The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Genesis 20:1-18

This lesson is the account of the third major failure of Abraham.  Sadly, it was a repeat of his first failure, when he purposely hid the truth that Sarah was his wife and not just his sister.  If even a great man like Abraham (the "father of faith" and "friend of God") sins, we certainly know none of us are exempt!  One of the reasons (among multitudes) we know the Bible is truly God-inspired is because it always speaks the truth about people, even "the best" of God's people.  We read about Noah's drunkenness, Moses' temper, David's adultery, and Peter's denials.  

We look at Abraham's iniquity, God's intervention, and King Abimelech's integrity and inquisition of Abraham and Sarah.  In this account, we find the first healing miracle recorded in the Bible!  Find out what it was and on whom it was performed!

Genesis 19:15-38

This is the second of a two-part lesson on Lot, "Friend of the World".  In lesson 43, we learned that Lot was a compromised believer, an ineffective leader, and a powerless witness for the Lord.  He was also a double-minded man.  He lingered too long in Sodom and longed for Zoar (another worldly city).  He also failed as a husband and was a pitiful father.

We need to learn from Lot's serious mistakes, for the Lord warned that the days preceding His Second Coming will be "as it was in the days of Lot" (Luke 17:28).  If you know anything about the immorality of Sodom, you know we are "there" today!

Genesis 19

This is the first of a two-part study on Genesis chapter 19, which is about God's judgment on the exceedingly wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the tragic consequences of Lot's spiritual decline.  Lot, though a believer in God, evidently worked harder at being "The Friend of the World" than being "The friend of God, as his Uncle Abraham is called (see Lesson 42).

A study of Lot is important because many Christians attempt to live on a "Lot level" of spirituality.  They do not deny their belief in Christ, but neither are they "sold out" for Him, which they consider "too radical".  The tragedy is that the lukewarm, double-minded, compromised Christian does not experience the joy of his salvation.  Lot's life demonstrates this more than perhaps anyone in Scripture, for his life ended in one of the lowest conditions imaginable for a believer.  His life was almost completely wasted.  He was saved, "yet so as by fire" (I Corin. 3:15).  He was a compromised believer, an ineffective leader, and a powerless witness (in this first half of Genesis 18).

Genesis 18:1-33 

Abraham is referred to in Scripture by a number of names and titles ("father of many nations," "father of the faithful," "a prophet," "a mighty prince," a man "strong in faith"), but the most cherished title is "the friend of God".  Because he is the only individual in the Old Testament to have this compliment specifically said of him, we want to know why he "earned" this distinction.  The almost unanimous answer is derived from the intimate conversation between the Lord and Abraham in Genesis chapter 18, as well as the confidence in Abraham the Lord demonstrated in this same chapter.

Genesis 17:1-27 

This is the chapter in which Abram becomes Abraham and Sarai becomes Sarah - name-changes made by God!  This is also the chapter in which 90-year old Abraham laughs (in joy) when the Lord tells him that Sarah his wife will bear him the promised son (not some younger woman, like Hagar), and his name shall be Isaac (which means "laughter")!

One of the great names for God is "El Shaddai," meaning "the all-sufficient God"!  He was "all-sufficient" for Abraham, and He is "all-sufficient" for us today!  Amen!  Learn the context for the first time in Scripture God is referred to by this marvelous name!