Covenants and Kingdoms

Nathan and Brad return to Genesis 39 for one of the most powerful tests of integrity in all of Scripture. Joseph, now overseer of Potiphar’s entire household, faces relentless temptation from his master’s wife. His response is unwavering: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” The hosts unpack Joseph’s daily refusal, his garmentless flight, the false accusation, and his imp...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad continue the Joseph narrative in Genesis 39 with one of the most powerful tests of character in Scripture. Sold into Potiphar’s house, Joseph rises to steward everything his master owns, only to face relentless temptation from Potiphar’s wife. His refusal is rooted not in fear or pride, but in covenant faithfulness: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad step back into the rich world of ancient Egypt before diving into Genesis 39 and the dramatic story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. They begin with a powerful contrast: while Greek tragedy shows a virtuous young man destroyed by false accusation and pride, Joseph’s story reveals something far greater, covenant faithfulness and the unwavering presence of Yahweh. The...

In this powerful episode, Nathan and Brad tackle one of the most surprising and often misunderstood chapters in Genesis: the story of Judah and Tamar. Right in the middle of the Joseph narrative, we get this raw account of family betrayal, covenant failure, and an outsider woman who refuses to let the messianic line die. The hosts unpack Judah’s moral descent after selling Joseph, his broken promi...

Sibling rivalry hits a new level in this episode as Nathan and Brad dive into Genesis 37 and the beginning of the Joseph narrative. From Jacob’s favoritism and Joseph’s colorful coat to the brothers’ jealous plot to kill him and sell him into slavery, we see family dysfunction at its worst, yet God is quietly at work behind the scenes. The hosts explore themes of betrayal, divine providence throug...

After the massacre at Shechem, Jacob's family sits in a foreign land, surrounded by hostile nations, their tents full of plundered goods and foreign idols. The covenant promises of land, seed, and blessing feel like a distant memory. Something has to give. In Episode 29, Nathan and Brad walk through Genesis 35:1-15 and Jacob's long-overdue return to Bethel. It's a moment of reckoning:...

In our 28th episode, Nathan and Brad cover a very sensitive topic from Genesis 34. There are many passages in scripture that you may not want your children to read yet. This episode covers one of those passages, so this is one for them to skip, even though we know they are very big fans of ancient near-eastern studies. While Jacob's daughter Dinah was out in the land, the prince of the land as...

When Jacob last saw Esau, there was deception, theft, and death threats. Jacob spent decades building a life, family, and flocks, but had the strife with his brother hanging over him the entire time. Now Jacob is returning, but how will Esau greet him? We find out in Genesis 33 that Esau comes with an army of men, but is it for battle, protection, or celebration? ----------------------------------...

Jacob and Laban have settled their differences, Laban has gone home, and all Jacob's problems are gone! Well, other than Esau, who Jacob stole everything from, and the whole reason Jacob fled his homeland in the first place. In this episode Nathan and Brad cover Genesis 32, where Jacob gets word that Esau is coming toward him with 400 men (either an army or a big party, we haven't found ou...

We've already covered Laban deceiving Jacob with his daughters, then Jacob turning goats colors to take Laban's livestock, and now Laban is hunting Jacob down to take it all back! Does Laban defeat Jacob in an epic battle? Does Jacob escape with magic tricks and secret tunnels? Tune in as we work through Genesis 31, orders from God, stolen household gods, camel saddles, heaps of stones, but unfort...

Our last two episodes covered how Jacob had been a trickster since birth, then was tricked himself by Laban. Today we cover Genesis 30 where Jacob asks to leave Laban, and comes out with a whole new set of tricks to make sure he gets the best of Laban's flocks. The passage has all kinds of back and forth with stripes, spots, sticks, and water, but what does it all mean? Is it some divine mirac...

Our last episode showed Jacob and his tendency to deceive. He deceived Esau to get the birthright, then deceived his father to get Esau's blessing. In this episode Nathan and Brad show how the tables have turned, and Jacob is the one being deceived! Jacob labors for over half a decade to marry the woman of his dreams, just to be tricked into marrying the wrong sister, and having to work another 7...

Sibling rivalry takes center stage in this episode as Nathan kicks things off with the wild Roman myth of Romulus and Remus, brothers raised by wolves, founding Rome amid betrayal and murder, drawing parallels to Cain and Abel, and setting up the epic clash between Esau and Jacob. We dive into Genesis 25-28, unpacking the twins' birth, Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew, Jacob'...

The first 20 episodes of Covenants & Kingdoms were almost completely about Abraham, over 15 hours of discussion all about one man and his journey. Today, Nathan and Brad are summarizing all their previous conversations to give a simplified version of everything from God calling Abraham, to Abraham fighting clans of giants, to the promise of a son, to Sodom and Gomorrah, and much more. If you m...

Baba Noel is back for another episode to answer the question burning in Brad's mind, is Christmas Pagan? Nathan dips into history not just to see the origins of celebrating Christ's birth, but he delves into every one of our Christmas traditions and their origins. He covers everything from modern ideas from Wes Huff, to Martin Luther and Christmas Trees, to second century discussions about...

This week we have a very special guest from a... Far off land? "Baba Noel" joins us for a special Christmas episode to answer the age old question: What is Jesus' real birthday? Nathan goes back to early Christian cultures, ancient astronomy, and of course scripture to see if he can find the real answer. Join us to see what the final answer is, or if there is one!--------------------...

In part two of our series on righteousness and justice, Nathan and Brad explore the rich Hebrew vocabulary that paints a vivid picture of God's unchanging character. From steadfast love (chesed) to faithfulness (emet), they unpack why these words cluster around righteousness (tsedeq) and justice (mishpat), revealing how God isn't just righteous, He is our righteousness. With southern humor...

Brad and Nathan kick things off with a shocking quote from the Melian Dialogue (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War):“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”That’s the world’s idea of justice. But God gave Abraham a higher standard, before Moses, before Sinai, before any written code. Genesis 26:5 says “Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my stat...

Nathan and Brad unpack the rich narrative of Genesis 24, where Abraham’s trusted servant embarks on a divine mission to find a wife for Isaac. They dive into the quirky oath ritual, the servant’s bold prayer, and God’s providential hand in leading him to Rebekah. Then, in Genesis 26, they explore God’s reaffirmation of the Abrahamic covenant to Isaac, revealing a timeless truth: God’s moral law wa...

Nathan and Brad dive deeper into Genesis 22, tackling the climactic moment of Abraham’s test to sacrifice Isaac. They explore the raw faith, heart-stopping tension, and divine intervention that define this story. From the Angel of the Lord’s pivotal role to the ram in the thicket, they unpack how this narrative points to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Why did God stop Abraham, and what does it mean fo...

Join Nathan and Brad for a gripping dive into Genesis 22, the heart-wrenching story of Abraham’s test to sacrifice his son Isaac. With their Southern charm and theological insight, they unpack this challenging narrative, exploring Abraham’s faith, God’s sovereignty, and the profound foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice. From the cultural context of ancient pagan practices to the hope of eternal lif...

In this episode Nathan and Brad dive into Genesis 18, exploring the mysterious visit of three men to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre. They unpack the theological depth of this passage, revealing how one of these visitors is none other than Yahweh Himself, physically manifested, alongside two angels. Drawing parallels to Ovid’s Metamorphoses and its tale of divine visitors, they discuss how Abraham’s...

In part two of our deep dive into circumcision, Nathan and Brad explore the profound connection between the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 17 and the New Testament sign of baptism. Picking up from the theological foundations laid in part one, they unpack how circumcision, as a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham, points to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Drawing from Colossians 2:9-12, th...

In this captivating episode, Nathan and Brad dive into the ancient practice of circumcision, starting with insights from Herodotus on Egyptian customs and moving into the theological depths of Genesis 17. They explore the Abrahamic covenant, where God establishes circumcision as a sign of His everlasting promise to Abraham and his descendants. Unpacking the tension between God’s eternal covenant a...

In this episode Nathan and Brad delve deeper into Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, drawing connections between its stages of awakening and the Christian call to move from darkness to divine light. Tackling listener comments, they explore the biblical reality of spiritual beings, citing Colossians 1, Hebrews 1, and Psalms to highlight Christ’s supreme authority over all things seen and unseen. Respond...