E-pistle for March 14, 2014
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation March 14, 2014
Born to trouble, as sparks fly upward
(Job 5:1-27)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Eliphaz continued lecturing Job, implying that he was foolish
and simple, and that his affliction was a direct result of his sins,
vv. 1-7.
2. Eliphaz told Job what he would do is he were him: "But as for
me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause,"
. . . going on to describe the greatness and the mercy of God,
vv. 8-16.
3. Eliphaz reminded Job that he should be happy under the
chastening hand of the Almighty, Who not only injures but also
heals,vv. 17-18.
4. Eliphaz concludes his first speech by describing the deliverance
and blessings which God would give Job if only he would be
willing to confess his sin, v. 7.
II. Meditation: on some key verses in this chapter
1. "Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward," v. 7.
2. "God . . . does great things and unsearchable, marvelous
things without number," v. 9.
3. "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do
not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises,
but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole,"
vv. 17-18.
4. "For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,
and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you," v. 23.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths seen here
1. Although the intent of the words of Eliphaz were to condemn
Job, and the implications drawn were incorrect . . . yet the
words themselves contain truth: man indeed is "born to
trouble" because of the inevitable consequences of his sinful
nature inherited from Adam.
2. Almighty God does great, unsearchable, marvelous, innumerable
things: He gives man life, provision, encouragement, comfort,
protection, salvation, and hope, vv. 10-16.
3. God's chastening is a blessing given because of His great love for
His chosen children.
4. God can extend grace to His covenant people by turning curses
(stones, II Kings 3:19; Isaiah 5:2) into blessings, and enemies (beasts)
into friends.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Understand that problems and difficulties are an inescapable part of
the human experience on earth, and that they are not necessarily a sign
of God's punishment, I Peter 4:12-13.
2. Thank the Lord for His miraculous provisions, which can exceed all of
my requests, Ephesians 3:20.
3. Welcome God's discipline as an evidence of His love for me,
Hebrews 12:6.
4. Receive God's wonderful promise to bring good results out of bad
circumstances, Romans 8:28.
Noah found grace in god's eyes
(Genesis 6:1-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the man Noah, whose name means "Comfort" or "Rest"
1. He found grace (God's unmerited gift or favor) in God's eyes, v. 8.
2. He was just . . . fair, true, and honest, v. 9.
3. He was perfect . . . blameless, having maturity and integrity, v. 9.
4. He, like his great-grandfather Enoch, walked with God, v. 9.
II. Meditation: on the sinful world in which Noah lived
1. Satanism: "Nephilim" translated "Sons of God" refers to the fallen,
dark angels of Satan, who cohabited with humans, v. 2.
2. Wickedness: People has "twisted" (a related root word) good into
evil and vice versa . . . were addicted to depravity, not discerning
right from wrong, v. 5.
3. Total corruption of society: "Every intent . . . only evil continually
. . . all flesh had corrupted their way," vv. 5, 12.
4. Full of violence: Noah's day was notorious for its cruelty and
disregard for human life, v. 12.
III. Revelation: on God's spoken words to Noah
1. "My Spirit shall not strive (struggle; contend) with man forever
. . . yet his days shall be one hundred twenty years," v. 3.
At the flood, God reduced the life span of humans from about 900
years to a maximum of 120 years.
2. "I will destroy them (the Satanic, wicked, corrupt, violent persons)
with the earth," v. 13.
This cleansing of the earth by water would destroy the half-human,
half-demon giant monsters which intimidated the people of that era, v. 4.
3. "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood . . . I am bringing floodwaters
. . . everything that is on the earth shall die," vv. 14, 17.
4. "I will establish My covenant with you," (and your family), v. 18.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Live a just, perfect life of integrity by receiving God's grace and by
walking daily with Him.
2. Keep my life pure and blameless in the midst of a Satanic, wicked,
corrupt, violent . . . crooked and perverse generation, Philippians 2:15-16.
3. Hear and faithfully proclaim God's coming judgment, regardless of the
small number of persons who heed my warning over a period of up to
100 years, Genesis 5:32 and Genesis 7:6 . . . for indeed, these are "the
Days of Noah" which Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:37-39.
4. Obey God's instructions in order to receive His deliverance . . . His way
of escape; His "ark of safety" Jesus Christ . . . Who saves us from
pending doom, Hebrews 11:7.
"You can't base your life on other people's expectations."
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