The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

This is the account of Joseph's years in Potiphar's house and, then, because of a false accusation by the flirtatious Mrs. Potiphar, his years in prison (and his acquaintance with a butler and baker).  For no fault of his own, Joseph lost everything he worked so hard to gain all those years by his conscientious stewardship, dedicated service, and loyalty to his boss, Potiphar. Yet, we never hear a word of complaint from his lips. The same is true of his time in prison, as well as his extended time in prison because the butler's apathy to remember him!

Unknown to Joseph, God's providential hand was working everything together for good for Joseph.  He was developing and maturing him for the very important task ahead when he would serve as the highest official in the land of Egypt under Pharaoh.  In that royal position, Joseph would be used of God to save his family and Egypt (picture of the world) from perishing by providing them with "the Bread of Life"!  Thirteen more (out of 82) ways Joseph pictured Jesus are presented!

Joseph is the first God-chosen deliverer of His people (also Moses, Joshua, some judges and prophets) to serve as a prophetic type of the Great Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Joseph's life pattern was that of Christ's: rejection before reigning; suffering before splendor; gloom before glory; humiliation before honor; the lowest pit before the highest pinnacle!  This is the first of 5 lessons on Joseph's dramatic life in which we discuss 82 ways He pictured Jesus!  Joseph just may become one of your favorite Bible characters after you hear these messages (if he isn't already)!

For one of the greatest Bible examples on FORGIVENESS (other than Christ), you must look closely at the life of the amazing Joseph.

This lesson is about Jacob's wrestling match with the preincarnate Christ at the Jabbok River.  From the womb, Jacob had wrestled with those around him.  He grabbed Esau's heel as they were emerging from their mother's womb; he grabbed both the firstborn birthright and firstborn blessing (though he was the second-born), even deceiving his father to gain the blessing.  After a two-decade struggle with his conniving Uncle Laban, Jacob still tended to rely more on "self" than on the Lord.  What he had really been doing, all along, was wrestling his own sin nature!  However, he met his match when Jesus became his wrestling Opponent.  The match was initiated by the Lord.  Why?  To bring Jacob to the end of his self-reliance (something we all struggle with).  Jacob needed to surrender!  When he did, his walk with God and others was never the same again (he limped), as he went from being Jacob the deceiver to Israel, the prince of God!  

The humorous subtitle for this lesson is "Jacob Gets Old Laban's Goat," and when you read the end of Genesis 30, you will understand.  Jacob finally out-maneuvered his Uncle Laban, who had certainly tricked and deceived his double son-in-law (yes, I said that right) on numerous, far more serious matters (i.e. switching brides on him; wageless service for 14 years).  This lesson is about both the "wrestling match" between Jacob and Laban and the "wrestling match" between two sisters, Leah and Rachel (whose on-going competition for Jacob's attention finally ended on a good note). 

A very interesting truth to discover in this lesson is how the burdens, strivings, jealousies, desires, joys, and praises of Jacob's wives and concubines . . . expressed in the names they gave their sons . . .  "spell out" (in their Hebrew meanings) a prophetic message concerning God's plan of salvation through His Redeemer, Christ!  ONLY the all-knowing, all-powerful, infinitely wise Eternal God could reveal such a profound message 2,000 years before the Gospel was accomplished by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!  Absolutely amazing.

Although Jacob did not understand the full significance of his "Ladder Dream," he knew the main message: there is divine provision for access to Heaven!  The prophetic picture of Jacob's ladder dream is that there is a way (just one ladder) to Heaven.  It is so interesting to find that the Identity of Jacob's Ladder was "unveiled" centuries later by none other than the incarnate Ladder-Lord Himself.  In fact, it was one of the first Old Testament types of Himself He revealed in earthly ministry!  And guess what? He revealed it to a descendant of Jacob in whom there was no deceptive nature ("guile")!  His name?  Nathanael.  Everything in Scripture is inter-connected.  

The struggle between the twin sons of Isaac, Esau and Jacob, continues to this day with their descendants!  It is fascinating to find how history helps us understand the present!  There are a number of critical lessons to be learned through this long ago account of sibling rivalry. 

One thing to note is that the Lord called the babies in Rebekah's womb "people" and knew about their character traits! 

This lesson centers on the account of a father (Abraham) giving his trusted servant (Eliezer, whose name means "God's Helper" or "Comforter") the critical mission of finding a bride (Rebekah) for his son (Isaac)!  This love story of a marriage made in Heaven is beautiful, but it is "deeper and wider" than just the surface level account of how Isaac met Rebekah!  In fact, that love story is so typologically and theologically deep, it takes the 27 books of the New Testament to map it all out!  You will not be disappointed if you take the time to hear this account in light of all its significance concerning God the Father sending the Holy Spirit to call out a Bride (the Church) for His Son. 

Abraham's almost sacrifice of Isaac in the land of Moriah (which means "Clear Vision") is the "mountain peak" of prophetic person-types of the redemptive work (the actual Sacrifice) of God's only begotten Son, which also occurred in the land of Moriah!  If you want to be genuinely confident about the Truth of Scripture, listen to this study on "The Gospel of Moriah," and think about the amazing prophetic truth spoken by Abraham when asked by Isaac, "... where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"  He said, "My SON, God will provide HIMSELF a Lamb" (Genesis 22:8)!  If you like Old Testament typology - WHICH YOU SHOULD and WHICH YOU SHOULD TEACH TO OTHERS - you will love this study!

The title for this lesson comes from the Hebrew meaning of the name Isaac - "laughter".  It was a time of laughter when the "miracle boy" was conceived in the womb of a barren and post-menopausal woman.  His birth foreshadowed the even greater miracle conception of Christ (born of a virgin).  In this presentation, we discuss the life-transforming experience of Hagar (Egyptian handmaid of Sarah) when she met the pre-incarnate Christ at a wilderness well.   We also discuss the contextual circumstances of God's first use of His name, "El Shaddai".  Then, there is the young lad, Ishmael (son of Abraham's relationship with Hagar), who mocked and persecuted his younger half-brother Isaac.  What happened with him?  Why are Ishmael's descendants not included in the Abrahamic Covenant?  What does this mean about the land of Israel today and to whom it rightfully belongs (per God's decree)?

This  lesson concerns the first written account of war in NOT JUST the Bible, but in all ancient literature!  Interestingly, this first recorded war in history involved an attack on five kings of the Dead Sea area of ancient Canaan (Israel) by a coalition of four kings from territories that, to this day, remain hostile to Israel!  The invading kings were led by a man from Elam (part of modern-day Iraq).  He was called the "Ravager of the West".  85-year old Abraham was the hero of this story!  (This war prophetically pictures mankind's last war called "The Battle of Armeggedon," which will be an all-out attack to annihilate Israel by another "Ravager" (the Antichrist). 

In Genesis 14, a tenth, very mysterious king suddenly appeared on the scene!  His name, Melchizedek means "King of Righteousness".  He was a Priest of the Most High God, and King of Salem or "King of Peace"!!  He is definitely a prophetic type of the Lord Jesus (and some even think he was the preincarnate Christ - an interesting debate discussed in this lesson).  Our Great High Priest Christ, Who is also the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace, will likewise appear out of seemingly no where at His Second Coming to save Abraham's descendants (through Isaac) from extinction!  There is SO MUCH TYPOLOGY in this lesson!