Covenants and Kingdoms

Joseph's brothers threw him in a pit and left him for dead. Two decades later the tables had turned, and they traveled all the way to Egypt to beg their brother to help them avoid starvation. But the catch is, they didn't have a clue it was Joseph. Nathan and Brad break down Genesis chapter 42, Joseph's emotions when he sees the brothers who abandoned him to be sold as a slave, his trickery to frame them for theft, and shuffling them between an Egyptian prison and their home in Canaan. Watch along to see what all we uncover in the original Hebrew languages, and what meanings we can get from the ancient story.----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Brad walk through Genesis 41, one of the most dramatic turning points in the entire Joseph narrative. After thirteen long years of slavery and prison, Pharaoh has two troubling dreams that none of Egypt’s professional magicians or wise men can interpret. Then the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph. Joseph is brought up from the pit, shaves, changes his clothes, and stands before the most powerful man in the ancient world. His first words set the tone for everything that follows: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” What follows is pure divine revelation, seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe famine, and a wise, far-reaching plan that saves Egypt and the surrounding nations. The hosts explore Joseph’s sudden exaltation (the signet ring, fine linen, gold chain, second chariot, new Egyptian name, and marriage into the priestly aristocracy), the birth of Manasseh and Ephraim, and the stunning way God uses one Hebrew slave to fulfill the Abrahamic promise that all the families of the earth will be blessed. From the depths of the dungeon to the heights of power, Genesis 41 shows that the wheel may turn, but it is Yahweh who rules. Join us as we continue studying Biblical covenants and ancient kingdoms!----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

In our 35th episode diving into every detail of Genesis and it's historical context, Nathan and Brad dig into Genesis 40, where Joseph interprets the dreams of his fellow prisoners.

The first has his dream interpreted, and Joseph tells of a future as bright as the lights in our podcast studio. The second hears how great this sounds, and asks Joseph to interpret his also, assuming his similar dream will have a similar interpretation.

Listen along and see what happens! Even if you've heard this story all your life, Nathan has some scriptural, cultural, and linguistic context to bring more clarity to the passage.

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We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order!

Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms

https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms

https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/

Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

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 imprisonment. Yet through it all, the narrator repeats the key refrain four times: “The Lord was with Joseph.” Even in the house of an Egyptian official and later in prison, God’s presence, favor, and blessing remain. This episode explores covenant faithfulness in enemy territory, the suffering of the righteous, the powerful “garment motif,” and how God sovereignly uses descent for future ascent. Joseph’s story becomes a profound model for believers facing temptation, false accusation, and hidden seasons: God is still with us. If you’ve ever been misunderstood, falsely accused, or felt forgotten in a difficult place, this chapter (and episode) will encourage you deeply. Join us as we continue studying Biblical covenants and ancient kingdoms!----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

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 against God?” The hosts contrast Joseph’s story with the ancient tale of Boethius and Lady Philosophy, highlighting how Joseph’s quiet integrity in a foreign land stands in stark contrast to pagan virtue. Even after false accusation and imprisonment, the phrase was repeated again and again: “The Lord was with Joseph.” They also explore the broader Egyptian religious and historical context, from creation myths and the divine status of Pharaoh to the theological weight of Joseph’s presence in enemy territory. This chapter becomes a masterclass in divine providence, God is sovereign even in the house of a powerful Egyptian and in the depths of prison. If you’ve ever felt forgotten, falsely accused, or stuck in a season of hidden faithfulness, this episode will strengthen your hope. God sees. God is with you. And the wheel of fortune is not the final ruler. Join us as we continue studying Biblical covenants and ancient kingdoms! ----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

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 hosts walk through a sweeping (yet accessible) overview of Egyptian history, from the unification of the Two Lands and the Pyramid Age, through the classical Middle Kingdom, to the rise and fall of the Hyksos, setting the cultural and historical stage for the patriarchal narratives. Then they turn to Joseph: elevated in Potiphar’s house, relentlessly pursued by his master’s wife, falsely accused, and thrown into pris, only for the refrain to ring true again and again: “The Lord was with Joseph.” This episode beautifully illustrates how God’s providence operates even in the midst of betrayal, false accusation, and apparent ruin. Joseph’s integrity stands in sharp contrast to the pagan world around him, pointing forward to the greater faithfulness we see in Christ. If you love seeing how history, culture, and Scripture illuminate each other, this one’s for you!----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

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 promises to Tamar, and her bold, risky action to preserve the seed of promise. Through deception, a goat, and Judah’s own signet ring and staff, we see divine providence working through human sin and failure. Brad and Nathan explore the deep theological layers—covenantal righteousness (tsedeq), the preservation of the royal line through Perez, and how this “scandalous” chapter foreshadows Jesus in the genealogy of Matthew 1. This is Genesis 38 at its fullest: not just an awkward family story, but a profound testimony that God advances His covenant through flawed people and unexpected instruments. If you’ve ever wondered how God can use our mess, this episode is for you. Join us as we continue studying Biblical covenants and ancient kingdoms!----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

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 through human sin, cosmic geography, and how Joseph’s story becomes a powerful type pointing to Jesus: the beloved son, rejected, “buried” in a pit, and later exalted to save his people. They also connect it to the larger covenant story and the coming Exodus.

If you’ve ever wondered how God uses even the messiest family drama for His purposes, this episode is for you. Jump in and study Biblical covenants and ancient kingdoms with us!

----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/

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: put away the foreign gods, purify yourselves, change your garments. But before Jacob does any of it, God calls first.

This chapter is one of the most theologically loaded in Genesis, a covenant renewal ceremony hiding in plain sight, a fulfillment of a 20-year-old vow, and a preview of the pattern that will define Israel's entire relationship with Yahweh for centuries to come. From Hosea to Isaiah to Paul, the echoes of Bethel never quite go away.

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We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order!

Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms

https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms

https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/

Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/

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 assaulted and defiled her. This was a grotesque crime that warranted a violent response from her father, but Jacob seemingly does nothing. His sons were outraged, and decided to continue their family's legacy of deceit and destroy and plunder the entire city. Was Jacob justified in having no response? Were his sons justified in mass murder and kidnapping? There is so much more to this story than what is on the surface. Join us as we dig in and uncover what we can.----------------------------------------------------------------------We are sponsored by Baba Java Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Birmingham, AL. Visit babajavacoffee.com and use code "covenants" for 10% off your order! Support us on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes and exclusive "Deeper Waters" content! patreon.com/covenantsandkingdoms https://linktr.ee/covenantsandkingdoms https://www.covenantsandkingdoms.com/ Scripture reading provided by Laurie Mullinax at https://www.mullinaxvo.com/