The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Genesis 16:1-16

This is the sad account of the conception of Ishmael, and how Abraham wrongly heeded the suggestion of his wife to conceive an heir through her Egyptian handmade Hagar.  

In our discussion of this event, we look at: (1) The Scheme Proposed, (2) The Scheme's Problems (Hagar's pride, Sarah's anger, and Abraham's lack of leader...

Genesis 15:1-21 

Following his physical battle against Chedorlaomer (king of the four-king coalition) and his spiritual battle against the temptations of Bera (King of Sodom), Abraham was concerned the wicked invaders he humiliated by defeating them with his much smaller band of men might return in vengeance.  He was getting old and still had no child or land, as per G...

Genesis 14:17-24 

It is often the case for a believer to encounter a great temptation and/or danger after winning "a battle".  Abraham experienced a miraculous victory over a powerful four-king coalition from the East (which had just defeated a five-king confederation near the Dead Sea).  He outrageously rescued Lot from captivity, but as he was returning home from the...

Genesis 14:1-16

We discuss the very first recorded account of war, not only in the Bible, but in all ancient literature!  It is called "The Dead Sea War" or "The 10-King War" (it was a rebellion of five kings against four kings, and the tenth "king" was Abram.  Also, after the war, a mysterious eleventh King appeared from seemingly nowhere.  His name is Melchizedek).

Genesis 13:5-18

This lesson provides us with a sharp contrast between Uncle Abram and nephew Lot.  Both men had journeyed down to Egypt (out of God's will), but one returned wiser, while the other returned worldlier.  Abram learned his lesson, through Divine chastisement and by way of great humiliation, to walk by faith in God's Word.  He learned not to use circumstanc...

Genesis 12:10-13:4

We continue Abram's journey of faith with God as he traveled from the land of promise (Canaan) to Egypt (picture of the world).  In the situation we discuss in this lesson, we (hopefully) learn from Abram's mistakes and his lie!  The four main divisions of our look at what some would call a "backsliding experience" are: (1) the famine, (2) the falsehoo...

Genesis 12:1-9

We begin the spiritual journey of the man called Abram (Abraham).  His walk began where our walk with God begins, which is with God taking the initiative!  God spoke, and it was the revelation from Him that pierced Abram's soul and began to break the hold the world, the flesh, and the devil had over him!  It was the Word of the God of glory that generate...

Genesis 11:10-32

Generation after generation following the dispersion at Babel was given opportunity to repent and turn back to God, but unfortunately the degenerate condition of man soon came to resemble pre-Flood days.  Tragically, the spiritual decline even affected the Messianic line.  But God had made a promise, and He keeps His promises.  He would send the Promised...

Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9

There are four main subjects found in Genesis chapters 1 to 11: (1) the Creation, (2) the Fall, (3) the Flood, and (4) the Tower of Babel.  This lesson is on the Tower of Babel and the Lord's miraculous intervention at the time of its building, which was almost as critical as His Flood intervention.  

As we learn of ...

Genesis chapter 10 contains the earliest "Table of Nations" know to man!  This is a remarkable historical document that even the Bible's most hostile critics confess is of extraordinary importance and reliability.  No record of the origin of the ancient nations can even remotely compare.  It is not only incomparable in its age, but also in its comprehensiveness and accuracy.  Genesis 10 is an ethnolog...

Genesis 9:18-29

It would have been "nice," humanly speaking, if the Bible's account of Noah had ended with the beautiful rainbow placed in the sky as God's token "sign" of His covenant promise with Noah and the perpetual generations of mankind.  But, this is not where Noah's story ended - it moves from rainbows to shadows because Scripture does not conceal the "spots and blemishes" of men, including ...

Genesis 9:8-17

Noah and his family members had no doubt been "wounded" in their souls from the traumatic encounter with God's wrath upon sinful man.  Knowing they, too, were sinners, they needed reassurance that they and their descendents would survive and still have the wonderful prospect of the coming Savior Who would redeem them from their otherwise hopelessly lost condition.  These concerns were a...

Luke 10:38-42

Although the two sisters are often contrasted, Martha being the pre-occupied worker-server, and Mary, the pensive worshipper-student (always seen in Scripture at Jesus' feet), this in no way indicates the Lord wants believers in Him to be either one or the other.  Personalities and spiritual gifts are different.  We are to do what we can with what we have...

Probably few people know much about the unique New Testament woman named Joanna. Her story, learned by piecing together just a few verses of Scripture, all found in Luke (and possibly a greeting given by the Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans), is intriguing and convicting! This audio lesson is shorter than most of our studies, yet it is rich with nuggets of truth you possibly never thought about bef...

From this well-known account of Christ's "Divine appointment" with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well (John 4), learn some very interesting information about the importance of certain numbers in this story (i.e., especially "6" and "7"). Learn from the Lord how to wisely and smoothly witness to someone by going from the physical realm to the spiritual. See how "Samaritana" progressively advanced in ...

Anna is the only named "prophetess" in the New Testament. She was also one of God's two "mighty witnesses" to His Son's Identity as the long-awaited Messiah (on His first "visit" to the Temple at only 40 days of age). She and Simeon (both in their 100's) pictured the transition of the Old Testament to the New Testament (fascinating to realize). She is an amazing example, in many ways, of how to turn ...

The world Noah and his family saw on their disembARKment was drastically different from the world they knew before the Flood.  The world, as Noah had known it, had "perished" (II Peter 3:6).  It was God's grace that provided the human race a new opportunity for a new beginning in an essentially new world.  

In this lesson on Genesis 8:20-9:7, we will look at a significan...

In this lesson on Genesis 8:1-19, "The Ark on Ararat," we learn again of the incredible faith of Noah, as evidenced by his great patience in waiting to hear from God for the proper time to exit the ark.  We also learn of the faithfulness of God in keeping His Word by "remembering" those who belong to Him.  We discuss (1) the remembrance of God, (2) the recession of the flood waters, (3) the rest of th...

Genesis 7:1-24

"Mabbul" is the Hebrew word for the Noahic Flood.  Many teach that it was merely localized.  Not so!  The Flood was global, and presented in this study is lots of evidence to support that claim! 

Did you know God predicted the beginning of the Flood through the name "Methuselah"?  Fascinating!  Do you know when Methuselah di...