Better Than Fiction Bible Podcast

(Genesis 49:29-33) Jacob's life, and his part in the story has come to an end. We reflect on the short, evil, and blessed life of the last Patriarch.

(Genesis 49:27) Is it better to be a Lion or a wolf? That's a question that Benjamin is exploring firsthand. Also, lots of wolf puns.

(Genesis 49:22-26) It's Joseph's turn to be blessed, and here the Jesus imagery becomes more clear than ever.

(Genesis 49:16-17) The End Times, The Antichrist, Charts, Maps, and Speculation. What does Genesis have to do with any of this? Probably more than you think.

The boys are back, and one of them is well rested. These “second string” sons of Jacob don't get much love, but we give them their due in this week's episode.

(Genesis 49:8-12) Judah is the next brother in line to be blessed. His blessing looks forward to Jesus and beyond to the Revelation.

(Genesis 49:1-7) Jacob gathers his Sons and give them...A blessing? A curse? A prophecy? Whatever it is, it will shape the generations of Israel forever.

(Genesis 48) A skipped blessing and a skipped generation. Jacob's actions have far reaching implications for those living the exodus.

(Genesis 48) "The Angel of the Lord" a messenger from God, or something more? We discuss Jacob's prayer and blessing on his grandchildren.

(Genesis 48) Matt has a hot shower and reveals the true depth of our folly.

(Genesis 47: 28-41) Things are getting a little weird here. What the deal with this oath stuff and touching thighs? Remember: It's only weird to us, it makes perfect sense to the original readers of the text. Let's learn about how they would have heard this.

(Genesis 47:13-26) Remember that huge disaster that was the whole reason for the Brothers to go to Egypt? Oh yeah, that one. It's here and there are consequences. Joseph uses his station to shrewdly navigate the famine.

(Genesis 47:7-12) Back in flyover territory, we learn how Jacob views his life and how he views his blessing. Plus a MAJOR disney retraction from Matt.

(Genesis 47 1:12) Let's pause the story to talk about everyone's favorite topic: Politics! But not really. Let's examine how to read the Bible considering the time you live.

(Genesis 47:1-12) Shepards, abominations, callbacks, and foreshadowing. This chapter has it all.

(Genesis 46:28-34) Jacob once again sees the face of his son, and only then does he believe what his sons have told him. We examine the use of face imagery, how it has affected the story so far, and how it will continue to influence it moving forward

Hey, did you know that when the doctor says "You should be good in a few days" that he is probably vastly overestimating your constitution. Trust me Doc, you have no idea how how much of a weenie I am. Anyways, thanks Matt for getting something out in my absence. Hopefully I'll be back next week - Gandalf

(Genesis 46:1-26) Jacob is the first of the Patriarchs to return to Egypt, this time with 70 people rather than Abraham's two.

(Genesis 45:16-28) Happy New Year, Listener! We start off 2025 with the conclusion of Joseph's reconciliation to his Bothers, and we begin the winding down of Jacob's story.

(Genesis 45:1-5) At last Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and in the process paints a picture of the future Messiah

(Genesis 43:18-34) It's rock bottom for the brother as they plead with Joseph for the freedom of Benjamin. Unknowingly, they pass Joseph's final test.

(Genesis 44:1-17) Joseph begins his final test for the brothers, and we look at a inciteful listener comment

(Genesis 43:15-34) The Brothers return to Egypt and pass Joseph's first test. But the Son of the Supplanter has tricks of his own...

(Genesis 43:1-15) It's time to go back to Egypt, and this time Jacob is back to his old tricks

(Genesis 42: 18-38) Once again the sons of Jacob return to their father without a son, and once again a man grieves. This time the tears are ones of relief as Joseph see how God has soften the hearts of his brothers.

(Genesis 42:6-17) Well, well, well, look who has come to Egypt to bow down to Joseph. Joseph may be ready to forgive his brothers, but not before they have to pass a test...

( Genesis 42:1-7) "He feared that harm might happen to him" Afraid of who? We look at family dynamics behind Jacob's actions.

(Genesis 41:41-56) Nathan keeps on getting hit with the long passages to read, but he can take it. Listen to the testimony disguised as a sermon referenced in this episode at http://www.firstbaptistcorinth.org/

(Genesis 41:1-39) Another change in clothes and another change in station. Joseph is right where God needs him to be.

(Genesis 40) That's right another whole chapter. We are dangerously close to finishing Genesis and now we find Joseph in the deepest pit he's been in yet.

Gandalf and Nathan Vanhorn push on into the messy situation of Potiphar's house. Sometimes, a success bring unforeseen consequences.

(Genesis 39:1-6) Joseph is in Egypt, and things are looking up for our man of many colors. I'm sure nothing bad is going to happen.....right?

(Genesis 38) Judah is up to no good back at the ranch, and his daughter-in-law takes full advantage of the situation. In the end, the weak eyes prevail.

(Genesis 38:1-10) Warning! We talk about some scandalous topics today, but only if you hear with the ears of a 21st century westerner. If you listen as a ancient child of Israel, perhaps it's not so strange..

(Genesis 37:12-36) Our man of long sleeves is in the pit physically, while his father is in the pit emotionally. What did early biblical characters believe about the afterlife, if at all?

(Genesis 37:12-36) Joseph's downward spiral begins, Ruben Plots, and God's masterplan takes form.

(Genesis 37:1-11) We finally arrive at the final narrative of Genesis. Brother's jealousy, favoritism, and a fortelling dream.

(Genesis 36) Esau might be one of the most unfairly slandered characters in all of Genesis, we examine exactly what the story says about our favorite hairy man.

(Genesis 35:27-29) God turns what was meant for evil into good, and Isaac get his good ending

(Genesis 35:16-29) A generation is passing, and the new generation is quick to make it's play for power.

(Genesis 35:1-15) Unresolved plot holes, mysteries, and a glimpse of God's plan)

(Genesis 35: 1-15) Jacob and his family stink to the people of the land, so he packs up and leaves. But not before preforming some very important acts that foreshadow future stories.

(Genesis 34:18-31) "It's not what you did son, that angers me so... It's who you did it to."

(Genesis 34:18-23) The episode starts out as a discussion of the actions of Jacob's Sons, but quickly devolves into a debate on the origins of the Ethiopian Eunuch.

(Genesis 34:1-12) You can't really understand the crime that has taken place here unless you first understand how these characters understood the concept of "Nakedness of your Father"

(Genesis 34:1-12) There's wacky, there's crazy, there's ill-advised, and there's foolish. But then, there's outrageous. As we discover, it's a word with strong meaning.

(Genesis 34:1-12) Jacob may be done running from Esau, but his troubles are far from over. A terrible thing is done to his family, and we look at the question of: "Who is to blame?"

(Genesis 33:12-20) For all their wisdom and knowledge, Matt and Nathan demonstrate that they don't know about Biblical geography.

(Genesis 33:12-18) We look back at a curious verse and ponder it's meaning. Is really it true that God hates baby Esau?

(Genesis 33:12-18) When you are traveling through a land named literally after your brother, it helps to have his name to back you up. Too bad Jacob does the exact opposite of that.

(Genesis 33: 4-11) Thing are not going the way Jacob had planned, but in a good way.