Once consumed by fear of the rapture, Robyn Miller grew up in a deeply religious home with a pastor father and a mother steeped in end-times theology. Years later, he would go on to co-create the iconic games Myst and Riven — surreal worlds shaped as much by silence and mystery as by imagination. On this episode of Exodus Brothers, Robyn joins the …

The Israelites have been released from their bondage, but have one last hurdle to face. With their backs to the sea and the Egyptian army on their heels, it will take a miracle to save the fledgling nation. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at some of the details surrounding the great miracle that finally broke Israel away from Egypt and s…

In this powerful episode of The Exodus Brothers, Jake and Micah sit down with therapist and former missionary Jenny McGrath to unpack the lasting impact of purity culture and religious shame. Jenny shares her journey from a committed YWAMer and missionary to a licensed mental health counselor, helping others heal from the wounds of spiritual abuse.…

The final plague hits Egypt and Pharaoh finally relents. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at the 10th and final plague...the death of the firstborn. We examine some of the details in the story along with a look into what the aftermath would be for Egypt and Israel. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and revie…

In this episode of Exodus Brothers, Jake and Micah sit down with Isaac Marion—New York Times bestselling author of Warm Bodies—for a deeply introspective conversation about faith, creativity, and identity. Isaac opens up about his early years growing up in fundamentalist Christianity and the process of deconstructing his beliefs. He reflects on wha…

In the previous episode of Bible Backdrop, we looked at plagues 1-3. In this episode, we look at plagues 4-9. What was different about the plague of hail? Why was the plague of darkness the worst of the 9? Why was Pharaoh continually obstinate in not letting the Hebrews go? If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rat…

What were some of the other consequences of the plagues of Egypt? Why, after witnessing these miracles, does Pharaoh continue to harden his heart? And what is God showing Israel through these plagues? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we start to look at the first 3 of the 10 plagues of Egypt. We discover how they match to a different Egyptian god…

Welcome to today’s thought-provoking episode of Exodus Brothers, where hosts Jake and Micah Knapp sit down with Justin from Deconstruction Zone, a seminary graduate with a Master of Divinity degree and expertise in Hebrew. Together, they explore the often misunderstood concept of prophecy and its role in the Old Testament. With a focus on context a…

Welcome to today’s episode of Exodus Brothers, where hosts Micah Knapp and Jake Knapp share their journey of leaving behind rigid religious ideology and finding a new foundation for meaning, morality, and healing. In this episode, we dive into the deeply personal and often difficult process of deconstructing a deeply ingrained belief system. The Kn…

In the latest episode of Bible Backdrop, we continue our series on the History of Israel looking at Moses' return to Egypt. What events led him there? How did he respond to God's calling? Did God really almost kill him? After 40 years of living in the wilderness and tending his father in law's sheep, Moses is called by God to talk to Pharaoh to let…

Welcome to today's episode of Exodus Brothers. Join Micah Knapp and Jake Knapp as they delve into the intriguing world of biblical interpretation. In this episode, we explore the significance of understanding the Bible beyond its literal narrative, diving into the necessity of considering its historical and cultural context. The discussion highligh…

Welcome to Exodus Brothers, a thought-provoking podcast where Micah Knapp and Jake Knapp delve into their personal journey from growing up within evangelical Christianity to unraveling those beliefs and seeking healing. In this three-part series, they candidly share their experiences, from life within a close-knit religious community to the persona…

Exodus is the story of God redeeming his chosen people, Israel. After settling in Egypt, the people multiply and a nervous Pharaoh starts giving orders to try and stem this exploding population. In this time of death and darkness, a mother has a child whom she willingly gives up in the hopes that he will be saved. The child, Moses, is rescued but t…

This is it...the ultimate moment in the book of Genesis. Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers and we see the fallout from that event. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, Joseph is reunited with his brothers and then, later, with his father who he has not seen for over 20 years. All the families move and are settled in the land of Goshen. W…

In Genesis 43 and 44, Joseph sees his older brothers again and now they've brought Benjamin. Joseph is overwhelmed, but tests his brothers to see if they have really changed. How will they react? Also, why didn't the Egyptians eat with the Hebrews? Why did Joseph use his silver cup to trick them? All of this and more is covered in the latest episod…

In today's episode of Bible Backdrop, the famine has hit and Jacob's sons are forced to go to Egypt to buy grain. There they come face to face with the man in charge of selling the grain...the grand vizier...the man second only to Pharaoh. Joseph. But it's not just Joseph...they are face to face with their sin and it's consequences. And those conse…

We are introduced to the land of Egypt in the Joseph story, but aren't given much context. What was their history, culture and economy like? What did they eat and how did they live? In this Extra episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at this and other things to see what Egypt looked like during the time of Joseph. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, p…

In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we pick up again with Joseph. He is sold as a slave to Potiphar and then, through a false accusation, put into prison. However, it's here that he will have contact with Pharaoh and ultimately save both Egypt and Israel. As we continue the narrative, we answer a few questions. Who was Potiphar? Why was his wife so …

In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we start the narrative of Joseph and his sale to the Ishmaelites. Then we talk about a side story with Judah and about how that fits into the Joseph narrative. Why was Joseph sold so cheaply? What was Reuben's motive to rescue Joseph? What does the Bible include the story about Judah in the middle of the Joseph na…

The Bible talks often about the Canaanites, especially in the book of Genesis. We get a glimpse of their culture through the stories that are told and in archaeology. What was their economy like? What gods did they worship? Why was it so important for Israel to not absorb their culture? In this Extra episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at Canaanite …

Jacob, the patriarch who's name becomes Israel, has a history of not being fully obedient and running a very dysfunctional family. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we see Jacob leave Laban, wrestle with God, reunite with Esau, not follow God's directions and then have his son's slaughter a Canaanite city. Jacob's story is one of constant failure,…

As we prepare for Easter, we often think about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. But just how horrible was crucifixion? How did it affect the body of the person being crucified? What did Jesus go through before and during his time on the cross? In this Extra episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at some of the science and biology behind the crucifi…

The story of the birth of Israel continues with Isaac and his twin sons, Jacob and Esau. How did the older son come to serve the younger? How does Jacob live up to his name? Why was Esau rejected for the covenantal blessing? How was Jacob deceived into marrying the wrong sister? This episode of Bible Backdrop continues to cover the story of Israel'…

The Bible tells amazing personal stories, but what about the bigger picture? What was Israel's place in the world during Bible times? This episode is the first in the series looking at the history of Israel and it's place in the ancient world. This will give us context to when these events took place. The first episode is all about Abraham with a l…

The Feast of Weeks is designated as the third and final pilgrimage festival for Israelites and is described in Leviticus 23. Called Shavuot or Pentecost, it is known as a harvest festival, but becomes the day the church was founded in Acts 2. This episode of Bible Backdrop goes into some of the history and traditions surrounding this festival.…

Merry Christmas everyone! December 8 marks the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Most know that this involves lighting a menorah, but what are the origins of this festival? The last episode of Bible Backdrop for 2023 goes into the story and other details about Hanukkah. Why is it celebrated? How do Jews today celebrate? Why is i…

Passover is one of the best known feasts in the Bible. Most people know the general story behind the Passover, but how was it celebrated in Bible times? This episode of Bible Backdrop looks at the history of Passover along with how the meal was eaten. We also discuss the Feast of Unleavened Bread that was a 7 day festival in honor of God's delivera…

We hear about the Feast of Booths, but what exactly was it? Why did God institute this festival in the Jewish religious calendar? On this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look into some of the details on the Feast of Booths including the time of year, the events that took place, and what the booths looked like. We also look into how Jesus used this to…

In the previous episode of Bible Backdrop, we talked about the details surrounding the Day of Atonement. After finishing the episode, there is so much symbolism surrounding this day that it really required an Extra episode. When you look closely at the events, you can easily see how it ties back to Jesus and his sacrifice for our atonement. If you …

Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Established by God with detailed instructions to Moses in Leviticus 16, this episode of Bible Backdrop looks at the particulars surrounding that day. What is the meaning of Yom Kippur? Where did it fall on the Jewish calendar? What did the high priest have to do on that day? What was so differen…

Wrapping up our series on the offerings in Leviticus, the latest episode of Bible Backdrop looks into the Trespass Offering and the Guilt Offering. Each of these had very specific requirements and we go into details on what was included, why it was included, and how they affect us today. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leav…

Continuing our series on the sacrifices in the Old Testament, this episode of Bible Backdrop looks at the Sin Offering. In many ways, it was different from the other offerings and we look into those differences here. God held people to a high standard when it came to the Sin Offering and it shows in the sacrifices. If you are enjoying Bible Backdro…

Leviticus 3 and Leviticus 7 gives instructions to the children of Israel regarding the Peace Offering. What exactly was included in a peace offering? Why did someone bring this kind of offering to God? Who needed to make the offering? In the latest episode of Bible Backdrop, we take a look at these verses and go into some additional details. If you…

The burnt offering and the grain offering are both described in Leviticus 1 and 2. Why were these sacrifices significant? What did they mean? In this episode of Bible Backdrop Extra, we go into the deeper meaning behind these sacrifices and their symbolism. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5-star rating and review. You can get in …

In Leviticus, God outlined 5 sacrifices: The burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering and the peace offering. Each one had a different function and method. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we'll look at the first two sacrifices and go into a few details regarding each one. Thank you for listening to Bible Backdrop.…

Welcome to the first episode of Bible Backdrop Extra! This is a shorter episode where I go a little deeper into an earlier episode. This week, I talk about the symbolism of the Tabernacle and how it points to Jesus. All the implements of worship, their placement, even the courtyard points to Jesus' teaching. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, plea…

During their years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites worshiped and offered sacrifices to Yahweh at The Tabernacle. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at how it was built along with the tools of worship that were used in the course of offering sacrifices. How big was the Tabernacle? What were the curtains made of? Could anyone go in…

Most of us have seen the movie "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark." The Ark of the Covenant has intrigued people for years. What was so special about the Ark? How was it made? And what happened to it? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we'll look at some of the details surrounding the Ark, when it was used, and how it was made. We'll al…

Mary is one of the 3 central figures in the Christmas story. Like the episode on Joseph last year, this episode adds some context around Mary's role and the evidence of her strong faith. I also talk a little about the heavenly hosts and what that means to the story. Have a Merry Christmas!By Matthew

In the Bible, the army of Israel is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. How did the army come to be and how was it formed? Was there always a standing army? How were wars fought during Bible times? In this latest episode of Bible Backdrop, I look at how the Israelite military was formed from the very first battle in Genesis to the formati…

Skilled labor was essential to ancient Israel during Bible times. This episode of Bible Backdrop delves into 4 different types of skilled laborers and what they provided to the economy and society. We look at carpenters, stone workers, metal workers, potters and tent makers. Each one provided a necessary service for both the community and the natio…

How did people earn a living during Bible times? What was the economy like? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we take a look at some of the jobs people did and how they were able to make a living. We cover agriculture, livestock, fishing and trade. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review. You can find this podca…

The family structure in the Bible was extremely important. Extended families were large and tied to the land. What did this mean for people during this time? What laws protected the family and their tie to the land? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, I look at the family structures and how this affected people during this time. I also look at how t…

Homes in Bible times were much different than our homes today. Multiple generations lived under one roof and living quarters were tight. This episode of Bible Backdrop goes into some of the details about homes in Bible times. Why was the roof so important? Where did people stay most of the time? Listen to this episode to learn more! If you enjoy Bi…

What did people eat during Bible times? What foods were readily available and what was only eaten by the wealthy? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at the food of the Bible: fruits, vegetables, meat and grains. All of it is significant and will help as you study the Bible. Bible Backdrop is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitche…

We see them throughout the Old Testament, but who exactly were the Philistines? Where did they come from? Why were they in conflict with the Israelites? What were they like? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at the history, culture, religion and politics of the Philistine people. While being a "cultural philistine" is seen as a negative, t…

We hear about the Sanhedrin in the New Testament, but what are its origins? Is there evidence in the Old Testament? What did they do and how was it formed? Today's episode of Bible Backdrop dives into the history and structure of the Sanhedrin. We discuss the theories of when it started, what it took to be a judge, and what kind of cases they handl…

We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan and the story of the woman at the well, but who exactly were the Samaritans? Where did they come from? What did they believe? What happened to them? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, I take a look at the history of the Samaritans and their affect on the nation of Israel. Stay for a few minutes after th…

Finishing out the series on the cities where Paul wrote his epistles, today we talk about Colossae and Thessalonica. What was Colossae's chief export? How did Thessalonica become a Roman "free city?" Why did Paul have to leave so quickly? Listen to this episode to learn more. If you enjoy Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review. …

On this episode of Bible Backdrop, we continue our series on the cities of Paul's letters by looking at Philippi. While not as large as Ephesus or Corinth, it was still very important and a great center of trade. It was also important to Roman history. How? Listen to the latest episode to hear the story. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please s…