In the second movement of Exodus, Moses walks straight into God’s fiery presence on Mount Sinai without fear. But by the end of the scroll, he can’t enter God’s presence. What changed? Right after confirming their covenant with Yahweh, Israel turns around and commits idolatry by making and worshiping a golden calf. It’s a choice that ruptures their relationship with Yahweh and even their connection to Moses. In this episode, join Jon and Tim as they explore the final portion of the third movement of Exodus.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:00)Part two (12:00-28:45)Part three (28:45-51:42)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“An Open Letter to Whoever’s Listening” by Beautiful Eulogy“Hello From Portland” by Beautiful EulogyShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Frank Garza. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Why does God seem to care so much about the furniture within the tabernacle? The instructions for the tabernacle furniture are about far more than aesthetics. They were means of dealing with Israel’s moral brokenness, they served as reminders of Eden, and they were designed to form Israel into a people of perpetual surrender. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they continue to trace the theme of the temple in the third movement of Exodus.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-16:45)Part two (16:45-39:30)Part three (39:30-48:00)Part four (48:00-1:00:30)Referenced ResourcesThe Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-Malachi, David A. DorseyJacob MilgromInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Midsummer” by Broke In Summer“Day and Night” by Aiguille“Movement” by FeltyShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

You may have heard that God’s holiness keeps him from getting close to sinful humanity, but in the Bible we see God regularly doing the opposite, drawing near to dwell with human beings. We encounter this reality again and again, including in a surprising place—the tabernacle blueprints. In this episode, join Jon and Tim as they walk through the opening act of the third movement of Exodus and explore the relationship between the tabernacle, the garden of Eden, unconditional love, and eternal life.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-13:00)Part two (13:00-45:45)Part three (45:45-1:03:30)Part four (1:03:30-1:16:12)Referenced ResourcesPrayer of Saint IgnatiusInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Covet” by Beautiful Eulogy“Beautiful Eulogy” by Beautiful Eulogy“Come Alive” by Beautiful EulogyShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Frank Garza. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

We often think of the ten commandments as a list of dos and don’ts—the things you need to know to make God happy. But is that what they’re really about? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they take a deep dive into the ten commandments, and find out why they’re far less about simulating moral perfection than they are about preserving proper worship of Yahweh and the shared dignity of humans as his image bearers.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:00)Part two (11:00-28:50)Part three (28:50-1:02:00)Part four (1:02:00-1:10:11)Referenced ResourcesBearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Carmen Joy ImesCowboy Ten CommandmentsInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Evening Flight” by Sam Stewart“Long Lost Friend” by Sam Stewart“Unidentified Lights” by Sam StewartShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Frank Garza. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Mount Sinai is the famous spot where Yahweh gives Moses the ten commandments—and the location where most of Exodus, all of Leviticus, and the first ten chapters of Numbers take place. When Israel first arrives at Sinai, they fail yet another test and try to get Moses to pass it for them. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they explore Yahweh’s fiery presence, the test at Sinai, and the question of Israel’s national identity: will they be the kingdom of priests Yahweh intends?View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:30)Part two (11:30-21:30)Part three (21:30-43:00)Part four (43:00-1:02:37)Referenced ResourcesThe Pentateuch as Narrative: A Biblical-Theological Commentary, John H. SailhamerInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Intermission” by Sam Stewart“That Happy Scene in Stranger Things” by Sam Stewart“Unidentified Lights” by Sam StewartShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Frank Garza. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder.

The nation of Israel seems to go from one life-threatening situation to another in the Exodus scroll. From slavery in Egypt to being cornered between a hostile army and a vast body of water, Israel’s God has delivered them from everything so far. Now in the wilderness, they face a series of three tests. Will they trust Yahweh to deliver them again? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore Israel’s testing in the wilderness.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-9:05)Part two (9:05-25:45)Part three (25:45-44:10)Part four (44:10-55:30)Part five (55:30-1:11:21)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTSBeneath Your Waves by Sleepy FishShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Nobody likes tests. But the test is a recurring pattern in the biblical story for how God relates to his chosen ones. So are humans just lab rats in a divine experiment, or is there something else going on? Join Tim and Jon as they talk about the theme of the test and the famous account of Israel crossing the Sea of Reeds, as we dive into the second movement of the Exodus scroll.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-14:30)Part two (14:30-20:25)Part three (20:25-33:30)Part four (33:30-49:50)Part five (49:50-1:02:37)Referenced ResourcesDictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series), T. Desmond Alexander and David W. BakerBernard F. BattoInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTSReflection by SwørnShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The ten plagues––they’re fascinating, they’re famous, and they sometimes seem overly harsh. Where do they fit in the story of the Bible and the process of God revealing his own name and character? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about the ten plagues, or ten acts of de-creation, in which Yahweh uses his power over creation to undo his own creation in judgment. Listen in as we explore how God’s response to evil reveals another layer of his character.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:15)Part two (11:15-24:15)Part three (24:15-44:45)Part four (44:45-01:00:03)Referenced ResourcesHebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, J. J. StammExodus: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 2) (The New American Commentary), Douglas K. StewartInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS"My Room Becomes The Sea" by Sleepy FishShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt is famous for good reason—a burning bush, a transforming staff, 10 plagues, and the Passover. The exodus is also the story that defines God’s personal name, Yahweh. What does this narrative show us about Yahweh? And why does God care so much that people know his name? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about God’s character revealed through his acts of deliverance and judgment.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:15)Part two (12:15-39:45)Part three (39:45-50:30)Part four (50:30-1:05:45)Referenced ResourcesThe Violence of the Biblical God, L. Daniel HawkThe Sentence in Biblical Hebrew, Francis I. AndersenInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Parkbench Epiphany” by AntimidasShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

God is not a name—it’s a title. In fact, the God of the Bible introduces himself by a specific name in one of the most famous stories in the Bible, the exodus event, when he works through Moses and Aaron to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the first movement of the Exodus scroll and explore the theme of God’s name.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:15)Part two (12:15-23:45)Part three (23:45-46:30)Part four (46:30-1:05:28)Referenced ResourcesThe Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, and Johann Jakob StammInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Field Studies, Vol. 1” by Chillhop MusicShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

How is Jesus the first-born of creation and the “second Adam”? Why are the biblical authors so obsessed with the east? And why can’t Jacob and Esau both be blessed? In this episode, Tim and Jon tackle your questions about the Genesis scroll.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Is Jesus Both the First-born and Chosen Second-Born? (1:27)Why Are the Biblical Authors Obsessed with the East? (7:00)Where Did Cain Find a Wife? (15:55)Who Are the Nephilim? (21:14)Does God Test Abraham Because He Banished Ishmael? (33:05)Why Can’t Jacob and Esau Both Be Blessed? (42:30)Referenced ResourcesGenesis: History, Fiction, or Neither?: Three Views on the Bible’s Earliest Chapters (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology), James K. Hoffmeier, Gordon J. Wenham, Kenton L. Sparks"And You Shall Tell Your Son...": The Concept of the Exodus in the Bible, Yair ZakovitchThe Blessing and the Curse, Jeff S. AndersonInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTSShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

He lays down his life to save a remnant of God’s people, he brings God’s blessing to all nations, he forgives those who tried to kill him, and his name is … Joseph? In this episode, Tim and Jon conclude our study of the Genesis scroll with a final look at the theme of exile. See how Joseph’s story becomes an important part of the Bible’s depiction of the ultimate suffering servant, Jesus the Messiah.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-6:30)Part two (6:30-17:00)Part three (17:00-33:20)Part four (33:20-44:49)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Cocktail Hour” by StrehlowShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Joseph is one of the Bible’s most famous characters, and in the Genesis scroll, his story is a climactic moment in the theme of exile that spans the whole book. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the fourth and final movement of Genesis, a narrative rich with patterns, repeated words, and the presence of God even in the pit.  View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:30)Part two (11:30-24:45)Part three (24:45-41:51)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Directions” by Blue Wednesday X ShopanShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Throughout the story of the Bible, God singles out different people, like Jacob, to be the conduit of his blessing to all humanity. But from birth, Jacob consistently acts more like the snake from the garden of Eden than a righteous chosen one of God. He lies his way into blessings that God had intended for him all along. So what will God do? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the theme of blessing and curse in the life of Jacob.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-17:30)Part two (17:30-28:20)Part three (28:20-45:30)Part four (45:30-1:05:57)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“The Great Escape” by Blue WednesdayShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The word “blessing” brings to mind a variety of images for all of us. But what exactly does it mean when God blesses someone? And where did the curse come from? In this episode, Tim and Jon start exploring the third movement of Genesis, tracing the theme of blessing and curse.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-18:35)Part two (18:35-37:40)Part three (37:40-51:30)Part four (51:30-1:01:42)Referenced ResourcesThe Blessing and the Curse: Trajectories in the Theology of the Old Testament, Jeff S. AndersonInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Endless Beginnings” by Smile High and Teddy RoxpinShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Today would have been our 287th podcast episode. We haven’t missed a single week in seven years! Unfortunately, we won’t be able to release our next episode until a week from now, Monday, February 7th, when we will dive into the third movement of Genesis, focusing on the life of Jacob.This week take the time to explore our catalogue and listen to an episode you haven’t heard before. You can also listen to the podcast in our new app and check out our new interactive podcast feature. As you listen to podcast episodes on the app, you can access additional content (videos, articles, other podcast episodes, books) that relate to that episode as they pop up in real time. You can download the app for Android and iPhone.In preparation for the next theme we’re studying on the podcast, check out our series on Generosity, as well as an interview we shared a number of years ago called God and Money. It’s  the story of two Harvard business grads whose understanding of money and generosity was radically transformed by the Bible.

The family of Abraham is chosen by God. But despite God’s promises to them, they continually act out of greed, division, fear, deception, and lack of trust in Yahweh. How does God respond to this? What will he do to make sure his blessing comes to all nations? Join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they continue tracing the theme of the tree of life in the second movement of Genesis.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-13:50)Part two (13:50-27:45)Part three (27:45-36:30)Part four (36:30-53:45)Part five (53:45-1:05:28)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“We Must Believe in Spring” by Psalm Trees & Guillaume MuschalleShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Blessing, testing, failure, success, God’s plan for the nations—you’ll find all these themes woven through the story of the Bible, often accompanied by … trees? While it might not seem obvious, trees play an important role in the Bible and, notably, in the life of Abraham. In this episode, join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they dive into the second movement of Genesis and trace the theme of trees through the story of Abraham.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-08:25)Part two (08:25-20:26)Part three (20:26-27:28)Part four (27:28-38:00)Part five (38:00-50:20)Referenced ResourcesThe Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus, L. Michael MoralesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Invisible” by Philanthrope and mommyShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

When we think of God’s Spirit, judgment is probably not what comes to mind. But the biblical authors saw God’s Spirit as the one who gave life and took it away—the one who could create, de-create, and recreate. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa follow the theme of God’s Spirit through the second half of the first movement of Genesis.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-10:20)Part two (10:20-29:00)Part three (29:00-35:00)Part four (35:00-43:30)Part five (43:30-end)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Meraki” by Juan RiosShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Why does the author of Genesis make a point to name God’s Spirit in Genesis 1 and 2? In this week’s episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa embark on a new journey for the BibleProject podcast—reading the Bible in thematic movements, starting with a close look at the Holy Spirit’s role in the book of Genesis.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-10:00)Part two (10:00-23:00)Part three (23:00-39:00)Part four (39:00-50:00)Part five (50:00-end)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Wanderlust” by MakzoShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.