah to Abraham, vv. 7-14.
2. In effect, Abimelech spoke for the Lord when he strongly rebuked
Abraham for his sin of deceit, asking him, "What did you have in view,
that you did this thing?" vv. 9-10.
3. Abimelech exhibited a God-like, generous, forgiving spirit, vv. 14-16.
4. God, through Abraham's intercessory prayers, healed Abimelech's wife
and female servants, so that they were able to bear children, vv. 17-18.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of this chapter
1. Wandering off into heathen territory (Egypt, Genesis 12 and Gerar, Genesis 20)
often leads to sin and to the loss of integrity and credibility.
2. The Lord sometimes reveals His will to unlikely persons, occasionally using
those "unworthy" individuals to proclaim spiritual truths to His chosen leaders.
3. One evidence of a person's spiritual interaction with the Lord is an inner
transformation: a change from a selfish to a generous heart, from a vindictive
to a forgiving spirit.
4. Intercessory prayer is used by the Lord to bring life, healing, and productivity
out of death, illness, and barrenness.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Deliberately choose to live my life within the center of God's will . . . not
wandering away like a careless, straying sheep, Isaiah 53:6.
2. Be alert, humble, and teachable . . . receiving the Lord's rebukes and
instructions, from whatever sources He chooses to use.
3. Daily spend quality time in the presence of the Lord, so that my life starts
to exhibit His Godly characteristics . . . so that I start being conformed
to the image of God's son, Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:18.
4. Pray for God's love, mercy, and grace on specific persons, and situations,
even as I acknowledge that my own personal sins may have been a
contributing factor to the problem.
During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a pop quiz. I breezed
through the questions until I read the last one. "What is the first name of the woman
who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning
woman several times, but how could I know her name?
I handed in the paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one
student asked if the last question would count toward our grade.
"Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are
significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say
hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
- Joann Jones, Guideposts
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