The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Did you know that a number of the early Church "fathers" considered the Lord's single-handed cleansing of the Temple as one of the greatest "miracles" of His entire public ministry?  Did you know that His zealous act fulfilled two specific Messianic Old Testament prophecies (Malachi 3:1-3; Psalm 69:9)?  Did you know that on the Lord's first visit to Jerusalem in His official earthly ministry He predicted the Jews would destroy Him, but He would rise from that destruction on the third day?  

Did you know the Christ's first cleansing of His Father's House (the Temple) occurred at the time of Passover (as did His second Temple cleansing, which took place on Passion Week Monday)?  The Jews meticulously swept their own homes clean of all leaven, but they allowed God's House to be full of all manner of evil corruption ("leaven of unrighteousness") in what was called "Annas' Bizarre".  Annas was Israel's very corrupt high priest!  A problem with our culture today, which was likewise the problem in Christ's day, is the lack of righteous outrage over evil.  The Lord Jesus possessed zealous righteous indignation against sin!  He harmed no one, but He got His point across loud and clear!  What a great example!

A jam-packed lesson full of goodies for those who love to learn!

Anyone honestly investigating the matter of Christ's Deity needs to carefully examine both His words and His works.  His works (miracles) demonstrated His Deity in that they displayed His absolute authority over every realm of life: nature, Satan and the demons, sickness, disease, deformities, and death itself.  His miracles not only testified of His Person; they also confirmed the truth of His proclamations.

Not only was marriage the first institution created (designed) and ordained by God, but a marriage (in Cana of Galilee) was the first event God (Christ) sanctioned with His presence in His public ministry.  He also performed His first miracle to assure the success of that marriage.  Both of these truths tells us of the high position He places on the marriage relationship.

Learn why the Lord Jesus referred to His mother as "woman" in this account; not "mother".  Was He disrespectful?  What was the message He was conveying to her?  Was Jesus assisting the people at the wedding in becoming intoxicated by creating wine from water?  How does the first miracle of Jesus very interestingly compare and contrast to the first miracle of Moses, turning water to blood?  How do the two "first" miracles point to the difference in "Law" and "Grace"?  How does the Lord's miracle serve as a prophetic illustration of JOY coming on "the third day"?  What is the symbolic significance of the six clay waterpots which were filled to the brim?  How is the Gospel portrayed in this first CREATIVE miracle of turning water into wine?   AN EXTREMELY EYE-OPENING LESSON EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS STORY!

Having discussed how Heaven's dove fell (Christ's baptism-lesson 11) and how Hell's devil failed (Christ's temptation-lesson 12), we turn in this lesson to a look at how Earth's disciples followed!  After having seen to it that His Son was publicly identified to Israel, which John the Baptist did when he identified Christ as "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29), God began to see to it that His Son was privately identified as Lord to individual Israelites.  The Baptist had the special privilege of identifying Jesus (John 1:36) to the first two of the Twelve disciples (Peter and John).  They, in turn, brought two more men who became disciples (their respective brothers, Andrew and James), and two others (Philip and Nathanael) followed shortly after.

Not only do we have fun discussing each of these six men in this lesson, but we also lean a lot about how to witness of Christ to people using different methods, including how to witness to a skeptic!  We take an interesting look into how the Lord first testified to the reality of Old Testament prophetic types (pictures) of Himself as He declared to Nathanael that He is the fulfillment of Jacob's ladder!  He is the ONE WAY into Heaven!  He IS "The Ladder Lord" (see Genesis Lesson 14 on this podcast). 

Whereas the baptism of Christ declared His royalty, the temptation of Christ demonstrated His royalty!  It was in a desolate and dangerous wilderness that Jesus first demonstrated His power over evil, for it was there He faced the full force of Satan's masterful deception and yet remained untainted from the battle!  By His victory over temptation (even in a weakened Human condition), He accredited Himself worthy to both redeem mankind as sinless Saviour and reign over the Kingdom His Father would give Him.  He also gave His followers (us) His example on how to be victorious over temptation!

We discuss an important distinction between the doctrine of peccability and the doctrine of impeccability in this lesson.  These doctrines address the question, "Could the Son of God be tempted as men are tempted and could He have sinned as men sin?  The doctrine of peccability declares He could have sinned, while the doctrine of impeccability says no, He could NOT have sinned.  Did you know a very extensive and heated controversy about this issue took place in Church history during the Middle Ages?  Yet, most people today have never heard of this debate, nor can they support which one of the two doctrines they believe!  LEARN about this issue and a lot more very rich information in this study!

This is the lesson in which we come to the event that launched the Lord's earthly ministry - His water baptism.  He was 30 years old.  He had supported His widowed mother as the son of His earthly, step-father until His brothers were able to assume responsibility and His sisters were likely married.  He was ready to fulfill His obligations to the whole world as the Son of His heavenly Father!  After thousands of years of anticipation, the Redeemer-King appeared before His faithful forerunner, John the Baptist, for His "coronation" or "commissioning" service.

Why did the Baptist protest baptizing Jesus?  Why, in fact, did Jesus need to baptized at all?  Wasn't John's baptism a baptism of repentance and confession of sin?  Jesus was sinless!  Does this indicate a "consciousness of sin" on Jesus' part, as liberal theologians proclaim?

What are the various types of baptisms mentioned in Scripture?  You may be surprised how many there are!  We discuss the one time in Scripture the Holy Spirit was represented as a dove, and what it signified.  We also discuss the first of three times in the New Testament God the Father spoke from Heaven His approval of His Beloved Son.  All three Members of the Trinity were involved in this important event!

In this second part of a two-part study entitled, we look at a "sermon" given by the fearless, faithful, Spirit-filled John the Baptist in which he denounced the self-righteous, hypocritical religious rulers who came to the Jordan River to "check him out".  He immediately confronted them for the fake religionists they were, calling them a "generation of vipers"!  He did not pull any punches.  He did not fear powerful men; he feared all-powerful God!  He demanded their true repentance, which would be evidenced if they would actually produce some good "fruit," and he seriously cautioned them about their foolish reliance on salvation simply because they were descendants of Abraham.

Thousands of people (like those First Century religious rulers) have lived and died under similar, blind delusion, thinking because they are connected with some particular religion, church denomination, nationality, or godly heritage they are guaranteed a place in Heaven.  This is why it absolutely critical for a person to understand that salvation is solely based on one's personal (individual) relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ - and not to anything or anyone else.  "Ye must be born again" (John 3:3)!!

Before getting into a discussion of the bold Baptist, we discuss those he confronted and described as "fruitless vipers".  We learn of the various religious and political sects of Israel at the time of Christ.  That may sound "boring" to some, but it is actually quite interesting, as well as needful to know because it helps us better understand their various interactions with Christ, Rome, and with one another.  The two political sects were the Herodians and the Zealots (at least one of the Lord's Apostles was a former Zealot). 

We also discuss the three main religious sects: Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes.   This is not just about the past, for there is a world full of religious people just like them today!  A third collective group we look at in this study is the judicial "branch" of Jewish government (under Rome, of course), the powerful Sanhedrin Council. 

Just think of this fact:  if the Romans allowed the Sanhedrin to have jurisdiction over the death penalty, Jesus would not have been crucified.  He would have been stoned to death.  If that was the case, He would not have fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and types about the manner of suffering and death the Messiah would face (being pierced; lifted up like the brazen serpent on the pole in the wilderness, etc.).  If Jesus did not fulfill even one Messianic prophecy dealing with His First Coming, He would have disqualified to be the Saviour of the world.  But, don't worry.  He fulfilled every one of them, literally - to the very jot and tittle.

 

In ancient times, it was common for a herald to precede the arrival of a reigning king.  Along with a contingent of royal servants, the herald would make sure the roadways were smooth and as straight as possible, that obstacles were removed, and roads were safe from highway robbers and wild animals.  As the herald inspected the roads, he was also busy proclaiming to the people of the land that king was soon coming, and all the preparations should be made ready for him.  Thus, the royal herald's duty was twofold: (1) to proclaim the coming king, and (2) to prepare his way.  This was the twofold duty of John the Baptist, who "paved the way" spiritually for the King of kings, Jesus Christ, by attempting to remove obstructions of sin in the peoples' hearts.

Why was the Baptist the greatest Old Testament person born of a woman (eliminates Adam) to ever live, according the Christ?  What was about him that earned that accolade?

In this lesson, we learn about Biblical repentance; we learn about the difference between a baptism of righteousness and a baptism of repentance; we learn about the personality and humility of John, his clothing, his diet, his dedication to his commission, and his Nazarite vow - much to learn about the voice crying in the desert to prepare the way for the Sovereign Saviour. 

When we consider how little is found in the Bible about the childhood and the pre-ministerial life of the Lord Jesus, we discover how true is the statement that God did not write Scripture to satisfy man's curiosity; He wrote it to sanctify his conduct!  Though there is a lot of speculation (and a great deal of misinformation) about the years between Christ's infancy and the beginning of His public ministry "about thirty years of age" (Luke 3:23), the Bible is almost completely silent.  

In this lesson, we will discuss - from the few verses of God' Word about each stage of Christ's early life (1) Jesus the Child, (2) Jesus the Adolescent, (3) Jesus the Young Man, and (4) Jesus the Carpenter.

Although Jesus was God and could have easily by-passed all normal growth processes, He willingly subjected Himself to live in a human body so as to empathize with the whole human experience.  He did not simply appear in the world as an infant with an adult mind.  He did not come physically as a grown man  He was the very Word of God, but He had to learn to speak like we all do.  His wisdom and knowledge came to Him by degrees (though greatly accelerated because of His sinless nature).  

Who were Jesus' brothers?  Did He have sisters?  How does the fact that He had half-siblings disprove the perpetual virginity theory about Mary?  When do we first know that Jesus knew His mission?  What kind of father was Joseph and when did he disappear from the scene?  How appropriate is it that the Creator-Carpenter of the Universe chose to be a Carpenter is His pre-ministerial life?  

We note that Jesus did not fall victim to fleshly impatience by striving to obtain honor and glory on His own or for His own glory.  He waited on His heavenly Father's timing as He spent 30 preparation years laboring diligently at His trade (building things) and in the Word (of which He is both Author and Finisher)!  Great, very informative lesson about a lot of things Christians don't normally think about with regard to our Saviour.

                                           

Find how some additional Old Testament prophecies came to light and came to fulfillment as the young Christ Child was moved around by the divine hand of His heavenly Father.  In this lesson, "Prewritten Pathways," we discuss two journeys made by Joseph and Mary during the early childhood years of Jesus.  First, there was their journey from Bethlehem to Egypt (at the direction of a God through a messenger angel to escape the wrath of Herod), and then there was their journey (again at God's direction after the death of Herod) from Egypt to Nazareth.

Learn how these divinely orchestrated movements of Jesus fulfilled three Old Testament propecies: Hosea 11:1 (out of Egypt God would call His Son), Jeremiah 31:15 (Rachel would weep over a massacre of infants, which occurred with Herod's "Slaughter of the Innocents"), and Isaiah 11:1 (the coming Messiah would be called a Nazarene).  

It always perplexed the Old Testament scholars how one Messiah could fulfill all three Messianic prophecies concerning His "origin"!  How could He be born in Bethlehem Ephrata (Micah 5:2), be called by God "out of Egypt" (Hosea 11:1), and be called a Nazarene, meaning from Nazareth (Isaiah 11:1)?  Well, in Jesus Christ all three prophecies were fulfilled!  What other possible "would-be" Messianic candidate would ever be able to fulfill them?  Yet, the Jews still await a messiah other than Jesus.  

In this lesson, we discuss three events in the life of the Lord that took place shortly after His birth: 1.  His circumcision at 8 days of age, 2. His presentation in the Temple at 40 days of age (His first visit there) for the ritual of cleansing Mary and redeeming Him, her firstborn son, from priestly service (although the Bible never says Mary and Joseph paid the five shekels to redeem Baby Jesus from the priesthood - fascinating!).  3.  The third event of Jesus' Infanthood discussed in this lesson is the public recognition He was given by the lips of two extremely godly and very elderly servants of God - one a man (Simeon),the other a woman (Anna).  This lesson is worth listening to just to learn about these two amazing people who were part of the small, but faithful remnant of true Israel.  Out of the mouths of two witnesses, the young Jesus was proclaimed in the Temple to be "the Lord's Christ," "the Consolation of Israel," and the long awaited Messiah!  

 

This second half of Lesson 6 is on "Three Responses to Jesus" at the time He was about 2 years of age.  Those responses were from the Wise Men, Herod the Great, and Israel's chief priests.  The Wise Men, who were not even Jewish, traveled a very long distance (likely from the area of ancient Southern Babylonia), carrying gifts fit for a King in order to adore the young Christ Child.  Herod, the wicked, murderous, usurper Idumean "king" of Israel, was heavily agitated when he heard the news of the Christ's arrival.  Israel's chief priests, who should have been very excited to learn about the star out of Jacob that led the elite Gentile Magi to seek out the Christ, were so utterly apathetic they didn't even travel a few miles to Bethlehem to check it out!

Did you know that 700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah (60:3, 6, 9) predicted the arrival of Gentiles on camels coming to the light of the Lord, bearing gifts of gold and frankincense?  Learn in this study why there is no mention of myrrh in that prophecy!  Find out how Balaam, the "prophet for profit," is part of the narrative regarding the Wise Men.  Find out how the extraordinary Daniel was also involved in the story of the Magi from the East!  

Listen to this message, and you will have much additional information to share with your family this Christmas about the early life of Christ (of course, you don't have to wait for Christmas, but you may have to rearrange your Nativity sets - the Wise Men weren't there at His birth).  

This lesson is about the births of two of the greatest men ever born: John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.  Of course, the first man rightly understood he was not worthy to loosen the shoe latches of the Second.  Nonetheless, John was an extraordinary man; the bold forerunner to the long-awaited Messiah; the voice crying in the wilderness to introduce Israel to the Lamb of God Who came to take away the sins of the world.  Learn the details about John's birth and of his priestly father's inspired praises and prophecies (once he was "unmuted"). 

In this important lesson, we also discuss the birth of "the Lamb of God"!  Perhaps you think there is not much new you could hear about "the Christmas Story," but have you ever considered how divinely orchestrated all the various circumstances had to be for Christ's birth to be in Bethlehem (not Nazareth)?  To bring about just that one fulfillment, God set "the whole world" in motion!  For one thing, He "inspired" Herod the Great to choose the Roman method of taxation rather than the Jewish method.  That one decision, if different, would have disqualified to be the True Messiah! 

 

YOU CANNOT STUDY THE DETAILS OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AND DENY WHO HE IS!

 

Mankind has aways desired to have a "god" who is both visible and tangible, which is why idolatry has been expressed by men of all cultures throughout history.  Even devout Job expressed a desire to see the One he worshipped (Job 23:8, 9).  The Divine answer to this universal longing is the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Godhead, Christ Jesus.

In this lesson, we look at the the divine announcements regarding the marvelous event of the great Creator entering the very world He created to dwell among us as a Man!  The first two divine announcements were made to a Jewish priest named Zacharias (see Lesson 3) and a virgin Jewish girl named Mary (in the direct bloodline of King David).  The mysterious "Seed" of Genesis 3:15 was finally to be understood, as were Isaiah 7:14 ("a virgin shall conceive") and Jeremiah 31:22 ("a woman shall compass a Man")!

The third announcement was to Joseph (in the direct royal-line of David), betrothed to Mary.  Learn about this wonderful man God chose to be the human step-father of His Eternal Son (talk about a privilege and heavy-duty responsibility)! 

Among other fascinating truths, find why the two genealogical records of Christ (Matthew and Luke) demonstrate He is the only Messianic Candidate Who circumvented the Jeconian Curse of Jeremiah 22:30.  Learn of the five women in His ancestral lineage, as well as the God-given announcement that broke a 400-year silence from Heaven! 

 

John's gospel prologue (1:1-5) aimed at refuting Gnosticism (the denial of Christ's deity).  These first five verses are a literary gem and the best capsule statement of Christ's eternal Deity found anywhere.  Misunderstanding the doctrinal truths of these verses results in a flawed, deficient understanding of Who Jesus is, which affects one's eternal destiny.  Serious! 

Christ's life is more worth knowing than your own!   

 

Luke's gospel begins with the Greek physician and meticulous historian giving Theophilus (and all "lovers of God") the eye-witness sources he used for his God-inspired account of Christ's life.  Luke traveled extensively with Paul and Silas; he spent time with Mark, who was very close to Peter.  He associated with Barnabas, Philip the evangelist, Agabus the prophet, Mnason the disciple, and he likely received his famous birth account (chapter 2) directly from the Lord's mother, Mary!  You can be confident that Luke did his research in preparing his account of Christ's life.  You can also be confident that it is accurate because the Holy Spirit guided Luke's every word.

If there is one Person Who has ever lived Whose life is well worth knowing - intellectually AND internally (mind and heart), it is the pre-life (Eternity Past), the earthly life (Incarnation), and the post-life (Resurrection/Ascension/Eternal Reign) of the Lord Jesus.

This first lesson of an 8-volumed, harmonized (chronological) study of Christ through all 4 gospels explains WHY His life is well worth studying!  In short, He is Who He claimed to be, the Creator and Redeemer of man!  Included in this lesson: Jewish, Roman, and Christian documentation that proves the historicity of the God-man.  There is no other chronological study of all 4 gospel accounts as in-depth as this one!  

 

Are there "hidden" messages in the Tabernacle?  Yes!  It is full of wonderful secrets and treasures - such that even Indiana Jones would be shocked to discover (and, hopefully) become a believer in Christ)!

See "the Way," and "the Truth," and "the Life" in the three Tabernacle "entrances"!  See Christ in the gold-covered Acacia wood of the Tabernacle Proper!  See the Trinity in the three main parts of the Tabernacle Proper and find out where Their three crowns are located within that Holy Place!  Discover the interesting connection with the "pathway" of the Tabernacle (from the Eastern Gate entrance to the Holy of Holies) and the "path" of salvation.  

Find out the significance of the names of Moses' two God-chosen, God-gifted construction foremen and how they together pictured Christ Jesus.  Learn why, for the first and only time in the long wilderness journey of Israel, we don't hear her murmuring and complaining!  In fact (other than the shocking golden calf incident), she was unusually obedient, generous, and united!  It was a good time for Israel as she worked together in building "God's House"!

This is a continuation of our Old Testament look at finding the Lord Jesus Christ in the Book of Exodus!  Do NOT think to yourself that Exodus is not a very interesting book of Scripture - or that it is not relevant to us today. Why? Because you would be 100% wrong!  There is so much "of us" in the Israelites wandering in the wilderness of this world that a look at them is like a look in the "mirror"!  Also, there is so much of our Saviour on every page - and in every aspect of of God's "Masterpiece Type" of His Eternal Son, the Tabernacle, you will truly be both surprised and super-blessed.  This study is what you call "rich meat"! 

Why is it important for believers in Christ today to learn about the ancient dwelling place of God's Holy Presence with Israel?  How many different earthly dwelling places (tabernacles; temples) are there if we begin with Eden and end with the Heavenly "Eden"?  How did both Eden and Mount Sinai connect with the Tabernacle?  What clues are found in the Ark of the Covenant to help us know how God could be merciful on law-breakers?  Why is it that Adam was innocent, but not righteous even before the Fall?  What was AMAZINGLY significant about the Israeli encampment around the Tabernacle?  How many times did Moses go up and down Sinai (at 80 years old)?  How long did it take to build the Tabernacle and how does that fact possibly relate to the true birth date of Jesus Christ (for this, you'll need to listen to all three messages)!

There are 50 chapters in Scripture regarding the Tabernacle, its priesthood, its furnishings, its sacrifices, and its significance in regard to Christ and His atonement work on the cross of Calvary.  There are only 2 chapters on the Creation account.  So, do you think the Tabernacle is important to God?  

You will be enriched by this study - EVEN IF you have studied the Tabernacle many times before!  

 

Why did God give the Mosaic Law (beginning with the Ten Commandments) to Israel?  There were some very important reasons given in this study.  What exactly does it mean that Christ brought an end to the Mosaic Law?  What is "the law of Christ"?  Was there law before "The Law"?  Does being free from "The Law" mean a Christian is lawless? 

Did you know Exodus chapters 21 to 23 are full of "case laws" about all manner of subjects, such as the treatment of servants and their rights, about murder and non-lethal violence, about harming pregnant women, about sorcery, sexual perversions, idolatry, false religious practices; restitution, property rights, usury, speaking ill of judges and rulers, giving false testimony, mob rule, partiality, mistreatment of foreigners, widows, and orphans - to name a few.  

Don't judge this study by its title; it is packed with good stuff.

After beholding the magnificent manifestation of Almighty God through both natural and supernatural phenomena on Mount Sinai, while also hearing His thundering, trumpet-blasting voice declare a summation of His moral laws in "The Ten Commandments," the trembling Israelites begged Moses to continue to be their mediator with God so they never had to hear Him speak directly to them again.  God was pleased with their reverential respect for Him, and it was on this very occasion that He gave Moses the famous prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15-18.  The Prophet/Messiah Who would come from among them (the Jewish people) and through Whom God would speak would be like unto Moses.

So, in this lesson from our study on finding types of Christ in the Book of Exodus, we take an in-depth look at all the many ways in which Moses served as the greatest person-type of Jesus in the Bible (even more so than Joseph, who is likewise a strong prophetic-type of the Lord).  You will be utterly surprised, so get your pen to take notes, because you will want to remember what you hear.

"The Ten Commandments" (also known as "The Decalogue," meaning "The Ten Words") is a legal code written simply and concisely, but completely, for they address every moral aspect for human conduct concerning: (1) true faith, (2) true worship, (3) reverence of God, (4) time for God, (5) reverence for authority, (6) reverence for life, (7) purity, (8) property, (9) the tongue, and (10) contentment.   They are conspicuously absent of local or national peculiarities or prejudices, and are as appropriate today as when they were given some 3,500 years ago.

What is the difference between the Code of Hammurabi and "The Ten Commandments"?  Do you know how the famous "Ten Commandments" were first presented to Israel?  Do you know what Israel's initial response to God's presentation of them to her was?  Find the answers to these and many other questions on this subject in this study - you may very well learn new truths about an old subject!

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FASCINATING STUDY!!  Learn how each of Israel's four God-given "Spring Feasts" (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and the Feast of Weeks, aka "Pentecost") presented a prophetic type of a very significant event concerning the First Coming of Christ.  Learn why this lesson is entitled, "Israel's Pentecost"!  Find out the amazing parallels between the great event at Mount Sinai when God "came down" to give Israel the Law (which rabbis declare to be the "birth" of the nation of Israel) and the Day of Pentecost, when God the Holy Spirit "came down" to fill believers in Jesus, and the Church was born.  Did you know both events were accompanied by wind, fire, smoke, and "voices" ("languages")?  Did you know it was 50 days after Israel's Exodus from her bondage in Egypt that she received "The Mosaic Covenant" from God, and it was 50 days after Christ's "Exit from death" (His resurrection) that believers (the new-born Church) received "The New Covenant" from God?

This is a lesson to hear several times - and then share with your family and friends!  God's Word is perfect!

A very good PRACTICAL LESSON for those who are in leadership positions and need to delegate!  Learn a lot about Moses and his relationship with his father-in-law, who was a wise man.  

This is the account of the amazing miracle that occurred near Rephadim at the Rock of Horeb, when God told Moses to use his rod and strike the Rock.  When he obeyed, water came gushing out to save the people of death by thirst.  This is such a beautiful picture type of the Lord Jesus, the Rock, being stricken by the rod of God's wrath against sin for us.  When He was stricken, the Living Water of His Spirit came gushing out for the spiritual benefit of all who accept His free invitation to drink of Him!

Learn some fascinating similarities and differences between the two occasions when Moses got water out of Rocks.  Learn why he was severely punished for his disobedience in striking the second Rock instead of speaking to it!  Why was that Rock business so very serious to God?! Find out what was discovered by a Bible-believing American couple in the early 1990s in Saudi Arabia (northwest of Jabal Magla)!  

Included in this lesson is the account of Israel's first victory in warfare (Moses' arms upheld by Aaron and Hur), but the victory did not belong to her; the victory was the Lord's!  

The most important question about manna is how it so beautifully pictured the Lord Jesus, Who outright declared Himself to be the True Manna from Heaven following His miraculous feeding of the 5,000.  He gave a number of reasons why the miracle of Manna in the wilderness, although great, was inferior to His far greater offer to feast eternally on Him, the True Bread of Life.  Manna was the shadow; He is the Substance.  In this lesson, we dip into a quick study of the Lord's "Bread of Life Sermon" of John 6. 

". . . Taste and see that the Lord is good"!  

The Lord purposedly led Israel to places of need so she would learn to lean, in faith, on Him to supply her needs.  He does the same with us!  He leads us to places of "want" to develop and stretch our faith in His grace, which is sufficient no matter what the need is.  In times of humanly insolvable problems, we can respond in one of two ways:  (1) we can grumble and mumble and play the "blame-game," or (2) we can go to the Lord and ask Him to resolve the situation, resting in the fact that He will do what is best for His children.

In this lesson (and lesson 10b of this series), learn all about "Manna" (also called "the corn of heaven" and "angel's food").  What does the word "manna" mean?  What did manna taste like and look like?  How long did it last?  What was Israel's "Sixth Day Test"?  Why was a pot of it preserved in the Ark of the Covenant - what did it symbolize?  How much fell in order to feed some 2,000,000 people?  What happened to it when the sun rose?  When did it cease to fall in relation to Israel's wilderness journey?  Why did God arrange matters so that the people had to daily and individually stoop down to gather their "omer" of manna.  How much is an "omer"?

What did the Lord do when Israel grumbled about the quail He graciously sent them in the wilderness?  When you find out, you will realize we have a sense of humor because we are made in His image, and He definitely has a sense of humor (even, sometimes, in His chastening)!

A great and practical study from the Book of Exodus and the bitterness of Israel in her early wilderness journey - and God's REMEDY, which is STILL the REMEDY today for bitterness (and every other negative attitude)!

The ten plagues on Egypt were over.  The tenth one, which was the death of all firstborns without lamb's blood brushed on the doorposts of their homes, was "the straw that broke the camel's back".  Pharaoh finally consented to let Israel, God's firstborn "son" (Exodus 4:22), depart from his land to service the Lord.  

Israel heard how they were to henceforth commemorate the original Passover experience with an annual Feast of Passover, as well as a Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 13).  They were never to forget what the Lord did for them in delivering them from their bondage in Egypt!  It was ALL a prophetic picture of the One Who would literally BE the Passover Lamb and Who would literally BE unleavened (without sin) so He could save ALL firstborns who willingly applied His blood to "the doorposts" of their hearts (and, thus, become "second borns" - born again).  

Powerful lesson on PASSAGE and PRAISE!

SO MUCH TYPOLOGY in this lesson regarding the tenth plague on Egypt, which was the death of the firstborns not "covered" by the blood of the Passover lambs.  The tenth and final plague is the apex of Egypt's plagues, for it succeeded in compelling Pharaoh to let Israel go.

Who exactly was "the destroyer," who swept over Egypt, taking the firstborns without "the blood" of the Passover lamb on their doorposts?  You might be surprised!

Even after witnessing the incredible miracle of Aaron's rod/serpent swallowing the rod/serpents of Egypt's wise men, magicians, and sorcerers, Pharaoh did not change his mind about God or His command to let the Hebrew slaves leave Egypt.  Tragically, his sinful pride would bring great sorrow to himself, his people, and his land.  It was time for Almighty God to supernaturally intervene in Egypt's history to make Himself known to her.  In this lesson, we discuss God's first nine plague-judgments on Egypt: (1) water-to-blood, (2) massive frog invasion, (3) dust-to-lice, (4) swarms of flies, (5) a grievous disease on Egypt's livestock, (6) boils on men and beasts, (7) hail and fire, (8) locusts, and (9) a three-day darkness.  A primary purpose for the plagues was divine judgment on Egypt's false "gods".  Although the Egyptians were taught a strong spiritual lesson by the True God, the real beneficiaries of the plague-lessons were the Israelites.  Through them, the Lord demonstrated He is the God of creation!

The title for this lesson, "The Good Serpent," may catch you thinking that is an oxymoron, but there was a good serpent in the Scripture (and it sure wasn't Satan).  This is a fantastic study - one guaranteed to get you realizing how wonderful the Word of God truly is - on so many levels.  This will be an hour worth your time.

Find out why this lesson is given the title, "The Last Straw" (and so much more).  It's so good to know history from God's perspective and not man's!

In this lesson, we discuss the "holy ground" event of Moses' burning bush encounter with "I AM THAT AM I" and his commission to return to Egypt and reassure Israel's elders that the God of their forefathers remembered His covenant promises.  He heard their cries and had come down to deliver them from their bondage.

Very interestingly, there were at least seven specifics presented in the burning bush episode that portray the redemption work of Christ on the cross, and you will be amazed to hear about them.

Also in this study is the really strange account of when the preincarnate Lord held  in a death grip that was only released when Moses' wife Zipporah came to the rescue with a flint knife and circumcised her son (and Moses' son)!  This is one of the most avoided passages of Scripture!  Find out more about why this episode is referred to as "The Bloody Bridegroom"!  It is mysterious and bizarre, but you will certainly learn how seriously the Lord takes His covenants! 

Here is truth to ponder:  what the burning bush did not accomplish in Moses, the bloody bridegroom experience did!

Oh my!  Take off your shoes, for you will enter holy ground with this study!  You will likely also learn a whole lot more about Moses than you knew before . . . better than that, however, will be what you learn about the One Who spoke from the midst of the burning, yet unconsumed bush!

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You have heard the account of young Moses - Pharaoh's infanticide decree for all Hebrew infants to be thrown into the crocodile-infested Nile River, the providential arrival of Pharaoh's own daughter to draw young Moses from that river to raise him as her own, etc., but this presentation will bring the story to life more than any Bible picture book!  

This study of the Living Word Ministry is one of Katherine's favorite!  There is much more in the Book of Exodus than "the surface" story.  There are deep, rich, exciting pictures of Christ throughout the book.   We think you will be amazed what you learn!

 

First lesson from our study on finding the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus in the great second book of the Pentateuch - and He is (as in Genesis) present throughout Exodus!  This first lesson is full of exciting history about how God prepared Israel for her deliverance from bondage in Egypt.

 

In preparing for our study of "Christ in Exodus," we present a jet tour through the Book of Genesis.  Hold onto your hat!

This is one lesson you do not want to miss!  Joseph, in immense emotion, revealed himself to his brothers, and it is one of the most precious, Kleenex-on-hand episodes in Scripture!  Not only is there the beautiful scene of Joseph's Christlike forgiveness of the very brothers who threw him in a pit after stripping him of his robe and selling him for pieces of silver (sound familiar), but there is the heart wrenching, tearful reunion with his younger brother Benjamin and the even more emotional scene when he is reunited with his father Jacob (Israel), who thought his dearly beloved son was long dead!

This lesson includes the amazing death-bed prophecies Jacob proclaimed to his 12 sons, the most critical of which is the prophecy to Judah, for it concerned the coming Messiah, called "Shiloh" ("He to Whom the scepter belongs").  

Find out five ways in which Judah served as a type of Christ, and 9 more ways (a total of 82) Joseph was an extraordinary prophetic-type of the Lord Jesus.

One day, in the divinely planned parallel to the marvelous true story of Joseph's emotional reunion with his brothers, there will be another scene like it - except infinitely more wonderful and emotional.  That coming scene will involve the Fulfiller of all Joseph typified, the spiritual Saviour of Israel and the world, the Source of the True Bread of Life; the One Who went the great distance to call His wandering brothers back to the Father!  Although despised, envied, mocked, sold for mere pieces of silver, stripped of His robe, and thrown into a pit of death by His own, the Lord Jesus (like Joseph) will reveal His identity at His Second Coming.  At last, Israel will repent, bow before Him, and there will be reconciliation and forgiveness between Christ and His brethren, the Jews!

The life of Joseph expands over 14 chapters of the first book of Scripture, which means God must have serious reasons for devoting so much space and detail to one man's life.  He does, and one reason is to highlight divine providence, which is abundantly manifested in Joseph's life, from beginning to end.  Another purpose is God's use of Joseph as a prophetic type of the Lord Jesus and His two advents.  Joseph's early years of "toil and affliction" picture the sufferings and rejection of Christ at His First Coming.  Joseph's later years of "forgetting and fruitfulness" (which we begin to look at in this lesson) picture the exaltation and glory of Christ at His Second Coming.

One thing we learn from Joseph (among so many) is that a key word for a believer in the midst of suffering is not escape, but endurance!  Timing is in the hands of Almighty God!  It was the Lord Who predetermined and orchestrated both the day Joseph's brothers cast him in a pit and the day the butler finally remembered him, and he went straight from the prison to the palace!  

Remember, joy cometh in the morning!

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.