Fr. Mike Schmitz
Appearances
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Why is that so important? One of the reasons it's so important is because in the ancient world, they had a deeper appreciation for proper names. We've kind of lost that a little bit where you can reveal your name to anybody because we like, oh, that's who I am. That's my name. But in ancient world, to know someone's name was understood as being in a relationship with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
It was understood as now there's a certain vulnerability in knowing another person's name and their name being revealed to you. And here is God who is distant, God who is omnipotent, God who's omnipresent, all these things. who's making himself intimate. He's making himself personal. I mean, he's always been personal, but he's revealing himself in a personal way. And he says, this is my name.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
When you call upon my name, you're calling upon me as a personal God. And so this personal God now is called this person, Moses, to go to Pharaoh. And it's interesting to see how here's Moses, who has seen a miracle. He's seen a And he's still unconvinced of the fact that the Lord God will be with him, that this personal God will be enough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
The Lord said to him, what is that in your hand? He said, a rod. And he said, cast it on the ground. So he cast it on the ground and it became a serpent and Moses fled from it. But the Lord said to Moses, put out your hand and take it by the tail.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And so he says, he defers and says, well, let my brother Aaron speak instead because he can speak well and I don't speak well. Even though God has just given him two miracles, right? The miracle of the rod. turning into a serpent, where I love the fact that Moses sees this rod become a serpent and runs away, because I'm like, yep, that's what I would do too.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
But then he grabs it by his tail, becomes a rod again. And the same thing with his hand, putting it into his bosom and it becoming leprous and then putting it there again and having it become clean, that there is this reality that God is saying, listen, Moses, you don't actually know me yet. I revealed my name to you, but you don't know the depth to which you can trust me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And that's why he keeps saying, I am the God of your fathers. That again, I'm largely unknown to you. And this is what have been the case that the Lord God would be largely unknown to Moses. I mean, the family of Israel has been living in slavery and they've held on to the stories of the Lord God revealing himself to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
But you can imagine the degree to which he would still be largely unknown to them. And so when God does call Moses and to do this dangerous thing, you can understand how Moses would be hesitant. Not only that, he has reason to be hesitant, right? You have Pharaoh who could destroy his life with a snap of his fingers, but you also have the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And this is one of the more difficult moments of, well, it's a lot of, and amongst a lot of difficult moments, here's a very difficult moment for the people of Israel. When Moses and Aaron come along and they say, the Lord God wants to set you free. And Pharaoh says, oh, really? You want to go and worship me? That's, and also keep this in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
We've mentioned it before, but it's really important to note. It's why do we want to be set free to go and serve the Lord? That word to serve is actually the word to worship. So keep that in mind. Always keep that in mind. The goal of freedom is not just simply freedom for freedom's sake, not just simply freedom from, but freedom for. And freedom for what?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Freedom for worship, to be able to worship the Lord God. And so Pharaoh says, oh, really? You have all this time you want to take off and worship? If you have that much time that you want to devote to other things other than work, then I'll give you more work. And it's interesting to note this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
One is the fact that that would be the anger of the people of Israel towards Moses and Aaron saying, you just interrupted our lives is so interesting because you're like, wait, I've interrupted what kind of life? I've made it more difficult for you to be a slave. You'd rather just be left alone as a slave as opposed to having your life more difficult because I'm actually trying to set you free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
There's something that this weird paradox, this weird tension here in this moment. But also there's something really remarkable that we can apply to our lives. And that is this. That is, here's Pharaoh who says, already that you have time to worship. Well, I'm going to give you more work. So you don't have time to think about worship. You don't have time to think about your God. Many of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
So he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand, that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has appeared to you. Again, the Lord said to him, Put your hand into your bosom. And he put his hand into the bosom. But when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous. as white as snow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
We are Pharaohs to ourselves, meaning we make ourselves so busy that we don't have time to think about God. We make ourselves so busy. We do it to ourselves. We have made ourselves into slaves by saying, I have to do this. I have to do that. All these other things. I've, I've set up a pace of life for myself that is unmanageable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
If I even take a break, I've set up a pace for my life that is necessitates demands that I cannot stop going. And so we don't have time in our lives for worship and we're no more than slaves, but we have made ourselves into slaves. So many of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And one of the things that the Lord God reveals today is that his people are never meant to be slaves, not a slave to Pharaoh and definitely not a slave to the Pharaoh that lives inside of us. but we're meant to be free so that we can truly belong to him, so that we can truly be his, so that we can truly worship. So keep this in mind as we move forward into this day. Let's worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Let's find a time in our lives to worship, to not be a slave master to yourself, but to allow ourselves to have that freedom to be able to stop. to seek the Lord's voice, to be still and know that he is God and to pray for each other. I'm praying for you as we go on this journey. So please pray for me. Let's pray for each other. We cannot do it alone. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And if you're interested in getting more information, updates about this, what we're doing, this Bible in a year, you can just text the word Catholic Bible to 33777. But I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Then God said, Put your hand back into your bosom. So he put his hand back into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. If they will not believe you, God said, or heed the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
using the great adventure bible timeline we'll read all the way from genesis to revelation discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today this is day 29 and we are reading from exodus chapter 4 and chapter 5 from leviticus chapter 4 and from psalm 46 as always i'm reading from the revised standard version the catholic edition um specifically the great adventure bible um from ascension and if you want to follow along not only with your ears but also with your eyes
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
If they will not believe even these two signs or heed your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood upon the dry ground. But Moses said to the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, either heretofore or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Then the Lord said to him, Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak. But he said, O my Lord, send, I pray, some other person. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
I know that he can speak well, and behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. And you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you shall do. He shall speak for you to the people and he shall be a mouth for you and you shall be to him as God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And you shall take in your hand this rod with which you shall do the signs. Moses went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and said to him, Let me go back, I beg, to my kinsmen in Egypt and see whether they are still alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. And the Lord said to Moses and Midian, Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
So Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey and went back to the land of Egypt. And in his hand Moses took the rod of God. And the Lord said to Moses, When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles which I have put in your power, but I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son. And I say to you, Let my son go, that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your firstborn son. At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met him and sought to kill him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me. So he let him alone. Then it was that she said, you are a bridegroom of blood because of the circumcision. The Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord which he had been sent to him and all the signs which he had charged him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the sons of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And when they heard that the Lord had visited the sons of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness. But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should heed his voice and let Israel go?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go. Then they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go, we beg, a three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword. But the king of Egypt said to them, Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get to your burdens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many. And you make them rest from their burdens? The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as heretofore. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks which they have made heretofore you shall lay upon them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
You shall by no means lessen it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words so the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people thus says pharaoh i will not give you straw go yourselves get your straw wherever you can find it but your work will not be lessened in the least
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
You can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. Really simple. Just type in your email, I believe, and it will give you access to that Bible in a Year reading plan. And be sure also to subscribe to this podcast in whatever app you are using to listen to the Word of God. So good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, Complete your work, your daily task, as when there was straw. And the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today as before?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Then the foreman of the sons of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, Why do you deal thus with your servants? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, Make bricks. And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is with your own people. But he said, You are idle. You are idle, therefore you say, Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Go now and work, for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks. The foreman of the sons of Israel saw that they were in an evil plight when they said, you shall by no means lessen your daily number of bricks. They met Moses and Aaron who were waiting for them as they came forth from Pharaoh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And they said to them, the Lord look upon you and judge because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to kill us. Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, If anyone sins unwittingly in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and does any one of them, if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer for the sin which he has committed a young bull without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
He shall bring the bull to the door of the tent of meeting before the Lord and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
and the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the tent of meeting and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary and the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of the fragrant incense before the lord which is in the tent of meeting and the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings. and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of burnt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
But the skin of the bull, and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung, the whole bull he shall carry forth outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and shall burn it on a fire of wood, where the ashes are poured out, it shall be burned.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
What a great gift to be able to be together and to listen to journey with the people of God, with the holy people of Israel. with God's chosen people as covenantal people ourselves, as people who have been brought into the covenant, to be able to see the many ways in which God has heard the cries of his people and has come to meet them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
If the whole congregation of Israel commits a sin unwittingly, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and are guilty,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
when the sin which they have committed becomes known the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting and the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the lord and the bull shall be killed before the lord then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull to the tent of the meeting
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil. And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar, which is in the tent of meeting before the Lord. And the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And all its fat he shall take from it and burn upon the altar. Thus shall he do with the bull as he did with the bull of the sin offering. So shall he do with this, and the priests shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. And he shall carry forth the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
When a ruler sins, doing unwittingly any one of all the things which the Lord his God has commanded not to be done and is guilty, if the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat and a male without blemish, and shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they killed the burnt offering before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
It is a sin offering. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
If any one of the common people sins unwittingly in doing any one of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done and is guilty, when the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish. for his sin which he has committed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. And all its fat he shall remove as the fat is removed from the peace offerings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a pleasing odor to the Lord. And the priest shall make atonement for him and he shall be forgiven. If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he should bring a female without blemish and lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in place where they kill the burnt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall burn it on the altar upon the offerings by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Because we also raise up our cries to the Lord, asking that he meets us. Today, I go once again, reading from Exodus chapter 4 and 5, from Leviticus chapter 4, and from Psalm verse 46. Exodus chapter four and chapter five. Then Moses answered, but behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice for they will say, the Lord did not appear to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Psalm 46, God's defense of his city and people. To the choir master, a psalm of the sons of Korah, according to Alamoth, a song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar in foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage. The kingdoms totter. He utters his voice. The earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots with fire. Be still and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations. I am exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
We give you praise and glory for who you are. You are the one God. Living and true, you are the one who has come and visited your people. You are with us right now. God, you are in our midst. You are in our midst. And so what you invite us to do is to be still and to know, to be still and to know that you are in our midst, to be still and know you, to be still and know that you are our God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
So help us, help us to stay in the midst of our busyness, to be still in the midst of our tumult, in the midst of our slavery, in the midst of our redemption, in the midst of our being set free, our liberation, in the midst of our vocation. Help us to take this time to be still. and to know that you are God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
We make this prayer in Jesus's mighty name, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Wow. What a gift. What a gift to be able to be together once again and to hear like, gosh, this reality of here's God calling Moses. He revealed his name, the sacred name of God to Moses, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
And so whenever we see in the scriptures, wherever it says the Lord, particularly the Lord God, or especially when a lot of times the font changes. So it's a capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D. That is a reverent way to indicate that originally the word wasn't simply Lord, which is Adonai, the word Elohim, you know, the word was originally the sacred name of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 29: Moses Returns to Egypt (2025)
I am who I am, which is also known in fancy terms, the Tetragrammaton, which is the YHWH, what we typically refer to as the holy name of God or Yahweh. Whenever we see that capitalized L-O-R-D, that is the Lord God being referred to by his proper name, the name that he had revealed to Moses before this. Now here is the personal God. And then why is that so important? A quick question.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
So what we're looking at is we're looking at hyperbole here. that no man was left alive, no woman was left alive, no children were left alive. That is hyperbole. Not only this, but God reveals, he already revealed to us in Deuteronomy chapter 20, that this is a limited engagement. This is completely a limited engagement.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
This is just for these people of Canaan, the land of Canaan, because God's will is that Israel has peace with all nations. Remember this, the prophecy is that people come from north and south and east and west and and they respond to God's blessing. They respond to his promise of being present to them, that God's desire is not division among people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
God's desire is not the destruction of people, but God's desire is the reconciliation and union of all people. And so that's what God's promise is, and that's what he's revealing. On the way, it is incredibly difficult, though. But keep these things in mind, that there was a reason the people of the land of Canaan were being defeated. There's a reason why they were being driven out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
But also, it was restrained. Simply, you might say hyperbolized or exaggerated about. And knowing these things, we know that God's ultimate plan is not the destruction of the world. God's plan is not the destruction of anyone who's different. God's will is not the destruction of someone who believes something differently.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
But God's plan, his will is the union of people, harmony back with each other, harmony within ourselves, harmony above all with him. And so that is God's plan. And that is what we're going to be continuing to get deeper and deeper into as we continue these days of these journeys. And so once again, as I said yesterday.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Since that is God's plan, that we are not divided but united, that we're not fighting against each other, but we are fighting for each other, let us keep fighting for each other. Let's keep praying for each other. Let's keep holding each other up, especially, you know, day 85, we've covered a lot of ground. We've come so far. We've got some distance to cover still.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And so keep each other in prayer. I'm praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is half of Gilead, and the Erebah to the sea of Chinneroth eastward, and in the direction of Beth-Jeshimoth, to the sea of the Erebah, the salt sea, southward to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
and Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Raphaim, who dwelt at Ashteroth and at Edrei, and ruled over Mount Hermon, and Salekah, and all Bashan, to the boundary of the Geshurites and the Maakathites, and over half of Gilead to the boundary of Sihon king of Heshbon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 85, and we're reading today from Joshua chapters 12, 13, and 14. We're also praying Psalm 129.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
moses the servant of the lord and the sons of israel defeated them and moses the servant of the lord gave their land for a possession to the reubenites and the gadites and the half tribe of manasseh the kings conquered by joshua and these are the kings of the land whom joshua and the sons of israel defeated on the west side of the jordan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak that rises towards Seir. And Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negev, the land of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
The king of Jericho, one, the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one, The king of Jerusalem won. The king of Hebron won. The king of Jarmuth won. The king of Lachish won. The king of Eglon won. The king of Gezer won. The king of Debir won. The king of Gedder won. The king of Hormah won. The king of Arad won. The king of Libna won. The king of Adulam won. The king of Makedah won.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
The king of Bethel won. 1. The king of Tapua, 1. The king of Hefer, 1. The king of Aphek, 1. The king of Lasharon, 1. The king of Madan, 1. The king of Hazor, 1. The king of Shimron-meron, 1. The king of Akshraf, 1. Chapter 13 Still Unconquered Parts of Canaan Now Joshua was old and advanced in years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And the Lord said to him, you are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remains all the regions of the Philistines and all those of the Geshurites from Shehor, which is east of Egypt toward the boundary of Ekron. It is reckoned as Canaanite. There are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkeloth,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Gath and Ekron, and those of the Avim, in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Me-Ara, which belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the boundary of the Amorites, and the land of the Gebelites, and all Lebanon, toward the sun rising, from Baal-Gad, below Mount Hermon, to the entrance of Hamath, all the inhabitants of the hill country, from Lebanon to Mishra-Foth-Maim, even all the Sidonians."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
as always i am reading from the revised standard version the second catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension which is just such a gift especially when we're in the midst of the period of conquest and judges it gives some backstory it gives a great summary you know at the beginning of every one of these time periods and kind of gives us an orientation of here's where we are here's where we're going uh if you want to also know here's where we are here's where we're going you can download your own bible in a year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com bible in a year and you'll be able to cross out those dates and those
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
I will myself drive them out from before the sons of Israel, only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you. Now, therefore, divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them from Erewar, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
and all the tableland of the Medibah as far as Dibon, and all the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon as far as the boundary of the Ammonites, and Gilead, and the region of the Geshurites, and Mahakathites, and all the Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salakah, and all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashteroth and in Edrei.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
He alone was left of the remnant of the Raphaim. These Moses had defeated and driven out, yet the sons of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Ma'akathites. But Geshur and Ma'akath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day. To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
The territory of Reuben. And Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the Reubenites according to their families. So their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the table land by Medabah, with Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the table land, Dibon, and Bamoth Baal, and Beth Baal Maon, and Jehaz, and Kedemath, and Mephaath, and Kiriathaim, and Sibma.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
and Zereth-shahar, on the hill of the valley, and Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshemoth, that is, all the cities of the table land, and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses defeated with the leaders of Midian, Evai, and Rechem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon who dwelt in the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Balaam also, the son of Beor, the soothsayer, the sons of Israel, killed with the sword among the rest of their slain. And the border of the people of Reuben was the Jordan as a boundary. This was the inheritance of the Reubenites according to their families with their cities and villages. the territory of Gad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of the Gadites according to their families. Their territory was Jezer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites to Erewar, which is east of the Rabbah, and from Heshbon, Eremoth, Mizpah, and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
and in the valley of Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Sukkoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the kingdom of Sihon, king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary to the lower end of the sea of Chinareth, eastward beyond the Jordan. This is the inheritance of the Gadites according to their families with their cities and villages. the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, east.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the Manassites according to their families. Their region extended from Mahanaim all through Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities, and half Gilead, and Ashteroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
These were allotted to the people of Machir, the son of Manasseh, for the half of the Machirites, according to their families. These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi, Moses gave no inheritance. The Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, as he said to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
chapter fourteen the distribution of territory west of the jordan and these are the inheritances which the sons of israel received in the land of canaan which eleazar the priest and joshua the son of nun and the heads of the fathers houses of the tribes of the sons of israel distributed to them Their inheritance was by lot as the Lord had commanded Moses for the nine and one half tribes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for their cattle and their substance. The sons of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
They allotted the land." Hebron allotted to Caleb. Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "'You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh Barnea concerning you and me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
chapters. I do it every day. I have this blue marker that I just mark off every day. And it's just such a great gift of being able to say, yeah, we're moving and we're still cruising along and going through the Bible and marking up our Bibles and writing down these insights that the Lord is giving to us. It's just such an incredible gift.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt.' Yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God. And now behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as he said, all these forty years, since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And now behold, I am this day eighty-five years old." I am still as strong to this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me. My strength now is as my strength was then for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day. For you heard on that day how the Anakim were there with great fortified cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
It may be that the Lord will be with me and I shall drive them out as the Lord said. Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath Arba.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
This Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim, and the land had rest from war. Psalm 129. Prayer for the downfall of Israel's enemies. A song of ascents. Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth. Let Israel now say, sorely have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my back, they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
He has cut the cords of the wicked. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turn backward. Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand or the binder of sheaves his arms. While those who pass by do not say, the blessing of the Lord be upon you. We bless you in the name of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
You can also subscribe in your podcast app to this podcast to receive the daily episodes, which are put out pretty much every day, as you would expect daily episodes to be put out. So once again, it's day 85. We're reading from Joshua chapter 12, 13, and 14. We'll also be praying Psalm 129. the book of Joshua, chapter 12, the kings conquered by Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you for bringing us to this day. We thank you for bringing us all the way through this Bible to this point, your word to this point, and we know that without your word, we wouldn't even know who you are. We would not know who we are, God, without revealing yourself to us and revealing your heart to us. Yes, we could see your traces.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
We can see your fingerprints in the world around us. We can see hints at your truth in the created world, the world that you created, as we can see the person of the artist in the artwork. Yet, Lord, we still might not know your heart unless you revealed your heart to us. And so we ask you to please continue to reveal your heart to us that we can reveal our hearts to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Okay, just a couple quick things. I want to, this is where we kind of go deep into this whole thing of like, what's happening when it comes to the battles? What's happening when it comes to this war? And how easily is it for us to misunderstand what is happening?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Now, this is clearly, this is not meant to be a whitewashing of history, right? And what I'm about to say is not meant to take away from the fact that, like I said yesterday, these are troubled times and it was not part of God's original plan. Now, not only was this not part of God's original plan, His original plan was peace, right? Harmony, as I said yesterday.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Harmony in ourselves, harmony with each other, and harmony with God. And now here we live in this broken and divided world. But also what we recognize is, what I've said before, but just be reminded of this, is that the people of Israel God is commanding this war. He's commanding this destruction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
And we just think about this kind of warfare that just is so strange and so violent and brutal, not that all war isn't violent or brutal, but it's so absolute and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
is because of the the falseness because of the fickleness of the hearts of the people of israel which is also in our hearts that if they're going to live as god's holy people then god knows that they're not going to be able to live among a people that they um They'd be so tempted to live as the people around them. That's what we heard in Numbers. We heard in Deuteronomy again and again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
God knows that if they just try to coexist with these people, they will fail. Now, that's not to say that we don't coexist now. In fact, that's what we all want to talk about right now is there's three reasons, especially when people get upset by this. I remember coming across this. I thought it was so wise that these people had put this together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
They had said there's at least three reasons or three things to keep in mind as Joshua is leading these people into battle, is leading the people of Israel into battle. And it talks about The first reason is because of the moral corruption of the people of the Canaanites. And in fact, if you remember back in Leviticus chapter 18, they had two kinds of corruption.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
They had at least two kinds of corruption. One was a sexual corruption that they just took for granted. And Leviticus 18 has a whole slew of things that were very, very common in the land of Canaan. That's what they were doing. That's why God is driving them out is because of this moral corruption. But also it wasn't just in their sexual lives. In Deuteronomy chapter 12, if you remember this,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
These people, as I mentioned yesterday, perform child sacrifice. So there is a judgment that God is extending upon these people. And so their fulfillment of God's judgment at some point, that's the first thing that they're entering into this place of moral corruption. But secondly, we think, okay, but is God commanding a genocide? Is he calling this a commandment for the destruction of everybody?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
What we have to understand is that this is a bit of hyperbole. that calling for the destruction of everybody is not exactly what happened, but it is a way to hyperbolize or to exaggerate the amount of destruction that happens. How do we know this? We know this because in Deuteronomy chapter seven, which we went through a while back, God is calling for the destruction of everybody.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward the sun rising from the valley of Arnon to Mount Hermon with all the Arabah eastward. Sihon, king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
He says destroy everyone through Moses. He's saying this. But then he also says, but also don't marry them or do business with them. And you think, oh wait, so the scripture itself is giving us a clue into the fact that, okay, so maybe this is hyperbole.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
When you say destroy everyone and also don't marry them or do business with them, it'd be very hard to do business with someone or marry someone that has been completely destroyed. Not only that, but in Joshua chapter 10, which we heard yesterday, it says, It says, you know, leave no survivors in these cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2025)
But what we're going to hear tomorrow in Joshua chapter 15, we're going to hear about the people still being there. And it said that they destroyed everyone in the city, but then they're going to go back and there are going to be people in the city. So I left no survivors, it says in chapter 10, but basically chapter 15 of the same book talks about people still being there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Without relationship, the rules are fine. They're wise. I mean, they're good and good to live by. But without the relationship, those rules can also be hollow. They can also be dead. They can also be empty. They can be wise, of course, but they're empty of the reason. And the reason for the rule is the relationship. That is why Moses is reminding the people
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
So remember, okay, take these words and bind them on your forehead. Take these words and bind them on your arm. Put them on the door, lintels of your doorpost. In fact, if you go to almost any Jewish home, you have a thing called a mesuza. It's called a mesuza, and it's usually typically metal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
a container in which these words of the Lord are written on a very tiny piece of paper and they're put there. And every time a Jewish person walks in or walks out, oftentimes they will touch that Masusa as a reminder, like, no, never forget what the Lord has done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
In fact, the scripture says that you would take these words of mine and bind them on your foreheads, wear them on your foreheads and bind them on your arms. That is what's known as the phylactery. So Jesus later on, he calls, he says that the Pharisees would widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. In Hebrew, that word is tefillin. So for the phylacteries is tefillin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
The word for the tassels is the word tzitzit. Fun things to know. But in the phylacteries, again, they're made out of leather, leather boxes and leather straps that still right now, even Orthodox Jewish men will continue to use it when they're praying. They will have the boxes that have scripture inside of them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And then with the leather straps, they'll affix that to their arms, forearms, and or to their foreheads. And that is the fulfillment of what is written in Exodus 13, in Deuteronomy chapter 6, Deuteronomy chapter 11, where it talks about having those words of God always on our mind, always on our arms.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
As Christians, one of the things that we will do is if you've ever gone to a Catholic mass, you know that before the gospel is proclaimed, the priest or the deacon or the bishop would proclaim and say a reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. And people respond, glory to you, O Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And as we say glory to you, O Lord, what the priest does is he makes a sign of the cross on the words of the text and then on himself and all the people make the sign of the cross on their foreheads. on their lips and on their hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
All the days that he separates himself to the Lord, he shall not go near a dead body, neither for his father, nor for his mother, nor for a brother or sister. If they die, shall he make himself unclean because his separation to God is upon his head. All the days of his separation, he is holy to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And one of the things that we're saying internally when we're making that sign of the cross over our foreheads, over our lips, and over our hearts is, may the word of the Lord be on my mind, be on my lips, and be in my heart. And so it's kind of a spiritual way of still having that idea of keeping the word of God on our foreheads and on our arms before us always.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And that's what we say every time we go to Mass and we hear the words of the gospel proclaimed. Oh my goodness, what a gift, right? Because we are keeping the Bible in our ears and we are not forgetting what the Lord our God has not only done for the Jewish people, not only done in the new covenant for the people of the world, but also what the Lord our God has done for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
By reading this, by listening to God's words like you're doing right now this year, you are obeying the commandment of Deuteronomy chapter six.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
to remember and never ever forget what the lord our god has done for us here oh israel the lord our god is one and you shall love him with everything you got you guys i am proud of you you've made it to day 57 and we are trucking right along we are praying for each other please know that i am praying for you you are doing so so well we're moving and god is blessing so many of you and what you're reporting uh is that gosh
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Even in days of missing days, missing a weekend, maybe even missing a week, but you're getting back on the horse, right? You're getting back on there and getting back in the saddle. You're either catching up or keeping up. You don't need to catch up to where we are right now. You just need to go at your own pace and just never, ever stop because this is the commandment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
This is the commandment is to listen to the Lord. Hear, O Israel. Oh, my goodness. I am praying for you. My name is Father Mike, and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 57, and so... We are cruising. I always say that, but it's true. We'll be reading Numbers chapter six, Deuteronomy chapter six, and praying Psalm 91. Psalm 91 is just my goodness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day he shall shave it. On the eighth day he shall bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons to the priest to the door of the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering and make atonement for him because he sinned by reason of the dead body. And he shall consecrate his head that same day and separate himself to the Lord for the days of his separation and bring a male lamb a year old for a guilt offering. But the former time shall be void because his separation was defiled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And this is the law for the Nazarite.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
When the time of his separation has been completed, he shall be brought to the door of the tent of meeting, and he shall offer his gift to the Lord, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering, and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and their cereal offering and their drink offerings."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And the priest shall present them before the Lord and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering. And he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its cereal offering and its drink offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And the Nazarite shall shave his consecrated head at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair from his consecrated head, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram when it is boiled, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after he has shaved the hair of his consecration. And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
They are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered, and after that the Nazarite may drink wine. This is the law for the Nazarite who takes a vow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
His offering to the Lord shall be according to his vow as a Nazarite, apart from what else he can afford, in accordance with the vow which he takes, so shall he do according to the law for his separation as a Nazarite. the priestly benediction. The Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron and his sons, thus shall you bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them, the Lord bless you and keep you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the sons of Israel and I will bless them. the book of Deuteronomy chapter 6, the great commandment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Hear, therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you in a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
All of the Psalms are incredible prayers. They're incredible songs to the Lord. But man, Psalm 91 is one of my personal favorites. And so I'm so glad to be able to pray it with you today. As you know, we read from the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. That is the Bible translation that I'm using. Specifically, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes, and you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. caution against disobedience.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And when the Lord your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, with great and excellent cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and cisterns hewed out which you did not hew, and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And when you eat and are full, then take heed, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and swear by his name. You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you. For the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous God."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you and he destroy you from the face of the earth. You shall not put the Lord your God to the test as you tested him at Massa. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees and his statutes which he has commanded you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord that it may go well with you. and that you may go in and take possession of the good land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers by thrusting out all your enemies from before you as the Lord has promised.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
When your son asks you in time to come, what is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord our God has commanded you? Then you shall say to your son, we were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And the Lord showed signs and wonders great and grievous against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household before our eyes. And he brought us out from there that he might bring us in and give us the land which he swore to give our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes to fear the Lord our God for our good always. that he might preserve us alive as at this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God as he has commanded us. Psalm 91 Assurance of God's Protection He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shadow of the Almighty will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
For he will deliver you from the snares of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that lays waste at noon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked, because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation. No evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
To download your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe in your podcast app to receive daily episodes. So every time we give an episode, you get an episode. Again, today is day 57. We're reading number 6, Deuteronomy 6, and praying Psalm 91. Numbers chapter six, the Nazarites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. Because he clings to me in love, I will deliver him. I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and honor him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Father in heaven, you are good and you do protect us. You do care for us. You bear us up as on the wings of eagles. And you bear us up lest we dash our foot against the stone. Yet, Lord God, we do not put you to the test because we are tested every day. Every day we are tried and every day... Life reveals the truth of our hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
It reveals our fickle hearts. It reveals our shaky and quick to forget hearts. Lord, help us never forget what you have done for us. Help us never forget who you are. Help us never forget what you revealed about our own hearts. Help us to never forget you, Lord God. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So there are a number of things to talk about today. The first is in the book of Numbers, there's this thing called the Nazarite vow. You might be familiar with the Nazarite vow because there was a couple of people in the beneath the Nazarite vow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Now, here's normally what the Nazarite vow was, was just a temporary kind of a thing, right? So the two people I can think of, at least right offhand, who took a Nazarite vow for life, one was Samson. He did not follow that Nazarite vow super well. Then again, I guess it was his parents who chose it for him. Sometimes, you know, the Nazarite life chooses you. You don't choose the Nazarite life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
But truthfully, Samson was set aside from his mother's womb and the angel of the Lord who appeared to his mother and told him that he'd be set apart and that he would not cut his hair and that he would not touch strong drink. He failed in that. We're going to get to that story when we get to the book of Judges.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
The other person that we know of, at least, who had a lifelong Nazirite vow is John the Baptist. And to our knowledge, he successfully held to that Nazirite vow. So again, it was not cutting hair. It involved not touching strong drink. or anything of the fruit of the vine. Now, normally, those were two exceptions. Normally, they did not last for one's entire life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Normally, it was kind of like dedicating time of your life to the Lord, right? So we've talked about, a lot about, in Leviticus and in Numbers so far, we've talked a lot about dedicating places to the Lord, right? So here's the articles of the temple, so dedicating things to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
When we get to Mount Zion, that space where the temple is gonna be built is gonna be dedicating a place to the Lord. Even, remember with the story of people like Jacob, When Jacob has the dream of the angels going up to heaven and descending from heaven, and he dedicates that place, he consecrates that place and builds an altar there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
So we've heard all about dedicating things and spaces to the Lord. The Nazarite vow is kind of a way to dedicate time to the Lord. We say, okay, for the next week, maybe two weeks, maybe four weeks, I am going to kind of go away. And basically, a general analogy would be kind of like, say, I'm going to go on retreat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And while I'm on retreat, I am not going to drink and I'm not going to cut my hair or shave. And then at the end of that retreat, at the end of that time that's been dedicated to the Lord, consecrated to him for his, for worship of him, for love of him, I am going to not only offer the sacrifices that are prescribed, like the different animals, but also offer
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, say to the sons of Israel, when either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazarite to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
the hair that grew during that time, I will shave that off as kind of a sign of the time, right? So, I mean, our toenails, fingernails grow and our hair grows. And so there's a sign where, there's kind of a sense where that growth is a marker of time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And so at the end of that time, however far your hair has grown, you would cut that off and that would be actually placed on the altar as part of the sacrifice. Kind of, again, just think of the imagery there. It's kind of really cool.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
I mean, burnt hair doesn't smell the best, but the imagery is really cool where it has that sense of, Lord, that whole time I offer to you, that was yours as is represented here by the hair that is cut off of my head. And I just think that's pretty, it's just really cool. Last, or last when it comes to numbers. The last thing we have in the chapter six of Numbers is the priestly benediction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
It's called the Aaronic Blessing. So after Aaron, not ironic, but Aaronic, A-A-R-O-N-I-C, Aaronic Blessing. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. That's this powerful blessing. I remember hearing Jeff Cavins, who, you know, he's featured on this podcast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
He helps us out every single time we come to a new time period. Him pointing out that that is a great prayer of blessing for parents to pray over their children. And specifically, I would just invite fathers who are listening to pray that prayer, that the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Because Aaron, again, that tribe of Levi being the firstborn, was also in some ways like the father. Because remember, the priesthood was always related to the fatherhood. And so there's that Father's blessing that's built into the Aaronic blessing as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
Now, when it comes to the book of Deuteronomy, oh my goodness, what an incredible gift. What we have is what's called the Shema. And the Shema is the word in Hebrew for hear, to hear. Now to hear, so hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, right? So we've heard this because we know the gospels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
We also have heard this because of Deuteronomy chapter six. This is the great commandment. And if there's any one commandment that united the people of Israel, obviously there's the 10 commandments. Obviously there's all 613 commandments of the old covenant. But this one commandment, this great Shema, this hear, O Israel, sums everything up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And so to hear in Hebrew, that Shema doesn't just mean, hey, you guys, listen up. It means like hear and obey. It means to receive and actually put this into practice. And so here are the people of Israel that Moses is speaking to them because he's said some commandments, right? We went through the Ten Commandments. He's going to continue with...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
other laws, but this is the heart of all of the laws. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Why does he bring this up? Because he knows. Not only do they come from Egypt, where there are multiple gods, they're going into Canaan, where there's multiple gods, and you have to be on guard against this. Now, how are you on guard against this?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come upon his head until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord. He shall be holy. He shall let the locks of his hair of his head grow long.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
It's not just like, I'm going to hold dogmatically to my beliefs. It involves also remembering. It's not just simply saying, well, this is what I believe, and that's what I believe. It's remembering that that the Lord God, the God, is the one who brought you out of that place of slavery. And that's what your sons in the future will say. What are these ordinances? What are these commandments?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 57: Hear, O Israel (2025)
And you need to remind your children of all that the Lord, your God, who is one, has done for you. That's why we obey these commandments. And it's so important for all of us to realize that All the rules come out of a relationship. Every single one of the rules we have in the church, every single one of the rules that we have in the scripture, they all come out of relationship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world? If he should take back his spirit to himself and gather to himself his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to what I say. Shall one who hates justice govern?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And behold, seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and then stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the gaunt and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke, and he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king, worthless one, and to nobles, wicked man, who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? In a moment they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves, for he has not appointed a time for any man to go before God in judgment. He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
He strikes them for their wickedness in the sight of men." because they turn aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted. When he is quiet, who can condemn him? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
That a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. For as anyone said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend anymore. Teach me what I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more. Will he then make repayment to suit you because you reject it? For you must choose and not I. Therefore, declare what you know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Men of understanding will say to me and the wise man who hears me will say, Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without insight. Would that Job were judged to the end because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin and claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God. Proverbs chapter four, verses one through nine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Hear, O sons, a father's instruction and be attentive that you may gain insight. For I give you good precepts. Do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, let your heart hold fast to my words. Keep my commandments and live. Do not forget and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Get insight. Do not forsake her and she will keep you. Love her and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this. Get wisdom. And whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly and she will exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a fair garland. She will bestow on you a beautiful crown. Father in heaven, we thank you for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
We thank you for your gift. We thank you for revealing your heart to us as you reveal yourself to us always, constantly through this journey of this Bible in a year. We ask that you continue to lift up our minds and hearts to you as you reveal your mind and your heart to us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Man, oh man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none who could interpret it to Pharaoh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
One of the words in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis is go to Joseph. It's three words. Go to Joseph. Ite ad Joseph in Latin. And it becomes a marker, in fact, for many of those people who have a devotion to St. Joseph. In so many ways, what do we do? When we go to Our Lady, when we go to Mary, she points us to Jesus. So we approach Mary and say, Mary, bring me to your son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
There are so many ways in which the Lord God has given us this foster father of Jesus as well, St. Joseph in the New Covenant, in the New Testament, to be the one that we can go to, the one who took care of the food, the bread from heaven, the one who guarded the bread from heaven to be able to be distributed to people who were dying of hunger. That's us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
That's Jesus in the Eucharist, and that's us who are dying for him. And so what we do is we can have a devotion to St. Joseph. In fact, there's this remarkable consecration to St. Joseph done by Father Calloway. And it is a remarkable journey of 30 or so days to get to know Joseph better, the one who's silent in the New Testament, silent in the Bible. but to have a heart like his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
We realize the Old Testament Joseph had a heart as well, a heart like God's. Because why? Because he was faithful. We talked about this yesterday, but how Joseph, God was with him, but also Joseph fought for God to be with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Joseph had opportunities, Old Testament Joseph had opportunities to rebel, he had opportunities to sin, but he fought to stay faithful to the Lord, and he was faithful to the Lord. No matter what we're going through today, we also are invited to do the same, to fight to be faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
to go to Joseph and let him take us through his intercession, the New Testament Joseph, but his intercession to take us to his foster child, but his Lord, our God, Jesus Christ. Keep praying for each other as we continue this journey with each other. We are now launched into the fourth week. You know, it's day 22 today and you're trucking along. So keep it up. Don't don't give up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
We're almost to the end of Genesis and we're almost to the end of the book of Job. But we have just started. So let's keep each other in prayer. My name is Father Mike, and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
then the chief butler said to pharaoh i remember my faults to-day when pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief banker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard we dreamed on the same night he and i each having a dream with its own meaning a young hebrew was there with us a servant of the captain of the guard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And when we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. And as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass. I was restored to my office and the baker was hanged. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have had a dream and there is no one who can interpret it. And I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh, it is not in me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
god will give pharaoh a favorable answer then pharaoh said to joseph behold in my dream i was standing on the banks of the nile and seven cows fat and sleek came up out of the nile and fed in the reed grass and seven other cows came up after them poor and very gaunt and thin such as i have never seen in all the land of egypt And the thin and gaunt cows ate up the first seven fat cows.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
This is day 22. Let us get started and keep on rolling. We are going to be reading from Genesis chapter 41 and 42. Going to continue following our new friend, Joseph. We are also going to be walking with our old friend, Job, in chapters 33 and 34. And we'll be reading from the fourth chapter of Proverbs, verses 1 through 9.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
But when they had eaten them, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as gaunt as at the beginning. Then I awoke. I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. And seven ears withered, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years. The dream is one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
The seven lean and gaunt cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. It is as I told Pharaoh. God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
But after them, there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
the famine will consume the land and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of that famine which will follow for it will be very grievous and the doubling of pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by god and god will shortly bring it to pass now therefore let pharaoh select a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of egypt let pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take the fifth part of the produce of the land of egypt during the seven plenteous years
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
and let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the authority of pharaoh for food in the cities and let them keep it that food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine which are to befall the land of egypt so that the land may not perish through the famine The proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And Pharaoh said to his servants, can we find such a man as this? In whom is the spirit of God? So Pharaoh said to Joseph, since God has shown you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are. You shall be over my house and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt and then pharaoh took his signet-ring from his hand and put it on joseph's hand and arrayed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck and he made him to ride in his second chariot and they cried before him bow the knee thus he set him over all the land of egypt
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without your consent, no man shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zephanath-Paniah, and gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potipharah, priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plenteous years, the earth brought forth abundantly and he gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty in the land of Egypt and stored up food in the cities. He stored up in every city, the food from the fields around it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea until he ceased to measure it for it could not be measured. Before the year of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potipharah, priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, for he said, God has made me forget all my hardship in all my father's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
If you want to have your own Bible in a Year reading plan, so you can follow along and see this, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can download that, and it's free. accessible, super simple. We're also reading from the Bible translation called the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
The name of the second he called Ephraim, for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the lands, but in the land of Egypt there was bread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do. So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain because the famine was severe over all the earth. When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, Why do you look at one another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.
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Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might befall him. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came. for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Now Joseph was governor over the land. He it was who sold to all the people of the land.
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Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and knew them. But he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. Where do you come from? He said. They said from the land of Canaan to buy food. Thus Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed of them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And he said to them, you are spies. You have come to see the weakness of the land. They said to him, no, my Lord, but to buy food, have your servants come.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
we are all sons of one man we are honest men your servants are not spies he said to them no it is the weakness of the land that you have come to see and they said we your servants are twelve brothers the sons of one man in the land of canaan and behold the youngest is this day with our father And one is no more. But Joseph said to them, It is as I said to you, you are spies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
By this you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you. and let him bring your brother while you remain in prison, that your words may be tested whether there is truth in you, or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies. And he put them all together in prison for three days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
On the third day, Joseph said to them, do this and you will live. For I fear God. If you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined in your prison and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households and bring your youngest brother to me so that your words will be verified and you shall not die. And they did so.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
And I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is super helpful because it has the eras, you know, the stages of the timeline that are built into, like color-coded into the Bible. Really, really helpful, as well as some notes that can help us as we follow along. You also, I want to invite you to subscribe to this podcast app. So every time we have an update, you get updated.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Then they said to one another, in truth, we are guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the distress of his soul when he begged us and we would not listen. Therefore, this distress has come upon us. And Reuben answered them, did I not tell you not to sin against the lad? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
They did not know that Joseph understood them for there was an interpreter between them. Then Joseph turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain and to replace every man's money in his sack and to give them provisions for the journey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
This was done for them. then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed and as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food at the lodging place he saw his money in the mouth of the sack and he said to his brothers my money has been put back here it is in the mouth of my sack at this their hearts failed them and they turned trembling to one another saying
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
What is this that God has done to us? When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had befallen them, saying, The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and took us to be spies of the land. But we said to him, We are honest men, we are not spies, we are twelve brothers, sons of our father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, By this I shall know that you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for your famine to your households, and go your way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Bring your youngest brother to me, then I shall know that you are not spies, but honest men, and I will deliver to you your brother, and you shall trade in the land. As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were dismayed. And Jacob, their father said to them, you have bereaved me of my children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Joseph is no more. Simeon is no more. And now you would take Benjamin. All this has come upon me. Then Reuben said to his father, slay my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands and I will bring him back to you. But he said, my son shall not go down with you for his brother is dead and he only is left.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
If harm should befall him on the journey that you are about to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol. The book of Job chapter 33 and 34. Elihu addresses Job. But now hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth, the tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me if you can. Set your words in order before me. Take your stand. Behold, I am toward God as you are. I too was formed from a piece of clay. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you. My pressure will not be heavy upon you. Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Here we go. We're And 42, following our young friend, our new friend, Joseph. Genesis chapter 41 and 42. After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, sleek and fat, and they fed in the reed grass.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
You say, I am clean without transgression. I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me. behold he finds occasions against me he counts me as his enemy he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths behold in this you are not right i will answer you god is greater than man why do you contend against him saying he will answer none of my words
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
For God speaks in one way and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings that he may turn man aside from his deed and cut off pride from the man. He heaps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones, so that his life loathes bread and his appetite dainty food. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones, which were not seen, stick out. His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
if there be for him an angel a mediator one of the thousand to declare to man what is right for him and he is gracious to him and says deliver him from going down to the pit i have found a ransom Let his flesh become fresh with youth and let him return to the days of his youthful vigor. Then man prays to God and he accepts him. He comes into his presence with joy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
He recounts to men his salvation and he sings before men and says, I have sinned and perverted what was right and it was not repaid to me. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit and my life shall see the light. Behold, God does all these things twice, three times with a man to bring back his soul from the pit that he might see the light of life. Give heed, O Job, listen to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Be silent and I will speak. If you have anything to say, answer me, speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. Be silent and I will teach you wisdom. Then Elihu said, Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who know. For the ear tests words as the palate tests food. Let us choose what is right. Let us determine among ourselves what is good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
For Job has said, I am innocent, and God has taken away my right. In spite of my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, who goes in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? For he has said, it profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 22: Go to Joseph (2025)
Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make him befall him. Of a truth God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
For his mercy endures forever. Father in heaven, we do give you praise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Your mercy does endure forever, and we love you. We love you for that. We love you for who you are. We love you for all your blessings. We love you for your true fatherhood. Help us to be true sons and daughters of such a good dad. We make this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
So, so Numbers 33, little recap of all the journeys, which is great. If you ever have a map, this is one of the reasons why we know what the journey of the children of Israel was like in the wilderness from Egypt all the way to the promised land, because in chapter 33 of Numbers, we have the recap of where they journeyed. But then we also have Deuteronomy 32 and the song of Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Now, we heard yesterday that God had said, this is the song that Moses, you're going to get all the children of Israel together and you're going to teach them this song. They need to know this song. And then we heard it today and you're like, wow, that's a harsh song. That is a, that's an intense song. It is a song that is given by the Lord through Moses to the people, which speaks of the
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Gosh, well, nothing other than their faithlessness. It speaks that word of prophecy, essentially almost saying that I know what's going to happen. What's going to happen is you're going to be faithless. And when you are faithless, I will let you get what you've chosen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And I think sometimes this is really, really hard for us to understand that when you're faithless, I will let you get what you've chosen. When you choose other gods that don't exist, other gods you don't know, other gods who have never fought for you, that have never called you by name, that they don't love you, I'll let you have them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Now, the remarkable part about this, well, it's all remarkable, but the thing we need to remember is then when we heard from Psalm 118, we prayed Psalm 118, and there are so many incredible lines of Psalm 118, but even maybe some lines that hopefully interpret or become the interpretive keys for what we've heard. We have, gosh, his mercy endures forever. We have that line, so powerful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
So the sons of Israel set out from Ramses and encamped at Sukkoth. And they set out from Sukkoth and encamped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. And they set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-Haharath, which is east of Baal-Zaphon. And they encamped before Migdal. And they set out from before Haharath and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
We have out of my distress, I called in the Lord and he answered me and set me free with the Lord on my side. I do not fear. What can man do to me? So powerful to be able to have that courage and confidence in the Lord. Just like God spoke to Moses, be strong and of good courage. And like Moses spoke to Joshua, be strong and courageous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And what we're going to hear in the book of Joshua, be strong and courageous, but also We have this, the words of God in Psalm 118, saying that God has fought on my behalf when all the world raged against me. And it's so powerful to pray Psalm 118 because they surrounded me like bees. They blazed like fire among thorns, but in the name of the Lord, I cut them off. So good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
But then we have some harder lines. And the line of 118 verse 18 says, the Lord has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death. So what is God doing in the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32? What's he promising? And he's saying, I promise you, I'll let you have what you've chosen. He's chastened me sorely, but I'm not going to abandon you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
I will let you get the fact that you want something other than me. I'll let you have it. And you'll see that anything other than me will let you down. It will actually cause you pain. And I'm going to allow you to experience that pain so that you can know how good I am. So you can know that you actually don't want this brokenness. What you want is me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And this is like basically, you know, that can be a hard lesson, but it's a lesson that every one of us has to learn. I mean, think about any human relationship where there's exclusivity, right? Because God says, I'm a jealous God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
There's exclusivity like a husband and wife, for example, where it's like, no, if you're a wife, you get to be jealous of your husband in the sense that like, no, you're mine. And if you're a husband and you get to be jealous of your wife, like, no, you're not other men's wives, you're my wife. And here's God who says, I get to be jealous of you because... You don't belong to other gods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
You're mine. You're my people, that you are my beloved. And when you give your heart to other things, it breaks my heart. But here's God who says, I'll let you have other things so that you learn, so that you learn that I truly love you. And maybe I'm the only one who ever has. That's what it means in there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Psalm 118, to hear the words, the Lord has chastened me sorely, but he's not given me over to death. He's allowed me to have what I've chosen and but he has not abandoned any of us. When we are faithless, he remains faithful. Hear these words. When we are faithless, he remains faithful, just like we heard yesterday. This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Save us, we beg you, O Lord. Lord, we beg you, give us success. This is our prayer today, that is our continual prayer, that when we encounter in our hearts what was in the hearts of the people of Israel, in the heart of every human being, which is so fickle and faithless, Lord, make us new this day. Give us your love this day. Bring us home this day. And be a good father to us this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Praying for you, please pray for me. Please pray for each other. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they went a three days journey in the wilderness of Etham and encamped in Marah. And they set out from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim, there were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees and they encamped there. And they set out from Elim and encamped by the Red Sea. And they set out from the Red Sea and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from the wilderness of Sin and encamped at Dovka. And they set out from Dovka and encamped at Alush. And they set out from Alush and encamped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. And they set out from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. And they set out from the wilderness of Sinai and encamped at Kibroth Hatava.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 78, and we have only three days, including today. We have only three days left in Numbers and Deuteronomy. We have only three days left of the desert wanderings. And on the fourth day, we begin Joshua and conquest and judges. It is... Great time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from Kibroth Hatava and encamped at Hazeroth. And they set out from Hazeroth and encamped at Rithma. And they set out from Rithma, and encamped at Ramon Perez. And they set out from Ramon Perez, and encamped at Libna. And they set out from Libna, and encamped at Risa. And they set out from Risa, and encamped at Kehalatha.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from Kehalatha, and encamped at Mount Shephar. And they set out from Mount Shephar, and encamped at Haradah. And they set out from Haradah, and encamped at Mekeloth. and they set out from achaloth and encamped at tahath and they set out from tahath and encamped at terah and they set out from terah and encamped at mithkah and they set out from mithkah and encamped at hashmonah
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from Hashmanah, and encamped at Moseroth. And they set out from Moseroth, and encamped at Benidjakan. And they set out from Benidjakan, and encamped at Horhagidad. And they set out from Horhagidad, and encamped at Jatbatha. And they set out from Jatbatha, and encamped at Abranah. And they set out from Abranah, and encamped at Ezean-Geber.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from Ezean-Geber, and encamped in the wilderness of Zin, that is Kadesh. And they set out from Kadesh and encamped at Mount Hor on the edge of the land of Edom. And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the Lord and died there in the fortieth year after the sons of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor. And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the sons of Israel. And they set out from Mount Hor and encamped at Zalmonah. And they set out from Zalmonah and encamped at Poonon. And they set out from Punan and encamped at Oboth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from Oboth and encamped at Eyi Abarim, in the territory of Moab. And they set out from Eyim and encamped at Dibon Gad. And they set out from Dibon Gad. and encamped at Alman da Blathim. And they set out from Alman da Blathim, and encamped in the mountains of Abirim before Nebo.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And they set out from the mountains of Abirim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. They encamped by the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth as far as Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab. instructions for the conquest of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, say to the sons of Israel, when you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
So day 78, we're reading Numbers chapter 33, Deuteronomy chapter 32, the song of Moses we heard about yesterday that was going to be proclaimed and sung again and again so the people of Israel would not forget. And we're also praying Psalm 118. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, the second Catholic edition of the Bible and using the Great Dimensional Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
For I have given the land to you to possess it. You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. The book of Deuteronomy chapter 32, the song of Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished in the ears of all the assembly of Israel. Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
For I will proclaim the name of the Lord, ascribe greatness to our God. The rock, his work is perfect. for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have dealt corruptly with him. They are no longer his children because of their blemish. They are perverse and crooked generation. Do you thus repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Is not he your father who created you, who made you and established you? He says, He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness he encircled him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone did lead them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And there was no foreign god with him. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, and he ate the produce of the field. and he made him suck honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock, curds from the herd and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs and rams, herds of Bashan and goats, with the finest of wheat, and of the blood of the grape you drank wine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
But Jerushan waxed fat and kicked. You waxed fat, you grew thick, you became sleek. Then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the rock of his salvation. They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods. With abominable practices, they provoked him to anger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast and your podcast app to receive daily episodes. As I said, today is day 78. We're reading Numbers chapter 33, Deuteronomy chapter 32, and Psalm 118.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
They sacrificed to demons, which were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come in of late, whom your fathers had never dreaded. You were unmindful of the rock that begot you and you forgot the God who gave you birth. The Lord saw it and spurned them because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
I will see what their end will be for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness. They have stirred me to jealousy with what is no God. They have provoked me with their idols. So I will stir them to jealousy with those who are no people. I will provoke them with a foolish nation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
For if fire is kindled by my anger and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. and I will heap evils upon them. I will spend my arrows upon them. They shall be wasted with hunger and devoured with burning heat and poisonous pestilence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And I will send the teeth of beasts against them with venom of crawling things of the dust. In the open, the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers shall be terror, destroying both young man and virgin, the sucking child and the man of gray hairs. I would have said, I will scatter them afar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
I will make the remembrance of them cease from among men, had I not feared provocation by the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge amiss, lest they should say, Our hand is triumphant. The Lord has not wrought all this. For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this. They would discern their latter end.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
How should one chase a thousand and two put 10,000 to flight unless their rock had sold them and the Lord had given them up? For their rock is not as our rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. For the vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of poison. Their clusters are bitter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Their wine is the poison of serpents and the cruel venom of asps. Is not this laid up in store with me, sealed up in my treasuries? Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip, for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on their servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
When he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free, then he will say, where are their gods? The rock in which they took refuge, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you. Let them be your protection. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God beside me. I kill and I make alive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
The Book of Numbers Chapter 33 The Stages of Israel's Journey from Egypt These are the stages of the sons of Israel, when they went forth out of the land of Egypt by their hosts under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
I wound and I heal, and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, as I live forever, if I sharpen my glittering sword and my hand takes hold of judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
I will make my arrows drunk with blood and my sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives from the long-haired heads of the enemy. Praise his people, O you nations, for he avenges the blood of his servants and take vengeance on his adversaries and makes expiation for the land of his people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua, the son of Nun. And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, Lay to heart all the words which I enjoin on you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
For it is no trifle for you, but it is your life. And thereby you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess. Moses' death foretold.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses that very day, Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel for possession, and die on the mountain which you ascend.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
and be gathered to your people as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people because you broke faith with me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin because you did not revere me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there into the land which I give to the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Psalm 118, a song of victory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His mercy endures forever. Let Israel say his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say his mercy endures forever. Let those who fear the Lord say his mercy endures forever. Out of my distress, I called on the Lord. The Lord answered me and set me free. With the Lord on my side, I do not fear. What can man do to me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
The Lord is on my side to help me. I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. All nations surround me in the name of the Lord. I cut them off. They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side in the name of the Lord. I cut them off.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
They surrounded me like bees. They blazed like a fire among thorns in the name of the Lord. I cut them off. I was pushed hard so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation. Listen, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord. The righteous shall enter through it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
They set out from Ramses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the sons of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them. Upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beg you, O Lord. O Lord, we beg you, give us success. Blessed be he who enters in the name of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 78: The Song of Moses (2025)
We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches up to the horns of the altar. You are my God and I will give thanks to you. You are my God. I will extol you. I'll give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
But if they confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery which they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the lands of their enemies, if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac, and my covenant with Abraham."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And I will remember the land, but the land shall be left by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. And they shall make amends for their iniquity because they spurned my ordinances and their soul abhorred my statutes. Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them. For I am the Lord, their God. But I will, for their sake, remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the Lord made between him and the sons of Israel on Mount Sinai by Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
They're the people, the two men who are the skilled workers who We're going to be looking at more of the making of the Ark of the Covenant and the table, the lampstand. Remember that lampstand is the menorah. So if you're kind of wondering, wait, what can I picture in my head?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
God has taken his place in the divine council. In the midst of the angels, he holds judgment. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the fatherless. Maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy. Deliver them from the hand of the wicked. They have neither knowledge nor understanding.
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Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
They walk about in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. I say, you are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you. Nevertheless, you shall die like men and fall like any prince. Arise, O God, judge the earth, for to you belong all the nations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
We thank you so much for your commandments. We thank you for revealing to us your heart and how we are called to offer you our heart. Thank you for sharing your word with us today. And we ask you please be with us in all of our moments. our moments of darkness, our moments of light, moments we turn away from you, and the moments where we find ourselves deep and deep in your most sacred heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
We make this prayer, Father, in the name of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. So there is something remarkable to talk about today. Just two quick things. One is going to be a review of a day before, and the other is today. So a bit ago,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Yesterday, I believe, where the Lord, through Moses, was calling upon the people to offer their offerings. Actually, it was two days ago. My goodness, the days fly by. One of the things that God instructed through Moses in Leviticus, it's here's what you must offer. Here is the grain offering, the cereal offering, right? Here is the libation offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Here is the different burnt offerings that God demands, right? They're necessary. But a couple of days ago, God was making it very clear. He has said this earlier in Exodus, but it said anyone whose heart moves them to make a freewill offering, anyone in whom the spirit of God has moved and they want to give out of their generosity, come before the Lord and bring all these things, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Picture that as well as the, I guess we call them the articles of furniture, for lack of a better term, that are in the holy place and the holy of holies. And so what we know about the tabernacle or we know about the temple later on is that there was the holy place. And in the holy place, there were three objects or three pieces of furniture, for lack of a better phrase.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
The gold or silver or the blue, purple, scarlet stuff, fine linen, goat's hairs, whatever Whatever you have, there's something there about God saying, you know, there is an element where here's the worship that's demanded me. Here's the sacrifice that is required of you. But there's something that goes to the heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And again, the sacrifice, when we offer the sacrifice that's required of us, that is true sacrifice, right? That's true worship. But there are many times when God says, if you would like to go beyond that, if the Holy Spirit in you is moving you to give beyond that, then here's an opportunity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
In fact, the people of God, the people of Israel, were moved so deeply, so fully by that generosity, by that Spirit of God,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
that he's here at the end or gosh what was that in the middle of chapter 36 where god through moses had to say okay stop people were strained from bringing for the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work and more and this is a reminder for all of us there are some things we offer to the church right in support of our parish our local parish or support of the church ministries around the world but also as catholic christians and also all christians we're called to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
allow the Lord to move our hearts to generosity, to supply for the needs of the people around us. Can you imagine? You know that I think the statistic is something along these lines, that 7% of every parish provides for 90% or more of the parish work. That only 7% of the folks who are in a parish provide for the volunteering, provide for the financial workings of a parish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And just imagine, I know Matthew Kelly had once asked this, he said, imagine what if we increase that? Not just like, you know, double it to 14%. What if we increased it 1%? I mean, imagining that all of the stuff the church does throughout the world, incredibly great stuff, not only locally, but also globally, you know, internationally. Imagine if 8% of Catholics supported that work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Imagine how many people could be blessed. Imagine how many people, like to get to the point, what if we got to the point where even 10% of a parish was supporting the working of the parish? How much more good could be done? Imagine getting to the place where we were so generous with our time, with our talent, with our treasure, that we would have to say actually stop giving.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Wouldn't that be amazing? Here's Moses who says, let neither man or woman do anything more for the offering for the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing for the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work and more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
I know that today, as I am reflecting on a couple of days ago and even reflecting on what God commands to be done and crafted in his tabernacle, what I'm called to reflect upon and be convicted about is that is, am I that generous? Because if I were more generous, then at some point, the people who are suffering around the world would cease to suffer, at least from lack.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 50. Congratulations. Another mile marker. I think every day, every day we take a step forward. It is a great day because it means everything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And so I have to ask God, God, how are you calling me to offer what I have? How are you calling me to offer even just a bit more? Because again, sacrifice is required for love. And so that's what we're called upon to be able to offer the Lord. So that was kind of a reflection from a couple of days ago that just kind of caught up to me today as I was praying about this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And hopefully it's caught up to you as you're praying about this and reading through. We're almost at the very end of Exodus, two more chapters, one more chapter of Leviticus. But the second to last chapter of Leviticus, I just want to highlight one quick point before we conclude today's episode. And that is there are rewards, as it says, rewards for obedience and punishment for disobedience.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
There was the menorah, right? The gold lamp stand. There was the altar of incense that needs to be offered up on this altar. And thirdly, there was the bread of the presence. And so the table of the bread of the presence past that veil was the Holy of Holies. And in that Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Um, we know that not every good thing that happens to us happens because we were good and not everything bad happens to us happens because we were not good because we were disobedient. That's not, it's not a one-to-one kind of a situation. Um, we can, we can come back to that later on when we get back to the wisdom literature.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
We knew that already because, you know, the very beginning of our journey, we were walking with Job and Job was a righteous man and he still had horrible things happen to him. We know that that's not the rule. But also we know that here's God in Leviticus chapter 26, who makes it clear that there are consequences for our actions. And he says, I will hand you over to the sword.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
I'll hand you over to these pestilence. I'll hand you over to these evil things that are happening. But he doesn't hand people over. He doesn't hand us over. He doesn't hand the people of Israel over because he hates them. He hands them over because he loves them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Again and again, God says, if this still won't correct you, if this still doesn't call you back to my heart, then I'll let the next thing happen to you. And that still doesn't call you back to my heart. I'll let the next thing happen to you. Because the whole point of this is not punishment. The whole point of this is rescue. The whole point of this is not just experience my wrath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
The whole point of it is, this is the discipline of a father. And this is so important for all of us. You know, when we approach scripture and we don't trust God, We see these things and go like, wow, that's crazy. I'm done with this. Day 50, that's it. I'm out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
But when we approach the word of God and we have that spirit of trust where it's like, okay, if I don't understand this, it must be me that doesn't understand this. Or if I begin to be suspicious of God, then I say, wait, let me pause. God is a good dad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And when I don't understand what he's doing here, what he's not doing there, I have to look at him, look at life, look at myself through the lens of, okay, but God is a good dad. So why would a good dad allow these punishments to come upon those who are disobedient? Well, because just like any good dad, like any good parent, I want more for you than just your comfort.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
I want more for you than just for you to go about your life and do whatever it is you want to do. I want the best for you. So this is God who is the good dad. He says, I want the absolute best for my children. And so if they refuse to walk in my ways and walk contrary to me, then here's the consequences because I want to bring them back to my heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
So my brothers and sisters, how is God calling me to be generous today so I can just supply for the needs of the people around me? How is God calling me to not walk contrary to him, but to walk in in his will, because that's what it is to be holy, to walk in the will of the Father, to act and love in the will of the Father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
So we're going to get a little bit of description here in chapter 37 and 38 of how they made those things and what they looked like. So it's easy to get lost as I'm describing this. And I invite you, just let it be described to you. Use your imagination. If you're not driving, close your eyes maybe and picture it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
So we keep praying for each other because this is something we cannot do without God's grace. And so I pray for you. Please pray for me. Please pray for each other. You guys, we cannot do this on our own. Oh, man. Well, what a gift we have. Passing up day 50. What a gift. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
If you have access to a computer right now, even maybe pull up as I'm describing this, what did the Ark of the Covenant look like? What did the table look like? What did the altar of incense look like? And maybe you have a little visual. Or what the Holy of Holies, how is that built next to the doorway, extension doorway, past the veil into the Holy of Holies and the holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Does that make sense? If you're driving, keep your eyes open, watch the road, and focus on making sure that everyone's safe out there on the road. But here we are, Exodus chapter 37 and 38. Making the Ark of the Covenant. Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without and made a molding of gold around it. And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four corners, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
and he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark and he made a mercy seat of pure gold two cubits and a half was its length and a cubit and a half its breadth and he made two cherubim of hammered gold On the two ends of the mercy seat he made them, one cherub on the one end and one cherub on the other end.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another, toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim. Making the Table He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And he overlaid it with pure gold and made a molding of gold around it. And he made around it a frame a hand-breadth wide, and he made a molding of gold around the frame. He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table and overlaid them with gold. And he made the vessels of pure gold, which were to be upon the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons, with which to pour libations. making the lampstand. He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand were of hammered work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Okay, Lord, man, in the midst of my unfaithfulness, in the midst of my being fickle, maybe I stopped, maybe I fell off the wagon, but I'm back. This is day 50, and it is an accomplishment because we are two days away, this day and tomorrow, from being at the end of Exodus and the end of Leviticus and launching into the next period, which is desert wanderings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Its cups, its capitals, and its flowers were of one piece with it. And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
three cups made like almonds each with capital and flour on one branch and three cups made like almonds each with capital and flour on the other branch so for the six branches going out of the lampstand and on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almonds with their capitals and flowers and a capital of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out of it
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Their capitals and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole of it was of one piece of hammered work of pure gold. And he made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold. He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold. Making the altar of incense. He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit and its breadth was a cubit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
It was square and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and its sides round about and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around about it. And he made two rings of gold on it under its molding on two opposite sides of it as holders for the poles with which to carry it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. making the anointing oil and incense. He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer. Chapter 38. Making the altar of burnt offering. He made the altar of burnt offering also of acacia wood. Five cubits was its length, and five cubits its breadth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
It was square, and three cubits was its height. He made horns for it, on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. And he made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the firepans, all its utensils he made of bronze.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down. He cast four rings on the four corners of the bronze grating as holders for the poles, He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. And he put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it with them. He made it hollow with boards.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
making the laver and the court. And he made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze from the mirrors of the ministering woman who ministered at the door of the tent of meeting. And he made the court. For the south side, the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
The pillars were twenty and their bases twenty of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. and for the north side a hundred cubits their pillars twenty their bases twenty of bronze but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver and for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits their pillars ten and their sockets ten
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Congratulations, especially if you've ever, ever experienced that discouragement over, gosh, I've been trying to read the Bible, but I always... I always just seem to fail. Here you are today. Here you are today in the midst of whatever other places you've stumbled in the midst of whatever other places in your life right now, you may have, may have tripped, may have fallen today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver, and for the front to the east, fifty cubits. The hangings for one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three bases. And so for the other side, on this hand and that hand, by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three bases."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
All the hangings round about the court were of fine twined linen, and the bases for the pillars were of bronze. But the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. The overlaying of their capitals was also of silver, and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And the screen for the grate of the court was embroidered with needlework in blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen. It was twenty cubits long and five cubits high in its breadth, corresponding to the hangings of the court. And their pillars were four. Their four bases were of bronze, their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals and their fillets of silver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And all the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court roundabout were of bronze. Materials for the Tabernacle This is the sum of the things for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant, as they were counted at the commandment of Moses for the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Bezalel, the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. And with him was Aholiab, the son of Ahissamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet stuff in fine twined linen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
all the gold that was used for the work in all the construction of the sanctuary the gold from the offering was 29 talents and 730 shekels by the shekel of the sanctuary and the silver from those of the congregation who were numbered was a hundred talents and a thousand seven hundred and seventy five shekels by the shekel of the sanctuary a becca ahead that is half a shekel by the shekel of the sanctuary
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
for everyone who is numbered in the census, from 20 years old and upwards, for 603,550 men. The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil. A hundred bases for a hundred talents, a talent for a base. And of the 1,775 shekels, he made hooks for the pillars and overlaid their capitals and made fillets for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And the bronze that was contributed was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. with it he made the bases for the door of the tent of meeting the bronze altar and the bronze grating for it and all the utensils of the altar the bases round about the court and the bases of the gate of the court all the pegs of the tabernacle and all the pegs round about the court
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
Rewards for obedience. You shall make for yourselves no idols and erect no graven image or pillar. And you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to them. For I am the Lord, your God. You shall keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
You are opening your heart and your mind to God's word. And I am so proud of you. We're reading today on day 50 from Exodus chapter 37 and 38. We're also reading from Leviticus chapter 26, and we'll be praying today from Psalm 82. The Bible translation I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Red Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in the season and the land shall yield its increase and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit and your threshing shall last the time of vintage and the vintage shall last to the time for sowing and you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And I will give peace in the land and you shall lie down and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove evil beasts from your land and the sword shall not go through your land. And you shall chase your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred and a hundred of you shall chase 10,000 and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And I will have regard for you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. And you shall eat old store long kept and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. And I will make my abode among you and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God and you shall be my people forever. Punishment for disobedience.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes and if your soul abhors my ordinances so that you will not do all my commandments but break my covenant, I will do this to you. I will appoint over you sudden terror, consumption and fever that wastes the eyes and cause life to pine away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And you shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shall eat it. I will set my face against you and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you and you shall flee when none pursues you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And if in spite of this, you will not listen to me, then I will chastise you again sevenfold for your sins and I will break the pride of your power and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like brass and your strength shall be spent in vain for your land shall not yield its increase and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your sins. And I will let loose the wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattle and make you few in number, so that your ways shall be desolate.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And if by this discipline you are not turned to me, but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you. And I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven and shall deliver your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. And if in spite of this you will not listen to me but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury and chastise you myself sevenfold for your sins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
If you want to be able to follow along, you can download your own Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast. If you haven't yet, please do that. But here we are, once again, reading from Exodus chapter 37 and 38. What we've heard about is we have, obviously, Bezalel, right, and Aholiab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
You shall eat the flesh of your sons and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols. And my soul will abhor you. And I will lay your cities waste. It will make your sanctuaries desolate. And I will not smell your pleasing orders.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And I will devastate the land so that your enemies who settle in it shall be astonished at it. and I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheath the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemy's land. Then the land shall rest and enjoy its Sabbath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
As long as it lies desolate, it shall have rest. The rest which it had not in your Sabbaths when you dwelt upon it. And as for those of you that are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight and they shall flee as one flees from the sword. They shall fall when none pursues.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
They shall stumble over one another as if to escape a sword, though none pursues and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. And you shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 50: Sacrificial Offerings (2025)
And those of you that are left shall pine away in your enemies' lands because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall pine away like them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
You do it with gentleness and reverence, not with a sledgehammer, not with any power tools, not with just this kind of club that you want to beat people over the head with, but do it with gentleness and reverence and keep your conscience clear so that when you're abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. That's so important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Now, next is in the same chapter three, just a couple lines down, Peter talks about the days of Noah, right? And how God saved the people of Noah, eight people in all, through water. In verse 21, he says, baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you. And this is one of the places where we get the doctrine that baptism does something. Baptism actually saves us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And you are now her children if you do right and let nothing terrify you. Likewise, you husbands. Live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered. Suffering for doing right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
It's not simply a sign of a preexisting condition. It actually does something. In fact, all the sacraments, we believe, All the sacraments do something. And here is Peter making it absolutely clear that baptism saves you. That isn't just a kind of a sign of your salvation, but it actually does save you. Just like living in an ark in the middle of a flood isn't a sign of your salvation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
It's actually what's saving you. So that's kind of a kind of slightly important little piece there, both explaining the faith and be able to defend it in gentleness and reverence. as well as the fact that baptism saves us now. Peter is incredibly, incredibly eager to remind Christians that we have to, absolutely have to be on guard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
He talks about in chapter four, verse seven, he says, "'The end of all things is at hand. "'Therefore keep sane and sober for your prayers. "'Above all, hold unfailing your love for one another, "'since love covers a multitude of sins. "'Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.'" As each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God's very grace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And then he goes on to talk about the different gifts people can have, whether they're speaking or having strength to serve or whatever it is, that do everything so that God may be glorified. But he does talk about how we have to be prepared. And he does make it absolutely clear that our battle is not with flesh and blood, just like St. Paul had said. He says, ah, this is so important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Chapter five, verse six, humble yourselves. Therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that in due time, he may exalt you. Verse seven, cast all your anxieties on him for he cares about you. Another translation is cast all your cares on him for he cares for you. I like that one too, because you know. Care and care. Verse eight, be sober, be watchful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him firm in your faith. This is so incredibly important for every one of us to acknowledge, to understand and to engage and to accept is that yes, our battle, once again, not with principalities and powers, but with the evil one. or sorry, I battle is with principalities and powers with the evil one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And we have to be sober. We have to be alert. We have to resist him firm in our faith, but also knowing you're not alone. St. Peter says, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the whole world. And that suffering is not to an empty end. It's to a very powerful end.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Verse 10, and after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be dominion forever and ever. It's so good. Wow. That's the conclusion of St. Peter's first letter. Tomorrow, we're going to be able to hear a second letter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And I'm just, I'm so grateful because it's, we're actually going to hear the entire second letter tomorrow. It's just three chapters, one through three. Today, we're also introduced to the Thessalonians and Paul. And one thing to know about the Thessalonians, Paul loves them. You're talking about someone's favorites? Okay, I think the Thessalonians might be Paul's favorites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 353, once again, a palindrome day. I don't know why I have to point that out every time, but we are reading the second half of 1 Peter 3, 4, and 5. We're also starting St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless. For to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. For he that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
He's just talking about, I love you, I love you, you're great, you encourage me. In fact, with all the struggles he had with the Corinthians, I mean, gosh, think about that, or the Galatians, or even the Ephesians. The Thessalonians, he is just, I can't wait to see you. You're my favorites. Why? Because you received God's word. You're saying yes to it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Now, I know so many of us, we might be God's favorites because we need his love more than anyone else does. We might be God's favorites because he pours his love on us because we need it more. But in this case, St. Paul, he is just so encouraged. He is so encouraged by the faith of the Thessalonians that it just, you can't walk away from this reading without kind of a smile on your face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
One of the pieces that marks St. Paul's letter here that we just heard is he says, you know, you know that when we came among you, we were not only willing to share with you the gospel of God, but also our very selves. This is chapter two, verse eight. He says, so being affectionately desirous of you, we're ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our very selves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And that is, you know, we have missionaries on our campus. They're focused missionaries. It stands for Fellowship of Catholic University Students. And That is how they live. It is incredible. They not only run Bible studies, they don't just do like discipleship. They don't just put on events. They truly get into the lives of our college students and they just, yeah, they share themselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
They don't just share the gospel. They share their very lives. and share their very selves. And this is the way in which every single missionary has to live. And the fact that if you're a baptized Christian, that means you're a missionary. You're a missionary disciple.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And we are called to follow Jesus and then to bring as many people to him as we possibly can, which means that the way we do that is the way that St. Paul describes how he was among the Thessalonians. To not just share the gospel of God, not just share the teaching, but also to share our very lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
One of the things I've said and I will say again and again is I believe that the gospel in our culture, that Christ in our culture, the gospel will not be advanced from a stage or from necessarily a podcast or from anyone on any kind of screen or any kind of internet platform. but the gospel will be truly advanced through families and through friendships. I just, I'm so convinced of this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
The gospel will advance, yeah, in some other ways, because these tools are awesome. Like this podcast, I'm so grateful to be part of this community. But truly, the way in which this is spread is through families and through friendships. That's why so many of you, I know, when you listen to this podcast, you then talk about it with your family or you talk about it with your friends.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And it's like, I just think right now on day 353, all of the ways, all the friendships over the last 353 days that have been strengthened, all the family members who I just, I can't, I hear about this again and again, that, um, They say, yeah, I text my brother about the Bible reading for today, or I text this group of friends I have about the reading for this week.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And I just think that is remarkable. That's incredible. That is the way the gospel will advance, not just sharing the gospel of God, but also sharing our very selves. And I'm so proud of so many of you. I just get to stand here and I get to read the word of God. But you get to share it with the people in your lives. And you do share it. And you get to share your lives with them too.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And you do share that. And that's incredible. And I'm so grateful. And I'm so proud of you. And I'm so proud to belong to this community of people and this Bible in the air. And please, please know this. Please believe me. I am praying for you. And please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Let him turn away from evil and do right. Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil. Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and reverence, and keep your conscience clear so that when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons were saved through water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. Chapter 4 Good Stewards of God's Grace
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought. For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer by human passions, but by the will of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Let the time that is past suffice for doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you do not now join them in the same wild debauchery, and they abuse you. but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, keep sane and sober for your prayers. Above all, hold unfailing to your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians chapters 1, 2, and 3. So six chapters today, including Proverbs chapter 30, verses 15 and 16. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever speaks as one who utters oracles of God, whoever renders service as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Suffering as a Christian
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a wrongdoer or a mischief-maker. Yet, if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name, let him glorify God. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And if the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the impious and sinner appear? Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful creator. Chapter 5. Tending the Flock of Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed, tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint, but willingly, not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And when the chief shepherd is manifested, you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you that are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another. For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast for these last couple weeks. Receive daily episodes and daily updates, and you won't have to go hunting and pecking for each episode every single day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Final greeting and benediction. By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Stand fast in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with the kiss of love.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians and God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace. The Thessalonians, faith and example. We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For we know, brethren, beloved by God, that he has chosen you. For our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. Chapter 2 Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
You know, because today is day 353, and we're reading 1 Peter 3, 4, and 5, 1 Thessalonians 1, 2, and 3, as well as Proverbs 30, verses 15 and 16. The first letter of Peter, chapter 3, Wives and Husbands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile. Thank you for watching. but we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember our labor and toil, brethren. We worked night and day that we might not burden any of you while we preached to you the gospel of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displeased God and opposed all men by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Paul's desire to visit the Thessalonians again. But since we were deprived of you, brethren, for a short time, in person, not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you, I, Paul, again and again, but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For you are our glory and joy. Chapter three. Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone. And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of Christ to establish you in your faith and to exhort you that no one be moved by these afflictions.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Likewise, you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives when they see irreverent and chaste behavior.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
you yourselves know that this is to be our lot for when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction just as it has come to pass and as you know for this reason when i could bear it no longer i sent that i might know your faith for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor would be in vain Timothy's good report.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
But now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us as we long to see you. For this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction, we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live if you stand fast in the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now, may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
The leech has two daughters. Give, give, they cry. Three things are never satisfied. Four never say enough. Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire which never says enough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of robes, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. So once the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves and were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Thank you for Peter once again today. Thank you for Paul. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that has reached out to us and continues to speak to us through your word that you have given to us for so many years. Lord God, we ask you to please continue to shape our hearts, continue to change our hearts, make them more like you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Help us to imitate Jesus Christ, whose spirit you have given to us to give us wisdom, to give us strength, to give us courage. And in this moment right now, Lord, to give us hope, especially in the midst of suffering. for doing what's right also, Lord God. We know that many of us not only suffer for doing what's right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
We also, many of us suffer because of the consequences of our own actions that we've chosen wrong in our day. We've chosen wrong at some points in our lives. And now we're experiencing the burden of that choice. We're experiencing the reality of that choice. And we ask you, Lord God, come and meet us in our need. Come and meet us in our weakness. Come and meet us in our brokenness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Without you, we can do nothing. Whether this is our own making or whether this was a trouble that has come upon us, even in the midst of virtue. Regardless, Lord, we ask you to be with us because we need you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So I had that prayer because, you know, St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Peter in 1 Peter chapter 3, he says, talks about suffering for doing what's right. And he says, basically, there's some words that he has that are, you know, If you're suffering for doing what's wrong, that's fine, whatever. But he says, ah, you want to suffer for doing what's right. That's actually a good thing. And I find myself saying, well, sometimes I suffer for doing what's right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
Also, I find myself suffering the consequences of my own choices too often. I said that thing I shouldn't have said. I didn't do the thing I should have done. You know what I'm saying? And so I just need the Lord's grace to meet me in all situations and in all times. One of the things that is so important and powerful for me personally in 1 Peter 3 is beginning with verse 15.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
This is a verse that defined and charted the course of much of my life. I mean, truly, Peter says, always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is within you. Yet do it with gentleness and reverence and keep your conscience clear. There's something about that that just, so always be ready to give a reason for the faith that's within you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
I mean, different translations word it slightly differently. Here in the RSV, Second Catholic Edition says, always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you. I've heard years ago, it was always ready to give a reason for the hope or reason for the faith that's within you. When I was in high school, this line just struck me so powerfully.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
In fact, it's the reason why when I went to college, I studied theology. I said, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to study scripture. I want to be able to study God's word. I want to be able to study philosophy. I want to know. I want to be able to give a reason for why I believe what I believe. It was, as I said, it was the guiding principle, the guiding scripture.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 353: Sharing the Gospel (2024)
for so much of my life. And I'm so grateful to the Lord that he has allowed me to proclaim that word today. And I'm so grateful to the Lord that he's allowed us all to hear that word today. Always be ready, always prepared to give a reason for the faith that's within you. But also I like how Peter says it. He says, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
amen in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen so gosh our friend job we're not going to talk about him today too much but just we can see what's going on that job has these three friends if you've lost the context a little bit job has these three friends there's going to be a fourth who shows up later on but these three they know that job must have done you know they quote unquote know that job must have done something wrong and so every time they speak what they're saying is essentially now job you be honest with us now tell us for real what
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place upon the mouth of the well. Jacob said to them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
um, you either think you're righteous, but you're not, um, or you, uh, have rebelled against God and you're, you're hiding it from us. And Job is like, I, I don't know what to tell you. I, it seems like God is my enemy. It seems like God is not on my side. It seems like I served him and now he doesn't care about me. We're getting more deeply and deeply into that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Um, we're coming out of it at some point, not anytime soon. Well, yeah, pretty soon, but Just to know that what happens with Job is he is honest. He is honest. Now, his friends are doing their best to be honest, but God's going to have some words for his friends that they did not represent him in the way that they should have to our friend Job. So that's coming.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
But today, before we conclude this time together in God's word, it is so important to highlight what is happening with Jacob and Leah and Rachel and Laban and this whole family. It is a mess upon a mess. And this is like, this is so good for us to understand that here is the family of God. This is the family from which Jesus came. There's all these messes, all this dirtiness, all this brokenness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Here's Laban who like Yeah, you can have all these sheep, all these goats, and then he takes them all away. And so then Jacob's like, well, in that case, I'm going to make sure that the ones I want are the ones I get. But even worse is you have this deception happening from Laban with his two daughters, Leah and Rachel. As we noted, sorry, my gosh, did I say Rachel? I meant to say Rebecca.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
No, I meant to say Rachel. Rebecca is Jacob's mom. Okay, going back to this. Leah and Rachel. Scripture says that Leah had weak eyes. Maybe to say that she wasn't so easy on the eyes is one of the ways people can interpret that. But Rachel was very beautiful. And Rachel is the one who had Jacob's heart. but you see how sometimes the Bible shows us instead of tells us some things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Here's the first thing. One is that Laban, who tricks Jacob into marrying his daughter Leah, says that it is not right in our land. I don't know how it works where you came from, Jacob, but in our land, it is not right to give the younger children what belongs to the older and just remind, rewind a couple of pairs, a couple of chapters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And we see what happened was the younger Jacob took what belonged to the older Esau. And so here's this, this way in which the scripture again shows us, and it doesn't necessarily tell us, but it shows us like, okay, Jacob is the deceiver. Jacob is the one who grasps. Jacob is, is the one who's getting, you know, he's used to kind of getting what he wants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And here is Laban, his uncle who is getting what he wants. He's kind of Pulling a Jacob, you might want to say. That's an interesting thing. And it's an interesting thing that God is revealing to Jacob and to us. But there's a painful thing that happens. And the painful thing is I want to highlight Leah. You imagine Rachel is the one who was loved by her husband.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Leah is the one who was tolerated by her husband. And this is one of the wounds that so many people have, whether it be with their spouse or with their parents or by their children or by life. Sometimes the people in our lives that we think they should love us and they don't, they just tolerate us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
In fact, this is sometimes what a lot of people envision God does with them is just simply tolerates them as opposed to God truly loves you. God truly loves you. And so here is in chapter 29, beginning with verse 31. It says, when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb. Rachel was barren and she conceived and bore a son and named his name Reuben.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Because she said, because the Lord has looked upon my affliction, surely now my husband will love me. And this is the refrain, right? The next child was Simeon. And she says, because the Lord has heard that I'm hated, he's given me this son also. And then the third son is going to be Levi. And she says that, um,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Now this is the time my husband will be joined to me because I have born him three sons. See, every son, she thought, now my husband will love me. Now my husband will be joined to me. Now my husband will stop hating me. She thought what she could do would make herself more lovely, make herself more lovable. That's this trap that so many of us fall into.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
If I can do this, it'll make myself more lovable. And at one point, with the birth of her fourth son, Judah, Leah has given up trying to make her husband love her. And she says, she conceived and bore a son and said, this time I will praise the Lord. Therefore, she called his name Judah. That's what Judah means, praise, praise the Lord. Instead of the others, which is, this will make him love me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
This will make him be my spouse. This will make him stop hating me. Now, of course, that doesn't end because even she and Rachel trade some mandrakes in order to have access to their husband's bed. And just, again, brokenness. And yet God works through all of this brokenness. God will continue to work through all this brokenness. Being unloved, being hated, trading, even handmaids.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
It's all so much of a mess. And yet, so are our lives. It is really rare that anyone has a completely clean life where everything is super simple, everything's super clear, everything's super easy. Even those who are being used by God to build his kingdom, it's incredibly rare that you find a person who doesn't have a mess. In fact, it's so rare that I would say it doesn't exist.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And that's one of the reasons why we keep coming back to the Bible. That's one of the reasons why we keep being part of this community is because we know that our lives kind of mirror the lives of these people in the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And so if they're going to mirror the lives of the people in the Bible at the end of the story where there's glory and where there's honor being given to God and there's holiness, then it's sometimes okay. to recognize that right now, though, right now there is some brokenness that God can still use. And that's the thing. He can still use it. So let's keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Please pray for me. I'll be praying for you and pray for each other. This community of people going through the Bible. We're going to be doing this for the next 365 days or, you know, minus 15. And it is going to be phenomenal. I'm continuing to pray for you. And please know that you're not alone. You're not alone in your brokenness. You're not alone in your grief. You're not alone in your sorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Water the sheep and go, pasture them. But they said, We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well, then we water the sheep. While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
You're not alone when you feel unloved. Because you are loved. My name is Father Mike. God bless you and I'll see you tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Now when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman and that he was Rebecca's son. And she ran and told her father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
When Laban heard the tidings of Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to the house. Jacob told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he stayed with him a month. Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely. Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. Laban said, "'It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man. Stay with me.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed at him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "'Give me my wife, that I may go into her, for my time is completed.' So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went into her.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
This is day 15, so let's get started. We are reading today, day 15 from Genesis chapter 29 and 30. We're also reading from the book of Job, our friend Job in chapters 19 and 20, and then also continuing on chapter three of Proverbs chapter three, verses five through eight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid. And in the morning, behold, it was Leah. And Jacob said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me? Laban said, It is not so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years. Jacob did so and completed her week, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife. Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid. So Jacob went into Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called him Reuben. For she said, Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction, surely now my husband will love me. She conceived again and bore a son and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also. And she called his name Simeon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Again she conceived and bore a son and said, Now this time my husband will be joined to me because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister, and she said to Jacob, Give me children or I shall die. Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, Am I in the place of God who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? Then she said, Here is my maid Bilhah. Go into her, that she may bear upon my knees, and even I may have children through her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went into her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, God has judged me and has also heard my voice and given me a son. Therefore she called his name Dan. Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, with mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
So she called his name Naphtali. When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son, and Leah said, Good fortune. So she called his name Gad. Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, and Leah said, Blessed am I, for the women will call me blessed. So she called his name Asher.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
If you want this Bible reading plan, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, and you can get that reading plan just in front of you right now. You don't have to let me announce it to you. You can know what we're reading. Also, the translation that I'm using is the revised standard version, Catholic edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
In the days of the wheat harvest, Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray, some of your son's mandrakes. But she said to her, Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also? Rachel said, Then he may lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, So he lay with her that night. And God hearkened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, So she called his name Issachar. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, God has endowed me with a good dowry.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Now my husband will honor me because I have born him six sons. So she called his name Zebulun. Afterwards, she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel and God hearkened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, God has taken away my reproach. And she called his name Joseph saying, may the Lord add to me another son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
When Rachel had born Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go, for you know the service which I have given you. But Laban said to him, If you will allow me to say so, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. Name your wages and I will give it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Jacob said, You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me. For you had little before I came and it has increased abundantly and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own house also? He said, What shall I give you? Jacob said, You shall not give me anything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
If you will do this for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it. Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and such shall be my wages. So my honesty will answer for me later when you come to look into my wages with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Everyone that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen. Laban said, Good, let it be as you have said. But that day Laban removed the he goats that were striped and spotted and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it and every lamb that was black and put them in charge of his sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And he set a distance of three days journey between himself and Jacob. And Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flock. Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plain and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the rods. He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the runnels, that is, in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And since they bred when they came to drink, the flocks bred in front of the rods, and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban, and he put his own droves apart, and did not put them with Laban's flock.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
to proclaim this word today to you all with us all. Man, oh man. If you want to, please subscribe to this podcast app or in your app so that you can get the updates every time we drop a new episode, which is every single day for the entire year, 365 days in a row. You also can sign up for our email list by texting the word CatholicBible to 33777. Those are some of the announcements.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob laid the rods and the runnels before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the rods. But for the feebler of the flock, he did not lay them there. So the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Thus the man grew exceedingly rich, and had large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Job answers, I know that my Redeemer lives. Then Job answered, How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words? These ten times you have cast reproach upon me. Are you not ashamed to wrong me? And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my humiliation an argument against me, know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me. Behold, I cry out violence, but I am not answered. I call aloud, but there is no justice. He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head. He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree. He has kindled his wrath against me. He counts me as his adversary. His troops come together. They have cast up siege works against me and encamp round about my tent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
He has put my brethren far from me and my acquaintances are wholly estranged from me. My kinsfolk and my close friends have failed me. The guests in my house have forgotten me. My maidservants count me as a stranger. I have become an alien in their eyes. I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer. I must beseech him with my mouth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
I am repulsive to my wife, loathsome to the sons of my own mother. Even young children despise me. When I rise, they talk against me. All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me. My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. Have pity on me. Have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh? O that my words were written! O that they were inscribed in a book! Oh, that I had an iron pen and lead, they were graven in rock forever. For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, then from my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
And my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me. If you say how we will pursue him and the root of the matter is found in him, be afraid of the sword. For wrath brings the judgment of the sword that you may know there is a judgment. Then Zophar the Namathite answered, Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
I hear censure which insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me. Do you not know, this from of old, since man was placed on the earth, that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Those who have seen him will say, Where is he? He will fly away like a dream and not be found. He will be chased away like a vision of the night. The eye which saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. His bones are full of youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
I am so grateful for you being here as we just read through today's walk through, get proclaimed to by God's very word. So let's begin. Once again, we're reading Genesis chapter 29 and 30. Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
The wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, though he is loathe to let it go and holds it in his mouth, yet his food is turned in his stomach. It is the gall of asps within him. He swallows down riches and vomits them up again. God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of asps. The tongue of the viper will kill him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down from the profit of his trading. He will get no enjoyment. For he has crushed and abandoned the poor. He has seized a house which he did not build.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
because his greed knew no rest he will not save anything in which he delights there was nothing left after he had eaten therefore his prosperity will not endure in the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in straits all the force of misery will come upon him To fill his belly to the full, God will send his fierce anger into him and rain it upon him as his food. He will flee from an iron weapon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
A bronze arrow will strike him through. It's drawn forth and comes out of his body. The glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him. Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown upon will devour him. What is left in his tent will be consumed. The heavens will reveal his iniquity and the earth will rise up against him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Father in heaven, we give you praise for your word. We thank you for speaking to us once again this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
We thank you for the group of people who are journeying with us, this team of people, this family of God who seek after your word. We listen to it attentively. And we ask you to make yourself known even more fully, not merely through your word, but also through the spirit that works and animates in your word. May it also animate our hearts. May it also illuminate our minds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2025)
as we come back again and again to your word, as you reveal it, as you reveal yourself to us in this sacred scripture. We give you praise for revealing your heart to us. Help us to not be afraid to reveal our hearts to you. In Jesus' name we pray.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Lord God, today, please call us back to yourself. Today, give us a spirit of repentance. Today, give us a spirit of trust and confidence in your mercy for us, and give us your Holy Spirit that we may be your people this day and every day. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
So we continued our story with Balaam and Balak, right? So there's going to be a couple more times where Balak tries to convince Balaam to give a curse upon the people of Israel, and it's not going to go any better than these first two.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
It's so interesting because everything you read, both in the New Testament where it references Balaam and in the early church fathers, you mentioned this yesterday, no one sees Balaam as a good guy. In fact, Even though when you read the text itself, Balaam seems to be doing what God has asked him to do. He says, I will only say what God tells me to say.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
and balaam said to balak stand beside your burnt offering and i will go perhaps the lord will come to meet me and whatever he shows me i will tell you and he went to a bare height and god met balaam and balaam said to him i have prepared the seven altars and I have offered upon each altar a bull and a ram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
And then he only says what God tells him to say. And yet the interpretation of this is that Balaam is a man for hire. Essentially, he's out for himself and that he is not interested necessarily in doing God's will as God's will, but he's willing basically to do whatever someone will pay him to do. And in this case, he's being prevented from
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
um god is using balaam to bless his people which is remarkable god used a donkey yesterday to speak and proclaim words and now god uses a bigger donkey i read that once god uses a bigger donkey in balaam to uh to speak his words and yet um again in a couple days we're going to see this we're going to see what is happening while god is blessing his people something else is happening and just stay tuned
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
But in Deuteronomy chapter 24 and 25, we have the continuation of a bunch of these laws. In fact, there's various laws. We have laws about marriage. We have laws about crime and punishment, essentially, we could say. But one of the things that is uniting the laws is this, the source of the law. Now, the source of the law, of course, is going to be the Lord. The Lord is the giver of these laws.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
He's the giver of this wisdom. But why do they have to be given? Now, we can read these various laws and they might seem a little bit unnecessary to us. They might seem really arbitrary to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
And yet, if you've ever tried to organize something, whether that even is like a group of kids playing a ball game or a card game or a board game to a family, to a business, to a company, you find yourself making up laws as you go. Why? Because people are breaking the laws. I mean, think about this. When it comes to kickball,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
At some point, someone was running from one base to the other and they threw the ball at the person. If you hit the person with the ball when they're not touching a base, they're out. This is how we play kickball. At some point, some kid gets hit in the head by the ball. And like, wait, does that count or not? I don't know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
We never thought about this until the situation arose where a kid was running from one base to another and got hit in the head. And then they make up the rule that says, no, if you get hit in the head by the ball, you're not out. That's kind of what we're seeing right now in Deuteronomy chapter 24 and 25 and following.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
What we have is a number of situations that must have arisen in the people of Israel. I mean, you have the things that like, yes, this would be necessary to make a law about. It seems like it gives a lot of forethought and some seem to be like, wait, that was random as an example.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
The command in Deuteronomy chapter 24 that says that when you are cleaning your field, you're bringing in the grain or when you're knocking the olives or the grapes, picking the grapes off of your vines, you only go over one time and you leave whatever else is there for the stranger, the sojourner, right? The orphan or widow. And that's that again, so much goodness in there. So much forethought.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
You go on to say that in chapter 25, there is a dispute and these men are fighting and one is accused by the other of being guilty of something. And if the person is found guilty, they shall be beaten, right? In accordance with the severity of the crime. It says 40 lashes, but no more than 40 lashes. Why? Because more than 40 would dishonor the man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak. And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. And Balaam took up his discourse and said, From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, denounce Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Now, in Jesus Christ, in the Shroud of Turin, we see that Jesus himself had been lashed far, far more times than just 40 because they were not following the Jewish law. They were doing whatever the Romans wanted to do. But there's a restriction on the lashes in order not to dishonor the individual. But the very next command is, you shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Just kind of random. But what is that about? What it's about is The fact that here is an ox that as he's working, he gets to eat what he's treading off the grain. As he's wandering through, as he's doing the work, the ox actually gets to eat. And there's this kindness to animals that even pops into the commands of the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
That's what we're going to find as we continue in scripture is that it might not be what we anticipate, but it is what we need. And that's such a great gift. Speaking of gifts, day 71 in the can. Well done, everyone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
As we continue to try to be faithful, as we continue to rely upon the Lord when it comes to our prayer, when it comes to letting his word change our minds, change our hearts, shape our lens. Let's pray for each other. And I am praying for you. I know I say that every day, but it's because I am praying for you every day. You're not in this alone. And we are not alone. We are here with each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
So, man, let's keep praying. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his. And Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them. And he answered, Must I not take heed to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth? Balaam's second oracle. And Balak said to him, Come with me to another place from which you may see them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 71. You have done such a good job in keeping up with this. This might not be day 71 for you in the sense of it's not necessarily the 71st day of 2021. Whenever you are listening to this, it is your day 71. And you are here, you showed up, and that's phenomenal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
You shall see only the nearest of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there. And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam said to Balak, Stand here beside your burnt offering while I meet the Lord yonder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak. And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, What has the Lord spoken? And Balaam took up his discourse and said, Rise, Balak, and hear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the horns of the wild ox. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel what God has wrought. Behold a people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
As a lioness it rises up, and as a lion it lifts itself. It will not lie down till it devours the prey and drinks the blood of the slain. And Balak said to Balaam, neither curse them at all nor bless them at all. But Balaam answered Balak, did I not tell you all that the Lord says that I must do? And Balak said to Balaam, come now, I will take you to another place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there. So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that overlooks the desert. And Balaam said to Balak, Build for me here seven altars, and provide for me here seven bulls and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her and he writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house and she departs out of his house and if she goes and becomes another man's wife and the latter husband dislikes her and writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife, then her former husband
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Various Laws When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken. No man shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
We are reading today from Numbers chapter 23 and Deuteronomy chapter 24 and 25. So we're going 23, 24, 25. We're also praying from Psalm 106. As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. And you can also download for free your own Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
If a man is found stealing one of his brethren, the sons of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. Take heed in an attack of leprosy to be very careful to do according to all that the Levitical priests shall direct you, as I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way as you came forth out of Egypt. When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to fetch his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
When the sun goes down, you shall restore to him the pledge that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God. You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brethren or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
You shall give him his hire on the day he earns it before the sun goes down, for he is poor and sets his heart upon it, lest he cry against you to the Lord and it be sin in you. The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge. But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. Therefore, I command you to do this. Let's read it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Therefore I command you to do this. Chapter 25 If there is a dispute between men, and they come into court, and the judges decide between them acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty, then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight. You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. Duty to a brother's widow. If brothers dwell together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside the family to a stranger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Her husband's brother shall go into her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his brother who is dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
that his name may not be blotted out of israel and if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say my husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in israel he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, I do not wish to take her, then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face, and she shall answer and say, So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house, and the name of his house shall be called in Israel, the house of him that had his sandal pulled off.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
If you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, go ahead and do that. I'm not telling you what to do, just a suggestion. That's all this is. It's day 71, and this is Numbers 23, Deuteronomy chapter 24 and 25 in Psalm 106. the book of Numbers chapter 23, Balaam's first oracle. And the next day, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamath Baal. And from there, he saw the nearest of the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Various commands. When men fight with one another and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him and she puts out her hand and seizes him by the private parts, then you shall cut off her hand. Your eye shall have no pity. You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and just weight you shall have, a full and just measure you shall have, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary and cut off at your rear all who lagged behind you, and he did not fear God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Therefore, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about in the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Praise the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or show forth all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times. Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Help me when you deliver them, that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your heritage. Both we and our fathers have sinned.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
we have committed iniquity we have done wickedly our fathers when they were in egypt did not consider your wonderful works they did not remember the abundance of your mercy but rebelled against the most high at the red sea yet he saved them for his name's sake that he might make known his mighty power he rebuked the red sea and it became dry And he led them through the deep as through a desert.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
So he saved them from the hand of the foe and delivered them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries. Not one of them was left. Then they believed his words. They sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works. They did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness and put God to the test in the desert.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
He gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them. When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord, the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram. Fire also broke out in their company. The flame burned up the wicked. They made a calf at Horeb and worshipped a molten image.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore, he said he would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to turn away his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Having no faith in his promise, they murmured in their tents and did not obey the voice of the Lord. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness and would disperse their descendants among the nations, scattering them over the lands. Then they attached themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
They provoked the Lord to anger with their doings and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, and the plague was stayed, and that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to generation. They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke words that were rash.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. They poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. and the land was polluted with blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
And Balaam said to Balak, build for me here seven altars and provide for me here seven bulls and seven rams. Balak did as Balaam had said, and Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Thus they became unclean by their acts and played the harlot in their doings. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage. He gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
many times he delivered them but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry he remembered for their sake his covenant and relented according to the abundance of his mercy he caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say, Amen. Praise the Lord. Father in heaven, we thank you so much for your gift, for your word. We thank you for the reminder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 71: The Source of the Law (2025)
This Psalm 106, we give you praise for it because it is just the synopsis and it invites us to do, Lord God, what you keep reminding us to do, which is to remember. Remember what you have done. Remember your faithfulness and remember all the ways in which we are broken, all the ways in which We have failed to belong to you, and yet you continue to call us back to yourself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
I will praise you with an upright heart. When I learn your righteous ordinances, I will observe your statutes. O forsake me not utterly. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you. Let me not wander from your commandments. I have laid up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Teach me your statutes. With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes. I will not forget your word. deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and observe your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on earth. Hide not your commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones who wander from your commandments. Take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, speak to the sons of Israel that they take for me an offering from every man whose heart makes him willing, you shall receive the offering for me. And this is the offering which you shall receive from them. Gold, silver and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, goat's hair, tanned ram's skins, goat skins, acacia wood,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight. They are my counselers. My soul clings to the dust. Revive me according to your word. When I told of my ways, you answered me. Teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law. I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my understanding. Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you. Turn away the reproach, which I dread, for your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for your precepts. In your righteousness give me life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Let your mercy come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise. Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your ordinances. I will keep your law continually forever and ever, and I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delights in your commandments, which I love. I revere your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Remember your words, your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort and my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Godless men utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Father in heaven, we give you praise. We give you thanks right now, Lord God. We praise you not only for your future deliverance for us, we also praise you for what you've done for us in the past. We praise you for all the good that you've brought into our lives. The fact that you have made us into your children through the gift of your Holy Spirit given to us at baptism.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
We thank you for the gift of worship. Thank you for revealing your heart to us and how we are to approach you, Lord God, because without your revealing how we are to approach you, we would be lost. We would have no idea how you desire us to come to you. We would have no idea how you desire us to live truly in freedom and in holiness. because you are holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You call us to be holy and you make it possible by your grace for us to be holy. Help us to choose holiness today. Help us to choose you today and help us to glorify you today. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So we had a bunch of readings today, obviously, as we do every day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
But today, I don't know if you noticed, it's a Of the tabernacle, the descriptions of the Ark of the Covenant, the descriptions of the veil and the screen, the lampstand, all these things. And yet they are so important. When I say it's difficult to get through them, it's just because sometimes it's difficult to have a mental picture of what scripture is describing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst. According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, of all its furniture, so you shall make it. The Ark of the Covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And so, for example, on the lamp stand, just a brief example, the lamp stand, as I was describing it, I mean, as Moses, as God was describing it to Moses, and here it's written down in Exodus 26, 25, it might be hard to picture it. This is okay.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
So there's a base of the lamp stand and there's three cups on one side of it made like almonds, capital and flour on one branch and three cups like almonds with each capital and flour in the other branch. six branches going out of the lampstand. What's that look like? Well, it's a menorah. So if you've ever seen a menorah, like, oh, that's what's being described here. Like, I get this now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Or even in the fashioning of the Ark of the Covenant, the cherubim on top of it, if you've seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, you know that here is one of the ways in which we have this image of Here's this box, right? That's a certain size.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And on top, there are these angels, cherubim, that are extending their wings out over the mercy seat, which is the center of the Ark of the Covenant, and bowing their faces either towards each other or to that mercy seat. And if you've ever seen an image of this, like, oh, now I have a picture of this. And lastly, when it comes to the table for the bread of the presence or the tabernacle,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Sometimes if we've never seen any artist's rendering of these kinds of things, it can be tough for us to recognize what are we talking about? For example, in the tabernacle, there was the holy place. And in the holy place, there was the bread of the presence. There was the lampstand, the menorah, right? And there was also the altar of incense. Those three things were in the holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And there's the holy of holy place, holy place, holiest place, right? The holy of holies. which is past the deeper curtain, the thicker curtain. And in that space, in that Holy of Holies was only the Ark of the Covenant. And I think sometimes when we just kind of read through and don't stop and think, like, has anyone ever drawn this out? We can miss some things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And I don't want you to miss those things because there's going to be a recognition of some really powerful things that connect with us as Catholic Christians. As an example, we have the Holy of Holies, that veil that separates the holy place from the Holy of Holies. And that veil was the curtain that was torn into top to bottom. When our Lord Jesus gave up his spirit to the Father and thereby he
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
poured out his mercy right the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant even though the ark of the covenant wasn't there when jesus died the ark had been hidden away for years by this point but the idea is the same the idea is that mercy seat being poured out the mercy of god being poured out upon the world as his the veil of his flesh is pierced by that that soldier's spear and the blood and water flows out the blood of eucharist and the water of baptism that the holy of holies
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
is being revealed, not because it's no longer holy, but because it's no longer off limits. Not because it's no longer holy, but because here's God's love that is impossible to be held back anymore. This is so incredible, so incredible. Last note, last note is the table for the bread of the presence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Gosh, it says you shall, and this is verse 30 in chapter 25 in Exodus, you shall set the bread of the presence on the table before me always. And there is something remarkable about the bread of the presence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
especially for us as catholic christians we realize that in every single catholic church in the tabernacle right in that holy of holies place there is the bread of the presence the bread of the very presence of god not just in sign not just in symbol but in truth in spirit and truth here is jesus christ who continues to dwell among us the presence of god the bread of the presence
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
I do want to make a little note quick about Leviticus 19 and just how good it is. There can be some confusing moments, right? There is a part that says, like I mentioned yesterday, don't shave off the hair in your temples or don't mix fibers in your clothing. Say, okay, that's one of those conditional moments, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold. Within and without shall you overlay it. And you shall make upon it a molding of gold round about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
As opposed to the universally unconditional moments where this is an absolute teaching for all time. But there's also some things that are just like so wise. And we also realize that the difficulty in approaching scripture without a context for that scripture. Once again, remember here in Leviticus, you have the story of the people of Israel who are being reminded of their true identity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
They're being reminded of God's identity. And so God has to start somewhere. And so there are some things that might seem even unfair to us where it's like, wait a second, why would this be the condition if, would this be the result consequence if this such and such an action happens?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Well, we would maybe say that a certain behavior would be greatly, more greatly punished, or we'd say there's certain behavior be like less, less punished than is in scripture. Keeping this in mind, keeping in mind that God is teaching his people who he is. He's teaching them justice first.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And I think it's so, so powerful that it says in Leviticus 19, what I mentioned a couple days ago, is that you shall not prefer the poor nor defer to the mighty, but be just in all of your rulings. Again, God has to teach his people justice before he can teach them mercy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
He has to teach us what right and wrong are before he can teach us the subtle nuances of the, maybe say the shades of gray when it comes to truth and justice and in goodness. Anyways, this is the second day in a row where we have an extremely long podcast. Hopefully you put this on time and a half speed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Maybe speak a little faster so you can get on your commute or wherever you're praying with these words. Let the word of the Lord speak to your heart now. I think this is such a gift for us to be able to journey through Exodus and Leviticus at the same time. And we will continue to doing this tomorrow and the next few days. I cannot wait to do this. Please keep me in your prayers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
I am praying for you. Keep each other in your prayers because, hey, day 43 is checked off and now it's time to move on to day 44 tomorrow. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And you shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And you shall put into the ark the covenant which I shall give you. Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold. Of hammered work shall you make them on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end and one cherub on the other end.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another. Toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark. And in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
There I will meet with you. And from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the covenant, I will speak with you of all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel. The table for the bread of the presence. And you shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make around it a frame of a handbreadth wide and a molding of gold around the frame. And you shall make for it four rings of gold and fasten the rings to the four corners of its four legs. Close to the frame the rings shall be as holders for the poles to carry the table.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Both chapters 25 and 26 today, learning about not only the temple, learning about worship, learning about the Ark of the Covenant. That's Exodus 25 and 26. Also Leviticus chapter 19. We'll be praying today. Psalm 119 verses 1 through 56. As always, I'm reading from the revised standard version, the second Catholic edition. I'm actually using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold and the table shall be carried with these. And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense and its flagons and bowls with which to pour libations. Of pure gold you shall make them. And you shall set the bread of the presence on the table before me always. the lampstand, and you shall make a lampstand of pure gold.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
The base and the shaft of the lampstand shall be made of hammered work. Its cups, its capitals, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it, and there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
three cups made like almonds each with capital and flour on one branch and three cups made like almonds each with capital and flour on the other branch so for the six branches going out of the lampstand and on the lampstand itself four cups made like almonds with their capitals and flours
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
and a capital of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand their capitals and their branches shall be of one piece with it the whole of it one piece of hammered work of pure gold and you shall make the seven lamps for it and the lamps shall be set up so as to give light upon the space in front of it its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
The Tabernacle Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff. With cherubim skillfully worked shall you make them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains shall have one measure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
my name is father mike schmitz and you're listening to the bible in a year podcast where we encounter god's voice and live life through the lens of scripture the bible in your podcast is brought to you by ascension using the great adventure bible timeline we'll read all the way from genesis to revelation discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today this is day 43 let's keep on trucking we're moving ahead we're reading from exodus chapter
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another." and you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain on the second set.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set. The loops shall be opposite one another, and you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, that the tabernacle may be one whole." You shall also make curtains of goat's hair for a tent over the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Eleven curtains shall you make. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains shall have the same measure. You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
and you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outmost in one set and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outmost the second set and you shall make fifty clasps of bronze and put the clasps into the loops and couple the tent together that it may be one whole
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
In the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtains that remain shall hang over the back of the tabernacle and the cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and that side to cover it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams skins and goat skins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
framework and you shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood ten cubits shall be the length of a frame and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame there shall be two tenons in each frame for fitting together so shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle you shall make the frames for the tabernacle 20 frames for the south side and 40 bases of silver you shall make under the 20 frames two bases under one frame for its two tenons
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You can get your own Great Adventure Bible from Ascension at ascensionpress.com or Amazon or wherever they sell Bibles. You know how to get stuff. You know how to get stuff online for crying out loud. If you want to get, speaking of online, a Bible in a year reading plan, you can download to your device, to your computer. You can print it out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
and two bases under another frame for its two tenons and for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side twenty frames and their forty bases of silver two bases under one frame and two bases under another frame and for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
and you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear they shall be separate beneath but joined at the top at the first ring thus shall it be with both of them they shall form the two corners and there shall be eight frames with their bases of silver sixteen bases two bases under one frame and two bases under another frame
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
you shall make bars of acacia wood five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward the middle bar halfway up the frames shall pass through from end to end you shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And you shall overlay the bars with gold and you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it, which has been shown you on the mountain. the veil and the screen. And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen. In skilled work shall it be made with cherubim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And you shall hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps and bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
you shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant in the most holy place and you shall set the table outside the veil in the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table and you shall put the table on the north side And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen embroidered with needlework.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You can visit ascensionpress.com slash bible in a year. Print that puppy out, and then you can cross off. Like I mentioned yesterday, you can cross off each day as you move along, and you'll be like, man, I'm on day 43 already. This is amazing. I'm amazing. And that's right. You are amazing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the next day and anything left over until the third day shall be burned with fire. If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
It will not be accepted and everyone who eats of it shall bear his iniquity because he has profaned a holy thing of the Lord and that person shall be cut off from his people. When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border. Neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner. I am the Lord your God. You shall not steal nor deal falsely nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by my name falsely and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind. But you shall fear your God." I am the Lord. You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
you shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people but you shall love your neighbor as yourself i am the lord you shall keep my statutes you shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind nor shall you sow your field with two kinds of seed nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave betrothed to another man and yet not ransomed or given her freedom, an inquiry shall be held. They shall not be put to death because she was not free, but he shall bring a guilt offering for himself to the Lord to the door of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You can also subscribe to this podcast by just clicking subscribe, but I'm grateful that you are joining me today, and I cannot wait to journey with you through scripture. Exodus 25, 26, Leviticus 19, and as I said before, Psalm 119 verses 1 through 56. Let's keep on moving. Exodus chapter 25, offerings for the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the Lord for his sin which he has committed. And the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him. When you come into the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you. It must not be eaten.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
And in the fourth year, all their fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year, you may eat of their fruit, that they may yield more richly for you. I am the Lord your God. You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not practice augury or witchcraft. You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you. I am the Lord. Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry and the land become full of wickedness. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. Do not turn to mediums or wizards. Do not seek them out to be defiled by them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
I am the Lord your God. You shall rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of an old man. And you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you are strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah and a just hin. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall observe all my statutes and all my ordinances and do them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant (2025)
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in his ways. You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh, that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes. Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Paul concludes this letter in the end of chapter 5, at least, is the works of flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. And it's really interesting to take a moment really and recognize St. Paul has a list. And sometimes when we have these lists, they're just words that go in one ear and out the other. Lists of immorality, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And when he had come, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood about him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove. Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Or lists of works of the flesh are immorality and impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit. That's the divisions they had amongst them. Like I belong to Apollos. I belong to Paul. Envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. All of those things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
All of those things are things that separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Every single one of them take away our heart. They're the works of the flesh that destroy us and keep us slaves. But he also says, but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Okay, let's highlight this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
This will be the last thing we say, maybe. These are the fruits of the Spirit. What that means is this is the fruit of a life lived in God. They are a byproduct, you might say. They're an outgrowth of walking with God, walking in the Holy Spirit, walking in Christ, remaining, living, growing in God's will automatically will come about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
If you're an orange tree, you don't have to really work to grow oranges. You just grow oranges. If you're an apple tree, you don't have to work to grow apples. You just grow apples. So here, the fruits of the spirit, if you're living in the spirit, here's what's going to happen. These are the fruits, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
These are the fruits of a life lived in the spirit. So if I have them in my life, okay, good. That's a good indication. That's a good sign that you are walking in the spirit. And if they're not in my life, that's a good sign that I might not quite be walking in the spirit. In chapter 6, verse 7, St. Paul makes a very big point, and that is, do not be deceived. God is not mocked.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Basically, if you plant corn, you're going to get corn. If you plant orange trees, you're going to get orange trees. What is it you want to get? Do I want to get love and peace and patience and kindness and gentleness and goodness and faithfulness and self-control? If I do, then I need to... plant those seeds. I need to actually invest those things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried in these charges before me? But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer, and I have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
It doesn't make any sense to plant rice and then be surprised that rice is growing. It doesn't make any sense to say, I want potatoes, but instead I'm going to plant beans. Does that make sense? I'm mixing my metaphors here, but it's so important. St. Paul says at the very end here, well, close to the very end, he says, Let us not grow weary in well-doing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
For in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart. So my brothers and sisters, my friends, in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart. So don't lose heart. Praying for you. He says, far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. The last words of St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Paul in this letter, he says, henceforth, let no man trouble me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. that's led some people to wonder if St. Paul had the stigmata, right? The actual wounds of Jesus and his hands on his feet and his sides, like St. Padre Pio did, and some others have had this, but St. Francis of Assisi had that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But it's possible that he would bear for the rest of his life on his body, the marks of Jesus, that stigmata, it's possible. But do not lose heart. Even if we find ourselves full of fruits of licentiousness and fruits of the works of the flesh, begin planting the works of the Spirit. Begin planting love and peace and joy and patience and kindness and gentleness and self-control.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And by God's grace, we'll be given those fruits of the Spirit. I'm praying for you. Please, please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But if there is nothing in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go. Festus consults King Agrippa. Now, when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, There is a man left prisoner by Felix. And when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 346. We're reading Acts of the Apostles, chapter 25. Only four chapters to go, including chapter 25, as well as Galatians, St. Paul's letter to the Galatians, chapters 4, 5, and 6. The conclusion only in two parts. So we get Galatians 1 through 3 yesterday and 4, 5, and 6 today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charges laid against him. When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed, but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own superstition and about one Jesus who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive." Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar. And Agrippa said to Festus, I should like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, you shall hear him. Paul is brought before Agrippa.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then by command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Therefore, I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner not to indicate the charges against him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
The Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, Chapter 4
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
i mean that the heir as long as he is a child is no better than a slave though he is the owner of all the estate but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father so with us when we were children we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So, through God, you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if a son, then an heir. Paul reproves the Galatians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to those weak and beggarly elemental spirits whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And we're also reading Proverbs chapter 29, verses 15 through 17. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan for this home stretch, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Brethren, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are." You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the satisfaction you felt?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out that you may make much of them. For a good purpose, it is always good to be made much of, and not only when I am present with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you, I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. the allegory of Hagar and Sarah. Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through the promise. Now this is an allegory. These women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. She is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds to the present Jerusalem for she is in slavery with her children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother. For it is written, Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear. Break forth and shout, you who are not with labor pains. For the desolate has more children than she who has a husband. Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But as at the time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the spirit, so it is now. But what does the scripture say? Cast out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brethren, we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman. Chapter 5 Christian Freedom for freedom Christ has set us free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Stand fast, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
You can also subscribe to this podcast and receive daily episodes and daily updates. That is today, day 346, Acts 25, Galatians 4, 5, and 6, and Proverbs chapter 29, verses 15 through 17. The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 25. Paul appeals to Caesar. Now, when Festus had come into his province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who called you. A little leaven leavens all the dough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine. And he who is troubling you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But if I, brethren, still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case, the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would mutilate themselves. For you are called to freedom, brethren.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another. The works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. For these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Now, the works of the flesh are plain, immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Chapter 6.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Bear One Another's Burdens Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each man will have to bear his own load. Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But he who sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Final Admonitions and Benediction See with what large letters I am writing to you in my own hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor, to have the man sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth, let no man trouble me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Amen. The book of Proverbs chapter 29 verses 15 through 17.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall. Discipline your son and he will give you rest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
He will give delight to your heart. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you for this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
We thank you for the gift of all that St. Paul went through, his imprisonment and persecution, his afflictions, not only his afflictions and doing this out of love for you and in service to the gospel so that we can have him as an example, but also, Father, Thank you for giving him a spirit of joy in the midst of all this. Joy in the midst of affliction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
We ask you to please give us joy in the midst of affliction. Abba, Father, Dad in heaven, give us joy in the midst of affliction. In the midst of persecution, help us to trust in you more than anything else. When we cannot trust in ourselves or even in the people who love us and claim to love us, help us to always trust in you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So here we are in Acts of the Apostles, chapter 25. We have Paul appealing to Caesar. He already kind of threw that out there that he was going to, you know, he's a Roman citizen and he was going to appeal to Caesar. So he does this and he's brought before the king, King Agrippa. And tomorrow we're going to hear about how St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Paul testified and gave his witness, his testimony to King Agrippa and Bernice and was able to basically tell the truth, tell the gospel, share the gospel with the King Agrippa. But when it comes to St. Paul's letter to the Galatians, the second half, right? Yesterday we read chapters 1, 2, and 3. Today is chapters 4, 5, and 6. And we concluded the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
We remember the context for his letter. The context is the Judaizers, right? Those people who came in and were basically telling the Christians, the new Christians that... Yeah, you need to be circumcised. You need to follow the law in order to have the fullness of God's spirit, the fullness of the new covenant. And here's Paul and he is ticked off. St. Paul is, he is upset.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
So said he, Let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him. When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
I love this in chapter 24. He makes very, very clear. He says, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because your sons, God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So through God, you are no longer a slave, but a son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And if a son, then an heir. Basically back in the day, before all of this stuff, before Jesus, those under the law, right? The Jewish people were unable to keep the law. We heard this in Romans. We heard this in Corinthians. And then before this too, you Gentiles, you never even knew that there was a God who loved you. And so you failed to keep the law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
But now, but now you've been made into God's sons and daughters. Why would you want to go back? Why? Why would you, that's what he even asked in verse nine. He says, how can you turn back again to those weak and beggarly elemental spirits whose slaves you want to be once more?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
And this is the truth for how many of us, every single one of us, we're tempted to go back to our former bosses, our former little tiny tyrants, those little lords, those idols that take and take and take and never give anything back. And yet here is St. Paul who reminds us, you have a father who loves you, who just wants to give. So what is going on? And so St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Paul goes on to talk about the allegory of Hagar and Sarah. Hagar, the concubine, essentially the servant of Sarah and Abraham had relations with her and they had conceived a son, Ishmael. That was the child of slavery, essentially. And then Sarah, who had the freeborn child, who is Isaac, that through that child is the blessing. And here is St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
Paul making this allegory here, saying that you're of the free. You are set free by God in Christ Jesus. And then the first line of chapter five, for freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand fast, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. I would tell you, I probably highlighted a couple all-time verses, all-time favorite verses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 346: Fruits of the Spirit (2024)
One of them is this verse, chapter 5 of Galatians, verse 1. Also, Romans chapter 12, verse 1. Some of those later on, Revelation chapter 12, verse 1, or Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1. There's a lot of good verses in there. But for freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand fast, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. One of the things that St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
You gave and you keep giving. Help us to receive this gift with everything we are and everything we have. In the mighty name of the gift and the mighty name of the one who was given, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Golly, man. Okay, you guys, I'm sorry. I need to stop gushing. But just what a massive, massive gift to be able to be
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
into the gospel and not only any gospel, but the gospel of John, a couple of things we need to highlight. Okay, so this is called the gospel of John and it's believed to have been written by the apostle John, right? The beloved disciple. Now he doesn't refer to himself by his name throughout the course of this gospel. In fact, the tradition is that John refers to himself as the beloved disciple.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
That's going to be more on this later. that the beloved disciple was there from the very beginning, right? He is one of those who was following John the Baptist. There's some confusion. We have a couple of Johns here, the gospel of John written by John the beloved or John the apostle and John the Baptist.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
And they're in these scenes right here because the very beginning is not only the prelude, right? In the beginning was the word and the word was God and the word was with God, but also we have John the Baptist baptizing and who's there, but John the beloved. So it can be a Father Mike, calm down. Here we go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Number one, from the very beginning, the very literally the first words of John's gospel, he's establishing Jesus's most deep identity. And that is that he is truly God. The very first verse of the very first chapter in this first gospel that we hear today in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Everything God had promised is the fulfillment of everything he'd been leading up to. So everything we've been reading, plus what we'll be reading for the next, you know, while after this. all points to Jesus. And so it's not a new religion. In fact, the first Christians, they did not see themselves as leaving Judaism and becoming something else.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Massively important that John is making and the word became flesh and dwelt among us in verse 14. So he's talking about Jesus himself, which is so important that Jesus isn't just another teacher. He's not just another healer or a prophet that Jesus actually is the word made flesh. God himself. We say it in the creed. We say God from God, light from light, true God from true God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
And in John chapter three, we hear that he was given to us, that God himself was given to us by God himself, that the father so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son, his only begotten son, that we might not perish, but might have eternal life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
oh my goodness okay a couple things to keep in mind john the baptist is being established now is not the messiah he's making it very clear that he was there to prepare for the messiah he's the last of the prophets leading up to jesus he's the last of the old testament prophets who point the way to jesus and not only does he point to jesus but he calls jesus a very specific thing which is going to be so important for us tomorrow and the days following
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming towards him, he says it twice. He says, behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now we hear that and we might think, you know, as first 21st century Christians, 21st century Westerners, wherever we live right now, we might think that and think, oh yeah, he's saying that because Jesus is gentle. Jesus is meek.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
He's humble of heart, quite furry, woolly. But no, when John says, behold, the lamb of God, remember, he's saying this to Jews and What is the connection that you and I have gone through when it comes to Exodus, when it comes to Numbers and Leviticus and Deuteronomy, when it comes to the lamb, a lamb is what? A lamb is the sacrifice. A lamb is what's offered up to the father in worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
So keep this in mind that when John says, behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world about Jesus, he is not pointing out that Jesus is gentle and humble of heart, although Jesus is gentle and humble of heart. He is saying, that's the sacrifice. That is the sacrifice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
If you remember this, remember back in Genesis where God tells Abraham, take your only son, your son whom you love, and go to a high place that I'll point out to you, and there offer up your son as a sacrifice. And on the way up, what happens? Isaac asks his father the question. He says, Father, here's the knife, here's the fire, but where's the lamb for the sacrifice?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
And then Abraham has this prophetic word that echoes to this moment. And he says, God will provide himself a lamb, my son. God will provide himself a lamb, my son. And here is John the Baptist here in these first chapters of Isaiah. the gospel of John, and he sees Jesus and he says, that's the lamb. This is the lamb. Oh, my gosh. This is the lamb of sacrifice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
This is the lamb that when we're going to get this tomorrow, but just prep yourself, prep your heart to be completely blown away tomorrow when we hear the gospel. This is the lamb that just like the Jews in slavery in Egypt, when they ate the flesh of the lamb and their homes were marked by the blood of the lamb, what were they given? They were given freedom and they were given life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
They were given freedom from slavery. They were given new life. And just like Jesus even points out, he says, even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the serpent in the desert, and all those who had been bit by the serpents were set free because the sign, the bronze serpent, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
What they saw was, no, this is the fulfillment of Judaism. And we're gonna make a note on that after we read John 1, 2, and 3. But keep that in mind, that as we launch into this messianic checkpoint for the next seven days, we're not leaving the Old Testament behind. What we're doing is we're seeing how the Old Testament has been fulfilled in Jesus and how God's promises have been fulfilled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The sign of their slavery, the sign of their sin, the sign of the thing that was killing them became the symbol of their hope. Just like that, Jesus on the cross becomes the sign, the sign of our sin, the sign of our brokenness. He on the cross is the symbol of our hope. Man, oh man. Okay, so one last thing. I know this is 24 minutes or whatever we are into it right now, but here's the last thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
I was talking with some of our students who've been going through the Bible in a year, and they said, we love, this is so good to be able to hear what God is doing in the Old Testament, what he's doing with the Jewish people, and just what a gift that is. But doesn't God love everybody? Like, doesn't God... Yes, of course he loves the Jews, absolutely.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
But didn't he love people who were in different parts of the world as well? Why didn't, why is he just choosing the Jews? And remember, what was God's promise to Abraham? He said, I promise you a dynasty, right? I promise you land. And I promise that through you, the entire world will be blessed. So what happened was God had to pick, well, he willed to pick one person.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Here's Abraham and then his family, which expanded, expanded, expanded. This is why they need to be faithful because what's going to happen is ultimately Abraham Yes, everyone whom God has created, he loves. And it's through the Jewish people that God is going to bless the entire world. And now here we are in John's gospels, chapter one, two, and three.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
We see the beginning of God saying, yes, this is how I'm going to bless the entire world. Why? For God so loved the world, not just the Jewish people, although, of course, he has entered into a unique covenant with them. that God has so loved the world that he gave his only beloved, only begotten son so that all those who believe in him would not have to perish but have eternal life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
See, God, playing the slow game, is loving everybody. And now, in Jesus, what do you have? You have every, in the church, you have every nationality. In the church, you have every language. In the church, you have every race. In the church, you have every continent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 99. You guys, you're one day, one day away from 100 days of reading the Bible, listening to the Word of God, and letting it shape your mind, your eyes, your heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Every people is what is invited into the church because God has, through the Jewish people, ultimately through becoming a Jewish person, a Jewish man in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, he has established his church so that the whole world can know that it is loved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
So every person can know that they are loved and that the whole world will know that God knows their name and he calls them, calls us, calls you, calls me into covenant relationship with him, that we might be saved and might not perish, but might have eternal life. Oh man, oh man. It's like six man-on-mans today, but I'm so grateful. You guys, let's keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
We have six more days of this, six more days of the gospel of John. Tomorrow is an incredible day as we read John 4, 5, and 6. I cannot wait. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
So without anything further, here we are with John 1, 2, and 3. The Gospel According to John 1. The Word became flesh. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came for testimony to bear witness to the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
He was in the world and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
he came to his own home and his own people received him not but to all who received him who believed in his name he gave power to become children of god who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of god and the word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth we have beheld his glory glory as of the only begotten son of the father
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
John bore witness to him and cried, This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me. And from his fullness have we all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father. He has made him known.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The testimony of John the Baptist. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who are you? He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, what then? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And he answered, no. They said to him, then who are you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, then why are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet? John answered them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing. The Lamb of God. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Every part of you is day 99 and we are taking a break. We just finished 1 Samuel 6, 7, and 8. We're taking a break for the next seven days. In the next seven days, we're going to go through the gospel of John. This is what it's called our first messianic checkpoint. And so today we're reading on day 99. We're reading from John chapters 1, 2, and 3.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him, but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel. And John bore witness. I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven and remain on him. I myself did not know him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have bore witness that this is the Son of God. The first disciples of Jesus. The next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked and said, Behold, the Lamb of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following, and he said to them, What do you seek? And they said to him, Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which means Christ. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, So you are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Kepha, which means Peter. Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, Follow me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, "'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.' Nathanael said to him, "'How do you know me?' Jesus answered him, "'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' Nathanael answered him, "'Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Jesus answered him, "'Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?' you shall see greater things than these. And he said to him, truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man. Chapter two, the marriage at Cana.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
On the third day, there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the marriage with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. And Jesus said to her, O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Now six stone jars were standing there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, Now draw some out and take it to the steward of the feast. So they took it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
We're also reading from Proverbs, taking a little break from the Psalms for about seven days, eight days or so. And then we're reading Proverbs 5, verses 1 through 6. As you might know, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm actually using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
when the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine and did not know where it came from though the servants who had drawn the water knew the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him every man serves the good wine first and when men have drunk freely then the poor wine but you have kept the good wine until now
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana and Galilee and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him. After this, he went down to Capernaum with his mother and his brethren and his disciples, and there they stayed for a few days. The Cleansing of the Temple The Passover of the Jews was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all with the sheep and the oxen out of the temple and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, take these things away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
You shall not make my father's house a house of trade. His disciples remembered that it was written, zeal for your house will consume me. Then the Jews said to him, what sign have you to show us for doing this? Jesus answered them, destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The Jews then said, It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. Chapter 3 Nicodemus Visits Jesus
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
If you want to get your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. If you've not yet subscribed to this podcast, subscribe. It's been 99 days. I think it's time to make a commitment. I don't know. I'm not telling you what to do. Just letting you know, you can subscribe in whatever you are listening to this podcast. Okay, here we go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Nicodemus said to him, How can this be?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Jesus answered him, are you a teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand this? Truly, truly I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned. He who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
And men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
There he remained with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Anon near Salim, because there was much water there, and people came and were baptized. For John had not yet been put in prison.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Now, a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying, and they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him. John answered, No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
You yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now full. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from heaven. He who comes from above is above all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
We're launching into the messianic checkpoint. What that means. Gosh, you guys, everything in the Old Testament leads to the New Testament. One of the things we know and believe is Christianity was not a new religion coming after Judaism. What Christians believe is that Christianity is the fulfillment of everything that God had promised in the old covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
He who is of earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. He who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him. The book of Proverbs, chapter five, verses one through six. My son, be attentive to my wisdom. Incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion and your lips may guard knowledge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
For the lips of a loose woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil. But in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death. Her steps follow the path to Sheol. She does not take heed to the path of life. Her ways wander and she does not know it. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
Oh my gosh, Father, thank you so much for revealing your son to us, revealing your love to the heart. The son is, Father, the son is your heart given to us. We're so grateful. We are so thankful for even these first three chapters of the Gospel of John.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 99: The Word Became Flesh (2025)
proclaim to us that you father in heaven so loved the world that you gave you've given your only beloved son your only beloved son so that we would not have to die but that we could have have life so weak so that we could have you so that we can know that you know us that we matter to you my gosh the Lord God thank you so much thank you so so much Help us to receive that gift. Father, you gave.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
He's just brushing up on his English. That's why he's listening to the Bible. Right. That's so good. And I think that's a great word to not just end this episode on, but to launch into the gospel of John with. which is that sense of, I remember hearing someone described that said that the guilt is when I know that I've failed to live up to a standard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And so, you know, I've the standard of being honest and I wasn't honest, so I'm guilty. But, but shame is when you see that I've failed to live up to that standard, that, that I'm, I'm not just that I'm guilty in your eyes. So it's a relational kind of a situation. And, and just what the healing there or the remedy there was,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
with the woman caught in adultery is she stands before, is on the ground before Jesus. And Jesus sees her and knows her and loves her. And as he says, I forgive you. I don't condemn you. I go and sin no more. And that being seen, allowing ourselves to be seen is one of the most powerful remedies for shame. And maybe not by everybody, but definitely by the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
So I'm so glad you brought that up as we launch into John's gospel. Jeff, you'll still have your Facebook group that we'll continue to meet on Thursdays.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
So good. Yeah. I'm so grateful for the opportunity even just to see here is where the whole thing points. As I know, I think you might've even been the first person to point out this quote from St. Augustine. I think it's St. Augustine, right? You can correct me on this one, is that the Old Testament is revealed in the new and the New Testament is hidden in the old.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Which is so good. Because the commentaries each day, they're limited. They're incredibly limited, not only in time, but also in my own wisdom and knowledge. And so I'm so grateful that every week, those who are journeying with us have the opportunity to get your wisdom and your guidance. So that's what we're doing now. We're on this journey. And so we need each other. It's not just about...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
ourselves. It's not just down to us. It's not just down to one person or even a couple people. It's the whole community of us who are allowing God's word to shape our hearts and to form our vision so that we can not only see like God sees and love like God loves, but truly live how God has called us to live. And so in order to do that, we need grace. We need his help.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And so keep praying for each other. Keep praying for me. I am praying for you. With Jeff Gavins, my name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And that's one of the things that I love about, well, all of the New Testament and Old Testament, but when it specifically comes to the gospel of John, there's a number of like just really critical connections that are fulfillments in John's gospel of all the stuff that we've been reading and some things we'll be reading in the future. But there are so many
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Speaking of today and speaking of Genesis to Revelation, We are now launching ahead. We just are in the midst of this time period, but we are jumping all the way to the Gospel of John in the New Testament.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
I think the people who have been journeying with us for these last number of days will hear John's gospel in an entirely new way, knowing all that they know now, having walked through Genesis and Exodus and Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy, all that we've been through. I think this is going to be just a unique experience of journeying through John.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Just one tells the whole story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
It's our first of four messianic checkpoints. One of the things that this comes out of is the idea or the reality, essentially, that as we're going through the Bible timeline, following these 14 narrative books, we recognized that if we just kept going through from beginning to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Yeah, and that sense of how John also makes that connection between belief and obedience, and a lack of belief and disobedience when it comes to, even the
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
classic slash powerful kernel the the most you know the heart of the gospel in john chapter 3 verse 16 for god so loved the world that he gave his only son that all who might believe in him might not perish but might have eternal life but then he goes on to say but some disobeyed in and that sense that illuminates what it truly is to believe in the context not only of i i assent with my intellect but
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
But also I say yes with my will. I actually choose what God has commanded. If you love me, you'll do what I have commanded you. You'll obey me. And there's that connection between, in John's gospel, so powerfully between faith and the way we actually are living right now, which is just so necessary for the Christian life as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
You know, one of the things that always strikes me about John's gospel is not just, as you noted, there's not too many miracles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
and not any parables, but how thoroughly full of Jesus' teaching, just direct teaching, whether that's the Last Supper discourse, the high priestly prayer, that time during the Last Supper, how much Jesus is teaching that last night before his betrayal and before his suffering and passion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
to the end we wouldn't be reading any of the new testament until roughly november and so we thought wow it would be very very important to introduce to all of us in the midst of this year a number of times where we get to take a step back and actually kind of launch forward and see okay now how has all of this been leading to christ because all the old testament is pointing to the New Testament.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Yeah. It makes it so clear that Jesus is making the connection. I mean, who he believes himself, who he knows himself, not just believes himself, who he knows himself to be. And he knows himself to be, as you said, I and the Father are one. And before Abraham was, I am. And all those pieces in, as we heard in the book of Exodus, how God reveals his sacred name, I am.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And here is Jesus who takes that and claims it for himself. Now, there's a piece of, if you recall, in the last chapter of John's gospel, when after Jesus has risen from the dead and Peter and some of the other guys are out there fishing on the lake, that they catch a certain number of fish that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And is there a little kind of like insider baseball here when it comes to that certain number of fish that could also be a pointing to Jesus's identity?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
All the Old Testament is pointing to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of everything. And so for the next seven days, we are going to be walking through the gospel of John. And in order to introduce the gospel of John, so we can get kind of an understanding, once again, of John and of the structure of John's gospel and how unique John's gospel is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And it's just one of those things where the Bible has so many different layers to it. And that's one of the reasons why we'll be going through all of John's gospel in only seven days. And so the next number of days for those who've been journeying with us are going to be pretty full. They're going to be full with the story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
But the thing I love about that is it means that we get to allow the entire story of John's gospel to kind of just wash over us in many ways, just to be able to take it in, knowing that I won't be able to take it all in, kind of like the previous 90 days or so. I will not be able to take all of this in. But what I'm going to do is I'm just going to allow in whatever can get in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
And so I might miss the 153 thing. I might miss some of the other pieces of these stories of John's gospel. But to realize in one week, I will have heard a gospel in its entirety, which I think is just a blessing, and I think is something that all of us can be looking forward to.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Yeah. Yeah. That fear of, am I disqualified? I know what I've done. Maybe even at some point as a follower of Christ, I know what he's called me to and the dignity is bestowed upon me, but have I disqualified myself? And am I done? He's going to go on without me and he's going to do what he does because he's God and he's still God. He'll get someone else. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Once again, we're joined by Jeff Cavins, which we're super grateful to talk with Jeff about John.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Or is it, no, you're not disqualified. You're restored. And that's those last chapters of John's gospel. It's so, so, again, important for us because I think if you haven't been in a place yet where you feel like you've disqualified yourself when it comes to belonging to the Lord or serving the Lord, Just wait, because I think most of us get to that place and that's where we need to hear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of John (2025)
Again, the Lord speak to Simon Peter and ask, do you love me? Okay, now feed my sheep. Let me restore you. You're not disqualified. You are restored. And that's such a gift. As we conclude this episode, Jeff, as I always ask, any takeaways as people can launch into this next seven days of John's gospel?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
We all know that God only punishes people who have done something wrong. So just admit the fact that you've done something wrong and you can move on. And Job is like, I haven't, I don't know what it was. If I have done anything wrong, let God tell me, I would tell you this. And also, why aren't you better friends?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And that's a truth for us too, is so often we are not known, even by the ones who love us the most. Sometimes the people who love us the most understand us the least. And that's what's happening right now with Job and his friends. They have answers for him, but he doesn't want their answers. He wants them in his grief.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And I think that sometimes, again, the lesson that God is giving to us today as he speaks to us is sometimes the people in our lives don't need our answers as much as they just want us to be present. I think sometimes that's true when it comes to God too. I want God to give me an answer. But if I really think about it, maybe I just want God to be with me in my confusion and in my pain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
So after Abram had dwelt 10 years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar, the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to Abram, her husband, as a wife. And he went into Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, May the wrong done to me be on you. I gave my maid to your embrace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
That's what we're praying about this day. And that's what we'll be praying about as we continue to move forward with our father in faith, Abraham, and his wife, Sarah, as well as our friend and our brother, Job. We continue our prayer and we continue to pray with you. Also, please just know, please know that this is such a great opportunity to walk with you as we begin this year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And any time of day, any time of year, whenever you started listening to this Catholic Bible in a Year podcast, we're so grateful that So grateful. If you want to download your own Catholic Bible in your reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
You can also subscribe in your podcast app so that you get the alert every time we have a new podcast that comes up, you will get the alert. And you can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible, all one word Catholic Bible to 33777. Again, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. It's so helpful and such a great resource because it has the notes and it has
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
the story, you know, that the narrative books, these 14 narrative books that we're following right now in the middle of Genesis, and also shows where those narrative books and the other books, like something like Job or Proverbs, also fits in. So if you want to check that out, you can as well. But I'm grateful for you. Thank you so much. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
My name's Father Mike. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me. But Abram said to Sarai, Behold, your maid is in your power. Do to her as you please. Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness the spring on the way to Shur, and he said, Hagar, maid of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going? She said, I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai. The angel of the Lord said to her, return to your mistress and submit to her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
The angel of the Lord also said to her, I will so greatly multiply your descendants that they cannot be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said to her, behold, you are with child and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael because the Lord has given heed to your affliction. He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against every man and every man's hand against him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen. So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her. You are a God of seeing. For she said, have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him? Therefore, the well was called Bir Lahai Royi. It lies between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son. And Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar bore Ishmael.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless, and I will make my covenant between me and you and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, Behold, my covenant is with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
This is day eight, so let's get started. We are continuing to read Genesis, Genesis chapter 16 and chapter 17. We're also taking those next steps in the life of the tragic...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
You shall be the father of a multitude of nations who No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham. For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make nations of you and kings shall come forth from you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant. And God said to Abraham, As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep between me and you and your descendants after you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh, an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant. And God said to Abraham, as for Sarai, your wife,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her. And moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her and she shall be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples shall come from her. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is 90 years old, bear a child?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
uh suffering man job reading job chapter 5 and chapter 6 and also continuing our reading of the wisdom literature by reading proverbs chapter 1 verses 20 through 33. as always the translation that i'm using for these podcasts is revised standard version catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension the bible reading plan that we're following you can follow as well by downloading your catholic bible in a year reading plan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And Abraham said to God, O that Ishmael might live in your sight. God said, No, but Sarah, your wife, shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
He shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year. When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all the slaves born in his house, or bought with his money every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And Ishmael, his son, was 13 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very day, Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised, and all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? Surely vexation kills the fool and jealousy slays the simple. I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. His sons are far from safety. They are crushed at the gate and there is no one to deliver them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
his harvest the hungry eat and he takes it even out of thorns and the thirsty pant after his wealth for affliction does not come from the dust nor does trouble sprout from the ground but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward as for me i would seek god and to god would i commit my cause who does great things and unsearchable marvelous things without number
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
he gives rain upon the earth and sends water upon the fields he sets on high those who are lowly and those who mourn are lifted to safety he frustrates the devices of the crafty so that their hands achieve no success he takes the wise in their own craftiness and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
they meet with darkness in the daytime and grow up at noonday as in the night but he saves the fatherless from their mouth the needy from the hand of the mighty so the poor have hope and injustice shuts her mouth behold happy is the man whom god reproves therefore despise not the chastening of the almighty for he wounds but he binds up he strikes but his hands heal
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
He will deliver you from six troubles. In seven, there shall no evil touch you. In famine, he will redeem you from death and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine, you shall laugh. You shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
For you shall be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. You shall know that your tent is safe and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. You shall know also that your descendants shall be many and your offspring as the grass of the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
You shall come to your grave in ripe old age as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season. Behold, this we have searched out. It is true. Hear and know it for your good. Then Job answered, O that my vexation were weighed and all my calamity laid in the balances, for then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
by visiting ascensionpress.com slash bible in a year. You can also subscribe in the podcast app. Just click subscribe and these podcasts will pop up for the next 365 days. You can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible, all one word, Catholic Bible, to 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Therefore my words have been rash, for the arrows of the Almighty are in me. My spirit drinks their poison, the terrors of God are arrayed against me. Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder? Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the slime of the purslane? My appetite refuses to touch them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
They are as food that is loathsome to me. All that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire, that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off. This would be my consolation. I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. What is my strength that I should wait? And what is my end that I should be patient?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? In truth, I have no help in me, and any resource is driven from me. He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. My brethren are treacherous as a torrent bed, as freshets that pass away, which are dark with ice and where snow hides itself. In time of heat, they disappear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
When it is hot, they vanish from their place. The caravans turn aside from their course. They go up into the waste and perish. The caravans of Tema look. The travelers of Sheba hope. They are disappointed because they were confident. They come there and are confounded. Such you have now become to me. You see my calamity and are afraid.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Have I said make me a gift or from your wealth offer a bribe for me or deliver me from the adversary's hand or rescue me from the hand of oppressors? Teach me, and I will be silent. Make me understand how I have erred, how forceful are honest words, but what does reproof from you reprove? Do you think that you can reprove words when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
You would even cast lots over the fatherless and bargain over your friend. But now be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. Turn, I beg, let no wrong be done. Turn now, my vindication is at stake. Is there any wrong on my tongue?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Wisdom cries aloud in the street. In the markets she raises her voice. At the top of the walls she cries out. At the entrance of the gates she speaks. How long, oh simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Give heed to my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Without any further delay, let's get started cracking open the word of God and letting that shape the way that we think,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
I will make my words known to you because I have called and you refuse to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when panic strikes you, when panic strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them. But he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease without dread of evil. Lord God, you are good. And we know that you love us. We know that we can trust you. We know that you reveal your heart to us in your word. And we thank you for revealing your heart to us. Thank you for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
we act and we love once again today we are reading from the book of genesis chapter 16 and chapter 17. let's get started now sarai abram's wife bore him no children she had an egyptian maid whose name was hagar and sarai said to abram behold now the lord has prevented me from bearing children go into my maid it may be that i shall obtain children by her And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
We ask that you please, in the midst of confusion, Lord, we ask that you give us your truth. In the midst of suffering, We sometimes don't want answers as much as we want you, Lord God. And so please just give us yourself. Give us your peace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And to all those who are suffering in this moment and also all those who are suffering as they hear these words, your words proclaimed, Lord God, I ask that you please give them a confidence in you. Give them a trust in you. Give them a faith in you that above all things, you are faithful. Your love is unstoppable and your love is true.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
sufficient you are good we praise you in jesus name amen in the name of the father son holy spirit amen wow um gosh so here we have the couple of different stories right we're following abram now abraham and sarai now sarah which is going to be way much more fun to say from now on Because I always think of Abraham, not just Abram, and Sarah, not just Sarai, because there's a difference.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
There's a change, right? There is a change between Abram and Abraham and Sarai and Sarah. And that change makes up the bulk of their life, that here is Abram who is walking in faith and Sarai who's walking in faith. But there is a change when they're brought into relationship, when they're brought into covenant with the Lord God. And that sign of the covenant, obviously being circumcision.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
Why circumcision? And the answer is, I don't know. But what could it be? Well, in so many ways, what do we want to do with our lives? We want to control our lives. And in so many ways, what does God want to do with our lives? He wants to bless our lives. He wants to let himself be the Lord. That means he has dominion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
And so here's a story of Sarai and Abram and Hagar trying to take control of the situation. That here is God who has promised that from Abram would be a vast dynasty. And he's 100 years old. So that's not happening anytime soon, right? So why not take Hagar? We see, though, that when we take measures into our own hands, nothing good comes of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
In the space of five verses, Sarai has the idea to hand over Hagar to her husband so she can be another wife to him. And like five verses later, she's yelling at him for doing what she told him to do. causes problems. And yet that sense of, okay, I'm going to place myself in your hands, Lord. That's what the sign of circumcision in so many ways is. It's that step of surrender.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
It's that step of saying, okay, Lord, I am no longer in control. So here's Abraham who gets circumcised at 100 years old and Ishmael, his son, who's circumcised at 13 years old and all the men in Abraham's, essentially in his posse in his family, whether they were raised in his family or whether they were purchased in a simply work for him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 8: The Surrender of Abraham (2025)
But that whole tribe essentially is now under the dominion of the Lord God. And that's one of the invitations that God has for us today as well. is to place ourselves under his dominion, even when we don't know what he's doing. And that's the story of Job, right? We have Eliphaz who says, okay, Job, here's the deal. We all know this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
The man is picking up sticks, it says here in Numbers chapter 15, beginning with verse 32. The man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. What do we do with this? And it says, well, take him outside the camp and stone him to death with stones. And we can look at that. We can hear that and think that is, I don't want to say crazy, but that is something we wouldn't expect.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
That might be something we would expect, but not something we expect out of God's law, not necessarily something we expect from the God who is mercy and the God who is love. So how do we understand this? There's a couple of things we need to understand. First is the Lord God made provision both for people making sins or committing sins unwittingly and those who are committing sins flagrantly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
So here's someone who unwittingly, I didn't realize this. I accidentally committed this sin. I accidentally had a violation against the Lord. And God says, yeah, I mean, you could come back to me and there's forgiveness there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Then he who brings his offering shall offer to the Lord a cereal offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a fourth of a hin of oil and wine for the drink offering. A fourth of a hin you shall prepare with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice for each lamb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
But this phrase that is used in Numbers 15, where it says, but if the person who sins with a high hand, with a high hand, what that reference is, is someone who's openly rebelling, someone who's saying, essentially, I am choosing to be set apart. I'm choosing to make myself not part of God's people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Then the consequence would be, well, you're being treated like someone who's not part of God's people. And the punishment for that was death, the capital punishment. And it can seem so, again, extreme for us when it comes to our understanding of here's a person violating the Sabbath and the consequences of death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
But keeping in mind, there's provision for when someone wasn't sinning with a high hand, when this was something that was done unwittingly, something that was not done in great rebellion. The second piece of this is that the people of Israel, remember, their mission is going to be through them, God is going to bless the entire world. So they have to be different from the rest of the entire world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
It's one of the reasons why when we get to Deuteronomy and we have these commands, and some of the commands are the tithe. The tithe isn't simply... Because God wants a worship, although that is so important for us that we have to have our hearts set on worship of God. But the tithe is also to provide for the Levites. Part of your tithe goes to them. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Because they don't have an inheritance with the other tribes of Israel, meaning they don't get land. And so you have to supply for the priests. But the other thing, so that's compassion, right? That's taking care of each other. But the other piece of the tithe is, especially that third year tithe that we heard of in Deuteronomy chapter 14. is this is for those who are fatherless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
This is for those who are widows. This is for those who are strangers among you who don't have employment. And so keep this in mind. The same God who commanded that the person who was picking up sticks on the Sabbath day be executed is the same God who says, but those fatherless, those who are orphans, those who are widows, those who are among you who are strangers, Care for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Make sure that you make an extra effort to show them my mercy and show them my love. Now that on the surface for us can be like, that seems so, I don't wanna say schizophrenic, but it can seem like a dichotomy or a paradox that we cannot reconcile. But the reconciliation is this. You have to be other, right? You have to be separate.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And one of the ways you're separate that's so clear is how you worship and how you live, like how you eat, how you mourn the death of people among you. For example, it says you should not shave your head. Why? Because in that area, when people would mourn, they would shave their heads in a particular way to commemorate this death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Or for a ram you shall prepare for a cereal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, a pleasing odor to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
offering of the person to another god and this is again so utterly important that because if god is going to use the people of israel to bless the world they cannot be like the rest of the world specifically as i said and how they worship and how they live how they dress and how they eat so these laws are of vital importance not because
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
The law itself has, I mean, it all has depth, obviously, but I'm trying to make the case for the fact that this is the same God who can both say, yes, the consequence of violating the Sabbath is the death penalty, as well as make sure that those who are most vulnerable among you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
are taken care of it is the same god because there's a big picture going on in this moment now i want to make one last point it's in the end of numbers chapter 15 where it comes to the tassels on the garment it says upon the tassels each of them will have a cord of blue
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you're inclined to do. But you shall remember and do all my commandments when you look at this tassel. Now, the blue cord, what's up with blue? Well, remember that the garment spoken of, worn by the priests, had woven blue in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Remember that there are a number of times where God says, OK, the color that is used in the temple, not only was it scarlet and other, but also blue. This being an important reminder that you would wear that would have the reminder of God's holiness, because we see that blue in the tabernacle. We see that blue in the tent of meeting. We see that blue in the temple. And so once again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
The scripture on your doorpost, mezuzah. The scripture on your forehead or arm is a tefillin. And the scripture that is not a scripture, but the thread that is on your shawl is called the tzitzit. Just in case any of you get on Jeopardy and have to answer that question. We keep praying for each other as we're moving right along.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And when you prepare a bull for a burnt offering or for a sacrifice to fulfill a vow or for a peace offering to the Lord, then you shall offer with the bull a cereal offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a half a hin of oil. And you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering by fire, a pleasing order to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Today is day 64, and so we continue to lift up our eyes to the Lord and call upon his name for each other. We call upon his name for ourselves because we need grace. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 64, and we are reading today from Numbers chapter 15, Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 14, And we are also praying Psalm 96 today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Thus it shall be done for each bull or ram or for each of the male lambs or the kids. According to the number that you prepare, so shall you do with everyone according to their number. All who are native shall do these things in this way, in offering and offering by fire a pleasing odor to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or anyone is among you throughout your generations, and he wishes to offer an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord, he shall do as you do. For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you, and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations. As you are, so shall the sojourner be before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
One law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you. The Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, When you come into the land to which I bring you, and when you eat of the food of the land, you shall present an offering to the Lord. Of the first of your course meal, you shall present a cake as an offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
As an offering from the threshing floor, so shall you present it. Of the first of your course meal, you shall give to the Lord an offering throughout your generations. But if you err, and do not observe all these commandments which the Lord has spoken to Moses, all that the Lord has commanded you by Moses from the day that the Lord gave commandment and onward throughout your generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Then if it was done unwittingly without the knowledge of the congregation, all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the Lord with its cereal offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, because it was an error. And they have brought their offering, an offering by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord for their error.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And all the congregation of the sons of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was involved in the error.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
If one person sins unwittingly, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering, and the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who commits an error when he sins unwittingly to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
You shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native among the sons of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them. But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off. His iniquity shall be upon him. punishment for violating the Sabbath. While the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
They put him in custody because it had not been made plain what should be done to him. And the Lord said to Moses, the man shall be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp. And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
As always, the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. And as always, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can find that Bible wherever Bibles are sold. To download your Bible and your reading plan,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Tassels on Garments The Lord said to Moses, Speak to the sons of Israel, and bid them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And it shall be to you a tassel to look upon and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to go after wantonly. So you shall remember and do all my commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Chapter 13. Moses continued, "'If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass,' And if he says, let us go after other gods which you have not known and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice. And you shall serve him and cling to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, some of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, you shall not yield to him or listen to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
To get the whole reading plan that we have for the 365 days that we are doing this, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. And you can download that for free and you can check off every single day. You would be checking off day 64 today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him, but you shall kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of that house of bondage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And all Israel shall hear and fear, and never again do any such wickedness as this among you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
If you hear in one of your cities which the Lord your God gives you to dwell there, that certain base fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of the city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently. And behold, if it be true and certain,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
that such an abominable thing has been done among you, you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, destroying it utterly, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword. You shall gather all the spoil into the midst of its open square, and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. It shall be a heap forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
It shall not be built again." None of the devoted things shall cling to your hand that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy and have compassion upon you and multiply you as he swore to your fathers. If you obey the voice of the Lord, your God, keeping all his commandments, which I command you this day and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord, your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Chapter 14, Pagan Practices Forbidden. He says, You shall not eat any abominable thing. These are the animals you may eat, the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. Every animal that parts the hoof and has a hoof cloven in two and chews the cud among the animals you may eat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And if you have not yet subscribed in your podcast app, go into your podcast app, which you are currently using and click subscribe and you will be subscribed and life will be great and we can move on. Speaking of moving on, we are reading today from Numbers chapter 15, Deuteronomy 13 and 14, as well as praying Psalm 96. The book of Numbers chapter 15, various offerings. The Lord said to Moses,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Yet of those that chew the cud, or have the hoof cloven, you shall not eat these, the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud, but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. And the swine, because it parts the hoof, but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Of all that are in the waters, you may eat these, whatever has fins and scales you may eat. and whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat it is unclean for you you may eat all clean birds but these are the ones which you shall not eat the eagle the vulture the osprey the buzzard the kite after their kinds every raven after its kind the ostrich the night-hawk the sea-gull
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
the hawk after their kinds the little owl and the great owl the water hen and the pelican the carrion vulture and the cormorant the stork the heron after their kinds to the hoopoe and the bat all the winged insects are unclean for you they shall not be eaten all cling winged things you may eat You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. Regulations concerning tithes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
You shall tithe all the yield of your seed, which comes forth from the field year by year. And before the Lord your God, in the place which he will choose to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and flock, Amen. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses and spend the money for whatever you desire, oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves, and you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And you shall not forsake the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you. At the end of every three years, you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name. Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols. But the Lord made the heavens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in holy attire. Tremble before him all the earth. Say among the nations, the Lord reigns. Yes, the world is established.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
It shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar and all that fills it. Let the field exult and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
We thank you for your scripture today. We thank you also for the great wisdom that you give to us in helping us understand your word. Lord God, for all the times we are perplexed and troubled, not just perplexed, but deeply troubled, even troubled in our heart by you or by your teaching, what you reveal about yourself. We ask that you give us not only a...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
not only take away a spirit of skepticism or a spirit of cynicism, but you give us a spirit of openness, a spirit of truth and a spirit of honesty, a spirit of trust that when we don't understand, we ask. And when we still don't understand, we continue to ask. Lord God, give us a spirit of trust. Give us a spirit of trust. that is open to whatever it is you will for us this day and every day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So in today's readings from Numbers, Numbers chapter 15, it's kind of a a reiteration, right? Remember that this is the people of Israel as they're beginning their journey. They're now going to be beginning their journey into the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
And so here is Moses who continues to remind them about the offerings. So we covered all of those offerings in greater detail in the book of Leviticus. And this is roughly the same time in the history of Israel, roughly the same time when those laws of Leviticus were being offered and how important it is for these laws.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 64: Consequences of Sin (2025)
Remember, the heart of these laws is that God has said, no, you are my people, and he has set his love upon them. This is so important that these laws, the consequences of sin or the consequences of rebelling against the Lord are so great. that they shock us, right? Capital punishment as a violation of the Sabbath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, till I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. Your power and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many sore troubles will revive me again. From the depths of the earth, you will bring me up again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
You will increase my honor and comfort me again. I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God. I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O holy one of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you. My soul also which you have rescued. And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
We thank you for the gift of your revealing your heart to us through scripture. And we ask that you please let your scripture, let your word, let your grace conform our minds to your mind, that we see things as you see them, conform our hearts to your heart, that we can love things as you love them. Help us to turn away from what kills us. and help us turn towards you who give us life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So today we have in the book of Exodus this food that the Lord gives. We're going to hear this story a couple more times in the book of Numbers, for example. But you have the people who are murmuring against the Lord and Moses and Aaron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And even, you know, you have Moses and Aaron saying a couple times, like, listen, why are you murmuring against us? It's kind of like pawning off the blame to God. God's the one who did this. But God is also the one who's going to give you the food that you long for. It's so remarkable, isn't it?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
That here it's just been a few weeks now that the Lord God has miraculously delivered these people, his people from slavery and has led them through the Red Sea. when they're murmuring against God saying, why didn't we just die back in Egypt? This is going to be one of the refrains. Would it have been better if we had just died as slaves?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Wouldn't it be better if we had just died as people who were abandoned by the Lord rather than being led by the Lord through dangerous places, uncomfortable places? And yet, this is what the Lord God is doing for his people, his people of Israel. It's interesting because we note this. Not only is God feeding his people, but he's also asking something of them. He's training them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea. The floods cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow your adversaries. You send forth your fury. It consumes them like stubble.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
He's not just feeding them. He's not just caring for them. He's training them. And this is going to be one of the themes throughout the book of Exodus and the book of Numbers. We're going to see this again and again, how God is taking care, he's fighting for, but he's also trying to teach his people who he is and the degree to which they can trust him. So here's the example of manna, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
The Hebrew, what is it, is translated as the word manna. And people see this manna on the ground and Moses says, gather an omer of this and it will spoil. So only gather enough for one day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
and if they kept it overnight it would spoil had worms in it that's gross but on the sixth day gather twice as much so that you can keep a sabbath day that seventh day being shabbat right that seventh day being a day where you're gonna rest but also it's a day of trust and this is the remarkable thing god has demonstrated that if you keep the manna overnight it spoils and you don't have any food or the food you gathered the day before is useless because it's now gross right
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And yet, if you honor my Sabbath day and do not work and do not gather that food that you gathered, I will preserve it. And so here's God. Again, what is he doing? He's not just providing for his people. He's not just feeding his people. He's also training them. He's training them in the act of trust. He's training them to walk in faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
He's training them who he is, his heart, his love for them, his faithfulness for them, his fidelity to them, and that he's near to them. And they have to learn this. And so do we. We have to learn how to trust the Lord. And that's one of the reasons why God gives us certain commandments. Sometimes for our good. Sometimes they're to keep us out of harm.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And I imagine sometimes God gives us commandments not just to keep us out of harm and not just because it's oriented towards human flourishing, but also because it teaches us and trains us to be like him. God is faithful and he wants us to be faithful. He is faithful to us. He's faithful to himself. He's faithful to his promises.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And so God is inviting us to learn how to be faithful to him and be faithful to his promises and faithful to our own promises. In order to do that, we need his grace. We can't do it on our own. So we need to pray. We need to pray with each other for each other. And especially on this journey, as we're now in the wilderness, the wilderness of our own lives, we need each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
None of us can do this on our own. We can't do life on our own. We can't do this Bible in a year on our own. And so please, as part of this community, I invite you, encourage you, continue to pray for each other. You might not know each other by name, but we do know each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord. I am praying for you. And please pray for me. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
At the blast of your nostrils, the waters piled up. The floods stood up like a heap. The deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. You blew with your wind, the sea covered them, they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 36. Let's keep on going. We'll be reading today from Exodus chapter 15 and 16, as well as Leviticus chapter 11, and then finally Psalm 71.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders? you stretched out your right hand the earth swallowed them you have led in your merciful love the people whom you have redeemed you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode the peoples have heard they tremble pangs have seized on the inhabitants of philistia
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed, the leaders of Moab trembling seizes them. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them because of the greatness of your arm. They are still as a stone. Till your people, O Lord, pass by. Till the people pass by whom you have purchased.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
You will bring them in and plant them on your holy mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. The Lord will reign forever and ever. For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
But the sons of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. then miriam the prophetess the sister of aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing and miriam sang to them sing to the lord for he has triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Then Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. Therefore it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses saying, what shall we drink?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And he cried to the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree and he threw it into the water and the water became sweet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
There the Lord made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he tested them, saying, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give heed to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I put upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water. They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came into the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness and said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
As always, I am reading from the revised standard version, the Catholic edition. In fact, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can get that Bible at ascensionpress.com or you can get the Bible at amazon.com, which is taking over the entire world. Just kidding. Side comment, I guess. But you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
on the sixth day when they prepare that which they bring in it will be twice as much as they gather daily so moses and aaron said to all the sons of israel at evening you shall know that it was the lord who brought you out of the land of egypt and in the morning you shall see the glory of the lord because he has heard your murmurings against the lord For what are we, that you murmur against us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And Moses said, When the Lord gives you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your murmurings, would you murmur against him? What are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, Say to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your murmurings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. And the Lord said to Moses, I have heard the murmurings of the sons of Israel. Say to them, At twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
In the evening, quails came up and covered the camp. And in the morning, dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground. When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, What is it? For they did not know what it was.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And Moses said to them, It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded. Gather of it, every man of you, as much as he can eat. You shall take an omer apiece, according to the number of the persons whom each of you has in his tent. And the sons of Israel did so. They gathered some more, some less.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
But when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack. Each gathered according to what he could eat. And Moses said to them, Let no man leave any of it until the morning. But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat. But when the sun grew hot, it melted. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much bread, two omers apiece. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, this is what the Lord has commanded. Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil. And all that is left over lay by to be kept until the morning. So they laid it by till the morning as Moses bade them, and it did not become foul.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
and there were no worms in it moses said eat it today for today is a sabbath to the lord today you will not find it in the field six days you shall gather it but on the seventh day which is the sabbath there will be none on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather and they found none and the lord said to moses how long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws see the lord has given you the sabbath therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
remain every man of you in his place. Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. And Moses said, this is what the Lord has commanded.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
If you want to download your Bible in a year reading plan, that way you can follow along. You know what what readings are coming up, you know how many chapters we're going through. You also can get an overview of the entire year, all 365 days and all 365 episodes that we're going to have as we continue to journey through the scripture today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt. And Moses said to Aaron, take a jar and put an omer of manna in it and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the covenant to be kept.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And the sons of Israel ate the manna forty years till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Say to the sons of Israel, These are the living things which you may eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud among the animals you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the hare, because it chews the cud, but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the swine, because it parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you. These you may eat of all that are in the waters, everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters is an abomination to you. They shall be an abomination to you of their flesh. You shall not eat in their carcasses. You shall have an abomination. Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is an abomination to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
and these you shall have in abomination among the birds they shall not be eaten they are an abomination the eagle the vulture the osprey the kite the falcon according to its kind every raven according to its kind the ostrich the night-hawk the sea-gull the hawk according to its kind the owl the cormorant the ibis the water-hen the pelican the carrion vulture the stork the heron according to its kind the hoopoe and the bat
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
All winged insects that go upon all fours are an abomination to you. Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours, you may eat those which have the legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. Of them you may eat the locust according to its kind, the bald locust according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
If you have not subscribed in the podcast app that you're using to listen to this podcast, go ahead and do that. You don't have to, but why wouldn't you is my question. And lastly, as I said, today we are reading from Exodus chapter 15 and 16. That's where we're starting. Exodus chapter 15 and 16, the songs of Moses and Miriam.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
But all the other winged insects which have four feet are an abomination to you. He says, And all that go on their paws among the animals that go on all fours are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. And he who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And these are unclean to you among the swarming things that swarm upon the earth, the weasel, the mouse, the great lizard according to its kind, the gecko, the land crocodile, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. These are unclean to you among all that swarm. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
And anything upon which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is an article of wood or a garment or a skin or a sack, any vessel that is used for any purpose, it must be put into water and it shall be unclean until the evening. Then it shall be clean. And if any of them falls into an earthen vessel, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Any food in it, which may be eaten, upon which water may come, shall be unclean. And all drink, which may have been drunk from every such vessel, shall be unclean. And everything upon which any part of the carcass falls shall be unclean, whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces, they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whatever touches their carcass shall be unclean. And if any part of their carcass falls upon any seed for sowing that is to be sown, it is clean. But if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. And if any animal of which you may eat dies and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. And he who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. Every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth is an abomination. It shall not be eaten.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Whatever goes on its belly and whatever goes on all fours or whatever has many feet, all the swarming things that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat for they are an abomination. You shall not make yourselves abominable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, lest you become unclean. For I am the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls upon the earth, for I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
This is the law pertaining to beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms upon the earth to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my Father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war. The Lord is his name.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, deliver me and rescue me. Incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hands of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man, for you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Upon you I have leaned from my birth, from my mother's womb you have been my strength. My praise is continually of you. I have been as important to many, but you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Forsake me not when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
Those who watch for my life consult together and say, God has forsaken him. Pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me. O my God, make haste to help me. May my accusers be put to shame and consumed with scorn and disgrace. May they be covered who seek my harm. But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 36: Manna from Heaven (2025)
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will come. I will praise your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-Keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the sons of Israel. Jephthah's Daughter Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances. She was his only child. Beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And when he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "'Alas, my daughter!' You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me, for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Abimelech tries to establish a monarchy. Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubabel, went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, which is better for you, that all 70 of the sons of Jerubabel rule over you or that one rule over you. Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And she said to him, My father, if you have opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites. And she said to her father, Let this one thing be done for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
let me alone two months that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity I and my companions and he said go and he sent her away for two months and she departed she and her companions and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains and at the end of two months she returned to her father who did with her according to his vow which he had made She had never known a man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And it became a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah, the Gileadite, four days in the year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
The Marriage of Boaz and Ruth. And Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the next of kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, Turn aside, friend, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, Sit down here. So they sat down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then he said to the next of kin, Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land which belonged to our kinsmen, Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it and say, buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But if you will not, tell me that I may know, for there is no one beside you to redeem it, and I come after you. And he said, I will redeem it. Then Boaz said, The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also buying Ruth the Moabites, the widow of the dead, in order to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then the next of kin said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging. To confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other. And this was the manner of attesting in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
So when the next of kin said to Boaz, Buy it for yourself, he drew off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, You are witnesses this day. that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, and that belonged to Kilian and to Malone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Also Ruth the Moabites, the widow of Malone, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day. The genealogy of David. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And he went into her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next of kin, and may his name be renowned in Israel. He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons has born him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And his mother's kinsmen spoke all these words on his behalf in the years of all the men of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother. And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berit, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows who followed him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name saying, a son has been born to Naomi. They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the descendants of Perez."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nashon, Nashon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, Jesse of David. Psalm 137, lament over the destruction of Jerusalem. By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there, we hung up our lyres.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, and how they said, Raise it, raise it down to its foundations. O daughter of Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us. Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
We give you honor and we just declare our love for you and our gratitude for who you are and all you have given to us this day and every day. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
I know that it has been a long day, a long day of readings and a bunch of stories when it comes to the book of Judges and even the happy conclusion of the book of Ruth. But it's a couple brief things. It began with chapter nine. Remember, Jeroboam, whose name was Gideon as well, Gideon's way easier to say than Jeroboam. I just have to say that right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Gideon, Jeroboam had 70 sons, 71 sons, really. And Abimelech decides that he wants to be the king. Now, Gideon had set himself up essentially as the king. And this is one of his downfalls. And then the next group, the next generation, his son Abimelech did the same thing. And again, one of the things we find is in this book of Judges, This cycle of God's close to his people. He blesses them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers, the sons of Jerubabel, seventy men, upon one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubabbel, was left, for he hid himself. And all the citizens of Shechem came together, and all bet Milo, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then they turn away. They turn to other gods. Then tragedy befalls them. They repent. They turn back to the Lord. They call out to him and God helps them and they're restored. And this we see this a bunch of times. In fact, 12 or 13 times here in the book of Judges. And the story of Abimelech is no different.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
We have the stories not of heroes, but of protagonists who aren't necessarily all together. For example, the great story, when I say great, I mean just big story of Jephthah, right? He was the Gileadite, one of the sons of Gilead, who was the son of a harlot. And so he's rejected by his family, but he becomes a mighty warrior, kind of a boy named Sue type situation, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
where here's the Johnny Cash song, where he gets kicked out of the family. Our Johnny Cash version is he's named Sue. And so he gets beat up a lot, becomes really, really tough. Well, same thing when it comes to Jephthah. He's kicked out of the family, becomes this mighty warrior, becomes basically a bandit. And then when the Ammonites come against the tribe of Gilead, they know who to turn to.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
They turn to the guy they rejected, who became the toughest person on the block. Now, the problem is not that Jephthah led the battle against the Ammonites. Jephthah seems to have done a pretty good job there. The problem is his vow. And this vow is so problematic that what does Jephthah say?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
He says, God, if you give me, and he's turning to the God of Israel, which makes no sense because Jephthah knows the truth. He knows the reality of the God of Israel, that he does not desire human sacrifice. In fact, that he prohibits human sacrifice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And yet Jephthah makes this rash vow where he says, God, if you give me victory, whoever comes out of my door, out of the house when I come back home, I will sacrifice them to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Which again, when I first read this story years and years and years ago, it was so problematic because I was still under the impression that every story in the Bible, if a quote unquote hero of the Bible does this, it must be somehow okay. I try to bend my mind around why would this be okay? And the reality is in the book of Judges, we have all of these Judges.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
who do one thing okay and another thing very not okay. They have goodness in some areas of strength or of might or of being able to fight, but they are foolish as well. They're unfaithful as well. And Jephthah is no different. In fact, Jephthah fulfills his vow that he made, this rash vow to the Lord, not because God wanted it. And that's the crazy, dark, and dangerous thing here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
is it is possible that Jephthah did the same thing that Israel would later do. There is this God, Moloch. We've heard about him already from the Canaanites. And those who worshiped Moloch would offer up their sons and daughters in sacrifice to Moloch. And here is Jephthah doing the same thing to the God of Israel, which is absolutely prohibited.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
When the Israelites would have heard the story of Jephthah, they would have heard the story of a mighty warrior who had done something incredibly, mightily foolish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And so one of the things we just recognize for ourselves in this last minute of this podcast today is our need not only to want to make covenant with the Lord, not only to want to make promises to the Lord, but also our need to make wise promises to the Lord, our need to make wise oaths. If we ever get to a place where we make an oath or promise God something,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
that it is consistent and congruent with his character, with who he is, that God does not desire the death of the living, the death of anyone, but desires that all might come to life and have fullness of life. And so these rash vows that Jephthah, this one rash vow that Jephthah had made is not a model for us unless it is a model for us to avoid. So we continue to pray.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Jotham's Parable of the Trees, Vine, and Bramble When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Rain over us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
I'm praying for you, especially on these long days where it's just a lot of words and a lot of minutes. But I'm so grateful for everyone who's on this journey with us. As I said, it's day 92. You guys, we're over three months into this reading the Bible through these 365 days. Man, what a gift, absolute gift. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But the olive tree said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, by which gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come, you, and rain over us. But the fig tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to sway over the trees? And the trees said to the vine, Come you and rain over us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine, which cheers gods and men, and go to sway over the trees? then all the trees said to the bramble come you and reign over us and the bramble said to the trees if in good faith you are anointing me king over you then come and take refuge in my shade but if not let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of lebanon
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Now, therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubabbel and his house, and have done to him as his deeds deserved, for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian, and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
It is day 92, and we are reading from Judges 9-11. 10, and 11. They're three kind of long chapters with some really, well, as all of Judges is just an intense, intense book. It is PG-13. It gets worse. Knowing that we've had the first eight chapters of the book of Judges, it gets worse. Every chapter is worse than the one before. Just keep that in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
If you have done well with Jerubabbel and his house, and have done to him as his deeds deserved, for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian, If you have then have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubabbel and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech and let him also rejoice in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the citizens of Shechem and Bet-Milo and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and from Bet-Milo and devour Abimelech. And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech, his brother. the downfall of Abimelech.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Abimelech ruled over Israel three years, and God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubabel might come and their blood be laid upon Abimelech, their brother who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the men of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told Abimelech. And Gaal, the son of Ebed, moved into Shechem with his kinsmen, and the men of Shechem put confidence in him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held festival and went into the house of their God and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech? And who are we of Shechem that we should serve him? Did not the son of Jerubabel and Zebel his officer serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Why then should we serve him? Would that this people were under my hand, then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, Increase your army and come out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ibed, his anger was kindled, and he sent messengers to Abimelech at Aramah, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ibed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. Now, therefore, go by night, you and the men that are with you, and lie in wait in the fields.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city, and when he and the men that are with him come out against you, you may do to them as occasion offers. And Abimelech and all the men that were with him rose up by night and laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the men that were with him rose up from the ambush. And when Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, Look, men are coming down from the mountaintops. And Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Hi, my name is Fr. Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. We'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Gaal spoke again and said, Look, men are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the diviner's oak. Then Zebul said to him, Where is your mouth now? You who said, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Are not these the men whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And Gaal went out at the head of the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. And Abimelech dwelt at Aramah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his kinsmen, so that they could not live on at Shechem. On the following day, the men went out into the fields, and Abimelech was told.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
If you have people that you want to maybe, I don't know, if you want to edit a little bit of what you expose people to when it comes to the word of God. It is still the word of God, but it is also a hard word, and it gets harder and harder through the book of Judges. We're also reading a happy, happy story, and that is Ruth chapter four. We're concluding the story of Ruth today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
He took his men and divided them into three companies and laid wait in the fields. And he looked and saw the men coming out of the city, and he rose against them and slew them. Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and slew them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He took the city and killed the people that were in it, and he razed the city and sewed it with salt. When all the people of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of Elberit. Abimelech was told that all the people of the tower of Shechem were gathered together and Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
He and all the men that were with him and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men that were with him, what you have seen me do, make haste to do as I have done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold and they set the stronghold on fire over them. so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women. Then Abimelech went to Thebes, and encamped against Thebes, and took it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the people of the city fled to it, all the men and women, and shut themselves in it. And they went to the roof of the tower, and Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, a woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his home. Thus God repaid the crime of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And God also made all the wickedness of the men of Shechem fall back upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubabel. Chapter 10. Tola and Jair. After Abimelech there arose to deliver Israel Tola the son of Pua, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And he judged Israel twenty-three years, then he died, and was buried at Shamir. After him rose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel 22 years. And he had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. And they had 30 cities called Havoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, and they crushed and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the sons of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
We're also praying Psalm 137. As always, the Bible translation that I am using is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. Hopefully you can get yours at ascensionpress.com or at amazon.com or wherever you find Bibles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was sorely distressed. And the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, saying, We have sinned against you because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the Lord said to the sons of Israel, did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? The Sidonians also and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore, I will deliver you no more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen. Let them deliver you in the time of your distress. And the sons of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good to you. Only deliver us, we beg you this day. So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And he became indignant over the misery of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped at Gilead. And the sons of Israel came together, and they encamped at Mizpah. And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, Who is the man that will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a harlot.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Gilead was the father of Jephthah, and Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah out and said to him, You shall not inherit in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected round Jephthah and went raiding with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
After a time, the Ammonites made war against Israel. And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob. And they said to Jephthah, come and be our leader that we may fight with the Ammonites. But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Also, you can download your free Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You also can subscribe to the podcast app. and rate it and comment on it if you want in your podcast app. That is all the announcements today. Once again, Judges 9, 10, and 11, Ruth chapter 4, and pray in Psalm 137.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble? And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them over to me, I will be your head.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The Lord will be witness between us. We will surely do as you say. So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, What have you against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land? And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel, on coming from Egypt, took away my land from the Arnon to the Jebok and to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites and said to him, Thus says Jephthah, Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. But when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Let us pass, we beg, through your land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But the king of Edom would not listen. And they also sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh. Then they journeyed through the wilderness and went round the land of Edom and the land of Moab and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab and encamped on the other side of the Arnon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
But they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab. Israel then sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon. And Israel said to him, Let us pass, we beg, through your land to our country. But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and encamped at Jehaz and fought with Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that country. And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
So then, the Lord, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel. And are you to take possession of them? Will you not possess what Shamash, your God, gives you to possess? And all that the Lord, our God, has dispossessed before us, we will possess. Now, are you any better than Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them? While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Arawar and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon three hundred years— Why did you not recover them within that time? I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
The Lord, the judge, decide this day between the sons of Israel and the people of Ammon. But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message of Jephthah, which he sent to him. Jephthah's vow. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and he passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from the Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 92: Jephthah's Vow (2025)
And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return victorious from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, I will offer him up for a burnt offering. So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord gave them into his hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
The Lord God, he's setting his people free for their own sake, but he's also setting them free so that they can become a people who is free to worship him as he's asking them to worship him. And it is just such a gift. That's one of the reasons why as we're looking back into Leviticus now, chapter two and chapter three, We have the peace offering. We have the serial offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. And he looked and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
We have these different ways that God had asked his people to worship him. And that's why we pay attention to Leviticus, because this was the way that God had asked in ancient times his people to worship him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And so we pay attention to that, knowing that God has asked us in this final age, in this age of the church, this age of the Holy Spirit, this age of Christianity, that he's asked us to worship him in the mass. And why it's absolutely critical that we do what he's asked us to do, because he's made us to worship him this way. He's created us to worship him in this way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And he's given us everything that we need to give him the worship that he deserves and the worship that he has asked for. It's such a gift. What a gift, not only to be able to hear these words, to speak these words to y'all, but also to pray with you. I invite you, continue to pray for each other. We have not yet gotten to the place where God delivers his people from slavery in Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And the story that's coming up relatively quickly, but we have to go through a number of number of experiences first. They're going through those tomorrow and the days to come. But in the meantime, we continue to pray for each other. My invitation, please pray for each other. Please pray for me. I am praying for you. This journey is a long one and it is not one that I think we can make on our own.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
So we need each other. We pray for each other. We help each other. And God willing, I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And he said, here am I. Then he said, do not come near. Put off your shoes from your feet for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. And he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 28. Let's keep on going. We're going to be reading today from Exodus chapter three, just one chapter in Exodus. but also Leviticus chapter two and three, as well as Psalm 45.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Then the Lord said, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
a land flowing with milk and honey to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppressed them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
But Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? He said, But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that I have sent you. When you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Then Moses said to God, If I come to the sons of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask of me, What is his name? What shall I say to them? God said to Moses, I am who I am. And he said, say this to the sons of Israel. I am has sent me to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
God also said to Moses, say this to the sons of Israel, the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. This is my name forever. And thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob has appeared to me saying, I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And I promise that I will bring you up out of affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey. And they will listen to your voice. And you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, the Lord, the God of the Hebrews has met with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And now we beg you, let us go a three days journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord, our God. I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders, which I will do in it. After that, he will let you go. and I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor and of her who sojourns in her house, jewelry of silver and of gold and clothing, and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Thus you shall despoil the Egyptians. Leviticus chapter two and chapter three.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
When anyone brings a cereal offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil upon it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests. And he shall take it from a handful of the fine flour and oil with all of its frankincense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
If you want to get a copy of your own Bible in a Year podcast reading plan, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. Go to ascensionpress.com Bible in a Year. You can get that free download of your Bible in a Year reading plan. Also, I invite you to subscribe to this podcast. That way, every single day, whenever we drop a new episode, you have it accessible to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion upon the altar, an offering by fire, a pleasing order to the Lord. And what is left of the cereal offering shall be for Aaron and his sons. It is most holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
When you bring a cereal offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers spread with oil. And if your offering is a cereal offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened mixed with oil. You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it. It is a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And if your offering is a cereal offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. And you shall bring the cereal offering that is made of these things to the Lord. And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And the priest shall take from the cereal offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord. And what is left of the cereal offering shall be for Aaron and his sons. It is a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
No serial offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as an offering by fire to the Lord. As an offering of first fruits, you may bring them to the Lord, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing order. You shall season all your cereal offerings with salt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be lacking from your cereal offering. With all your offerings, you shall offer salt. If you offer a cereal offering of first fruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the cereal offering of your first fruits, crushed new grain from fresh ears, parched with fire. And you shall put oil upon it and lay frankincense on it. It is a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion part of the crushed grain and of the oil with all of its frankincense. It is an offering by fire to the Lord. Peace Offerings If a man's offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering and kill it at the door of the tent of meeting. And Aaron's sons, the priests, shall throw the blood against the altar round about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And from the sacrifice of the peace offering as an offering by fire to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the appendage of the liver, which he shall take away with the kidneys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt offering, which is upon the wood on the fire. It is an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord. If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, laying his hand upon the head of his offering and killing it before the tent of meeting. And Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the altar roundabout.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering as an offering by fire to the Lord, he shall offer its fat, the fat tail and tire, taking it away close by the backbone and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the appendage of the liver, which he shall take away with the kidneys and the priest shall burn it on the altar as food offered by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And it's just right there. We're reading from, as always, the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. And I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is so helpful. We are now in a new period. We started yesterday with Exodus chapter one and chapter two, this time of seeing what happens when the Lord begins to set his people free and leads them out of slavery in Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
if his offering is a goat then he shall offer it before the lord and lay his hand upon its head and kill it before the tent of meeting and the sons of aaron shall throw its blood against the altar round about then he shall offer from it as his offering for an offering by fire to the lord the fat covering the entrails
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys, with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys, and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food offered by fire for a pleasing odor. All fat is the Lord's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood. Psalm 45, ode for a royal wedding to the choir master, according to the lilies, a mascal of the sons of Korah, a love song. My heart overflows with a goodly theme. I address my verses to the king. My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
You are the fairest of the sons of men. Grace is poured upon your lips. Therefore, God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, in your glory and majesty. In your majesty, ride forth victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend the right. Let your right hand teach you dread deeds. Your arrows are sharp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
In the heart of the king's enemies, the peoples fall under you. Your divine throne endures forever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and kesha. From ivory palaces, stringed instruments make you glad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor. At your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear. Forget your people and your father's house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him. The people of Tyre will court your favor with gifts. The richest of the people with all kinds of wealth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
The daughter of the king is decked in her chamber with gold woven robes. In many colored robes she is led to the king with her virgin companions, her escort in her train. With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king. Instead of your fathers shall be your sons. You will make them princes in all the earth. I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Therefore, the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Father in heaven, we thank you. Once again, we thank you for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
We thank you for the gift of yourself. And we thank you for being with us with your grace. We know that we can trust you in all things. We know that we can rely upon you at every moment of our lives. And so this moment, and with these things in our lives, we trust you. We declare you are good. We declare that you are faithful. We receive your love and we rest in your peace. In Jesus' name we pray.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Man, oh man, we are continuing our journey through Exodus and Leviticus. And it is, I don't know, hopefully you are getting a sense of like, okay, this is something big. Maybe these are the first times you've ever read or ever heard the words of Exodus where God actually calls Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Again, spoiler alert. Sorry about that. But today we're continuing our story. by following this man, Moses, who has fled to the area of Midian by reading Exodus chapter three. Exodus chapter three. Now, Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Like a lot of us are familiar with the Prince of Egypt, right? Or a lot of us are familiar with the movie, the 10 commandments, but not a lot of us. Sometimes we've never necessarily read all of the words or heard all of the words of
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
when god appears to moses and i know sometimes some of you you might have noticed wait a second since i've never read all these words like of exodus chapter 2 and now exodus chapter 3 today i noticed that um yesterday moses was said to have gotten married to zipporah who is the daughter of a guy named raul But today it says Jethro was the name of Moses' father-in-law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
You're like, what the, what's going on here? Well, there are a number of scholars who refer to them as the same person because he will be referred to it kind of like Jacob and Israel, you know, they're same person, two different names. And so same thing with in the New Testament, we have Peter and Simon. And even after Jesus changes Simon's name to Peter, he gets referred to at times as Simon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
So it's not completely unusual for people, characters in the Bible to have more than one name. But if you've never read Exodus chapter 2 and chapter 3 before, you might have been like, wait a second here. What's going on? That's what's going on, is that they are the same person, and they're just referred to by two different names.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
There's some other theories, too, like maybe Reul is the head of the entire household, but Jethro is the actual father of Zipporah. But nonetheless, the most important thing from our story today is not only... that God says, listen, I have heard, I have watched, I have observed, I care about the sufferings of my people. I've heard their cries. And this is one of the things for us. It's so good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
It's so necessary for us to know that this is true, to know that when we cry out to the Lord and it doesn't seem like there's any answer. Remember, this has been hundreds and hundreds of years of the people of Israel being blessed by the Lord in the sense that they're having more children and they're becoming stronger and stronger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
but also being in terrible circumstances where they're being worked with rigor, where they're being treated as slaves and being forced to live as slaves. Yet, the entire time, God has heard their cry. The entire time, God has loved every one of them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
The entire time, he's blessed them in many ways, even if one of his blessings, this is important, even if one of his blessings hadn't yet been their freedom from slavery. This is so important for all of us. We can be in the midst of horrible situations I'll be crying out to God, like, deliver me from this situation. Please answer this particular prayer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And there can be times, many times, in fact, when God doesn't release us from that particular situation, when he doesn't free us from that particular thing that's in our lives. But that doesn't mean that he's not blessing us in dozens upon hundreds of other ways.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And one of the important things for all of us to do is to recognize that just because God has not answered this prayer doesn't mean he's not answering any prayers. Just because he hasn't blessed me in this particular way doesn't mean that he is not blessing me in a bunch of other ways. It's one of the things the people of Israel...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
Kept in mind, even as they were in the midst of slavery, that God was continually with them, that he was continually helping them in strengthening them and blessing them, even though they were in incredibly awful circumstances. But when God said to Moses, here's what's going to happen. I want you to come out back to this place, to come back to this mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
And on this mountain, you're going to do something specific. On this mountain, you will worship me. This is key. This is absolutely critical. It's going to be the refrain we're going to go hit on for the rest of the book of Exodus, at least the narrative part of this book, where God is saying, I'm setting you free not just because you're made for freedom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 28: The Burning Bush (2025)
I'm setting you free not just because slavery is bad and it demeans you. I'm setting you free not just even to bring you back to the promised land. I'm setting you free so you can worship. And this is so critical.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And yet, again, you have multiple news sources, people who showed up intending to disprove that anything had happened, and every single one of them experienced this thing that's called the miracle of the sun from Fatima. So, in that case, was there a violation of the laws of nature, a violation of the laws of sun and moon and orbit and all those things?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
I don't know if it was a violation of it, but what the experience of it was for the people who were there was unmistakable and undeniable. It was a miracle that did not throw all of the cosmos into chaos. And so could something like that have happened in Joshua chapter 10? Absolutely. I mean, it happened 104 years ago. So yeah, it could absolutely something like that could have happened.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
But also we recognize that sometimes scripture uses figures of speech, right? Sometimes uses figures of speech or like a poetic language to say that something Yeah, the battle was so fierce that, and battle went for the Israelites so well that the amount of win they got, the amount of victory they got was like a battle that had gone on for two days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So whether someone reads it poetically and says, kind of like when we read Genesis 1 through 11 in a poetic way, that's great. Or we say, yeah, God can perform miracles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
He has done it even more recently where there has been even, I guess we'd say for lack of a better term, photographic evidence or evidence of people who were skeptics and atheists and were there to disprove the miracle, who experienced the miracle. God can do those kinds of things and has done those kinds of things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So Joshua chapter 10 should not bother us because good faith and good science never, ever contradict. One last thing. I have mentioned this before, and I'm going to mention it in a maybe more in-depth way in the next few days. But when it comes to all these battles, we recognize that this isn't necessarily God's plan. What I mean by that is it's not necessarily God's first plan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jermuth, the king of Lashish, and the king of Eglon gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it. And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, Do not relax your hand from your servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
God's first plan is that his children will belong to him, that the whole world would know him, that we would say yes to him with everything we are. That's God's first plan, is that we would live in harmony with each other and live in harmony with him. That is God's original plan for humanity. That's God's original plan for all the nations, for all races, for all peoples, for all of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
That's God's original plan is that we live in harmony with him in harmony with each other. God's original plan is not death, is not destruction, is not violence. It is only a result of our broken humanity and our brokenness that God allows in his plan, what we just read and what we're going to read in the next couple of days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Because the book of Joshua is a book of violence and it's a book of violence in which God is somehow mysteriously, but actually involved. And that is very problematic for a lot of us because we're so used to God saying, you know, he's a God of peace. As I mentioned, he is Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And yet, if we look back over the entire story, one of the things we're reminded of, and I just want to remind all of us, we're going to go a little bit more deeply into this in the next couple of days, but we're reminded of the fact that this is not part of God's original plan. That original plan is not that people of Israel would wage war against men, women, children, all these kinds of things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
It is only a result of this brokenness in the world. It is only the result of the fact that we do not live in harmony with each other, but it is not God's original plan. It started out as peace on earth, peace with him, peace with us, peace within us, and it ends with peace. Again, that's the thing. It's like you go to the end of the story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
What's revealed to us, what God reveals is like, no, no, no, that all tribes, all nations, all races, and even read the book of Revelation, it's everyone. And in fact, John writes in the book of Revelation that he saw a multitude of people
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Again, from every tribe, every nation on earth, every race, every ethnicity, all peoples gathered into one, being once again reunited as one holy family, one kingdom on earth and in heaven. And so this is not a battle of races. This is not a battle of ethnicities. This is not a battle of peoples, ultimately, that God wants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
What he wants is the triumph of his name and that all people, how people, even in the midst of this broken world, come to know him. and come to be united once again with each other. But along the way, it is very, very messy and is very, very troubling. And we experience it even today. But this is not what God wants. What God wants ultimately is our unity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
What he wants ultimately is our peace because he reveals that yes, the way to that might be this difficult indestruction. But there's something at the end of chapter 11 where just that last line said, and the land had rest from war. And that is what God wants for us in our hearts, in our countries, in our world to finally at some point have rest from war.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Let's keep praying for each other because sometimes it is hard to wrap our hearts and minds around these things. And so what we do is we just say, okay, God, let's keep on reading. Let's keep on moving forward. Let's keep on trusting. Let's keep on fighting, not against each other, but keep on fighting for each other. That's why we pray for each other. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Come up to us quickly and save us and help us. For all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country are gathered against us. So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him. and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. There shall not a man of them stand before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is now currently day 84, and we are reading today from Joshua chapter 10 and 11, and we're praying Psalm 128, one or more of those Psalms of Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them as far as Azekah and Makedah. And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth Horon,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
The Lord threw down great stones from heaven upon them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the men of Israel killed with the sword. Then spoke Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the men of Israel. And he said in the sight of Israel, Son, stand still at Gibeon, and you, Moon, in the valley of Aijon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Joshua? The sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. The five kings defeated. These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Machedah. And it was told Joshua, the five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Machedah. And Joshua said, roll great stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them. But do not stay there yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Pursue your enemies, fall upon their rear. Do not let them enter their cities for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
when joshua and the men of israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter until they were wiped out and when the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities all the people returned safe to joshua in the camp at machedah not a man moved his tongue against any of the sons of israel
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Then Joshua said, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave. And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lashish, and the king of Eglon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, Come near. Put your feet upon the necks of these kings. Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. And Joshua said to them, Do not be afraid or dismayed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight. And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees. And they hung upon the trees until evening. But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
The Bible translation that I am reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plans, you can see where we're coming, see where we've been, see where we are. You can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And they set great stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day. And Joshua took Makedah on that day and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed every person in it. He left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And Joshua passed on from Makeda, and all Israel with him, to Libna, and fought against Libna. And the Lord gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel, and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And Joshua passed on from Libna and all Israel with them to Lachish and laid siege to it and assaulted it. And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel and he took it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword and every person in it as he had done to Libna. Then Horam, king of Gezer, came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people until he left none remaining.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And Joshua passed on with all Israel from Lachish to Eglon, and they laid siege to it and assaulted it, and they took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it he utterly destroyed that day, as he had done to Lachish. Then Joshua went up with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
and they assaulted it, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king, and its towns, and every person in it. And he left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and utterly destroyed it with every person in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Then Joshua, with all Israel, turned back to Debir, and assaulted it, and he took it with its king, and all its towns, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person in it. He left none remaining as he had done to Hebron and to Libna and its king. So did he do to Debir and its king.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So Joshua defeated the whole land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings. He left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed as the Lord God of Israel commanded. And Joshua defeated them from Kadesh-Berniah to Gaza and all the country of Goshen as far as Gibeon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. Chapter 11. The United Kings of Northern Canaan Defeated. When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab, the king of Madan, and to the kings of Shimran, and to the king of Ashaf,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Ereba, south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-da-Ar, to the west, to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country. and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
If you want to subscribe in this podcast app, please do that to receive daily episodes. Those daily episodes come out pretty much every day. This is why we call them daily episodes. And it is incredible to be able to listen to the Bible in a Year. In these 365 days, as I said, it's day 84, reading Joshua 10 and 11 and Psalm 128. Let's get started.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And they came out with all their troops, a great host, in number like the sand that is upon the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight with Israel. And the Lord said to Joshua, So Joshua came suddenly upon them with all his people of war by the waters of Merom and fell upon them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel, who struck them and chased them as far as great Sidon and Mishraphoth Maim, and eastward as far as the valley of Mizpah. And they struck them until they left none remaining. And Joshua did to them as the Lord bade him. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. And they put to the sword all who were in it, utterly destroying them. There was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And all the cities of those kings and all their kings Joshua took and struck them with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded. But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor only, that Joshua burned. And all the spoil of these cities and the cattle the sons of Israel took for their booty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
But every man they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any that breathed. As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses. Summary of Joshua's conquests.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negev and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland from Mount Halak that rises towards Sair as far as Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. And he took all their kings and struck them and put them to death. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
There was not a city that made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took all in battle. For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle in order that they should be utterly destroyed and should receive no mercy but be exterminated as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And Joshua came at that time and wiped out the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to the tribal allotments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And the land had rest from war. Psalm 128, the happy home of the faithful, a song of ascents.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
The book of Joshua chapter 10, the sun stands still. When Adonai Zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands. You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house. Your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you see your children's children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Peace be upon Israel. Father in heaven, we know that you have revealed yourself to us, and so we thank you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
We know that what you have revealed is you desire justice, you desire peace. You are the God of peace. In fact, revealed to us fully, that yourself revealed fully in the revelation of Jesus, is that he is the Prince of Peace. And yet when we hear so many stories of war and of battle and of violence, it can cause us to question.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So we ask you, Lord, please, just to give us, give us interior peace, give us a sense of understanding of what it is that you want to teach us today and what it is that you want us to receive today. We make this prayer in the name of the Prince of Peace, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay. So praise the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Oh my gosh. Okay. I want to talk about two things today. And those two things have to do with, again, the book of Joshua, which makes sense. That's where we are. But what we heard was the sun standing still. And I know there's a lot of people, a lot of Christians, in fact, who might find themselves hearing the story of the sun standing still in Joshua chapter 10.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And they think of things like Galileo, or they think of things like the Copernican revolution of recognizing that the earth revolves around the sun. And they think, okay, so the How is this possible? It seems like people were pointing to, Christians or Christian Catholic scholars were pointing to Joshua chapter 10 as an argument against Galileo, which may or may not be accurate.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
In fact, I think it's a little less accurate than it is completely accurate. One of the things we realize is that The issue of Galileo was not an issue of science versus faith. It was an issue of one ego versus another ego. That's a whole other story. The ego of Galileo and the ego of the Pope at the time. But it wasn't a battle of science versus faith because what we had before was a Copernicus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
Copernicus, who was a Catholic cleric and a scientist who had already discovered and made a claim that the earth revolved around the sun. And That was not met with any religious arguments because a lot of the religious people at the time were very interested in science. In fact, the Pope who got into this kerfuffle with Galileo had previously been one of Galileo's patrons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
He feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
He had supported Galileo's scientific research. And so, as I said, there's more to the story. But one of the things we can know is that good faith and good science never contradict. What contradicts are bad faith or bad science. And so, or one or the other, right? Because good faith is pursuit of what? Pursuit of truth. And good science is a pursuit of what? Pursuit of truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
What we know is that truth can never contradict truth. And so the pursuit of truth that faith pursues is supernatural truth. And the pursuit of truth that science pursues is natural truth. And those are both very good things. And those things will never be in conflict with each other as long as they are true.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So what we look at, we look at Joshua chapter 10, and it is very rare, although you find some people who will claim that this is a description of an actual day that was extended for to be as long as two days, right? That the sun actually stood still or the earth rotation stopped, you know, another way to say it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And that what people were able to see was for, you know, day plus to two days, we're able to see the sun in the midst of the sky. Now, one could be, could be exactly supernatural miracle. I say that because there was a similar miracle roughly 100 years ago in a place called Fatima. At Fatima, there was, if you know the story, in October of 1917, Mary, Our Lady, had appeared to some children there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
So Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, sent to Hoham, king of Hebron, Piram, king of Jarmuth, to Japhia, king of Lachish, and to Dibir, king of Eglon, saying, Come up to me, and help me, and let us strike Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
And on a number of occasions, at one point, she said that something was going to happen. There was going to be a sign on this particular date, on the 13th of October in 1917, in this particular place. And so,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
On that date and that place, a number of people, in fact, I think the number is like tens of thousands, if I'm not mistaken, tens of thousands of people showed up, many of them believers, but also many of them skeptics, many of them atheists, and many of them simply out to see the show to disprove the fact that nothing happened, there was no miracle, there was no sign.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
What happened was, at some point, the sign involved the sun in the sky. And at one point, the claim was everyone saw who was gathered there, whether they were believers or not. They saw what they would describe later on as the sun dancing in the sky, which made it look like the sun was shimmering and then began to move around the sky. We know that it's solarly impossible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 84: The Sun Stands Still (2025)
That does not happen according to nature. Because if that were to be the case, then the entire solar system would be thrown way out of whack and everyone would have noticed it, even not just the people who were at that location in Fatima, but also around the world. And yet, what was interesting is people in the local area saw it, but nowhere else was it registered.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
men against their wives now this would happen of course in any culture there would be these this jealousy between each other there also be a high need to be able to maintain faithfulness amongst this community of people who are now in the wilderness again once again they've just been freed in the book of numbers they have just been freed they've been free for one year plus
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And they don't necessarily know how to live as free people and God is teaching them. So what strikes us right away as being like, that is so weird. Keep in mind, this is a step towards greater equality. This is a step towards a greater honor and respect for both male and female. Hopefully that makes sense. Following off to that, we go back to Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Deuteronomy is now after all of this time in the wilderness. After all this time in the wilderness, Moses is reminding the people of what happened at Mount Horeb that first year, Mount Sinai, Mount Horeb, same place. Moses is reminding what happened that first year when God spoke out of the fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
They were like, yeah, Moses, you talk to the Lord because we're just overwhelmed by the fact that here is the Lord God who is speaking to us out of this fire on this mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
two things to note one is that it says that the lord spoke to them face to face and yet we look at other places where moses said god let me see your face and the lord god said you can't see my face and live so what's happening here talk to the lord face to face and yet you can't see my face and live
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Well, talking to the Lord face to face in the Hebrew idiom doesn't necessarily mean like that God has revealed his full glory person to person, face to face. What it means is in an intimate way, in a way that was person to person, that here is the person of God speaking to the person of Moses or the person of God speaking to the people of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And so that the Lord spoke to them face to face would be that idiom saying like in an intimate, deeply personal way. So just keep that in mind. The last piece, because we're going to wrap this up, the last piece has to do with the Ten Commandments. And in the Ten Commandments, obviously, there is the commandment that you shall not make for yourselves a graven image.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And I think that this is important because one of the things that sometimes people misunderstand about Catholics is they say that, yeah, you worship images and you violate the commandments by making images. And one of the things we need to understand is this, is that the catechism points this out and says, yes, of course, we would not make images ever to worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Nevertheless, catechism says in 2130, it says, already in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically towards salvation by the incarnate word. Because here's Jesus, who is the full image of the Father. So it was the bronze serpent. We're going to get to that in the book of Numbers later on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
The Ark of the Covenant was an image with the cherubim over the top of the Ark of the Covenant were images that God had commanded his people to make. And so what we're talking about is not a strict or complete absolute prohibition against the making of images, but it's against the making of images in order to worship those images. Going on in 2131, the Catechism says,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, The restitution for wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement, with which atonement is made for him. And every offering, all the holy things of the sons of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. And every man's holy things shall be his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
basing itself on the mystery of the incarnate word, meaning the God who became flesh, right? So invisible God becoming visible. The seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea, which happened in 787, so early in the life of the church, justified against the iconoclasts. Those are people who wanted to break icons, right? Iconoclasts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Justified the veneration of icons of Christ, but also of the mother of God, the angels, and all the saints. By becoming incarnate, the Son of God introduced a new, what they call, economy of images. So the Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment, which proscribes idols. But in fact, it's a respectful veneration of what the image represents.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And if we have any hesitation with that, realize that words are similar. What do I mean? Words are things we create, right? That represent the reality we're trying to express. And so we don't worship the Bible, but the Bible is held in great esteem. And the Bible contains what? The Bible contains words that themselves are not God himself. but represent what God has revealed to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
This is an analogy I'm trying to make here. So we have an image of Jesus on the cross. We have an image of Jesus and an icon. And we also have an image of Jesus that's brought to us through the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And none of those things are a violation of the commandment against images, because we all recognize that the word itself is, I mean, the words on the page themselves are not the word himself, as well as the fact that the image of the crucifixion or the image of the icon is not the word himself, but they simply represent the truth. They represent reality in this in our limited human frailty way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
I hope that makes any sense. But again, we're continuing this journey. And if you've made it to day 56, I am so proud of you. We're going to keep praying for each other. Keep praying for me, please. I am every day praying for you because this community of people who are going through this Bible in a year, every day, with every passing day, even if you miss a day, just catch up. We're still walking.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
We're still moving. Every passing day, this community is being forged into even more strongly and even more tightly because sometimes as days go along, it gets smaller. But we will continue to be faithful because God is faithful. We'll continue to be steadfast because God is steadfast. And even when we fall, we can get back up again because our Lord God meets us when we fall.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Whatever any man gives to the priest shall be his. an unfaithful wife, or jealous husband. And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and acts unfaithfully against him, if a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself, then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
He shall pour no oil upon it, and put no frankincense on it, for it is a serial offering of jealousy. a serial offering of remembrance bringing iniquity to remembrance and the priest shall bring her near and set her before the lord and the priest shall take holy water from an earthen vessel and shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
and the priest shall set the woman before the lord and unbind the hair of the woman's head and place in her hands the serial offering of remembrance which is the serial offering of jealousy and in his hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you are under your husband's authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Today is day 56, and I'll be reading from Numbers chapter 5, Deuteronomy chapter 5, and we'll be praying Psalm 90. As always, the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you, then let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman, The Lord make you an execration and an oath among your people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
When the Lord makes your thigh fall away and your body swell, may this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your body swell and your thigh fall away. And the woman shall say, Amen, Amen. Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain and the priest shall take the cereal offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand and shall wave the cereal offering before the lord and bring it to the altar and the priest shall take a handful of the cereal offering
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
as its memorial portion, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And when he has made her drink the water, then if she has defiled herself and has acted unfaithfully against her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become an execration among the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children." This is the law in cases of jealousy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
When a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon a man and he is jealous of his wife, then he shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity. The Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 5 The Ten Commandments
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your hearing this day, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, while I stood between the Lord and you at that time to declare to you the word of the Lord. for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said, I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
You shall not make for yourselves a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing merciful love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. We'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
In it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your manservant or your maidservant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle. Or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And also, I invite you to subscribe in the podcast app to receive daily episodes that drop every single day. As you probably know, since it is day 56, did I say 56? I meant to say 56. If I didn't, it's day 56, you guys. And so we're reading from Numbers 5, Deuteronomy 5, and praying Psalm 90. The book of Numbers, chapter 5, unclean persons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Honor your father and your mother as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. You shall not kill. Neither shall you commit adultery. Neither shall you steal. Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. Moses, the mediator of God's will. These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness with a loud voice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And he added no more. And he wrote them upon two tables of stone and gave them to me. And when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders, and you said, Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
We have this day seen God speak with man, and man still live. Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have and still lived? Go near.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. And the Lord heard your words when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They have rightly said all that they have spoken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Oh, that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their children forever. Go, and say to them, Return to your tents, but you stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments and the statutes and the ordinances which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
You shall be careful to do, therefore, as the Lord your God has commanded you, you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live. and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess. Psalm 90, God's Eternity and Human Frailty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. You turn men back to the dust and say, Turn back, O children of men. For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
You sweep men away. They are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning. In the morning it flourishes and is renewed. In the evening it fades and withers. For we are consumed by your anger. By your wrath we are overwhelmed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. For all our days pass away under your wrath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Our years come to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore. But their span is but toil and trouble. They are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord. How long?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Have pity on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, command the sons of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper and everyone having a discharge and everyone that is unclean through contact with the dead. You shall put up both male and female, putting them outside the camp that they may not defile their camp in the midst of which I dwell. And the sons of Israel did so and drove them outside the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Yes, establish the work of our hands. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you for your word today. We thank you not only for your word, we thank you for your faithfulness. Lord God, we find so often that we are unfaithful and yet you are patient with us. We find that we are fickle and yet you are stable. You are steadfast in your love for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And so this day, we give you praise. And we thank you for continuing to speak to us. We thank you for continuing to be with us. We thank you for continuing to... Be ours, to be our God. You are not ashamed. Hebrews 11 says, you are not ashamed to be our God. Thank you so much. Help us never to be ashamed to be your people, to belong to you, to be the sheep of your pasture, those you have chosen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Okay, so there are a number of things to talk about today. The first is we have to deal with Numbers chapter five. In Numbers chapter five, what do we have? We have the occasion, the subtitle of after we talked about confession and restitution, after we talked about leprosy,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And we talked about an unfaithful wife or jealous husband. And that's how it's described because it says if a man is even jealous of his wife, meaning that he does not have any proof that she has been unfaithful to him. This whole section can strike us, especially modern readers who have kind of better sensibilities. Well, yeah, actually, yes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Remember the plus one theory of education is that sense of God is starting from a certain place with this culture and he's moving them along. And so consider this. In the ancient world, a woman was considered to be under full authority of her husband. So if he even accused her, he could do whatever he wanted to do with his wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
and here comes the law here comes the law of moses here in numbers chapter 5 and the law of moses says you don't actually get to do that yes remember back in genesis chapter 3 where one of the consequences of the fall is this tension and this i mean the horrible tension between men and women between wives and husbands where men will are tempted to so often to dominate to use women
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And this is part of the remedy of this. What do you mean remedy? Well, remember, the ancient world, a woman was considered the full property of her husband. And in all of the Middle Eastern cultures, if a man was jealous, then he could do literally whatever he wanted to her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
But here's the plus one theory of education, where the Lord God says through Moses that he doesn't get to do whatever he wants. He has to bring in a mediator. He brings her to the priest. Now, what happens after he brings her to the priest can be distressing to us again, because it's what's referred to as a trial by ordeal. You know, you think about the Salem witch trials.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
We think about those other times where, I mean, think of Monty Python, where if she floats, she's a witch. And if she sinks, then she's not a witch. But if she sinks, then she means she's dead. And so that's right, that kind of that silliness that we see. And yet trial by ordeal was actually relatively common. It's not the best, obviously, as we know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
As the Lord said to Moses, so did the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
But the interesting thing here is what happens in the trial by ordeal? What happens is that the woman will drink this water mixed with some dust, essentially, or with the cereal offering. And if she's guilty, a miracle has to happen to prove that she's guilty. Normally, she would just drink it and be completely fine. And so, and this is the thing, this is why there's some balance here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
And this is part of the genius, even if it's problematic for us. But part of the genius of the scripture is, A, the man does not have total authority over the woman. He has to bring her to a mediator because he has to submit to another higher law because both of them find themselves under the law, right? Your numbers in Deuteronomy, Leviticus, the whole thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
The second thing is this trial by ordeal, which again to us seems very unfair, is the opposite of the Monty Python sketch where it's what happens if she's guilty, a miracle has to prove that she's guilty. She's naturally protected by this process rather than threatened by it. I hope that makes sense. I hope that makes sense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Confession and Restitution And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that men commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person is guilty, he shall confess his sin which he has committed, and he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it, and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 56: Jealous Husbands (2025)
Because normally she would, like any person, would just drink water mixed with whatever this was, the cereal offering or the dust, and nothing would happen. Exactly. That is part of this point. It was a defensive mechanism against the jealousy of others.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
I cannot wait to continue this journey with you. We're going to find out more about Joseph tomorrow and next couple days, what God is going to do when he continues to walk and lead his people. We're also going to find out what Elihu has to say tomorrow, who is like the young pup, young buck, who is not going to hold back. He's going to tell these old folks what he thinks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And then someone really important is going to show up in the book of Job, and we need to hear from him because he's been kind of quiet this entire time. Anyways, my name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, brought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian, and his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
So Joseph found favor in his sight and intended him and he made him the overseer of his house, and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
The blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had, in house and field, so he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and having him, he had no concern for anything but the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking, and after a time his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, "'Lie with me.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
But he refused and said to his master's wife, "'Behold, having me, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has into my hand. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife.' How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie with her or to be with her. But one day when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house were there in the house, She caught him by his garment saying, lie with me. But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, see, he has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us. He came in to lie with me and I cried out in a low voice. And when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled and got out of the house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home. And she told him the same story saying, the Hebrew servant whom you have brought among us came into me to insult me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled out of the house. When his master heard the words, which his wife spoke to him, this is the way your servant treated me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
This is day 21. So let's get started. We will be reading today from Genesis chapter 39 and 40, from Job 31 and 32, and from Proverbs chapter 3, verses 33 through 35. As you know, we've been going at this for three full weeks by now. And we read every day from the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. I'm reading using The Great Adventure of Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
His anger was kindled and Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the King's prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison. And whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Sometime after this, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt, and Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard in the prison where Joseph was confined.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them, and they continued for some time in custody. And one night they both dreamed, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, each his own dream, and each dream with its own meaning. When Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, they were troubled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody of his master's house, why are your faces downcast today? They said to him, we have had dreams and there is no one to interpret them. And Joseph said to them, do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, I beg you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
So the chief butler told his dream to Joseph and said to him, in my dream, there was a vine before me and on the vine, there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Then Joseph said to him, this is its interpretation. The three branches are three days. Within three days, Pharaoh will lift your head and restore you to your office. and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and do me the kindness I beg you to make mention of me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
For indeed I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, I also had a dream.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
There were three cake baskets on my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head. And Joseph answered, This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat the flesh from you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among its servants. He restored the chief butler to his butlership and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand, but he hanged the chief baker as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
The book of Job chapter 31 and 32. Job asserts his integrity. I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look upon a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Does not calamity befall the unrighteous and disaster the workers of iniquity? Does he not see my ways and number all my steps?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If I have walked in falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit, let me be weighed in a just balance and let God know my integrity. If my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes and if any spot has clung to my hands, then let me sow and another eat and let what grows for me be rooted out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If my heart has been enticed to a woman and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door, then let my wife grind for another and let others bow down to her. for that would be a heinous crime. That would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for that would be a fire which consumes unto a badden, and it would burn to the root all my increase.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If you want to follow along, if you want to read along, maybe even want to go back after you listen to this and mark up your own Bible, you can download your own Bible in a Year reading plan by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can click the subscribe button on whatever app you have so that you can get the updates as soon as we update it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they brought a complaint against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes an inquiry, what shall I answer him? Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it, for from his youth I reared him as a father, and from his mother's womb I guided him, if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without covering, if his loins have not blessed me, and if he has not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If I have raised my hand against the fatherless because I saw help at the gate, then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of the calamity from God and I could not have faced this majesty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
if i have rejoiced at the ruin of him that hated me or exalted when evil overtook him i have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse if the men of my tent have not said who is there that has not been filled with his meat the sojourner has not lodged in the street i have opened my doors to the wayfarer
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
If I have concealed my transgressions from men by hiding my iniquity in my bosom because I stood in great fear of the multitude and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence and did not go out of doors, that I had one to hear me. Here's my signature. Let the Almighty answer me. Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary. Surely I would carry it on my shoulder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
I would bind it on me as a crown. I would give him an account of all my steps. Like a prince, I would approach him. If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together, if I have eaten its yield without payment and caused the death of its owners, let thorns grow instead of wheat and foul weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. Young Elihu rebukes Job's friends.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
So these three men ceased to answer Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu, the son of Barakal, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He was also angry at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And you can also sign up for our email list by texting the word catholicbible to the number 33777. Once again, as I said, today we're reading from Genesis chapter 39 and 40, where we pick back up. Yesterday, we read chapter 38, where we heard this story of Judah and Tamar and all the craziness in that family. Of course, from that family came the Messiah, came our Lord Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there were no answers in the mouths of these three men, he became angry. And Elihu, the son of Barakhel the Buzite, answered, I am young in years and you are aged. Therefore, I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, let my days speak and many years teach wisdom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old that are wise, nor are the aged that understand what is right. Therefore I say, listen to me, and let me also declare my opinion. Behold, I waited for your words. I listened for your wise sayings while you searched out what to say.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
I gave you my attention, and behold, there was none that confuted Job or that answered his words among you. Lest you say, we have found wisdom, God may vanquish him, not man. He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. They are discomfited. They answer no more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
They have not a word to say, and I shall speak because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more. I also will give my answer. I also will declare my opinion, for I am full of words. Proverbs chapter 3, verses 33 through 35. The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. God in heaven, we thank you. We thank you for your word. We thank you for revealing your heart to us. We thank you for heroes, people who are faithful like our friend Job. We thank you for heroes, people who are faithful like Joseph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Help us to be the kind of men and women who know your name and who know your commands and have the ability and the grace the perseverance and the persistence, the confidence and trust in you to do your will in all things. We make this prayer in Jesus' name, amen. In the name of the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit, amen. So as we noted, St. Joseph, not St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Joseph, but it's interesting because Joseph, the ancient Old Testament Joseph, has a lot of parallels with the New Testament Joseph. And among those parallels, we have not yet seen them because we see them later on in this story, Other than this, that young Joseph in the Old Testament is righteous. For the last 21 days, we've been following the story of families who are normal, meaning broken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
Families who are normal, meaning messed up. And people who, even though they're trying to do right, they often fail to do right. And yet here is one of the most virtuous people. We've heard his story. I mean, obviously Noah was a righteous man. He's declared that in scripture. But here's Joseph, who seems consistently to... Choose to walk with the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
In fact, that's the marking of Joseph, isn't it? It's the refrain that keeps happening because the Lord was with him. The Lord was with him. This is one of the things that we can take consolation in our lives. Particularly in the midst of this, Joseph has been betrayed by his brothers. He has been sold into slavery. He's falsely accused. He's falsely imprisoned.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And all the while the refrain is, but the Lord God was with him. And I think sometimes for myself, I can only recognize the Lord God being with me when things go the way I want them to go. Not when they're blessed, not when there's fruit, not when there's some consolation and the Lord can still use me even in the midst of my brokenness, even in the midst of my not liking the situation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And yet Joseph is a phenomenal example for all of us of here is Joseph who is in a terrible situation that he did not create, but he's basically the victim of it. but he did not live like a victim. What he lived like, he lived like a victor, right? He lived walking with the Lord and the Lord was with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
And so we know that even in brokenness, the Lord can continue to work. Speaking of brokenness, last time we saw Joseph, he was sold into slavery. And now we begin or resume Joseph's story, beginning with chapter 39 and 40. Genesis chapter 39 and 40.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
It is so easy for us to forget that in all situations, in all circumstances, the Lord is with us. Even when, as Job pointed out, our friend Job pointed out, I have walked with God. I have been righteous. And yet it feels like God is not with me. But I declare that in some ways he's saying God is still with me because I have not left him and he will not leave me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
We can declare that as Christians, as those who have the fullness of revelation. As Catholic Christians, we have the fullness of revelation, knowing that not only do we have these Old Testament stories, we also have the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 21: Walking with God (2025)
We also have the revelation of Jesus in the New Covenant, in the New Testament, where God declares, not just with his words, but with his very self, that I am faithful to you, that you can count on me, that I fight for you. So all of us in our situations that are broken, all situations that are not ideal, we can know with absolute confidence that the Lord is still with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
So you and I, we can have this, we can hear these same words of God, be strong and of good courage, not because everything is fine, not because there's no battles to fight, but Not because there's not even defeats to be suffered, but because I will be with you. Second note is God says, okay, write this song. And we're like, wait, wait, what song? Well, Song of Moses is coming up in chapter 32.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
So stay tuned tomorrow. We're going to hear the Song of Moses tomorrow. And that's the song that is repeated, the song that is sung. So the people of Israel can't claim ignorance of who God is or what he's done. And that's so important for us too, not to only to be strong and of good courage, but but also to be reminded of God's word. Here's what he has done, and here's who he really is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And they said, If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan. Verse 1.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
That's why we're doing this Bible in a year, isn't it? Because we want and we need to be able to be reminded of who God is. I'm talking a little fast. I'm sorry. I'm just excited. The last note is... It is revealed here in chapter 31 how thoroughly the Lord and Moses know that the people of Israel, while God is going to fight for them, while God is going to be with them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
while he's even giving them a new leader after Moses, Joshua. He knows, he knows their hearts and he knows you are going to be faithless. I'm going to give you this land. I'm going to fight for you, fight with you to give you this land, take possession of it. And in this land, you will grow fat. You will grow wealthy. You will have everything you need.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And when I've given you everything you need, after having fought for you, you will turn to other gods. I just, I know this. you will turn away from me. And it's so powerful. I think at times we are tempted to turn away from God in times of pain, in times of suffering. You know, we just think, God, where are you? And what are you doing? Why don't you care?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
I think more of us, we turn away from God in times of prosperity. And yet here's God who says, but I'm still going to fight for you. I know you're going to do this. I know you're going to fail. I know you're going to be faithless, but I'm going to fight for you and I'm going to be faithful. It is an incredible, an incredible mystery of who God is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
That he not only promises to be faithful, he is faithful, even though he knows the people he loves, you and me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
and the people of israel here that even though he knows the people that he loves you and me the people of israel are going to take his love and throw it into the trash we're going to take his love and we're going to betray him and yet he still loves us and he still blesses us and he still says be strong and of good courage i will be with you man
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
We just keep praying because I want to be able to love God back the way he loves me. And I know it's impossible, but I know that I can love him better than I've been loving him. I know I can love him better with my whole heart instead of just with a divided heart, with a whole heart instead of a heart that I give to so many distractions and maybe even false gods at times.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
But I come back to the Lord and let's come back to the Lord today and say, God, you fight for us. You're faithful. Please help me when I fail. Help me when I'm faithless. Help me to trust in your love and in your power to lift up and to restore. I'm praying for you. I know you're praying for each other. This is, you know, day 77 and we're moving along.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
I don't think any of us probably could keep up with this unless we were praying for each other. Again, we're not alone in this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And your willingness to fight, your willingness to listen to God's word and let it shape you, it helps not only you, it helps your kids, it helps your parents, it helps your siblings, it helps your friends, and it helps this community of people who are going through this Bible. It helps me. And thank you. I'm praying for you, as I said. I know I asked it already, but please pray for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Pray for each other. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And the Lord's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt from twenty years old and upward shall see the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
and the lord's anger was kindled against israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the lord was consumed and behold you have risen in your father's stead a brood of sinful men to increase still more the fierce anger of the lord against israel
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people. Then they came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the sons of Israel until we have brought them to their place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until the sons of Israel have inherited each his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
So Moses said to them, If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the Lord for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the Lord,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the Lord and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben said to Moses, Your servants will do as my Lord commands. Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead. But your servants will pass over every man who is armed for war before the Lord to battle as my Lord orders.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the sons of Israel. And Moses said to them, If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, every man who is armed to battle before the Lord, will pass with you over the Jordan, and the land shall be subdued before you,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, As the Lord has said to your servants, so we will do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
We'll be right back. discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 77. We are reading from Numbers 32, Deuteronomy chapter 31. We're also praying Psalm 117. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to get your own Bible,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad, and to the sons of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, the land and its cities with their territories, the cities of the land throughout the country.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And the sons of Gad built Diban, Ataroth-Aroer, Atroth-Shophan, Jezer-Jugbahah, Beth-Nimrah, and Beth-Haran, fortified cities, and folds for sheep." And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Eliallah, Kiriathim, Nebo, and Baal-maon, their names to be changed, and Sibma. And they gave other names to the cities which they built.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, went to Gilead and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. And Moses gave Gilead to Machir, the son of Manasseh, And he settled in it. And Jair, the son of Manasseh, went and took their villages and called them Havoth Jair. And Noba went and took Kenath and its villages and called it Noba after his own name.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
you can go get it somewhere ascensionpress.com sells them as well as almost any place where fine bibles are sold you also can go to ascensionpress.com bible in a year to download your bible in a year reading plan if you have not yet subscribed in your podcast you can do that to receive daily episodes and that's about it when you subscribe. That's about all you get, just daily episodes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
The book of Deuteronomy chapter 31, Joshua becomes Moses's successor. So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, I am 120 years old this day. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, you shall not go over this Jordan. The Lord, your God himself will go over before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
He will destroy these nations before you so that you may dispossess them. and Joshua will go over at your head as the Lord has spoken. And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land when he destroyed them. And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Rereading of the Law Commanded And Moses wrote this law, and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
At the end of every seven years, at the set time of the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place which he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children who have not known it may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Moses and Joshua received God's charge. And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting that I may commission him. And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. And the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. and the pillar of cloud stood by the door of the tent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, you are about to sleep with your fathers. Then this people will rise and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land, where they are going to be among them, and they will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and hide my face from them and they will be devoured and many evils and troubles will come upon them so that they will say in that day, have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And I will surely hide my face in that day on account of all the evil which they have done, because they have turned to other gods. Now, therefore, write this song and teach it to the sons of Israel. Put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them and despise me and break my covenant. And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Anyways, as I said, today is day 77. We are reading Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 31, and praying Psalm 117. The Book of Numbers, chapter 32. Conquest and division of the Transjordan lands. Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle, and they saw the land of Jazar and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for cattle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
For it will live unforgotten in their mouths of their descendants. For I know the purposes which they are already forming, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give. So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And the Lord commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, Be strong and of good courage, for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to give them. I will be with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, take this book of the law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Behold, while I am yet alive with you, today you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death? Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Praise the Lord, all nations. Extol him, all peoples. For great is his mercy toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
We lift up our voices to you. We lift up our hearts to you. We know that you are the Lord. You are God and you are good and you call us to be yours. Even though you know our weakness, even though you know our frailty, even though you know that we will turn away from you. You still fight for us. You still call us to belong to you. You still love us, even in the midst of our faithlessness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
You love us when we do not love you. You are good. You are God, and we give you praise today. Help us in our weakness. Help us when we have fallen, when we have failed. Remind us of your faithfulness so that we can turn back to you, call upon your mercy, call upon your grace, and be restored by your love. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So let's say this. Psalm 117. We just prayed that. It is the shortest psalm of all the psalms. We did Psalm 119, which is the longest psalms of all the psalms. Wow, that was a while back. Gosh. That was a while back. But today, Psalm 117, the shortest of all of the Psalms. We got to pray that and it was great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Okay, so here we go. Back to Numbers 32 in Deuteronomy chapter 31. One quick note about Numbers chapter 32. So remember, this is the end of the story. What's happened is the people of Israel have defeated the Midianites, right? So now they have. They've defeated Sihon, the king of the Amorites, Og, the king of Ishan. they've defeated that land. And so the plains of Moab now are theirs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And what we have is sons of Reuben, sons of Gad saying, Hey, this land is really good for cattle and we've got cattle. So can we have this land? And, you know, it's so remarkable that Moses's response is saying, essentially,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
This is what happened the first time when the people of Israel, the spies of Israel went up and they went to Kadesh Barnea to see the land and they lost heart because it's like, you know what? Let's just not. Let's not take the promised land. Let's not go fight. Let's not take the land that God wants for us. Let's just stay somewhere else, anywhere else.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And Moses is saying, okay, sons of Reuben, sons of Gad, that is exactly what you're saying right now. Not only because this is such a powerful fact. When we're not willing to fight, people around us aren't willing to fight either. This is that, you know, we say, hey, you do you and you can live your own life and you get to do what you want to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And I'm not going to comment on it and I'm not going to do. But, you know, the reality is we are not just individuals. We're not just atoms that are unbeholden to each other. Like we belong to each other. In fact, I think there's the quote from St. Mother Teresa who had said something along the lines of, is that we have so much violence in this life. We have so much distress in this life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
So the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation, Ataroth, Dabon, Jazer, Nimra, Heshbon, Elielah, Sabam, Nebo, and Baon, the land which the Lord struck before the congregation of Israel is a land for cattle, and your servants have cattle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
We have so much poverty in this world because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. So here is what Moses is pointing out. Okay, sons of Reuben, sons of Gad, you don't go up to fight. You know what's gonna happen? The other tribes are not gonna wanna go up to fight either. And this is gonna be the same thing over and over again. And this is true for our own hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
We can say, you know what? I just don't feel like doing what I know I'm called to do right now. And it's fine, it's my life, I'll do what I want. And what happens is people see that. And we say, no, I'm not gonna be your role model. You don't have to base your decisions off of me. And yet people do, we do that. That's just a natural, normal thing to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Well, if he's not gonna fight, if she's not gonna fight, then I don't need to fight either. And this is what Moses was very concerned about. So what did they do? They came and the sons of Reuben, sons of Gad, were like, actually, we'll fight. Let us have this land. And so they make a compromise, not a compromise. They make an agreement.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
They make a pact with each other saying that, okay, you can leave your wives and kids and your cattle and everything here. But every one of you who is of fighting age has to go across the Jordan to take possession of the promised land so that the other tribes are going to be unafraid to fight as well. And it's so, so important. That's what they did. And so that's what they had committed to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And that's what ultimately they end up doing in, well, later on as we get to the conquest and judges, that's what happens. All the tribes go into the promised land and all the tribes make the decision and the commitment to fight on behalf of each other for the Lord, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
Because this is the land that the Lord God had given them, had promised to them, and he was going to give them, but they had to do their part too. And again, The spiritual lesson here is we have to do our part as well. God has a plan for us. He has a place he wants us to go. The kind of people he has called us and redeemed us in Jesus Christ to become. Becoming that is a battle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
And if you and I aren't willing to fight, then the people around us will say, well, I'm not going to fight either. Gosh. So good. Okay. Deuteronomy chapter 31, brief note on that. So not only is Joshua being named as the successor and Moses and Joshua go into the tent of meeting, they go into the presence of the Lord and the Lord gives such a powerful word. And Moses says it multiple times.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 77: God Is Faithful (2025)
What we're going to find is in Joshua, when Joshua takes charge of the people of Israel, he He's going to say the same words, the words repeated again and again, be strong and of good courage, be strong and of good courage. And not because you're amazing, not because you are strong, not because you are courageous, but because God says, because I will be with you. I will fight for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
He shall serve with you until the year of Jubilee. Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own family and return to the possession of his father's. For they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
As for your male and female slaves, whom you may have, you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their families that are with you who have been born in your land and they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You may make slaves of them, but over your brethren, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with harshness. If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you, or to be a member of the stranger's family, then after he is sold, he may be redeemed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a near kinsman belonging to his family may redeem him. Or if he grows rich, he may redeem himself. He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year when he sold himself to him until the year of Jubilee.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And the price of his release shall be according to the number of years the time he was with his owner shall be rated as the time of a hired servant. If there are still many years, according to them, he shall refund out of the price paid for him, the price for his redemption. If there remain but a few years until the year of Jubilee, he shall make a reckoning with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
We repeat the things that are important and we highlight those things that are important by uttering them again. And one of the things that my older brother will say is that he's like, dude, whenever you're preaching, you just repeat the same thing over and over.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
According to the years of service due from him, he shall refund the money for his redemption. As a servant hired year by year, shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight." And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the year of Jubilee, he and his children with him. For to me, the sons of Israel are servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
They are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
God's appeal to stubborn Israel. To the choir master, according to the Gitteth. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength. Shout for joy to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, sound the timbrel, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known. I relieved your shoulder of the burden. Your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Hear, O my people, while I admonish you, O Israel, if you would but listen to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
There shall be no strange God among you. You shall not bow down to a foreign God. I am the Lord, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel would have none of me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
that Israel would walk in my ways. I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. I would feed you with the finest of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. Father in heaven, we give you praise and thank you so much for your word. We thank you for confounding us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
I'm like, yeah, dude, because we remember stuff that when it gets repeated over and over again, and here is the Lord repeating a bit of what he has already said in Leviticus and what he's even already said some of these things in the book of Exodus. But it's important for us because it is revealing the heart of worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
We thank you for confusing us. Lord God, when we hear about slavery, when we hear about these things that have been such a scourge on humanity for so many years, We just ask that you enlighten our minds to be able to understand what is the place that you allowed for this to take place?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
What is it that you're teaching us in doing this, in allowing this to be a part of the life of the people of Israel, your people? Lord God, help us to not harden our hearts nor to allow our minds to be darkened, but open our hearts and open our minds to not be minds of cynicism or skepticism, to not have hearts of distrust, but to open our hearts to trusting you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
We make this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So as I mentioned in that little prayer, we get some confusing stuff today when it comes to the book of Leviticus. And yet at the same time, it's not confusing. Sorry, let's rewind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
We have Exodus chapter 35 and 36, which might have sounded super duper familiar to you if you have joined us for the last couple of days, because we even had the story of not just the story, the account of our two skilled workers, Bezalel and Aholiab. in almost the exact same wording earlier on in the book of Exodus. And yet, why is this so important?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
I mentioned it at the very beginning of this particular episode. It's so important because what we're talking about is worship of God. What we're talking about is the dimensions of the tabernacle. We're talking about the fine elements jewels and the fine resources that go into creating not only the tabernacle, but also what's inside the tabernacle, what the priests are wearing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
All of these things are super important. Now, they might not be important to us, but one of the things that scripture reveals is that it's important to the Lord for some reason. And it's not important because God needs us to use acacia wood. It's because the worship that God instructs us to offer does something for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And it has to touch not just the one day we might gather together to offer God worship, it has to touch the rest of our lives. And this is part of why the Lord God repeats himself multiple times in Exodus and Deuteronomy and Numbers and Leviticus when it comes to worship. We're going to come back to this again and again, because getting worship right is so critical.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 49. Let's keep on going. We're reading from two chapters in Exodus. We're coming to the end of Exodus, Exodus chapter 35 and 36. We're also reading
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
In fact, when we invent worship, we're doing something completely wrong. Like when we create worship, we're doing something so, so backwards from what God is instructing us to do. And yet that's how a lot of churches are run.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
A lot of these, it seems like these days, I don't mean to be overly critical, but it seems like in a lot of different places, what we're doing is we're like, I think God wants this, we'll do this. Well, I think we'll sing a song here. Let's sing a song here, as opposed to saying, okay, how has God commanded us to worship him?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
When it comes to Sabbath, when it comes to the tabernacle, when it comes from the offerings that are brought into the tabernacle, it is all about worship. And there's nothing, there's no greater human act that anyone could do than the act of worship. And that's one of the reasons why the Lord God continues to instruct us in that teaching, teaching of worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Okay, well, we know, as he said, here's the New Testament priesthood that is a fulfillment of the Old Testament priesthood. Here is the New Testament, new and eternal sacrifice, which is the fulfillment of the old sacrifice. And so what we do is we say, okay, God, you said, do this in memory of me, take this, all of you eat of it. This is my body. This is my blood. That's what we do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Cause you gave us the instruction to do that. And yet let's move past this to Leviticus. And yet that just can't be one day. It can't just be one hour of our lives. It has to be at the heart of our lives. In fact, The heart of worship is sacrifice. The heart of religion is worship. The heart of worship is sacrifice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And one of the things we need to do is recognize that that sacrifice is a sacrifice of trust. It's a sacrifice of love. And so what we have in Leviticus today is we have this feast, the sabbatical year. The sabbatical year is what? That on the seventh year, God instructs. He says, okay, you grow crops. You have vines for grapes and wine and whatnot.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
On the seventh year, just like on every seventh day, you're called to rest. Every seventh year, you let the earth lay fallow that you don't harvest on that year. You don't plant crops that year. You don't harvest that year that you rest and let the land rest. And there's something about this that's just like, it's so backwards, especially for our, I'm going to say acquisitorial, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Acquisitorial. We live in such a culture that demands consumerism and demands acquisition, demands all this work. And yet here is God who says, no, on the seventh year, rest. What is that? It's not just resting. It's not just affirming you're no longer slaves, although that's a massive piece. We're going to come back to that in the next couple of weeks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But it's also affirming, okay, God, I trust you. It's confirming and affirming, okay, God, I know that you are just. And so I have to be like you. I have to be just. That's why you have this, you know, so they have the seventh, seventh, seven, right? So the 49th year, the 50th year after seven, sevens, right? After seven years of seven times, seven years, they call it seven weeks of years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
There's the 49th year and that 50th year is the year of Jubilee, right? And what we heard, and maybe we understood it, maybe we didn't, what we heard there is that if you had property that you had to let go of because of bad fortune, because of bad decisions, because of whatever, you got your property back. And if you had to sell yourself into slavery because of the same reasons,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You were set free. That if you had any debts, those debts were forgiven. And then it's just this year of restoration. And that's what the year of Jubilee is. It's all about like, okay, here is the reality of life. The reality of life is that there is, I mean, back then, let's talk about the early world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Slavery was just as much a part of business, just as much part of how you would run the economy as we have contracts right now. So you have this, okay, I need job and someone's willing to hire me as an indentured servant. Someone's willing to hire me as their slave. So I'll sell myself into slavery, but here's the provision. The provision is it's not slavery forever, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
So it's, it's, it's not, it's not the same kind of slavery that we had in this country years and years ago, where it's based off of anything like race was based off of anything like, um, we call it cattle or chattel slavery. It was based off of something like overly domineering. In fact, Scripture says in Leviticus today, it says you shall not lord it over your these slaves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You should not abuse them. Why? Because I am the Lord, your God. And God clearly says that. And he's who's he talking to? Let's keep this in mind. He's not talking to 21st century Westerners. He's talking to a people that themselves had experienced what it was like to be slaves and for 300 to 400 years, the people of Israel were slaves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
So without anything further, Exodus chapter 35 and 36, Sabbath Regulations. Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel and said to them, these are the things which the Lord has commanded you to do. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day, you shall have a holy Sabbath of solemn rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
So they knew what it was like to be under the domineering hand of a ruthless taskmaster. And God is saying, okay, I will tolerate this for now, right? This, this way of supporting your economy with this way of like, even not just supporting your economy, but this way of like supporting those among you who are poor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
If you find yourself in dire straits and you cannot feed yourself, you cannot clothe yourself. You cannot house yourself. You can actually sell yourself to be someone's labor. And what happens then they will clothe you. They will feed you. They will house you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But all of this, A, with the provision that those who have purchased you, those who've entered into this contract with you would not lord it over you because I'm the Lord your God. And secondly, B, that the Jubilee year, you'd be restored to freedom. You'd be restored to freedom. We can look back on this and say, well, that's so backwards. And it's so, I don't get it. And that makes sense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But whenever we read the Bible, we have to read it in context. And the context here is these are people who knew absolutely what it was like to be slaves. Not just like, not slaves where you got your freedom later on. They knew what it was like to have harsh taskmasters. Because God is saying, okay, I'm helping you grow. So I'm allowing this now. But even how I'm allowing this has restrictions.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You are not to be harsh taskmasters. And people get their freedom on that year of restoration, that year of Jubilee. Oh, gosh. It's just a gift. Again, because why? Because it's the plus one theory of education where God is helping these people move from level two to level three. He's helping them move from level three to level four, from level four to level five.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But here we are a lot of times as 21st century Westerners and we look at this and we think like, that's crazy. Well, that's because God has already brought us to level 14 or whatever level we're at right now where we understand that this is problematic and And God is saying, yes, it is. But we have to start somewhere.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And with these people who knew what it was like to be slaves, they also have to know what it's like not to be slaves. Therefore, every seventh day, rest, because you're not a slave. Every seventh year, rest, because you're not a slave. And every 50th year, every seven weeks of years, rest and set free, because you are not meant to be slaves. The Bible is not meant to be straightforward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
The Bible is oftentimes an account of reality and it's not always the best. It's not always the easiest. It's not always the most straightforward, but it is true and it is good. Even if we have to read between the lines to understand what it is that God is allowing and what it is that God is saying and what it is that God is trying to teach us today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Let's keep praying for each other because sometimes we're going to run into some of these Bible passages that we don't get. And whenever we do that, we just say, okay, Lord, let me be humble before you help me to understand this. And if I'm not confused, I'm not clear enough. Meaning me, Father Mike, if I'm not clear enough, look it up because I will not have all the answers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You shall kindle no fire in all your habitations on the Sabbath day. Preparations for making the tabernacle. Moses said to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, this is the thing which the Lord has commanded. Take from among you an offering to the Lord, whoever is of generous heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Let him bring the Lord's offering, gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, goat's hair, tanned ram's skins and goat skins, acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And let every able man among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded, the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars and its bases, the ark with its poles, the mercy seat and the veil of the screen, the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the presence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
The lamp stands also for the light with its utensils and its lamps and the oil for its light.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle, the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the laver, and its base, the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screens for the gate of the court, the pegs of the tabernacle, and the pegs of the court, and their cords,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
the finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons for their service as priests. offerings brought for the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from the presence of Moses, and they came, every one whose heart stirred him, and every one whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
So they came, both men and women, all who were of a willing heart, brought brooches, and earrings, and signet rings, and armlets, all sorts of gold objects." every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. And every man with whom was found blue or purple or scarlet stuff or fine linen or goat's hairs or tanned ram's skins or goat skins brought them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
from the third to last chapter in the book of Leviticus, Leviticus 25, as well as praying Psalm 81. As always, I am reading both from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. As always, I'm reading using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your Bible in a Year reading plan, just visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord's offering. And every man with whom was found acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. And all the women who had ability spun with their hands and brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts were moved with ability spun the goat's hair.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastpiece and spices and oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. All the men and women, the sons of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work which the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Bezalel and Aholiab received the offerings. And Moses said to the sons of Israel, See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, and of the tribe of Judah. And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Aholiab, the son of Ahesamach of the tribe of Dan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
He has filled them with ability to do every sort of work done by craftsmen or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen or by a weaver, by any sort of workman or skilled designer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Bezalel and Aholiab and every able man in whom the Lord has put ability and intelligence to know how to work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded. And Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab and every able man in whose mind the Lord had put ability, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And they received from Moses all the freewill offering which the sons of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning so that all the able men who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came each from the task that he was doing and said to Moses, the people bring much more than enough for doing the work which the Lord has commanded us to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
So Moses gave command and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, let neither man nor woman do anything more for the offering for the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing for the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work and more. Construction of the Tabernacle And all the able men among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff with cherubim skillfully worked. The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had the same measure. and he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And he made loops of blue on the edge of the outmost curtain of the first set. Likewise, he made them on the edge of the outmost curtain of the second set. He made 50 loops on the one curtain, and he made 50 loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps, so that the tabernacle was one whole. He also made curtains of goat's hair, for a tent over the tabernacle. He made eleven curtains. The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains had the same measure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
If you want to buy one of those Great Adventure Bibles, you also can get that at ascensionpress.com. If you haven't yet subscribed in your podcast app, I invite you to do that. whenever you get the chance, maybe even like literally right now, just crush that subscribe button. As I said, today, we're reading from Exodus chapter 35 and 36. We're leaving a little bit of the narrative.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outmost curtain of the one set and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain. And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be one whole. And he made for the tent a covering of tanned ram's skins and goat skins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. Each frame had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
The frames for the tabernacle he made thus, twenty frames for the south side, and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under another frame for its two tenons." And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side, he made 20 frames and the 40 bases of silver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Two bases under one frame and two bases under another frame. And for the rear of the tabernacle westward, he made six frames. And he made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear And they were separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them thus for the two corners.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
There were eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases under every frame, two bases. And he made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward. And he made the middle bar to pass from end to end halfway up the frames.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And he overlaid the frames with gold. And he made their rings of gold for holders for the bars and overlaid the bars with gold. And he made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen. With cherubim skillfully worked he made it. And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold and he cast for them four bases of silver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
He also made a screen for the door of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen embroidered with needlework and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
The Book of Leviticus Chapter 25 The Sabbatical Year The Lord said to Moses on Mount Sinai, Say to the sons of Israel, When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard, What grows of itself in your harvest you shall not reap, and the grapes of your undressed vine you shall not gather. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves, and for your hired servant and the sojourner who lives with you. For your cattle also, and for the beasts that are in the land, all its yield shall be for food." the year of Jubilee.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And you shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of seven weeks of years shall be to you forty-nine years. Then you shall send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seven-month,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
We visited the narrative for a bit, right? We had a little digression where we talked about the tabernacle, talked about the labor, talked about all these, the elements of temple worship. Then we got back to the story with the golden calf and And we're also going to go back to the story clearly, but also some Sabbath regulations for the tabernacle and for the offerings brought into the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
On the day of atonement, you shall send abroad the trumpet throughout all your land, and you shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty through all the land, in all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his property, and each of you shall return to his family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
a jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines for it is a jubilee it shall be holy to you you shall eat what it yields out of the field In this year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his property. And if you sell to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
According to the number of years after the Jubilee, you shall buy from your neighbor. And according to the number of years for crops, he shall sell to you. If the years are many, you shall increase the price. But if the years are few, you shall diminish the price. For it is the number of crops that he is selling to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God. Therefore, you shall do my statutes and keep my ordinances and perform them, so you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely. And if you say, What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year." so that it will bring forth fruit for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating old produce until the ninth year. When its produce comes in, you shall eat the old. The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
And in all the country you possess, you shall grant a redemption of the land. If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his next of kin shall come and redeem what his brother has sold.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
If a man has no one to redeem it and then himself becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it, let him reckon the years since he sold it and pay back the overpayment to the man to whom he sold it. And he shall return to his property.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But if he has not sufficient means to get it back for himself, then what he sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the year of Jubilee. In the year of Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property. If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it within a whole year after its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
If it is not redeemed within a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be made sure in perpetuity to him who bought it throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee. But the houses of the villages, which have no wall around them, shall be reckoned with the fields of the country. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Nevertheless, the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. And if one of the Levites does not exercise his right of redemption, then the house that was sold in a city of their possession shall be released in the Jubilee. For the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
Some of this is going to sound familiar. You've already heard this in Exodus and you've heard this in Leviticus. And that's why God, he was just repeating this, these instructions, which one of the things that reminds me is not just that, wow, this is kind of repetitive, but that it's important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
But the fields of common land belonging to their cities may not be sold, for that is their perpetual possession. And if your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall maintain him. As a stranger and a sojourner, he shall live with you." Take no interest from him or increase, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 49: The Year of Jubilee (2025)
You shall not lend him money at interest, nor give him food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you forth from the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. And if your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave. He shall be with you as a hired servant and as a sojourner.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
What I mean by that is it is pressing play on day 352 when Oh yeah. Day one, day two, day 10. That was maybe kind of fun. Maybe got a lot out of it, but here's day 352 and you press play and say, okay, God speak, Lord speak. Your servant is listening. And it's like, well, this is dry. I didn't get a lot out of this. I was distracted by this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And sometimes when we show up for prayer, it's, that's all it is. It's just dry prayer. God is doing something in that maybe more than any other time. In fact, desolation and prayer can be used by the Lord God, maybe even more powerfully than consolation and prayer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Because what's happening in that desolation where we just show up and I get nothing out of this, what God is doing there is he is purifying our love for him. He is allowing us to go through this time of dry prayer, distracted prayer, and even desolate prayer so that we can have the kind of hearts that love him for his own sake.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
They don't just love the gifts, don't just love the consolations, don't just love those insights and blessings, but we love him. And here Peter is talking about this, you know, rejoice in this, rejoice in the various trials.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Now, again, those are dramatic trials that many of them went through, but every Christian has to go through the normal trials of life so that our hearts and our love and our faith can be purified. He goes on to say, without having seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And this is what we do as we do as well, is that we love the Lord God and he loves us. But that love gets purified through times of dryness, times of distraction, and times of desolation where we keep showing up. And that is so, so important. And of course, Peter goes on to talk about how we're called to live holy lives, that there's a way that we live life without Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And there's a way that we have to live life with Christ, that he gave himself up for us. And so our call is to be holy as the Lord God is holy. And he goes on to talk about how we are not only a new people, the living stones, chosen people, but he emphasizes in chapter two, verse nine, he says, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Once you were no people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. And that reality, of course, from all nations, from all races, from all ethnicities, from all backgrounds, we are now gathered into one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And that's one of the reasons why as Christians, we, gosh, the reality of coming from different countries, speaking different languages, belonging to different races, all of those things are essentially nullified. Actually, I would say this, all of those are unified. Maybe a better way to say it. All of those are unified.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
in the lord jesus our most important identity peter is saying here most important identity is that we are god's children therefore our ethnicity yeah sure that might be important but not as important as being an adopted son or daughter of god our race sure that might be important but not anywhere close to as important as being an adopted son or daughter of god that that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith, you obtain the salvation of your souls. The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Where our background as sinners, in whatever way that we have sinned or continue to sin, whatever we struggle with, those things can be important. But they're nowhere near as important as the fact that you and I are now adopted sons and daughters of God the Father. So important. Made into a royal priesthood. Remember that Jesus Christ is the high priest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And he has made us into a nation of priests, able to offer the sacrifice to the Father, which is just amazing. Absolutely incredible. Last little note on St. Peter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
When talking about being subject to every human institution, he's basically saying, live as great citizens, live as good citizens, and have that sense of order that's given to the world, whether that be to the emperor, to the governor, whoever that is. In families, husbands and wives have an obligation to each other Parents and children have an obligation to each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And even those slaves and masters have an obligation to each other. Again, maybe someone can distort this and say, no, no, no, the men are over the women and the parents are over the kids and masters are over slaves. But that is not what St. Peter is saying. He is saying you have an obligation to each other. And that is absolutely, go back, please reread or re-listen to the end of chapter two.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Saint Peter is making a very, very clear point that all of us have an obligation to each other. That's one of the key pieces where Saint Peter talks, in fact, where Paul talks about this as well. And it's so interesting how in Colossians chapter three, Saint Paul is making kind of some of the similar points. Wives, be subject to your husbands as is fitting to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. This is the key. I remember hearing this in mass when I was a kid growing up. The next line, which is chapter three, verse 20 of St. Paul's letter to the Colossians. Children, obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord. And I remember being next to my dad and him looking over kind of a thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And the next line is, fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged. Like, yes, okay, there we go. I like that, Paul. I appreciate that. The fact is not only did I feel myself justified in that moment in mass, but also what is Paul's point? Paul's point is you have an obligation to each other. You belong to each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
I think Mother Teresa once said, if we have no peace, it's because we've forgotten that we belong to each other. That the wife, she belongs to her husband and the husband, he belongs to his wife. that the children, they belong to the parents and the parents, they belong to the children and we belong to each other. That is so critically important that we continue this way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
They inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And last little note, chapter four, as St. Paul leaves the Colossians here with his further instructions, chapter four, verse two, he says, continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving, And pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ. And this is so important, to pray for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. So important. Everything that Paul and Peter have written that we've heard declared today are absolutely critical for Christian living. And so that's why we have to keep coming back to the word because it just goes sometimes in one ear and out the other. Sometimes it just washes over our heart and we just want to remember it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
We want to store it up in our hearts. We want to have it carved into our hearts. And it's so easy to forget. It's one of the reasons why it's so good to write these things down, whether that be in the Insight Journal or anywhere that you collect information these gems, these pearls, these rules for living that we heard today from St. Peter and from St. Paul. It's a good day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Remember one of those last rules for living is to pray steadfastly and to pray for each other. I am praying for you. Please, please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
A Call to Holy Living Therefore, gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct. Since it is written, you shall be holy for I am holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today, it is day 352. We are reading from the first letter of St. Peter, chapters 1 and 2, as well as the conclusion of St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapters 3 and 4. We're also reading from Proverbs chapter 30 verses 10 through 14.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And if you invoke as father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him, you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
You have been born anew, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God, for all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides forever. That word is the good news which was preached to you. Chapter two, the living stone and a chosen people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up to salvation for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Come to him, that living stone, rejected by men, but in God's sight chosen and precious.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And like living stones, be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame. To you, therefore, who believe, he is precious.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
But for those who do not believe, the very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall. For they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Live as servants of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Beloved, I beg you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as servants of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. The example of Christ's suffering. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle, but also to the overbearing. For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if when you do wrong and are beaten for it, you take it patiently?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
But if, when you do right and suffer for it, you take it patiently, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin. No guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
When he suffered, he did not threaten, but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on subscribe and receiving daily episodes and daily updates because today is day 352. We are reading 1 Peter chapters 1 and 2, Colossians chapter 3 and 4, as well as Proverbs chapter 30 verses 10 through 14. The first letter of Peter, chapter one, salutation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you, immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
in these you once walked when you lived in them but now put them all away anger wrath malice slander and foul talk from your mouth do not lie to one another seeing that you have put off the old man with his practices and have put on the new man who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his creator
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all. Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you are called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Rules for Christian households. Wives, be subject to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, work heartily as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Chapter 4 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a master in heaven. Further Instructions Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood, may grace and peace be multiplied to you. A Living Hope Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear as I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Final greetings and benediction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Tychicus will tell you all about my affairs. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts and with him Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother who is one of yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions, if he comes to you, receive him. And Jesus, who is called Justice. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always remembering you earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. for I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Heropolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Dimas greet you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans. And see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, see that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you and you be held guilty. There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. There are those who are pure in their own eyes, but are not cleansed of their filth. There are those, how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Thank you so much for Paul. Thank you for Peter. Thank you for the gift of your son and the gift of your Holy Spirit that has guided the letters of these men as they give encouragement, so much encouragement to us as modern day Christians, just like they gave that word of encouragement to Christians of eras past and bygone years. Gosh, Lord, we think about this. We think about how
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
For 2,000 years, Christians have read these words of St. Peter, these words of St. Paul, and have found in them not only guidance and truth, but also just a word of encouragement and a word that just speaks into our pain and fills us with the capacity and that will to continue on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
That will to endure and that will not to merely endure, but the will to rejoice in the midst of suffering, in the midst of tribulation. Because we know, Lord God, that it is only through the suffering that we can reach the kingdom of God. And so we ask you, please help us. Help us to say yes to you this day and every day. In Jesus' name we pray.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So we have the first letter of St. Peter, which is just... ah, so grateful. Um, so some context for Peter's letter, he's writing to who he's writing to exiles. Remember that there were a lot of Christians, Jewish Christians who were exiled from Jerusalem during the persecution.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
By his great mercy, we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And so it could be to them, but also could be to any Christians who find themselves in exile. And he says to the exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, um, that he's writing to them. They've experienced persecution. And this is so incredible because St. Peter jumps right in and he says, in this, you rejoice. What is in this? Well, in this, you've been born again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
So chapter one, verse three, he says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his great mercy, we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. So that's just this summary. I just invite you to go back to chapter one, verses three, four, and five. This is the inheritance that's been given to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
This is the gift that Peter is reminding these Christians. This is what you've been given. This is what the Lord God has done for you. Even in the midst of pain, even in the midst of suffering, this is what the Lord God has done for you. Because then he goes on to say in verse six, In this, you rejoice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Though now for a little while, you may have to suffer various trials so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is so important because he reminds them first of the gift they've been given.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And then he tells them that what's gonna happen is through this persecution, through this tribulation, through this trial, through this trouble, This is not God abandoning you. This is God doing something in you that he could not do without this trial, that he could not do without this tribulation, that he could not do without these various trials.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Because what's happening is the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which though perishable, tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. One of the things that we know about the spiritual life is that a lot of times when people begin following the Lord, they can have this crisis. And the crisis is,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
Um, many crises, of course, obviously all of us have to have them, but one of the crises can be that we know our hearts and we know that we have a mercenary heart. We know that I, Lord, am I only coming to you because you promised me eternal life? Am I only coming to you because of the graces that you give me in prayer? Am I only coming to you because of the gifts? I want to love you, the giver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
But I know this about myself. I know that I love the gifts, maybe sometimes more than the giver. And so we have this mixed up motivation, right? We have this mercenary heart that, you know, as C.S. Lewis has said, I think we've said this before. C.S. Lewis has noted, I have a mercenary heart willing to give myself to the highest bidder, willing to give my heart to the highest bidder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
And the question is, gosh, Lord, help me. How do I become the kind of person who can love you for your own sake? The answer is through trials and tribulations. And sometimes those trials and tribulations are like Peter's describing that would might end in martyrdom. But a lot of times those trials and tribulations are simply showing up when showing up is not glamorous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 352: Purified by Fire (2024)
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which, though perishable, is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him, you love him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
He can't take the blessing away from his son, Jacob. It was given to him, even out of deception, it was still given. And so Jacob is the receiver of not only the birthright that he manipulated out of Esau, but also the blessing that he deceived out of his father, Isaac, which points us to something so important. Earlier scripture noted that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Esau was loved by their father, Isaac, and Jacob was loved by their mother, Rebecca. And it's noted that it seemed that that was the case. I have a friend who always says that, yeah, when it comes to my family, I always tell my siblings that I'm my mom's favorite. And he asked me, he said, are you your mom's favorite? And I was like, I don't know. I don't know if she has a favorite.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
One of the great gifts of being loved by your parents is I don't know who their favorites are. And I think because of that, I don't have any animosity or competition with my siblings. I don't think they have any competition or animosity with me either because there's that sense of like, No, mom and dad love us all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
And I mean, some people are more lovable than others, but I never, ever get the sense, ever get the sense that my parents actually have a favorite or that they have a least favorite. One of the gifts they've given our family, one of the gifts they've given to me and my siblings of harmony and unity is this like, oh no, you are all loved. And there is not one clear favorite.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Now then take your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field and hunt game for me and prepare for me savory food such as I love and bring it to me that I may eat, that I may bless you before I die. Now, Rebecca was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Now, I think that there's some people in my family who are super fun. There's some who are kind of easier to be around than others. And there's some that are kind of like myself, like I'm not super always easy to be around either.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
But what a great gift to be able to give your family this gift of your kids not knowing if you actually do, you know, prefer one over the other or over the others that they don't even know that because the brokenness of Jacob and Esau, they were competitive in the womb of Rebecca.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
And that competition was only exacerbated by the fact that one was preferred by their father and the other one was preferred by their mother. I wonder if there can be a lot of family problems that can kind of be resolved by parents who resolve to love their children as equally as possible. We're not perfect people. We can't always do it like that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
But I wonder, I wonder how much pain could be saved for so many families if we just loved each other as best we could instead of preferring each other over the other. Anyways, those are some thoughts for today. Um, this 14th day of our study, man, are walking through scripture. So incredible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
If you want to get an update, uh, just text the word Catholic Bible, all one word to the number three, three, seven, seven, seven. If you haven't yet subscribed, please do. That'd be awesome. If you could subscribe or even share this with some friends, if this has been something that like has blessed your life, these, these past two weeks of just being able to have a
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
What a great thing to be able to share on social media or even just directly with friends that you think would be blessed by this. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. Please pray for each other. Pray for the work of Ascension and for my work up here at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Let's pray for each other because we're not going on this journey through the Bible alone. We are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
going on this journey as brothers and sisters who are loved unconditionally by our Father, each one of us. So let's pray for each other. My name is Father Mike, and I am so grateful to be able to be on this journey with you, and I'll see you tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebecca said to her son Jacob, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, bring me game and prepare for me savory food that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die. Now, therefore. My son, obey my word as I command you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Go to the flock and fetch me two good kids that I may prepare for them savory food for your father, such as he loves, and you shall bring it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies. But Jacob said to Rebekah, his mother, behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man and I am a smooth man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing. His mother said to him, "'Upon me be your curse, my son. Only obey my word and go fetch them to me.' So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared savory food such as his father loved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau, her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son. And the skins of the kid she put upon his hands and upon the smooth part of his neck.' And she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob. So he went into his father and said, My father. And he said, Here I am.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Who are you, my son? Jacob said to his father, I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Now sit up and eat of my game, that you may bless me. But Isaac said to his son, How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son? He answered, because the Lord your God granted me success.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Then Isaac said to Jacob, come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not. So Jacob went near to Isaac, his father, who felt him and said, the voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he did not recognize him because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. He said, are you really my son Esau?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
This is day 14, and we have just completed two weeks. We are completing, actually, we're in the process of completing Two weeks, the 14th day. Let's get started. Today we're reading from Genesis 27 and 28. We're also reading Job chapter 17 and 18. And we're now cracking into Proverbs chapter 3 verses 1 through 4. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
He answered, I am. Then he said, bring it to me that I may eat of my son's game and bless you. So he brought it to him, and he ate, and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, Come near and kiss me, my son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
So he came near and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed. May God give you the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. Be Lord over your brothers and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Cursed be everyone who curses you and blessed be everyone who blesses you. As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac, his father, Esau, his brother, came in from his hunting. He also prepared savory food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, let my father arise and eat of his son's game that you may bless me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
His father Isaac said to him, who are you? He answered, I am your son, your firstborn Esau. Then Isaac trembled violently and said, Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me? And I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him. Yes, and he shall be blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. But he said, your brother came with guile and he has taken away your blessing. Esau said, is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
And he said, have you not reserved a blessing for me? Isaac answered Esau, Esau said to his father, Have you but one blessing, Father? Bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then Isaac, his father, answered him, Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwellings be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother. But when you break loose, you shall break his yoke from your neck. Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And Esau said to himself, the days of mourning for my father are approaching. Then I will kill my brother Jacob. But the words of Esau, her older son, were told to Rebecca.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we will read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
So she sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, behold, your brother Esau comforts himself by planning to kill you. Now, therefore, my son, obey my voice, arise, flee to Laban, my brother in Haran and stay with him a while until your brother's fury turns away until your brother's anger turns away and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and fetch you from there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Why should I be bereft of both of you in one day? Then Rebecca said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women such as these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me then? Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him. You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father, and take as wife from there one of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your descendants with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham. Thus Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel, the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. That is a great Bible to be able to follow along with us if you're ever interested in that because it has all these incredible notes. where we have extra information about the early age, the patriarchs, all the different ways that scripture connects to each other. That's so helpful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Badan Aram to take a wife from there. And that as he blessed him, he charged him, you shall not marry one of the Canaanite women. And that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Badan Aram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac, his father, Esau went to Ishmael and took to wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaoth. Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night because the sun had set.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth. And the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord, the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
The land on which you lie, I will give to you and to your descendants. And your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth. And you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. And by you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth bless themselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
behold i am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land for i will not leave you until i have done that of which i have spoken to you then jacob awoke from his sleep and said surely the lord was in this place and i did not know it and he was afraid and said how awesome is this place this is none other than the house of god and this is the gate of heaven
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
So Jacob rose early in the morning and he took the stone which he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was loose at the first. Then Jacob made a vow saying,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear so that I may come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
My spirit is broken. My days are extinct. The grave is ready for me. Surely there are markers about me and my eye dwells on their provocation. Lay down a pledge for me with yourself who is there that will give surety for me. Since you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property, the eyes of his children will fail. He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit. My eye has grown dim from grief, and all my members are like a shadow. Upright men are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
If you want a reading plan, you can download the reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash bible in a year. You also can subscribe to your podcast, this podcast, by just clicking on subscribe. Really simple, really easy, really straightforward. And you can sign up for our email list where you can get updates by texting the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he that has clean hands grows stronger and stronger. But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you. My days are past. My plans are broken off. The desires of my heart They make night into day. The light, they say, is near to the darkness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
If I look for Sheol as my house, if I spread my couch in darkness, if I say to the pit, you are my father or to the worm, my mother or my sister, where then is my hope? Who will see my hope? Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust? Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight? You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place? Yes, the light of the wicked is put out and the flame of his fire does not shine. The light is dark in his tent and his lamp above him is put out. His strong steps are shortened and his own schemes throw him down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
For he is cast into a net by his own feet and he walks on a pitfall. A trap seizes him by the heel. A snare lays hold of him. A rope is hid for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path. Terrors frighten him on every side and chase him at his heels. His strength is hunger-bitten, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
By disease his skin is consumed, the firstborn of death consumes his limbs. He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors. In his tent dwells that which is none of his. Brimstone is scattered upon his habitation. His roots dry up beneath and his branches wither above. His memory perishes from the earth and he has no name in the street.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
He is thrust from the light into darkness and driven out of the world. He has no offspring or descent among his people and no survivor where he used to live. They of the West are appalled at his day and horror seizes them of the East. Such are the dwellings of the ungodly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands. For the length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you. Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. God in heaven, we thank you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
We give you praise and we give you glory. We thank you for giving us your word and sharing with us your heart because it is your heart that you revealed to us in this scripture, in this word, in your word. Let our hearts become like yours. Help us to love what you love and to despise what you despise. Help us to live as you have willed us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
As I said, we are reading today, Genesis chapter 27 and 28. Let's get started. When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau, his older son, and said to him, my son. And he answered, here I am. He said, behold, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
to live and as you have made it possible for us to live by your grace. May you be glorified in all things this day. In Jesus' name we pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So once again, we're following our family. We're following the family story of the people of God, of the Jewish people. And of course, as Christians, we're not a separate people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Christianity is the fruit of Judaism. And that's one of the reasons why we believe that this story, the story of Abraham and Isaac, and now Jacob is our story. That this whole Bible is our story, because as St. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, as Christians, as Gentile Christians, we've been grafted onto that tree.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
We've been brought into that family, that story, that the process of salvation that God had begun so, so long ago. And here we have the story of the deceiver, the grasper, the rebel, Jacob. who earlier he manipulated his brother out of the birthright. Now he deceives his father out of the blessing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
There's something remarkable in this is that, well, there's a number of things remarkable in this, but one of those things that is remarkable and worth noting is the fact that when Isaac gave Jacob the blessing, after he had given it, he didn't take it back. He didn't take that blessing back. And that's important for us to understand because that is in so many ways, the basis for our sacraments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
What I mean by that is, you know, a Jewish male was brought into the covenant of Judaism by circumcision. You can't undo a circumcision. You're brought into the covenant and you're part of the covenant. As Christians, it's by our baptism that we're brought into the covenant. We're brought into the family of God through our baptism. And you're made into a son or a daughter of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
God is your father. And you can't undo that. And so here is, you know, Isaac, I imagine, pretty upset, pretty hot about this. That fact that he gave the blessing to the one who deceived him out of the blessing. But at the same time, it was a true blessing. It was a real blessing. He can't undo this blessing in similar way that we can't undo our baptism.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 14: Isaac Blesses Jacob (2025)
Even if someone were to say, I renounce my baptism. Even if someone were to say, I no longer want to be part of the church. I no longer want to be known as a son or daughter of God. I don't want God to be my father. You can't undo that. You can't undo the blessing of a sacrament. Those permanent sacraments can't be undone. And Isaac in some ways knows this, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
However this happened. And it even seems like Balaam is not even impressed, overly impressed initially when the donkey talks to him because he's so mad that he says, I'm going to kill you. And yet this miracle that happens, um, That gets spoken about by the early church fathers. It's so interesting that even like St. Ambrose is an example. St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Ambrose says that the angel is revealed, but not to Balaam. He says, what offense does Balaam commit except that he said one thing and plotted another? That's the thing is that Balaam was going to take money. He was impressed by impressive people, and he said one thing and plotted another.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
It goes on, Ambrose says, this is in the fourth century, for God seeks out the pure vessel, one not corrupted by impurity and squalor. Balaam was tested, therefore, but he was found, not found acceptable before he was full of lies and guile. This is actually something that happens later on in the New Testament in 2 Peter 2. Peter writes and he says about some people, he says,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And it's just what a gift. In fact, even in the letter of Jude, it calls the error of Balaam is for profit. And so one of the things that we realize is, is what's going on underneath all of this is Balaam is willing to sell himself and sell his soul essentially for money, for influence, for fame, for power. And that can be our temptation as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And so today, as we kind of journey with the people of Israel, it's so good because, man, as Balaam is going to be blessing the people of Israel, we're going to find out something that is so incredible about the very people that he's blessing in that moment that, man, it's going to blow your socks off. It's going to be pretty incredible. But that's for days to come. Keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
My name's Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow and continue this journey with you. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And they came to Balaam, and they gave him Balak's message. And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring back word to you as the Lord speaks to me. So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. And God came to Balaam and said, Who are these men with you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out. God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
We'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 70, and so we are reading today from Numbers chapter 22 and Deuteronomy chapter 23. We'll also be praying through Psalm 105. As always, I am using the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me. But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. Please now,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Tarry here this night also, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me. And God came to Balaam at night and said, If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them, but only what I bid you, that shall you do. Balaam, his donkey, and the angel. So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God's anger was kindled because he went.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey and his two servants were with him. And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the road.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards with a wall on either side. And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
then the angel of the lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left when the donkey saw the angel of the lord she lay down under balaam and balaam's anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with his staff
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times? And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have made sport of me, I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you. And the donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long to this day?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed his head and fell on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Behold, I have come forth to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
and the donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times if she had not turned aside from me surely just now i would have slain you and let her live then balaam said to the angel of the lord i have sinned for i did not know that you stood in the road against me now therefore if it is evil in your sight i will go back again
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word which I bid you, that shall you speak. So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak. When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the boundary formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the boundary. And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you to call you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you? Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak. Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiria Husath. And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. The Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 23.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. And you can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. As I said, it is day 70 and we are reading from Numbers 22, Deuteronomy 23, and we're praying Psalm 105. The book of Numbers chapter 22, Balak summons Balaam.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Exclusion from the Assembly. He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the Lord. No bastard shall enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord, even to the tenth generation, none belonging to them shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever, because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Baor from Pithor of Mesopotamia to curse you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loved you. You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days forever. You shall not abhor an Edomite for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian because you were a sojourner in his land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
The children of the third generation that are born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord. sanitary, ritual, and humanitarian precepts. When you go forth against your enemies and are in camp, then you shall keep yourself from every evil thing. If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
He shall not come within the camp, but when evening comes on, he shall bathe himself in water, and when the sun is down, he may come within the camp. You shall have a place outside the camp, and you shall go out to it, and you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
when you relieve yourself outside you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement because the lord your god walks in the midst of your camp to save you and to give up your enemies before you therefore your camp must be holy that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you you shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
He shall dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he shall choose within one of your towns, where it pleases him best. You shall not oppress him. There shall be no cult prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a cult prostitute of the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God. you shall not lend upon interest to your brother, interest on money, interest on victuals, interest on anything that is lent for interest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
To a foreigner you may lend upon interest, but to your brother you shall not lend upon interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be slack to pay it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
But if you refrain from vowing, it shall be no sin in you. You shall be careful to perform what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth. When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your vessel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
When you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain. Psalm 105, God's faithfulness to Israel. O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Glory in his holy name, let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered. O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob his chosen ones, he is the Lord our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he has commanded for a thousand generations. The covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them. He rebuked kings on their account, saying, Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm. When he summoned a famine on the land, and broke every staff of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Then the sons of Israel set out and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak, the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Joseph, who was sold as a slave, his feet were hurt with shackles. His neck was put in a collar of iron. Until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him. The ruler of the peoples set him free. He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, to instruct his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Then Israel came to Egypt. Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And the Lord made his people very fruitful. He made them stronger than their foes. He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants. He sent Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen. They wrought his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made the land dark.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
They rebelled against his words. He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. He spoke and there came swarms of flies and gnats throughout their country. He gave them hail for rain and lightning that flashed through the land. He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
He spoke and the locusts came and young locusts without number, which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. he struck all the firstborn in their land, the first issue of all their strength. Then he led forth Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. He spread a cloud for covering, and fire to give light by night. They asked, and he brought quails, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. He opened the rock, and water gushed forth. It flowed through the desert like a river, for he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
So he led forth his people with joy, his chosen ones with singing. And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of other people's toil, to the end that they should keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord. Father in heaven, we give you praise, and we do praise you, Lord God in heaven, because you are good and you are true and you are just.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
You are just and right in all your ways, and we continually affirm that truth. Even, Lord, when we are unfaithful, you are faithful. This is a common refrain, so we give you praise because you are truth itself. You are justice itself, and you are mercy. You are love. Let us... Let us be loved. Let us live in your justice. Let us walk in your truth and dwell in your peace. In Jesus' name we pray.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And Moab said to the elders of Midian, This horde will now lick up all that is round about us as the ox licks up grass in the field. So Balak, the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at the time, sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor of Pithor, which is near the river, in the land of Emma, to call him, saying, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So we have the story. This is so incredible. I love how all of these readings kind of coincide right now, right? Even Psalm 105 that we just got done praying.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
is a recap of what the Lord had done with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and through Moses and leading the people through the wilderness and feeding them with quail and feeding them with manna. It's this great recap as well as we got to hear about Deuteronomy chapter 23. Balaam, the son of Beor from Pithor, and how God would not listen to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
We're going to get that in the next couple chapters because Balaam is going to open his mouth because he's been hired to curse the people of Israel, but instead he will speak blessings upon the people of Israel, which is a remarkable thing for so many reasons that are going to be unfolded for us in the days to come. But one of the things that I really want to emphasize right now is this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
that this mysterious character, he's not very mysterious, there's some mysterious characters in the Bible, but Balaam. Balaam is this soothsayer, essentially. He's someone that is recognized by the people in that area as being someone who has some kind of spiritual connection. And clearly, scripture keeps saying that God is talking to Balaam.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
But Balaam, since the Lord said, no, do not curse these people. They are my people. He says, no, originally. But then what happens? The king of Moab, he amps up Balak. He amps up the whole price. He says, I'll offer you more money and even more honorable people will come to you. Like impressive people will come to invite you to do this thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
And so that's when Balaam seems to have God's permission. Like, yeah, if it seems well with you, go ahead and do this. But God has already let him know. God has already told him, no, don't do that. You'll only say what I want to say, and I'm not going to curse my own people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
But this is such an interesting thing because as this story unfolds in the next couple of days, Balaam is going to, as I said, he's going to speak blessings. But what we see is we see this story of Balaam who is impressed by the powerful. He's impressed by the impressive people sent by Balak. And then they spoken to by his donkey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 70: The Offense of Balaam (2025)
It's his donkey that saves his life, which is so strange for us because we're following the story in numbers. And all of a sudden we have a talking donkey and it can stop us. And we think like, wait, is this Shrek? What is happening right now? But what's happening truly is a miracle. And we have no idea how this worked. Was his mouth moving? Was it just a voice coming from inside this donkey?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
When God heard he was full of wrath and he utterly rejected Israel, he forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among people, and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage. Fire devoured their young men and their maidens had no marriage song.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Their priests fell by the sword and their widows made no lamentation. Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine, and he put his adversaries to rout. He put them to everlasting shame. He rejected the tent of Joseph. He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. He chose David, his servant. and took him from the sheepfolds, from tending the ewes that had young he brought him, to be the shepherd of Jacob his people, of Israel his inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
We thank you for this great prayer that reminds us of all that you have done in our lives. Lord God, one of the big temptations we all have is to forget what you have done, to forget your might, to forget your goodness, to forget your love for us, to forget that you have fought for us. That in so many times, ways and at so many times, you remind us that the Lord will fight for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You can subscribe in your podcast app if you haven't yet done that. It is one of the things that I like. being able to see how every day, here is the podcast. It pops up and just, bam, it's a reminder for me of, yeah, let's read through, let's listen through the Bible. But as I said, today we're reading Exodus 24, Leviticus 17 and 18, and then Psalm 78.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
All we have to do is keep still. Lord God, this Psalm, Psalm 78, reminds us of the need for us to remember how good you are and to remember how fickle we can be. Lord God, please help us. If we have been false to you, help us to be true to you now. If we have strayed, please find us and bring us back to your heart. If we have run away from you,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
We give you permission right now to take hold of our hands, take hold of our hearts, and bring us back to you. Bring us back home. Bring us back to you who are good, who fight for us, who love us. Lord God, make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Okay, so this is a big day, not only because we had massively long Psalm 78. I don't know if you guys got lost.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
in that prayer, but it's a good one to go back and pray with, um, whenever you get the chance, just because again, it's that prayer that reminds us and it reminds us to remember, to remember, and it reminds us of the great things that God has done for his people, Israel, but also gosh, Exodus chapter 24 and Leviticus chapters 17 and 18 are super important for a
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Exodus chapter 24, on the mountain of God and the blood of the covenant. My goodness, this is critical. What happens? Moses takes the people and he offers up a sacrifice, takes half of the blood, places it on the altar. The other half of the blood, the people say, everything the Lord has said, we will do. And they get splashed, sprinkled with that same blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You guys, this is, again, like I said yesterday, this is... Not distant from us, this is exactly what happens to us around a regular basis. Whenever we have a group of people who come into the church as adults through a process like RCIA, right? Whenever we have this, people who are not raised Catholic, but are saying yes to the Catholic faith,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
One of the things they say is they say, I profess and believe all that the Catholic Church believes, professes, and proclaims to be revealed by God. Basically, they're saying what the people of Israel said in Exodus 24. Everything that the Lord has said, we will do. All the Lord has spoken, we will do. We will be obedient. Basically, it's almost like a... a proposal, not a proposal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
It is like the actual wedding vows, right? So there is two parts to every wedding. There is the male who offers himself, there's the female who offers herself. Another way to say it is there's the male who offers himself and the female receives, and the female then offers herself and the male receives. And something similar is happening in Exodus 24.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Something similar happens every Easter vigil or whenever someone becomes Catholic. The people say all that the Lord has said we will do. They're offering themselves. And then they're received. They're received by Moses and they are sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice. And same thing happens when it comes to RCIA.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
The people come forward and either the bishop or the pastor who's been delegated by the receives their offer and receives them. And it's just, it's this incredible thing. It's all about relationship. And here's what happened is, is then what seals that relationship is the blood of the covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
As Moses said, behold, the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words. My goodness, what happens at every mass? We say, this is the blood of the new and eternal covenant. And what happens is that that blood is there on the altar and then we get to take it and receive it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And that establishes, that confirms the covenant, confirms our place every time, not just the people who are coming into the church at Easter Vigil, but every time you and I walk forward to be able to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the mass, we're
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Exodus chapter 24, the blood of the covenant. And he said to Moses, come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and 70 of the elders of Israel and worship afar off. Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near and the people shall not come up with him. Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
i don't want to say reenacting this because because it's reenacting is is less than we are participating in the fullness of it that's what we're doing and not only that but then what happens is then moses aaron nadab and abihu with 70 elders of israel they go up and they're able to eat and drink in the presence of the lord what happens at every mass not only do we have the blood of the lord on the altar and on us we also get to eat and drink in his presence
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
which is truly his real presence, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. That's one of the reasons why it is so critically important that those of us who are Catholic Christians understand that the Old Testament is not dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
The Old Testament is very alive, and we need to know the Old Testament in order to truly appreciate the New Testament, because we participate in this every single time we come to the Mass. I know that this is one of the longer podcasts of the day, but we do have to talk about Leviticus chapters 17 and 18.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
One of the things that's important is because, gosh, and you don't have to bang a drum about this, but it's there. It's in the scriptures today. And in Leviticus chapter 18, we have laws regarding sexual morality. And this is going to be very important because not only does it have some boundaries, right? It's a list of sexual relationships that may not be engaged in by the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 42. Let's keep on rolling. Today, we're going to be reading from Exodus chapter 24. That's Exodus 24. then Leviticus 17 and 18, and then Psalm 78.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Now, one of the things that we need to understand is there are some things in the Bible that are temporary, right? There's some things, there's some laws of Leviticus that have been surpassed basically because they were conditional, they were set in time. And those are things like, here are rules with regard to your being distinct from other peoples. This is how you're going to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
remain separate from the people amongst whom you are living, right? Okay, so it's establishing community for Israel. Second are rules when it comes to worship, right? Temple rules. And the third are rules that are across the board, always and everywhere wrong. And so you have people who will be kind of smart. And when I say smart, I mean somewhat sarcastic.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And they'll say, well, how come you have to follow these particular rules from the Bible, but you don't follow all of them? For example, Can I sell my daughter to you for three goats or so and so violated the Sabbath? When should we get together and stone them? And so, right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
So there's a misunderstanding or a lack of understanding that there are three kinds of laws throughout the Old Testament, particularly here in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Numbers and Leviticus. The three kind are laws that establish a particular kind of society of people of Israel and the kingdom of Israel, right? Second, temple worship. And third is morality for always. Now, we don't do all of them now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Why? Because, well, Israel doesn't exist anymore. The people of Israel don't exist when it comes to having these kinds of laws with regard to, say, things like slavery.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
um not mixing fibers in uh the clothing that you make okay so that that law is passed away because israel has passed away secondly when it comes to temple worship we don't have all those laws still why because the temple has ceased to exist but the third kinds of laws with regard to morality are still in effect. Because why? Because they were not conditional.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
They were not merely for Israel to get along. They were for everyone. Now, how do we know that these laws with regard to sexual morality are the kinds that didn't just pass away with the people of Israel, didn't just pass away with the temple? Well, we know this because it's clearly spelled out in Leviticus chapter 18.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
This is so important for us to understand just because there are a number of people who want to kind of rewrite scripture. They But in Leviticus chapter 18, one of the things that the Lord God says in verse 24, he says, do not defile yourselves by any of these things. For by all these, the nations I'm casting out before you had defiled themselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And all the people answered with one voice and said, all the words which the Lord has spoken, we will do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and 12 pillars, according to the 12 tribes of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
What that does is it reminds us, actually doesn't remind us, just makes it absolutely clear that those laws concerning sexual relations are not merely for Israel. But God is saying, no, actually the Canaanites, the land you're going into are They defiled themselves by these things. So this isn't simply conditional. It's not simply again, like don't cut the hair on your sideburns.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
It's not simply don't mix match fibers when you're wearing clothes. This is not the same kind of level where that was specifically for Israel. Here God is very clearly saying in chapter 18 verses 24 and following that other nations did this and that was an abomination to me. Those things were abominable. They were perversions. They were wrong. They were evil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And that's one of the reasons why we know absolutely clearly that this wasn't merely a conditional commandment, but this is a universal or absolute commandment. Okay. So, well, this is a long podcast today. I apologize for the time it took, but what a gift that the Lord God has given us his word and given us himself because he loves us. So he loves you and he loves you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And this is maybe the last word here, at least for today. We'll be back tomorrow. But that word is, there are so many things that the Bible brings up, things that are close to our hearts, some things that are part of our lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And whether those things be, you know, again, laws concerning sexual morality, sometimes those things could be like, wow, I'm a victim of someone who had abused me, had violated these laws, or I'm someone who's attracted to these kinds of things. What does that mean for me? What it means for you? is that you are one of God's beloved. But this is what I desire, yeah?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And you're one of God's beloved. This happened to me, where was he then? You're one of God's beloved. And whether that was someone doing violence to you, someone stealing something from you, or that's right now, even just feeling, experiencing that brokenness, that woundedness, know this, you are one of God's beloved. And all of us, all the people listening to this podcast,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
We experience brokenness in one way or another. This is one of the reasons why God has given us his law. It is the reason why God gives us his grace because you are one of God's beloved and all of us, and you need God's grace. All of us need God's grace. And so today, let that be the takeaway. The walk away from this, not experiencing condemnation, but experiencing hope.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You are one of God's beloved. That's why he gave the commandments. That's why he's giving us his grace is because your story is not over. We're simply at the very beginning of the story. My name is Father Mike. I'm praying for you. I can't wait to see you again tomorrow. And God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And he sent young men of the sons of Israel who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord and And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, Behold, the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words. on the mountain of God. Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And there was under his feet, as it were, a pavement of sapphire stone, like a very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel. They beheld God and ate and drank. The Lord said to Moses, Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, and I will give you the tables of stone with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
So Moses rose with his servant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God and And he said to the elders, Wait here for us until we come to you again. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a cause, let him go to them. Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the sons of Israel. And Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
The slaughter of animals. And the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron and his sons and to all the sons of Israel, this is the thing which the Lord has commanded. If any man of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp or kills it outside the camp and does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, He says,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, actually from the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can get that at ascensionpress.com or wherever you buy your Bibles. Also, if you want to be able to follow along, I know we're on day 42 already, and one of the great things that I find is I look at this sheet that I printed out
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
and burn the fat for a pleasing odor to the Lord. So they shall no more slay their sacrifices for satyrs, after whom they play the harlot. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And you shall say to them, any man of the house of Israel or of the strangers that sojourn among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off from his people. eating of blood forbidden.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
If any man of the house of Israel or of the strangers that sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls." For it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. Any man also of the sons of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten, shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust. For the life of every creature is the blood of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, you shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. And every person that eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening, and he shall be clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
But if he does not wash them or bathe his flesh, he shall bear his iniquity. And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you dwelt, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You shall do my ordinances and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances by doing which a man shall live. I am the Lord. Laws concerning sexual relations None of you shall approach anyone near of kin to him to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife. It is your father's nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
you shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter for their nakedness is your own nakedness you shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter begotten by your father since she is your sister you shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister she is your father's near kinswoman
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Actually, it's sheets because it's more than one piece of paper of all of the days and all the readings for all the days. And I get to cross out one reading a day. And it's great to be able to see, like, I'm making progress. Sometimes when we're just kind of hitting play on our podcast, it's like, well... I don't know, I mean, am I really getting anywhere? And the answer is, yes, you are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
you shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister for she is your mother's near kinswoman you shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother that is you shall not approach his wife she is your aunt you shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law she is your son's wife you shall not uncover her nakedness You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
She is your brother's nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness. They are your near kinswoman. It is wickedness. And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is yet alive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife and defile yourself with her. You shall not give any of your children to devote them by fire to Moloch. And so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it. It is perversion. Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am casting out before you defile themselves. and the land became defiled, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
But you shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and do none of these abominations either to the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For all these abominations the men of the land did who were before you, so that the land became defiled. Lest the land vomit you out when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
For whoever shall do any of these abominations, the persons that do them shall be cut off from among their people. So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs which were practiced before you, and never to defile yourselves by them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Emaskel of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord and his might.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
the wonders which he has wrought he established a testimony in jacob and appointed a law in israel which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children that the next generation might know them the children yet unborn and arise and tell them to their children so that they should set their hope in god and not forget the works of god but keep his commandments
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. The Ephraimites, armed with a bow, turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot what he had done and the miracles that he had shown them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
You're on day 42 right now. Sometimes it's really helpful to have, though, that sheet of paper printed off at that Bible India reading plant, and then I take a marker. It is a blue marker because I like that color. And I just cross off the day as I've completed the reading for the day. And it just, yeah, it makes me feel like I'm going somewhere.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
In the sight of their fathers, he wrought marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan, He divided the sea and let them pass through it. He made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime, he led them with a cloud and all the night with a fiery light. He cleft rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like the rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the most high in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God saying, can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that the water gushed out and streams overflowed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people? Therefore, when the Lord heard he was full of wrath, a fire was kindled against Jacob. His anger mounted against Israel because they had no faith in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven and he rained down upon them manna to eat and gave them the bread of heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Man ate of the bread of the angels. He sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he let out the south wind. He rained down flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas. He let them fall in the midst of their camp and all around their habitations. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
But before they had sated their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he slew the strongest of them and laid low the picked men of Israel. In spite of all this, they still sinned. Despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath and their years in terror. When he slew them, they sought for him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
They repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock. The Most High was their Redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths. They lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him. They were not true to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
He restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert they tested him again and again and provoked the holy one of israel they did not keep in mind his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe when he wrought his signs in egypt and his miracles in the fields of zoan he turned their rivers to blood so that they could not drink of their streams
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
Obviously, moving to the Bible makes you feel like you're going somewhere too, but that's my tip and little practice that I have. So you can get that Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. I also realize I've been speaking a little quickly right now. I apologize for that. I'm going to slow it on down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them and frogs which destroyed them. He gave their crops to the caterpillar and the fruit of their labors to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
He let loose on them his fierce anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. He made a path for his anger. He did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague. He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the first issue of their strength in the tents of Ham. Then he led forth his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
He led them to safety so that they were not afraid. But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain, which his right hand had won. He drove out nations before them. He apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 42: Moral Laws (2025)
yet they tested and rebelled against the most high and did not observe his decrees but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers they twisted like a deceitful bow for they provoked him to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousy with their graven images
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
He reveals himself and makes himself our father. And every one of us, every generation has to choose him again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And here's Samuel, whose sons did not choose him, but were like Eli's sons who were kind of riding on the coattails of their father in some ways and had hardened their hearts to the Lord God, which is so tragic, so tragic when that happens, because I know that so many people maybe were listening to this Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
part of this community that we have as we're journeying through here on day 98, that you may be someone who's, I'm striving after the Lord, I'm striving to be faithful, whether or not you've always been faithful or maybe even you've only come to faith maybe 98 days ago, there's that recognition that what's happening with my kids though? And it can be the great sorrow of so many parents' hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
I know it's the sorrow of my heart because I say my name is Father Mike and that father is real. And we know that the reason why we call priests father is because of the Old Testament, right? The Levitical priesthood, they were meant to be fathers of the people. Because the original priesthood was the father of the family, was the original priest of the family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And the Levites being the fathers of the community of Israel. And here in the new covenant, the priests are the fathers of the parish. And there's something so devastatingly difficult when us as parents, like me as a spiritual father,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Maybe many of you as physical and biological and spiritual fathers and mothers and adopted fathers and mothers, that when we don't see the faith living in our kids, that can be even more devastating than anything else. I remember one time my little sister Sarah, I had said something along the lines of, Gosh, Sarah, I don't think I could ever be a parent because I'd be so nervous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
They answered, Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was upon all of you and upon your lords. So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land and give glory to the God of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
I'd be so scared all the time of my kids getting hurt. And she said, well, you know, that is bad, but I just don't ever want them to lose their souls. I thought, oh, yes, thank you for the reminder, my sister, reminding the priest that that's even more important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
which is why it's even more devastating when we have people in our lives that we love so much who have turned away from the Lord, who have never known his goodness, never known his love, or just maybe even taken for granted. And so we're gonna join our hearts together in prayer. We often pray for parents in this part of this community, praying for kids too, praying for their kids.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And we're praying now for all those who have loved ones who have turned away from the Lord, have walked away from the church, because that can be the most devastating thing, again, in our lives. The last thing that happens in this story of 1 Samuel before we tomorrow jump into the Gospel of John is the people ask for a king. And it is also talk about rejection. I mean, think about this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
We're just praying about how kids can reject the faith. Here are the people of Israel who say, we want to be like other nations. Samuel, pick for us a king. Make a king for us. And here God says to Samuel, Samuel, don't be disheartened. They're not rejecting you. They're rejecting me. I know what's going on here. Because God's vision, God's purpose, God's plan, God's will was that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
I'll be your king, I fight for you, I guard you, I guide you, I lead you, I feed you, all these things, and yet you do not want me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And so even Samuel can give the warning, here's what's gonna happen, if you get a king, he's gonna put your sons at his service, he's gonna put your daughters at his service, he's gonna take a tenth of all your stuff, he's gonna build up his own self, he's gonna feed his own servants, he's gonna feed his own folks, and you're gonna be left with what's left over. And they said, that's fine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
We wanna be like everyone else, which is the story of all of our lives. God says, let me guide and guard. Let me feed and lead. Let me be your God. And we say, ah, I'll take a secondhand God over you so often. And yet we're gonna see what happens to that because God can even use some of these broken desires of ours to do something pretty incredible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
But we'll get back to that a week from now because tomorrow it is day 99. And tomorrow we're starting the Gospel of John because tomorrow is our first messianic checkpoint, our first launch into the New Testament where we get to just hear the entire Gospel of John in seven days. I am so excited. Please keep praying for me. I hate to keep asking for your prayers, but I know that I need them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
perhaps he will lighten his hand from off of you and your gods and your land why should you harden your hearts as the egyptians and pharaoh hardened their hearts ever he had made sport of them did not they let the people go and they departed now then take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows upon which there has never come a yoke
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
and yoke the cows to the cart but take their calves home away from them and take the ark of the lord and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold which you are returning to him as a guilt offering then send it off and let it go its way and watch If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Bet Shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
But if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us. It happened to us by chance. The men did so and took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth Shemesh, along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. Now, the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there, and they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron. These are the golden tumors, which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord, one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Also the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone, besides which they set down the ark of the Lord, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. The ark at Kiriath-Jerim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And he slew some of the men at Beth Shemesh, because they looked into the ark of the Lord. He slew seventy men of them. And the people mourned, because the Lord had made a great slaughter among the people. Then the men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-Jerim, saying, The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you. Chapter 7 And the men of Kiriath-Jerim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
We'll be right back. Discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 98 and this is the last day before tomorrow, which is our first messianic checkpoint, which begins the gospel of John tomorrow. But today, day 98, we're reading from 1 Samuel chapters 6, 7, and 8. We're also praying Psalm 86.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-Jerim a long time passed, some twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. Samuel as judge of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Then Samuel said, Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you. So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
As always, I'm reading from the translation called the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you have that, you can follow along. If you don't, you can follow along as well in whatever Bible you do have. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Now, when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
So Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel, but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them as far below as Bet-Kar. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and called its name Ebenezer. For he said, Hitherto the Lord has helped us. So the Philistines were subdued, and did not again enter the territory of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel from Ekron to Gath, and Israel rescued their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he administered justice to Israel, and he built there an altar to the Lord. Chapter eight, Israel asks for a king.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, give us a king to govern us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And Samuel prayed to the Lord, and the Lord said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people and all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds which they have done to me from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And if you have not yet subscribed, and your podcast app. You can do that whenever you want. Just click on that button that says subscribe, and then what will happen? Well, you will be subscribed. But as I said, gosh, what a gift. Day 98. You guys, well done. I just want to say it again. Well done. 1 Samuel 6, 7, and 8 in Psalm 86.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Now then, listen to the sound of their voice. Only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them. So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking a king from him. He said, these will be the ways of the king who will reign over you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties. and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots? He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and your donkeys and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks and you shall be his slaves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. But the Lord will not answer you in that day. Israel's demand granted. But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel and they said, no, but we will have a king over us that we also may be like all the nations and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, listen to their voice and make them a king. Samuel then said to the men of Israel, go every man to his city. Psalm 86, supplication for help against enemies. A prayer of David. Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Preserve my life, for I am godly. Save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant for to you O Lord do I lift up my soul. For you O Lord are good and forgiving abounding in mercy to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer. Listen to my cry of supplication.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you do answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things, you who alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your merciful love toward me. You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, insolent men have risen up against me. A band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set you before them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and faithfulness. Turn to me and take pity on me. Give your strength to your servant and save the son of your handmaid. Show me a sign of your favor that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
First Book of Samuel Chapter 6 The Ark Returned to Israel The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us, with what we shall send it to its place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
Father in heaven, you are our helper, you are our comforter. And Lord God, we ask that you are also our vindicator, that you are the one who rises up and who declares and makes us righteous, makes us, it's not our own works, Lord God, that make us righteous in your sight. It's you, it's your grace that you have given to us, that you won on the cross and you handed yourself over for us, Lord God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
You made it possible for us. to experience your mercy, to have access to the heart of the Father, and to be able to receive the Holy Spirit deep into our hearts. So we ask you, Father in heaven, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, renew that Spirit, your Holy Spirit, in our lives so that everything we do
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
May it begin with your inspiration and be carried out by your saving and loving help to its completion, which gives you glory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So there's a couple of questions that come up in 1 Samuel chapter six, where we're talking about some tumors in mice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And all of a sudden, I think people can say, wait, what happened again? So remember that when the Philistines had taken the Ark of the Covenant, that they had some health issues, we'll say. One of those health issues was that they had boils, they had tumors, they had some issues going on with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And so here are the people, and the Philistines decided, well, what are you going to do with the ark? We're going to put it on a cart, get some cows that have never had a harness on them, never had a yoke on them. It So good. This is actually the Philistines have kind of a good sense here where here is a cart that hasn't been used. Here's cows that haven't been used.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
There's something consecrated about those kinds of things. And even though they're pagans, even though they don't know the true and living God, they still had a good sense that if we're going to send the ark of the God of Israel back to Israel, then we should be very careful with how we do that. Now, this is going to play in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
You're going to see how the Israelites at one point did not do this in weeks to come, but the Philistines did. But they also had these two golden tumors and golden mice. Well, they had the golden tumors as representative of the tumors that they had experienced, right? As the skin issues that they had experienced. We didn't hear anything about the mice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
but it makes sense that if they might have associated their physical illness with something like plague as there might have been rats that were around to the revised standard version translate this as mice other bibles might translate it as rats and so make the golden rats or golden mice and the golden tumors And what an interesting thing that they say, we're gonna put this on a cart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And if the cows go to basically back to Israel, then we'll know this is from the Lord, the God of Israel. And if they don't, then this is just coincidence. And I think there's something wise about that. They're testing it out. In fact, in the Catholic church, When someone claims that there's a miracle, the church doesn't just say, well, hooray, there's a miracle. The church investigates it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
They said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering, Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you. And they said, What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
In fact, the default position of the church is that when someone claims a miracle, that if there's a healing or if there's something else that seems extraordinary, the default position of the church is we assume a natural cause for this thing. So if there's healing, we assume a natural healing, a natural cause for this healing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
It has to be demonstrated that this is not, or it's beyond reasonable doubt that this could be claimed to be a reasonable healing, or sorry, be a natural healing, and can be demonstrated to be a supernatural healing. And that's what the Philistines are doing as well. They are saying that this could be the Lord God of Israel, or it could be just a coincidence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
And that kind of test is, I don't know, pretty wise on their part. When we get back to our story, when it comes to Samuel, there's two things that are happening, obviously, in these chapters. One is revealed that Samuel is a good judge. Samuel is a good prophet. He comes from a family of priests. His father lived in Ephraim, Elkanah, his father. But the assumption is that he also was a priest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 98: Israel Asks for a King (2025)
He was of the tribe of Levi. Now, it turns out that Samuel's sons were kind of like Eli's sons, that his sons were not good. His sons, in fact, are described as wicked. And it just goes to show how important it is, how just there is, you know, we say in Christianity that God doesn't have grandchildren. He only has children, right? God is not our grandfather.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
We know that suffering is a result of sin. But not all suffering is a result of sin. Some suffering is a result of the fact that we live in a broken world. We're going to find out later on. Why did God allow Satan to stretch forth his hand and strike Job down? Because that seems so unfair. It seems so cruel. In fact, not just unfair, it seems almost reckless and mean of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Where here's the one person who is faithful to God. And so God says, yeah, Satan, you can have him. What is going on there? We're going to unpack that as we journey forth the next couple of days. Know this though, know this, that the Lord is not fair. The Lord loves Job and the Lord loves you. This is so key as we walk through the book of Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And as we walk through this entire Bible, this is God's love letter to you, which is why we're proclaiming it to you in your ears. This is why we want you to know that you can please join us every single day as we continue to travel throughout the course of this year with this Bible in your podcast. Man, what a gift. What a gift to know that God loves you and God is speaking to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Even when we don't know what he's talking about, even in the midst of brokenness and real suffering and confusion, we know that he wants us to know him. That's how much he loves us. Once again, if you're interested in downloading your own Bible in a Year reading plan, please visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can subscribe in your podcast app and get the updates daily.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And you can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible, all one word, Catholic Bible, to the number 33777. Again, Catholic Bible to the number 33777. Man, what a gift. My name is Father Mike. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And all these joined forces in the valley of Sedim, that is, the Salt Sea. Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Sheva-Kiriathaim, and the Horites in the Mount Seir as far as El-Paran on the border of the wilderness."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Then they turned back and came to Enmishbat, that is, Kadesh, and subdued all the country of the Amalekites and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazazon Tamar. Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Adma, the king of Zeboim, and the king of Betla, that is, Zoar, went out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And they joined battle in the valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer, king of Alam, titled king of Goim, Amraphal, king of Shinar, and Ariok, king of Elessar, four kings against five. Now the valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who dwelt in Sodom and his goods, and departed. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
When Abram heard that his kinsmen had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his kinsmen Lot with his goods, and the women, and the people. After this, he returned from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. The king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shavah, that is, the king's valley, and Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram by God most high, maker of heaven and earth. And blessed be God most high, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
This is day seven, and we are reading from Genesis chapter 14 and chapter 15. We're continuing the story of Abram and Sarai and their call. We're also taking those next steps in the story of the life of the righteous man, suffering man, Job, by reading Job chapter three and chapter four. We're also diving more deeply into the wisdom literature
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have sworn to the Lord God most high, maker of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, lest you should say I have made Abram rich. I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshol, and Mamre take their share.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Fear not, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward will be very great. But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me? For I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eleazar of Damascus. And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a slave born in my house will be my heir.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, This man shall not be your heir. Your own son shall be your heir. And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven and number the stars if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your descendants be. And he believed the Lord, and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. And he said to him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess. But he said, O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it? He said to him, Bring me a heifer three years old, a she goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And he brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over against the other, but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and behold, a dread and great darkness fell upon him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Then the Lord said to Abram, Know of a surety that your descendants will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be slaves there, and they will be oppressed for four hundred years, but I will bring judgment on the nation which they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
You shall be buried in a good old age, and they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. And when the sun had gone down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadamites, and the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Job chapter 3 and chapter 4.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said, let the day perish wherein I was born. And the night which said a man child is conceived, let that day be darkness. May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
by doing a number of verses in proverbs chapter 1 verses 8 through 19. quick reminder the bible translation that i'm using is the revised standard version catholic edition it's the great adventure bible from ascension and also you can track us and track how far you're coming and track where you're headed by downloading your bible in a year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com bible in a year
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
let gloom and deep darkness claim it let clouds dwell upon it let the blackness of the day terrify it that night let thick darkness seize it let it not rejoice among the days of the year let it not come into the number of the months yes let that night be barren Let no joyful cry be heard in it. Let those curse it who curse the day, who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Let the stars of its dawn be dark. Let it hope for light but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning. Because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes. Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? Why did the knees receive me or why the breasts that I should suck? For then I should have laid down and been quiet. I should have slept.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Then I should have been at rest with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Or why was I not as a hidden untimely birth, as infants that never see the light? There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
There the prisoners are at ease together, they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. Why is light given to him who is in misery and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find a grave?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes as my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet. I have no rest, but trouble comes. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Yet who can keep from speaking? Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient. It touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Think now, who that was innocent ever perished, or where were the upright cut off? As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered. Now, a word was brought to me stealthily. My ear received the whisper of it. Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. There was silence. Then I heard a voice. Can mortal man be righteous before God? Can a man be pure before his maker? Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error. How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it. If their tent cord is plucked up within them, do they not die?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
You can subscribe in the podcast app and that way you don't have to even think about it. It just pops up every morning for you so you can listen to the word of God proclaimed. You can also sign up for our email list and get notifications and all those kinds of things by texting Catholic Bible to 33777. Just join that by texting the word Catholic Bible to 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And that without wisdom?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Reading from the book of Proverbs, chapter 1, verses 8 through 19. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching. For they are a fair garland for your head and pendants for your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
if they say come with us let us lie in wait for blood let us wantonly ambush the innocent like sheol let us swallow them alive and whole like those who go down to the pit we shall find all precious goods we shall fill our houses with spoil throw in your lot among us we will all have one purse My son, do not walk in the way with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird. But these men lie in wait for their own blood. They set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of all who get gained by violence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
It takes away the life of its possessors. Father in heaven, thank you so much for bringing us here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Thank you for speaking your word to us. Thank you for revealing your heart to us as you do whenever we pick up your word, whenever we hear your word proclaimed, whenever we read your word. Lord, you enlighten our minds and enlighten our eyes. You give fire to our hearts and you show us how to love. Help us to trust you this day and every day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Okay, wow. So there's so much. You guys, gosh, there is so much happening. Not only do we have this incredible couple stories of Abram. We'll be here. We heard Abram joined the kings, the battle of the kings, and he ultimately ended up on a rescue mission with his men to save his nephew Lot. And then what happens?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
There is this priest king, the king of Salem, Melchizedek, who blesses him and and offers up bread and wine on a high place. It's just, it's remarkable. You know that later on, Jesus will be described as having a priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek. Because why? Well, there's many, many reasons. But one of the reasons is because Jesus doesn't pass away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
It's not an inherited priesthood. He is the great high priest of all time. And so he's like Melchizedek, who has neither a beginning nor end, as scripture later on says. But also you have this incredible gift of the priest king who offers up a sacrifice of bread and wine. And as we know, later on, Jesus will offer up the sacrifice of bread and wine, which is truly his body and his blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And at every mass, priests who are united to the great high priest Jesus offer up the sacrifice of his body and blood, bread and wine. It is remarkable. But we're also getting closer and closer to Abram's name changing to become Abraham. Not yet, but we're getting close. And we also saw this incredible covenant that the Lord God made with Abram. What does he do?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Let's keep going and let's get started. Genesis chapter 14 and chapter 15. In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Ariok, king of Elessar, Jedorlamer, king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goim, these kings made war with Bera, king of Sodom, Bersha, king of Gomorrah, Sheneb, king of Adma, Shemeber, king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
He gets three-year-old ram, three-year-old heifer, three-year-old she-goat, turtle dove, young pigeon, and he splits the animals, not the birds, but splits the animals in two, makes a pathway between the two of them. Now, this is how you would forge a covenant in the ancient world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
You would make a path between the halves of these animals and you would walk through the parts, basically walk through the blood and the guts that was in there, essentially saying, if I am false to this covenant, if I'm false to what I'm about to do, then let me be as these animals. And here is Abram and he's waiting there and God himself passes through that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And this is, which is remarkable, just blows the mind to realize that here is God who placing himself on the line, saying to Abram, all the things I promised you, I promised you a family. I've promised you land. I promised that the world will be blessed through you. that I will be faithful to this covenant and the Lord God passes through those pieces.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
You might have noticed that Abram did not pass through the pieces. And I've heard people talk about this and describe that this is the mercy of God as he knows that human beings, Genesis chapter one through chapter 11 are all about how broken we are, right? It's all about the fall and all about how it was just, we continually, we continually stumble.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And so here is Genesis 12 and following that we're reading now. And what we have is God himself passing through the pieces, essentially saying, I know you're going to be false to this covenant. And so even your failure, I take on me. And that's what he does in the person of Jesus. The Lord God himself takes our wounds, takes our failings, takes our sins on himself, which is just amazing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
Praise the Lord God himself for this. And lastly, we have the book of Job. And what we're going to find is we have Job who he's kind of gotten to his end, right? And so yesterday he was saying, I'm going to still worship God. I'm still going to trust God. And today he opened up his heart and he said, actually, I wish I was never born.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And he goes on this whole long speech about how it would have been better for him if he had died yesterday. even in his mother's womb. And then his friend, he has the three friends, you know, remember they sat with him for seven days and seven nights, and now they're going to speak.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 7: God's Covenant with Abram (2025)
And what we heard that first friend say, Eliphaz, what he was describing was a worldview that says that no, all suffering is a result of sin. So Job, listen, God is never unfaithful. God is never unjust, which is true. But then he makes the point, and he's going to say this tomorrow as well, that all suffering is a result of sin. Now, we know that that's not true.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Our wives and our little ones will become prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to one another, Let us choose a captain and go back to Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
In fact, they tried to elect captains to bring them back to Egypt. I mean, think about the... the heart of the slave that still beat in the chests of the people of Israel saying, let's just go back to Egypt, that place of slavery and live our days there and take whatever punishment we get for running away there. Let's just leave God and leave this land that he wants to give us. Because why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Because it's going to be hard and it's going to be dangerous and they might even beat us. Because that's what's going to happen, right? Fast forward to Deuteronomy. What we're going to hear is Moses' speech, as I mentioned. And then they're going to have to go into the land. The next book after this is Joshua. And that book of Joshua is going to tell the story of like, hey, now you need to fight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
You need to actually do something. It's not just about being given. Although the promised land was being given to the people of Israel, but they had to cooperate with the Lord's work. today, since they were unwilling to cooperate because they were driven by fear and paralyzed by distrust, this distrust that marked their lives and marked their hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Because of that, the Lord God says that they will not enter the promised land. In fact, The children that you said were going to be destroyed, they are not. Your children are the ones who are going to go into the promised land. They're the ones who are going to go up and they're the ones who are going to have to fight because you were unwilling to fight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
You not only do not get to see the promised land, but also your children that you're very concerned about, they're the ones that are going to have to fight because you were unwilling to fight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And isn't there this lesson for us to hear in that those of us who are adults, those of us who are in a place of responsibility, those of us who have been given people and be given a task that if we're not willing to do the battle, if we're not willing to do that fighting of getting free from whatever burden has ensnared us, whatever slavery has been in our lives, that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
If we're not willing to use the grace that God has given us to move forward in freedom and to fight against that slavery, to fight against the addictions, to fight against the bad behaviors of previous generations, if we're not willing to do that battle, then who's going to have to battle?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes, and said to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, The land which we passed through to spy it out is an exceedingly good land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Well, we might still live in slavery, but our children are the ones who are going to have to do the battle that we were unwilling to fight. And so today, this reminder for every one of us to take up arms against whatever enslaves us so that our children and our children's children don't have to take up arms against what enslaves us. This is so important for every single one of us because.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
If we've been given a position of authority or responsibility, then it's our responsibility in virtue of our authority to fight so that our children don't have to fight the battles that we were supposed to fight. They will have to fight battles on their own, but let them fight the battles that they are meant to fight, not our battles that we were unwilling to fight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
One last note, when it comes to Deuteronomy chapter 12, The Lord God, through Moses, commands that the pagan shrines be destroyed, which makes complete sense. But he also says that prepare yourselves for the fact that there's going to be one place where I'm asking you to worship. There's going to be one location that you have to go to when we offer these high and holy sacrifices.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And that's going to be a very important thing because it's not kind of this willy-nilly, worship wherever you want, do whatever kind of worship you want. there is going to be a place that is pointed out by the Lord. And that's where the tabernacle is going to be. That's where ultimately the temple is going to be.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And this is going to be very important, not only for the people of Israel, but for us as well. That there are restrictions when it comes to worship, not just in how we do it, but also in where we do it. We can pray anywhere and the people of Israel can pray anywhere.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
The Levites are going to live in their towns and their villages, but there is a place where the Levites, particularly the sons of Aaron, will exercise their priestly worship faculties, and that's going to be in the place where the Lord God points out Now, if you want to eat any other meat, God says, you can eat it wherever. Just keep in mind, it's got to be a certain kind of meat. Because why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Because in the ancient world, almost all kinds of animals were sacrificed to all kinds of gods. And so God is making it clear, okay, when it comes to certain kinds of animals, you can eat however much you want of them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But when it comes to other kinds of animals, particularly the animals that are offered in the temple, offered in the tabernacle, be careful because if you are close to the tabernacle, if you're close to the temple, you may not just eat whatever kind of meat you would like to. It all is connected to worship, and this is the thing to keep in mind for all of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
This whole teaching in Deuteronomy chapter 12 is not strictly speaking about eating. It is more connected to worship than to anything, and hopefully that makes some sense today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
As we continue to pray, we continue to pray for each other and ask the Lord to shape our minds, shape our hearts, and to shape our worldviews so that we can see the world, him and ourselves, and each other the way that God wants us to. especially as we're drawn closer and closer into battle for freedom and closer and closer into worship in spirit and in truth with the true and living God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord and do not fear the people of the land for they are bred for us. Their protection is removed from them and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. But all the congregation said to stone them with stones.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
We pray for each other. We pray with each other. And we keep on this journey through our own wilderness and into the promised land that the Lord has prepared for us. I'm praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 63, and so we're going to be reading from Numbers chapter 14, Deuteronomy chapter 12, and Psalm 95. We'll be praying Psalm 95.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs which I have wrought among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Moses intercedes for the people. But Moses said to the Lord, Now, if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to give to them. Therefore, he has slain them in the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And now I beg you, let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers upon children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Pardon the iniquity of this people, I beg you, according to the greatness of your mercy, and according as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now. Then the Lord said, I have pardoned according to your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But truly, as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs, which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness. and yet have put me to the proof these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice, shall see the land which I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me faithfully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Now since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. God's punishment of the disobedient.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, How long shall this wicked congregation murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the sons of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say to them, As I live, says the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all of your number, numbered from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
As always, the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is phenomenal because it has all of the periods divided. It has some notes there that are incredibly helpful. If you want to track down one of those Bibles, you can go to wherever you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
according to the number of days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year. You shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure. I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked generation that are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil report against the land, the men who brought up an evil report of the land died by plague before the Lord. But Joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And Moses told these words to all the sons of Israel. And the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, See, we are here. We will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned. But Moses said, Why now are you transgressing this command of the Lord? For that will not succeed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Do not go up, lest you be struck down before your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are before you, and you shall fall by the sword because you have turned back from following the Lord. The Lord will not be with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them even to Hormah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
The Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 12 Pagan Shrines to be Destroyed Moses continued, These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall be careful to do in the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given to you to possess all the days that you live upon the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess shall
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
serve their gods upon the high mountains and upon the hills and under every green tree you shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their asherim with fire you shall hew down the graven images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place you shall not do so to the lord your god but you shall seek the place which the lord your god will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
awesome bibles are sold also if you would like to download your own bible in a year reading plan you can visit ascensionpress.com slash bible in a year and if you have not yet on day 63 subscribed to this podcast you can go into your app which you are using right now and hit click or punch subscribe and you will be subscribed today as i said we are reading from numbers chapter 14 deuteronomy chapter 12 and we are praying psalm 95
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
There you shall go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offerings that you present, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. You shall not do according to all that we are doing here this day, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes, for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God gives you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God gives you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies round about so that you live in safety, then to the place which the Lord your God will choose to make his name dwell there,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
There you shall bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offering that you present, and all your votive offerings which you vow to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your menservants and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you." Take heed that you do not offer your burnt offerings at every place that you see, but at the place which the Lord will choose in one of your tribes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
There you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you. concerning eating however you may slaughter and eat flesh within any of your towns as much as you desire according to the blessings of the lord your god which he has given you the unclean and the clean may eat of it of the gazelle and as of the deer Only you shall not eat the blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
You shall pour it out upon the earth like water. You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grains or of your wine or of your oil or the firstling of your herd or of your flock or any of your votive offerings which you vow or your freewill offerings or the offering that you present.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite who is within your towns, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake. Take heed that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
When the Lord your God enlarges your territory as he has promised you, and you say, I will eat flesh, because you crave flesh, you may eat as much flesh as you desire. If the place which the Lord your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
then you may kill any of your herd or of your flock which the lord has given you as i have commanded you and you may eat within your towns as much as you desire just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten so you may eat of it the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
You shall not eat it. You shall pour it out upon the earth like water. You shall not eat it, that all may go well with you and with your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
But the holy things which are due from you and your votive offerings you shall take, and you shall go to the place which the Lord will choose and offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but the flesh you may eat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Be careful to heed all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. warning against idolatry.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take heed that you not be ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods, that I may also do likewise?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
You shall not do so to the Lord your God, for every abominable thing which the Lord hates they have done for their gods. for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
The book of Numbers chapter 14, the people rebel. Then all the congregation raised a loud cry and the people wept that night. And all the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, would that we had died in the land of Egypt or would that we had died in this wilderness. Why does the Lord bring us into this land to fall by the sword?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
O come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving. Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise, for the Lord is a great God. and a great king above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, the heights of the mountains are his also.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
The sea is his, for he made it, for his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Oh, that today you would listen to his voice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Harden not your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day of Massa in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I was wearied of that generation and said, They are a people who err in heart, and they do not regard my ways. Therefore I swore in my anger that they should not enter my rest."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
We thank you so much for hearing our prayers. We thank you for when we are unfaithful, you remain faithful. And that is what we need. That's you are who we need because, Lord, the depth to which our fears can control us, the depth to which our lack of faith can control us is paralyzing at times. And yet, Lord, when we know who you are, there is no room for fear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
When we love you, there is no room for fear because that perfect love casts out whatever fear we might experience. Lord, if our day today is marked with fear, We ask that you please place your love in our hearts. If our day today is marked with uncertainty and with insecurity, we ask that you place your courage and your strength in our hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Lord God, above all, we ask that you place us in the palm of your hand and help us to never run away. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
Okay, as another reminder, I know I've said this many, many times, but when we were reading from Numbers, especially Numbers chapter 14, we are reading about the time right after the people of Israel were set free from slavery in Egypt. When we were reading Deuteronomy, now this is the recap, this is after 38 more years, they're about to launch into the promised land to take the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
And so just keep that in mind as we continue to move forward. This Deuteronomy is Moses' last speech, it's his last preaching, teaching to the people of God, and Numbers is telling us the story. And the story that we heard today was after the 12 spies had gone up into the land of Canaan, and 10 of them were so intimidated, they were so shocked, they were so consumed by fear,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
That they came back and said, we could not possibly take the land. Now, their job was to go up into the into the promised land and scout it out in that sense of being able to say, OK, are they strong? Are they weak? What kind of the cities are there like to create a plan? Not to say, can we do this or not? It was to say, where do we go first? It was what kind of talents do we attack?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 63: Israel's Rebellion (2025)
What are the people like? What do we need to prepare ourselves for? But instead of saying that this scouting report comes back to prepare them to attack, it drew them to a place of fear where they said we couldn't possibly do this. And in today's chapter, Numbers 14, we hear the people's response. The people said that, why didn't we just die in Egypt?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
In this case, the Lord is fighting for you. You have only to stand still. If there's maybe a word that I want to pick out of today's reading, I underline that in my Great Adventure Bible and write it down in my journal. I, that's, that's the word of the day. Just the Lord fights for you. You have only to keep still. There are some times when we're called to fight as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Sometimes we're called to run either toward the, toward the fray or away from the fray. And there's some times when the Lord just says, nope, I'm fighting for you. You stand straight. You stand still. You hold your position. We persevere because I'm fighting for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And that's one of the reasons why we're praying for each other on this journey through the Bible is because there's battles that are happening in every one of our lives. So please, please with me, pray for each other. Let's please pray for me. I'm praying for you. Maybe this is one of those days where we just need to get reminded. Stand still. The Lord is fighting for you right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And tomorrow is another day. My name is Father Mike, and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. This next day. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. No leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. And you shall tell your son on that day, It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 35. Oh my gosh, you guys, we're trucking right along. We're going to be reading Exodus chapter 13 and 14 from Leviticus chapter 10 and from Psalm 53.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year." And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all the first that opens the womb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
All the firstlings of your cattle that are males shall be the Lord's. Every firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it, you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, what does this mean?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
You shall say to him, by strength of hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt from the house of bondage. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of cattle. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first opened the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt. When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, lest the people repent when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people round by way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And the sons of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt, equipped for battle. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had solemnly sworn the sons of Israel, saying, God will visit you, then you must carry my bones with you from here. And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Then the Lord said to Moses, tell the sons of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pihah Heroth, between Migdal and the sea, in front of Baal Zephan. You shall encamp over against it by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, they are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and he will pursue them
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people. And they said, what is this we have done that we have let Israel go from serving us? So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
and took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the sons of Israel as they went forth defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea by Pihah Hiroth in front of Baal Ziphon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
When Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them and they were in great fear. And the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord and they said to Moses, is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Is not this what we said to you in Egypt? Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians. For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. And Moses said to the people, if you're not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
I'm always reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition, and as well as using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is so good, so helpful for us because it has the periods, it has like the extra details.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
The Lord will fight for you and you have only to be still. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the sons of Israel may go forth on dry ground through the sea. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, so that they shall go in after them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts, his chariots and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen. Then the angel of God who went before the host of Israel moved and went behind them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and darkness. And the night passed without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land and the waters were divided.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And the sons of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen. And in the morning, watch, the Lord in the pillar of fire and of the cloud looked down upon the host of the Egyptians and said,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And discomfited the host of all the Egyptians, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
We've got some notes, got some maps, got all good things in there, as well as following along this Bible in a Year reading plan that you can get for free from ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. That's ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. If you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, I am not sure how you do it. How do you continue to come back here 35 days in a row?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
So Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its usual flow when the morning appeared, and the Egyptians fled into it, and the Lord routed the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not so much as one of them remained.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
But the sons of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians. And Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw the great work which the Lord did against the Egyptians. And the people feared the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unholy fire before the Lord, such as he had not commanded them. And fire came forth from the presence of the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord has said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
I will show myself holy among those people who are near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uziel, the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar, and Ithamar his sons, Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not rend your clothes, lest you die, and lest wrath come upon all the congregation. But your brethren, the whole house of Israel, may bewail the burning which the Lord has kindled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
and do not go out from the door of the tent of meeting lest you die for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you and they did according to the word of Moses and the Lord spoke to Aaron saying drink no wine nor strong drink you nor your sons with you when you go into the tent of meeting lest you die It shall be a statute forever through your generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
You are to distinguish between the holy and the common and between the unclean and the clean. And you are to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes with the Lord has spoken to them by Moses. And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and to the sons who were with them, take the cereal offering that remains of the offerings by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your son's due, from the offerings by fire to the Lord, for so I am commanded. But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered you shall eat clean in any clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your son's due.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the sons of Israel. The thigh that is offered and the breast that is waved, they shall bring with the offerings by fire of the fat to wave for a wave offering before the Lord, and it shall be yours and your sons with you as a debt forever as the Lord has commanded.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron, who were left, saying, Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you, that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? Behold, its blood was not brought in to the inner part of the sanctuary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
If you haven't subscribed already, you impressed me. You impressed me a lot. But without any further delay, let's get started. Exodus chapter 13 and 14. The Lord said to Moses, And Moses said to the people, Remember this day. In which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary as I commanded." And Aaron said to Moses, Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and yet such things as these have befallen me. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the sight of the Lord?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Psalm 53 Denunciation of Godlessness To the choirmaster, according to Mahalath, a maskil of David The fool says in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity. There is none that does good. God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any that are wise, that seek after God. They have all fallen away. They are all alike depraved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
There is none that does good. No, not one. Have those who work evil no understanding? Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon God? There they are in great terror, in terror such as has not been. For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly. They will be put to shame for God has rejected them. All that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad. Father in heaven, we thank you. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your commandments. We thank you for fighting for your people. Once again, you reveal to us in Exodus that you are willing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Not only see us, you not only know us, you not only know our plea, you know our plight, you hear our pleas and know our plight, and you answer our prayers. And you answer by fighting for us. And we praise you for that. We thank you for that. Lord God, every single day you fight for us. You continue to give us your grace. You continue to make us people whole again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And you continue to call us closer and closer to your heart. Help us always to say yes. Help us always to say yes to you. We ask this prayer through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, through the intercession of all the saints who make this prayer in the mighty name of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Man, oh gosh, there are so many things to draw out. You know, when it comes to Leviticus, people think it can be dry. I mean, it's repetitive a little bit, but it's not dry. This is the Lord revealing his holiness. I mean, truly, all of the commandments, all of the rules in the book of Leviticus, they're all about the Lord. They're all about his holiness. They're all about what true holiness is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
How other, how other... God is. I mean, that's what it is to be holy is to be set apart. You know, you can say something is holy if it's been blessed, right? It's been set apart. It's been consecrated. It's for our purpose now. And here is God who himself is the author of holiness because he is holiness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
He's so fully other that here we have the sons of Aaron who come into the Lord's presence and they do whatever they want to do. They do everything. what is not right. They do what God has not asked them to do. He's not commanded them to do this. And so they offered an unholy fire. And so the fire of the Lord who is holy consumes them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And sometimes we can hear some of these stories and we think, gosh, that seems so strange. They offered an unholy fire. What's that mean? And then that God's holy fire consumed them like that. Does that seem drastic? Does that seem extreme? And we realize not at all. I mean, because in the new covenant, what has God done? He has become so close to us. He has drawn so near to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
We are temples of the Holy Spirit. He's that close. But also he has revealed himself in humility, in poverty. You think of the nativity, think of Christmas, think of Jesus being born, God himself, God incarnate, who willed to become a single-celled human being at one point. And then grew in his mother's womb, was born in poverty, born in a stable or cave and laid in a manger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
All these things allowed us to torture him, allowed us to reject him, allowed us to kill him. That we think like, oh gosh, here's God who just, you know, he's kind of like whatever. And yet scripture again and again, especially today in the book of Leviticus, he reveals, no, there's no kind of whatever when it comes to approaching me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
It is approach me the way I'm telling you to, because I am holy. Honestly, just think of the seriousness of this. Approach me how I'm telling you to, because I am holy. And what if we did that when we went to mass? What if we did that when we presented ourselves before the Lord in prayer is just to be able to say, Lord, it's true. It is true that you are holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
And therefore we have this thing called the fear of the Lord. And again, fear of the Lord doesn't mean I'm afraid of God. The fear of the Lord is I'm taking God seriously. What would our lives look like? What would our prayer look like if we just took God seriously? Again, not being afraid, but simply realizing here is God who is holy. Here I dare to enter into his presence. That is remarkable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
Not only that, I dare enter his presence, but he is so, I don't know, humble. He loves us so much that he wants you to enter his presence. Well, last note, in Exodus today, man, here is the Lord's dramatic salvation of his people through the Red Sea. And there's this word, this word spoken to the people of Israel. The Lord fights for you. You have only to stand still.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 35: Crossing the Red Sea (2025)
This day you are to go forth in the month of Abib. And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And his concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. And Gideon, the son of Joash, died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezarites. As soon as Gideon died, the sons of Israel turned again and played the harlot after the Baals and made Baal-barit their god.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side. And they did not show kindness to the family of Jeroboam, that is Gideon, in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Ruth and Boaz at the threshing floor. Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "'My daughter, should I not seek a home for you, that it may be well with you? Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash, therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the hand of Midian prevailed over Israel, and because of Midian, the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and the strongholds. For whenever the Israelites put in seed, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east would come up and attack them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
But do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
but when he lies down observe the place where he lies then go and uncover his feet and lie down and he will tell you what to do and she replied all that you say i will do so she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had told her and when boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet. He said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth, your maidservant. Spread your garment over your maidservant, for you are next of kin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And he said, May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter, for you have made this last kindness greater than the first, in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of worth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And now, it is true that I am a near kinsman, yet there is a kinsman nearer than I. Remain this night. And in the morning, if he will do the part of the next of kin for you, well, let him do it. But if he is not willing to do the part of the next of kin for you, then as the Lord lives, I will do the part of the next of kin for you. Lie down until the morning.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
so she lay at his feet until the morning but arose before one could recognize another and he said let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor and he said bring the mantle you are wearing and hold it out so she held it and measured out six measures of barley and laid it upon her then she went into the city
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, How did you fare, my daughter? Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law. She replied, Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter to-day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Give praise, O servants of the Lord, you that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. Sing to his name, for he is gracious. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself and Israel for his own possession. For I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is above all gods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
They would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the land as far as the neighborhood of Gaza and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. And they would come up with their cattle and their tents coming like locusts for number. Both they and their camels could not be counted so that they wasted the land as they came in. And Israel was brought very low because of Midian.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. He it was who struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast, who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
who struck many nations and slew mighty kings, Sihang, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. Your name, O Lord, endures forever. Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not. They have eyes, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not. Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Like them be those who make them. Yes, everyone who trusts in them. O house of Israel, bless the Lord. O house of Aaron, bless the Lord. O house of Levi, bless the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
You that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
May your name be glorified. May we know who you are and lift up our voices and our hearts to always honor you, always praise you, and always thank you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Okay, gosh, we had the story of Gideon today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
As you noticed, three chapters from the book of Judges following the story of Gideon, whose name was changed to Jerubabbel, which is not as easy to say as you might think. A lot of those consonants right back to back make it a little difficult for this guy right here. Anyways, the reality behind this story of Gideon. Gideon, is it starts out with him doing what?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
It starts out with him crushing the Baals, right? And the Asherah. He takes his life into his hands by destroying the Baal and by destroying the Asherah, this place of worship of the false gods. And he becomes the one who contends against Baal. And it's so good. It starts out so good. But what happens is... He also then turns to idolatry.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Even though Gideon is a decent judge, one of the things we're going to hear again and again is even so-so judges, even good judges, even judges who seem to have some honor to them also are tempted by the same thing that every one of us is tempted by. And that's idolatry. He sets up this golden ephod, right? Remember the ephod was what the priests would wear when they were worshiping in the temple.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 91, and today we are reading from Judges chapters 6, 7, and 8, as well as from the book of Ruth chapter 3. Ruth is only four chapters long, so we are three quarters of the way through it at the end of today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
That was that linen garment, that ephod that they would wear in the temple. And he sets up, he makes a golden ephod. He doesn't make a Baal, he doesn't make a golden calf. He actually makes a symbol of what is used to worship the living and true God. And yet what happens is the people turn to it instead of turning to God. They're distracted by it instead of turning their hearts to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And it's just so, so incredible. And again, incredible in the bad way. It says in chapter 8, verses 27, it says, Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in the city in Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot after it there. And it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
So even though Gideon was the one who contended against the Baals, right, against the false gods, he turned out to be someone who was setting up his family to turn back to the Baals, turn back to the false gods. In fact, it says in verse 33, as soon as Gideon died, the sons of Israel turned again and played harlot after the Baals, and they made Baal-barit their god.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the sons of Israel cried for help to the Lord. When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the sons of Israel. And he said to them, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And Baal-barit means the Baal of the covenant. Gosh, just how awful is that? Why? Because the covenant is what they made with the true and living God, the Lord himself, who revealed his name to the people of Israel. And now they're worshiping the false God that they're connecting to the true God. And that is so often what we can do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
We can take our version of God, whatever version of God we like the most, whatever version of Jesus we like the most. And we can twist the true and living God who reveals himself in his fullness and say, no, I like this version. I like this little part. And that is always a snare. And that's what happens to Gideon and to his family after him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And so the land was given rest, but then they turned once again away from true and living worship and they turned it into idolatry. Now, last little note, because I know this is a long set of readings. And so we're getting to the end here. But one of the things you find in Ruth, Ruth chapter three. is there's the reality of what they call the kinsman redeemer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Another word for it is the goel, right? So the goel is the Hebrew term for the kinsman redeemer. We came across this when we read through Leviticus and Numbers and even Deuteronomy. Remember, there was a specifically defined role in Israel's family life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
So, for example, if one of the Israelites fell into slavery in Leviticus 25, 48, the kinsman redeemer was responsible to buy the fellow Israelites out of slavery, right? If someone was killed, was murdered, then the kinsman redeemer, their job was to make sure that the family member was answered in justice in Numbers 35.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
If there's ever someone had lost land, the kinsman redeemer was responsible to buy back family land that had been forfeited, Leviticus 25, 25. And also the last one is in Deuteronomy 25, verses five through 10. The kinsman redeemer was responsible to carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow. That's what Ruth is. Ruth is a widow with no children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And so she comes to Boaz and says, you're our relative. Would you marry me? Essentially, she puts herself in this position of... this position of trust to this man, Boaz, who's already shown her great, great kindness. And Boaz says that he would love to, but there is a nearer kinsman, someone who is actually the primary kinsman redeemer for her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And he's going to talk to this guy in chapter four, and that is happening tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
so that's the role of the kinsman redeemer and there's a definite connection between the kinsman redeemer of the old testament and jesus christ in the new testament here's why because remember leviticus 25 48 anyone who's fallen into slavery the role of the kinsman redeemer to buy that person out of slavery what has jesus done he's made us his brother he's made us his brother in all things
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, I am the Lord your God. You shall not pay reverence to the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell, but you have not given heed to my voice. the call of Gideon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
and he's forfeited his life to redeem us. That's why he's the kinsman redeemer, selling himself into slavery so that you and I can have life. I know that's just a really quick little brief thing, but we had a lot of reading today. You guys, I am so grateful that you're sticking with this, especially when these days kind of get a little bit longer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
I apologize, but at the same time, it is God's word, and it is so, so good. I am praying for you. Please keep praying for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezarite, and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor. And Gideon said to him, Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this befallen us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And where are all his wonderful deeds which our fathers recounted to us, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has cast us off and given us into the hand of Midian. And the Lord turned to him and said, Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Do not I send you? And he said to him, Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family. And the Lord said to him, But I will be with you and you shall strike the Midianites as one man. And he said to him, If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. Do not depart from here, I beg you, until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And he said, I will stay till you return. So Gideon went into his house and prepared a kid and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour, the meat he put in a basket and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the oak and presented them. And the angel of God said to him, take the meat and the unleavened cakes and put them on this rock and pour the broth over them. And he did so.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And there sprang up fire from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. and the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, and Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God, for now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face. But the Lord said to him, Peace be to you. Do not fear. You shall not die. Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord is Peace. To this day, it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
That night the Lord said to him, Take your father's bull, the second bull, seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal, which your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it, and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah, which you shall cut down. So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him, But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night. Gideon destroys the altar of Baal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And we're also praying Psalm 135. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, reading from the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to get that Bible, you can go to ascensionpress.com and order it or Amazon or wherever they sell Bibles. You can also download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered upon the altar which had been built. And they said to one another, Who has done this thing? And after they had made search and inquired, they said, Gideon, the son of Joash has done this thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then the men of the town said to Joash, bring out your son that he may die for he has pulled down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it. But Joash said to all who were arrayed against him, will you contend for Baal or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
If he is a god, let him contend for himself because his altar has been pulled down. Therefore, on that day, he was called Jerubabbel. That is to say, let Baal contend against him because he pulled down his altar. Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east came together, and crossing the Jordan they encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
But the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. Then he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them. The sign of the fleece.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then Gideon said to God, if you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said. And it was so.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung out enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, let not your anger burn against me. Let me speak but this once. Please let me make trial only this once with the fleece. Please let it be dry only on the fleece and on all the ground. Let there be dew.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And God did so that night for it was dry on the fleece only and on all the ground there was dew. Chapter seven, Gideon's army selected. Then Jerubabbel, that is Gideon, and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Herod. And the camp of Midian was north of them by the hill of Morah in the valley.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
The Lord said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has delivered me. Now therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home. And Gideon tested them. Twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
If you haven't yet done that, you can also subscribe to this podcast. You can also rate it. You can also give it one star up to five stars, and you can also give a review, which is really helpful for a lot of people because the more people review, the more people get to see it and maybe more people start reading the Bible, which could be pretty awesome. Anyways, as I said, today is day 91.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the Lord said to Gideon, the people are still too many. Take them down to the water and I will test them for you there. And he of whom I say to you, this man shall go with you, shall go with you. And any of whom I shall say to you, this man shall not go with you, shall not go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
So he brought the people down to the water, and the Lord said to Gideon, Everyone that laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise everyone that kneels down to drink. And the number of those that lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was three hundred men. But all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the Lord said to Gideon, With the three hundred men that lapped, I will deliver you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home. So he took the charge of the people from their hands and their trumpets, and he sent all the rest of Israel, every man, to his tent. but retained the three hundred men, and the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Gideon routs the Midianites. That same night the Lord said to him, Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
but if you fear to go down go down to the camp with purah your servant and you shall hear what they say and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp then he went down with purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men that were in the camp and the midianites and the amalekites and all the people of the east lay along the valley like locusts for multitude
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And their camels were without number as the sand which is upon the seashore for multitude. When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade and he said, behold, I dreamed a dream. And the cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And his comrade answered, this is no other than the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash, a man of Israel. into his hand God has given Midian and all the host. When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, Arise, for the Lord has given the host of Midian into your hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars with torches inside the jars. And he said to them, look at me and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout for the Lord and for Gideon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch. when they had just set up the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches and in their right hands the trumpets to blow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And they cried a sword for the Lord and for Gideon. They stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Bet Shittah, toward Zerurah, as far as the border of Abel Maholah by Tabath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
We're still traveling with the judges. Today, we're going to be following the judge whose name is Gideon. You might know his story, but by the end of today, you will definitely know his story. As always, we are praying for each other. Usually, I save that to the end, but gosh, I think we need to begin this day just knowing that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian. And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters against them as far as Beth-barah and also the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth-barah and also the Jordan. And they took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeb, and they killed Oreb on the rock of Oreb, and Zeb they killed at the winepress of Zeb, as they pursued Midian. And they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Chapter 8 GIDEON'S TRIUMPH And the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Midian? And they upbraided him violently. And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezar?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb, and Zeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger against him was abated when he had said this. And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint yet pursuing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
So he said to the men of Sukkoth, Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Ziba and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. And the officials of Sukkoth said, Are Ziba and Zalunah already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And Gideon said, Well then, when the Lord has given Ziba and Zalunah into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briars. And from there he went up to Penuel and spoke with them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Sukkoth had answered. And he said to the men of Penuel, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Now Ziba and Zamunah were in Karkor with all their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the east, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. And Gideon went up by the caravan route east of Nabah and Jokbahah, and attacked the army, for the army was off its guard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And Ziba and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Ziba and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic. Then Gideon, the son of Joash, returned from the battle by the ascent of Herez. And he caught a young man of Sukkoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Sukkoth, seventy-seven men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And he came to the men of Sukkoth and said, Behold, Ziba and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, Are Ziba and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are faint? And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briars, and with them taught the men of Sukkoth. And he broke down the tower of Penuel and slew the men of the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
We belong here, you belong here, and the Lord does want to speak to you today. He is proud of you, and he loves you very much. The book of Judges, chapter six. The Midianite oppression. The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then he said to Ziba and Zalmunna, where are the men whom you slew at Tabor? They answered, as you are, so were they, every one of them. They resembled the sons of a king. And he said, they were my brothers, the sons of my mother, as the Lord lives. If you had saved them alive, I would not slay you. And he said to Jether, his firstborn, rise and slay them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. Then Ziba and Zalmunna said, Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose and slew Ziba and Zalmunna, and he took the crescents that were on the necks of their camels. Gideon's ephod becomes a snare.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "'Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have delivered us out of the hand of Midian.' Gideon said to them, "'I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.' And Gideon said to them, "'Let me make a request of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
Give me, every man of you, the earrings of a spoil, for they had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.' And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and every man cast in it the earrings of his spoil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And the weight of the golden earrings that he had requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were about the necks of their camels. And Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city in Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot after it there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 91: Gideon's Story (2025)
And it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. So Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon. the death of Gideon. Jerubabbel, the son of Joash, went and dwelt in his own house. Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
um if you're a leader of the people uh if you're if you are a priest of the people and you sin there's this recognition that okay that that's that's also scandalous and so you have a heavy responsibility and that's isn't that something that we all know when it comes to the leaders of uh the church and people that we look to in the faith that when when they fail uh
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
it not only hurts them, it not only hurts the people in their lives, it hurts the whole church. It hurts, we all suffer. And so that recognition that here is the Lord saying, yeah, there's a seriousness there. Or when a community sins, like there's a seriousness there. And then even when the common person, essentially the lay person sins, there's a seriousness there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
But one of the things that was so powerful as we're reading through Leviticus today is the reality that God is so gracious, even in his mercy. Like even when sacrifice, the guilt offering is being, the sin offering is being presented. God is so gracious.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
He's so merciful in that it says if you can't afford, you can't afford a goat, you can't afford a bull, then you can offer two pigeons or two turtle doves. But even if you can't afford that, you can bring an offering of fine flour. It's this element of God saying, what I want for you is I want to be able to give you my mercy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
If there's any prohibition, if there's anything getting in your way, any prohibitive, any kind of obstacle to you receiving my mercy, I'm willing to go down in price. Basically, what you are able to offer, you need to offer that. But if you can't offer something, then offer what you can. even to the point of like, here's some flower, Lord. And that is just, again, it's not about being technical.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
It's not about this being like, what's the word? Unnecessarily subtle or necessarily nuanced. It is about the fact that this is a sign of God's great graciousness, a sign of his great love. What do you have to offer? Offer that. If you don't have the big thing to offer, then offer the small thing that you do have.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, whom the Egyptians hold in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the sons of Israel, I am the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And this is what we give to the Lord every single day because so many of us have so little. So many of us have, gosh, not great hearts. So the Lord says, well, just give me the heart you have. So many of us have not great, incredible deeds. And so the Lord God says, well, just give me the small deed that you have. Not a lot of us have incredible opportunities to do big, big things for God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
So he says, okay, then do small things. I'll take it. Why? Because I am your God and you're my child. You're my son, you're my daughter, and I'm your dad. And so just whatever you have to offer, offer it and I'll receive it because that's how good he is. We keep praying for each other as we keep going through the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Please lift each other up in your prayer today because, you know, we don't know the battles we're all facing. And so just keep on interceding on behalf of each other. Pray for me too. Gosh, I need the Lord's mercy and his grace every single day. And I'm praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to continue this journey with you. And I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will deliver you from their bondage and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment and I will take you for my people and I will be your God and you shall know that I am the Lord your God who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we will read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 30, and that means today we're continuing our journey through Exodus and Leviticus and the book of Psalms. We'll be reading from Exodus chapter six and chapter seven. Leviticus chapter five and Psalm 47.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
and I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord. Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and their cruel bondage. And the Lord said to Moses, go in, tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
But Moses said to the Lord, behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me who am a man of uncircumcised lips? But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. These are the heads of the father's houses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, Hanak, Palu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben. The sons of Simeon, Jameel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the sons of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
These are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their generations, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years, the sons of Gershon, Libni, and Shimei, by their families, the sons of Kohath, Amram, Ishar, Hebron, and Uziel, The years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. The sons of Merari, Mali and Mushi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. Amram took to wife Jokabed, his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram being 137 years. The sons of Ishar, Korah, Nepheg, and Nechri, and the sons of Uziel, Mishael, Elzpahan, and Sithri. Aaron took to wife Elisheba, the daughter of Aminadab, and the sister of Nashon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The sons of Korah, Asir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph, these are the families of the Korahites. Eleazar, Aaron's son, took to wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites by their families.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts. It was they who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, about bringing out the sons of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, the Lord said to Moses, I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I say to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
But Moses said to the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me? And the Lord said to Moses, See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to let the sons of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth my hosts, my people, the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from among them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
If you want to be able to follow along, not just with your ears, with your eyes, you want to be reading along. We are reading from the revised standard version, the Catholic edition. I'm using the great adventure Bible from Ascension, as well as have this Bible in a year. We have this Bible in a year reading plan for,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
So Moses and Aaron did so. They did as the Lord commanded them. Now Moses was 80 years old and Aaron 83 years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, when Pharaoh says to you, prove yourselves by working a miracle, then you shall say to Aaron, take your rod and cast it down before Pharaoh that it may become a serpent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts. For every man cast down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Still, Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he would not listen to them as the Lord had said. Then the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened. He refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water. Wait for him by the river's brink and take in your hand the rod which was turned into a serpent and you shall say to him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. And behold, you have not obeyed. Thus says the Lord, By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the rod that is in my hand, and it shall turn to blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And the fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile shall become foul, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink water from the Nile. And the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron, take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the rivers, their canals and their ponds and all their pools of water that they may become blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone. Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded in the sight of Pharaoh, in the sight of his servants, he lifted up the rod and struck the water that was in the Nile and all the water that was in the Nile turned to blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
where you can know what's coming up, know where to be at, know where to be at in your Bible. When we start talking, you can get that for free at ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Again, the Bible in a year reading plan at ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not lay even this to heart. And all the Egyptians dug round about the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Leviticus chapter 5.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
If anyone sins and that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of an unclean cattle, or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him, and he has become unclean, he shall be guilty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, he shall be guilty. Or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that men swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, he shall in any of these be guilty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
When a man is guilty of any of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring as his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed two turtle doves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
but shall not sever it and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar it is a sin offering and he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the ordinance and the priest shall make atonement for him and for the sin which he has committed and he shall be forgiven
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
But if he cannot afford two turtle doves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for this in which he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil upon it and shall put no frankincense on it for it is a sin offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
You can also subscribe to this podcast, you know, whatever app you're using to listen to this podcast by just clicking subscribe. Once again, we are reading from Exodus chapter six, chapter seven, Leviticus chapter five and Psalm 47. Exodus chapter 6 and chapter 7. But the Lord said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will send them out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And he shall bring it to the priest and the priest shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn this on the altar upon the offerings by fire to the Lord. It is a sin offering. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the remainder shall be for the priest, as in the cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, If anyone commits a breach of faith, and sins unwittingly in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring as his guilt offering to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock. valued by you in shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, it is a guilt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering and he shall be forgiven. If anyone sins doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear its iniquity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock valued by you at the price for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the error which he committed unwittingly, and he shall be forgiven. It is a guilt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
He is guilty before the Lord. Psalm 47, God's rule over the nations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
To the choir master, a psalm of the sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all you peoples. Shout to God with loud songs of joy, for the Lord, the most high, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout. The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises. For God is King of all the earth. Sing praises with a psalm. God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
He is highly exalted. God, you are exalted and you're exalted above all ages.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
You are exalted above all names and you have revealed your name to us. So we cry out your name. We cry out the name of the son of God, Jesus Christ. You are our Lord and you are the God of the universe. You are the king over all and you reign on your holy throne. We ask that you please, you are the God who reigns. We ask that you also reign in our hearts. You're the king of creation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
We also ask that you are the king of our lives. Oh God, we give you permission this day. Not that you need our permission, but you are so humble that you choose to allow us to refuse your love or to receive your love. Lord God, this day, help us to receive your love. Help us to let ourselves be loved by you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Help us to give you permission to redeem us once again, to save us once again, to give us your grace once again, and to love us once again. Lord God, every day is new with you. Your love is new every morning. Please give us your love today as we receive it from you with gratitude. Make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Man, it seems like every time we come back to the scripture, every time we jump back into the story, there's another thing that God reveals.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
I mean, he continually reveals to us, but one of the things he reveals in the first chapter we read today from Exodus is how he has to remind Moses who he is, that he's basically making it absolutely clear. So Moses cannot forget, like, I am the Lord, your God, the God Almighty. I'm the God of your father, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And he says, even he's saying, like we said yesterday, I revealed myself to them, but my name, the Lord, remember that sacred name of God, YHWH, Yahweh, I did not make myself known to them. He's saying to Moses, listen, you heard all of these stories of your ancestors. but listen, I'm doing something even more new, even newer with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Yes, with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land. And God said to Moses, I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty. But by my name, the Lord, I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they dwelt as sojourners.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
And so therefore go to the people of Israel, go to them and tell them like God is doing something new. And this is the gosh, the case in our lives as well, that there are so many things, so much of himself that God has revealed to us. And yet when we read scripture, when we're here right now, one of the things that he reveals to us again is like, okay, those are the things I've done in the past.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
Remember them because it's so easy to forget. That's one of the things, one of the themes we're gonna have for the course of this entire year. Remember the deeds of God, remember his heart because we're so tempted to have this short-term memory where we don't remember what God has done in light of what we're going through right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
We forget the past because of the present or because of our anxiety over the future. And so God here is reminding Moses, yes, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, but also I'm with you and I will be your God and I'm revealing myself to you in a new way. And that's what God is doing for us to remembering the past. That's why we're going through this scripture, not just
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
to learn stuff, but to be reminded of things that are so easy to forget, like God's character, like his heart, but also so that he can reveal himself to us now so that we can know him even more deeply and be able to follow him even more closely. It's just so good. I just am so grateful to the Lord. One of the things he reveals to us, not only in Exodus, but also in Leviticus today, is
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2025)
is that here is the sin offering. When a person commits a sin and there's this, it's so great. I don't know if you've noticed there were different categories, right? If you are the leader of the people, if you are the people, if you are a common person, then different sacrifices are being offered. Why? Because
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord. my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchman for the morning, more than watchman for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
We thank you for the names and the fact that, God, this is a real story. It's a true story with real places and real people in a real time. And we are giving you praise because we also are real people at a real place in a real time. And we know that just as you acted in the lives of the people of Israel, you act in our lives today. Help us to see your hand and see your work today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
to follow your will and do it in all times and all things in the name of jesus we pray amen in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen as i said super exciting reading today oh my goodness but that's the case i mean that's one of the reasons why and this is not a commercial but it is definitely a reason why the great adventure bible is so helpful because in the back there are these things called maps and those maps you can look and see okay this is my invitation i should have said at the very beginning of this uh the reading for today
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
But we're going on to more descriptions tomorrow, so keep that in mind. But one of the things that you can do is I love the fact that since I'm reading this out loud and you're listening to this, you could go back to, say, for example, page 1,595 in your Great Adventure Bible, and you can actually follow with your eyes what you're hearing with your ears. And so it's not just kind of this...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Okay, here's some names. And they're going southward toward the desert and over this to the river and over this to this city. Instead, you can see it with your eyes and see that, oh no, this is a real place. It was in a real time divided among these real people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
And that's kind of the lesson I want to take is that we recognize that Judeo-Christianity, Christianity itself, is an historical religion. It's not just this idea that came out of nowhere. It actually is God himself who took flesh and dwelt among us at a particular time in a particular place. And following Christ is the same. We are not just kind of this esoteric kind of floating in the haze.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
We are actually called to be here and now. And so as you're driving to work or as you're coming home from work, as you're out for a walk or doing your dishes or whatever you're doing when you're listening to this,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
sitting down and reading your bible maybe know that god is with you just as he was with the people of israel not somewhere in the future not somewhere in the past but right now and right here and that's the lesson one of the lessons from today oh gosh let's keep praying for each other because uh Days like today sometimes are a little bit discouraging.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
We're like, man, I didn't get anything out of that. But know that the Lord is with you and the Lord does guide you as he's guiding all of us who want to be faithful to him. I'm praying for you. I know you are praying for me. I'm so grateful for that. My name is Father Mike and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary goes up to Beth Hogla and passes along north of Beth Arabah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
and the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben, and the boundary goes up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adumim, which is on the south side of the valley, and the boundary passes along to the waters of En-Shemesh and ends at En-Rogel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then the boundary goes up by the valley of the son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite, that is Jerusalem. And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the valley of Hinnom on the west at the northern end of the valley of Raphaim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Naphtoa, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baala, that is Kiriath-Jerim, and the boundary circles west of Baala to Mount Seir, passes along the northern shoulder of Mount Jerim, that is Chesalon, and goes down to Beth Shemesh, and passes along by Timnah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
The boundary goes out to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron. Then the boundary bends around to Shikaron and passes along to Mount Baala and goes out to Jabneel. Then the boundary comes to an end at the sea. And the west boundary was the great sea with its coastline. This is the boundary round about the people of Judah, according to their families. Caleb occupies his portion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
into that story today it is day 86 we are reading three chapters in joshua they are exciting action-packed chapters of joshua where we hear a lot about a map and if you ever heard all these words without a lot of context it's going to be a great journey because it's part of god's word and so we're going to hear from joshua chapter 15 16 17 and 18 that's four chapters of joshua and also praying psalm 130 the bible translation that i am using is the revised standard version second catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron. Arba was the father of Anak. And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Shashai, Anachiman, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Now, the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath Sefir. And Caleb said, whoever strikes Kiriath Sefir and takes it, to him will I give Akshah, my daughter, as wife. And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it, and he gave him Akshah, his daughter, as wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field, and she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, what do you wish? She said to him, give me a present, since you have set me in the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water. and Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. The towns of Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their families. The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south toward the boundary of Edom were Kabzil, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimunah, Adadah, Kadesh,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Hazor, Ethnan, Zif, Talim, B. Alath, Hazor Hadatah, Kerioth Hezron, that is Hazor, Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar Gadah, Hashmon, Beth Pellet, Hazar Shual, Bir Sheba, In all 29 cities with their villages, and in the lowland, Eshtahol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, Enganim, Tapuah,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Enam, Jarmuth, Adlam, Soko, Azekah, Sha'a Ra'im, Adita'im, Gedera, Jedirotha'im, 14 cities with their villages, Zanan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 16 cities with their villages. Ashna, Nezib, Keilah, Akzib, and Mereshah, nine cities with their villages. Ekron with its towns and its villages, from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod with their villages.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Ashdod, its towns and its villages, Gaza, its towns and its villages, to the brook of Egypt and the great sea with its coastline. And in the hill country, Shamir, Jatir, Zoko, Dana, Kiriath-Sana, that is Debir, Anab, Eshtemo, Anim, Goshen, Holon, and Gilo, 11 cities with their villages. Arab, Duma, Eshan, Janim, Beth-Tepua, Afaka, Humta,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. We'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron, and Zeor, nine cities and their villages. Ma'on, Carmel, Ziph, Judah, Jezreel, Jokd'am, Zanua, Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah, ten cities with their villages. Halchul, Beth-Zur, Gidor, Ma'arath, Beth-Anath, and Eltakhan, six cities with their villages. Kiriath Baal, that is Kiriath Jerim, and Rabbah, two cities with their villages.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
In the wilderness, Beth Arabah, Medin, Sechakha, Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Ein Gedi, six cities with their villages. But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah, could not drive out. So the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day. Chapter 16, the territory of Ephraim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
The allotment of the descendants of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel. Then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Atarath, the territory of the Arkites. Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of lower Beth-Haron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
To download your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe in your podcast app. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast? That just blows the mind. You don't have to keep searching for it every single day like you've been doing for the last 84 days or 85 days. On this day, 86, just hit that subscribe button and it finds you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea. The people of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim received their inheritance. The territory of the Ephraimites by their families was as follows. The boundary of their inheritance on the east was Atarath Adar, as far as upper Beth-Haron. And the boundary that goes thence to the sea on the north is Mikmathah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then on the east, the boundary turns round toward Taanath Shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Genoa. Then it goes down from Genoa to Atteroth and to Naarah and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan. From Tapua, the boundary goes westward to the brook of Cana and ends at the sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites by their families, together with the towns which were set apart for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages. However, they did not drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer. So the Canaanites have dwelt in the midst of Ephraim to this day, but have become slaves to do forced labor."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
chapter 17 the territory of the half-tribe of manasseh west then the allotment was made to the tribe of manasseh for he was the firstborn of joseph to makir the firstborn of manasseh the father of gilead were allotted gilead and bashan because he was a man of war And allotments were made to the rest of the tribe of Manasseh by their families, Abi-Ezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hefer, and Shemida.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
These were the male descendants of Manasseh by the son of Joseph, by their families. Now Zelophehad, the son of Hefer, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. And these are the names of his daughters, Malah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
They came before Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brethren. So according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the Manassites. The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Mikmethath, which is east of Shechem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-Tapua. The land of Tapua belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tapua on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the sons of Ephraim. Then the boundary went down to the brook of Cana. The cities here, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh belonged to Ephraim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea, the land to the south being Ephraim's and that to the north being Manasseh's. With the sea forming its boundary, on the north Asher is reached and on the east Issachar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Also in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth She'an and its villages and Ibrahim and its villages and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages and the inhabitants of Endor and its villages. and the inhabitants of Tanakh and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages. The third is Nephath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
You don't even have to find it. It finds you. As I said, today is day 86. Reading from Joshua 15, 16, 17, and 18 and praying Psalm 133. The book of Joshua chapter 15, the territory of Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Yet the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. But when the sons of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor and did not utterly drive them out. The tribe of Joseph protests.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
And the tribe of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since hitherto the Lord has blessed me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
And Joshua said to them, If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you. The tribe of Joseph said, The hill country is not enough for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shan and its villages, and those in the valley of Jezreel. Chapter 18 The Territories of the Remaining Tribes Then the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, How long will you be slack to go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out, that they may set out and go up and down the land, writing a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. They shall divide it into seven portions, Judah continuing in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph in their territory on the north."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me, and I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah, according to their families, reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south, and their south boundary ran from the end of the salt sea from the bay that faces southward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
so the men started on their way and joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land saying go up and down and write a description of the land and come again to me and i will cast lots for you here before the lord in shiloh so the men went and passed up and down in the land and set down in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then they came to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh, and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the sons of Israel to each his portion, the territory of Benjamin. The lot of the tribe of Benjamin, according to its families, came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Joseph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
On the north side, their boundary began at the Jordan. Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward. It ends at the wilderness of Beth-Aven. From there, the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, to the shoulder of Luz. Same is Bethel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then the boundary goes down to Atarath-Adar, upon the mountain that lies south of lower Beth-Haron. Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western side southward from the mountain that lies to the south opposite Beth-horon, and it ends at Kiriath Baal, that is Kiriath-Jerim, a city belonging to the tribe of Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
This forms the western side, and the southern side begins at the outskirts of Kiriath-Jerim, and the boundary goes up from there to Ephron, to the springs of the waters of Nephthah. Then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the valley of the sons of Hinnom. which is at the north end of the valley of Rephaim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
And then it goes down the valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to En-Rogel. Then it bends in a northerly direction, going on to En-Shemesh, and thence goes to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adumim. Then it goes down to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben. And passing on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-Arabah, it goes down to the Arabah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Then the boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-Hogla. And the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This is the southern border. The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, according to its families, boundary by boundary, roundabout.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
It goes out southward of the ascent of Akrabim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh Barnea, along by Hezron, up to Adar, turns about to Karka, passes along to Asman, goes out by the brook of Egypt." and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary. And the east boundary is the salt sea to the mouth of the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2025)
Now, the cities of the tribe of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho, Beth-Hogla, Emek-Kaziz, Beth-Arabah, Zimaraim, Bethel, Avim, Parah, Ophrah, 12 cities with their villages, 14 cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
They are ever full of sap and green to show that the Lord is upright.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Lord God, you are faithful and you keep us coming back to you. You help us to be faithful because you are so good. Lord God, this is day 58 and you have brought us to this day. You brought us to this morning, to this midday, to this afternoon, to this evening. Lord, you've brought us to this moment because you are faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Even when we are unfaithful, even when we forget, you are faithful and you never forget your children. Lord God, help us, help us truly to belong to you. Help us to remain faithful, not just by reading your word and letting it be proclaimed to our ears and our minds and our hearts, but also, Lord God, like yesterday, we prayed, help us to hear, oh Israel, that we belong to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
that we love you with everything we have. Lord God, help us to love you with everything we have, even when we are weak, even when we struggle, even when we stumble, even when we sin. Lord God, help us. We know that you will never abandon us or give up on us. And so, Father, in Jesus' name, we trust in you, we praise you, we thank you. And we ask for your continued faithfulness. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So, as we're praying through Numbers chapter 7, one of the things that strikes us is the repetitive nature of Numbers chapter 7. Like, oh my goodness, we had to go through all those? Yes, we did, because it is the Word of God, and it is a gift to all of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon according to their service, and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things which had to be carried on the shoulder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
One of the things that it shows is, okay, this is Numbers chapter 7, but the events of Numbers chapter 7 actually happened before the events of Numbers chapter 1. Why? Because it's the dedication of the temple. So this is basically—or sorry, not the temple, but the tabernacle. So before all the worship of the tabernacle has happened or begins—
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
The 12 tribes of Israel with the representatives of the 12 tribes of Israel have come to Moses and Aaron and they have brought all of these gifts for sacrifice and all these gifts for the Levites. And so one of the things that we note is we kind of did a little time traveling here as we are recounting what had happened. prior to the events of worship in the tabernacle in Numbers chapter 1.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
So just keep that in mind. That's just kind of a little recap of what happened before that. Now, one thing to be able to draw our attention to when it comes to Numbers chapter 7 with the offerings of the leaders, one is that every single tribe contributed to the worship of the tabernacle. Every single tribe brought the same thing. In fact, that's why it was so repetitive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
But that shows us the humility of the people of Israel. It shows us that sense of, okay, Judah is not bringing more than Manasseh. And it's a sense of, okay, here is what the Lord has asked of us. So that's what we're all going to bring. We're all going to bring a silver platter that's 130 shekels. You're all going to bring a bowl that weighs 70 shekels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
One thing, though, that is unique, there is one family here that gets some special attention. We saw that when the tribes of Israel brought forth the oxen and the carts, the four wagons and the eight oxen, that Moses gave them to the family of Gershon and gave the family of Merari for their service.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
So they have now two wagons, four oxen, the sons of Gershon, and then four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari. But it says to the sons of Kohath, he gave none. Why? Because remember what the job of the sons of Kohath was. The jobs of the sons of Kohath were to carry the holy objects, were to carry the sacred objects.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And so those objects, if you remember back when they had to design them, they were made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold. And then those special objects had rings through which poles of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, were put through the rings. They were never to be put on a cart or on a wagon. They were only to be carried.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And so it's such an interesting thing that out of all the objects of the tabernacle, sons of Kohath, you don't need any dedicated wagons. You don't need any dedicated oxen because these things are so holy, so set apart that you are going to carry them yourselves. And that's just, I just think that, I don't know, it's pretty neat because it does show the uniqueness of holy things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And that's worth noting. Now, with that being said of Numbers chapter 7, we have to say one quick note on Deuteronomy chapter 7. And that quick note is a difficult note because it has to do with the injunction to have no mercy on the people into whose land the people of Israel are going to go, right? They're going to go to take the land, take possession of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And the leaders offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed. And the leaders offered their offerings before the altar. And the Lord said to Moses, they shall offer their offerings one liter each day for the dedication of the altar. He who offered his offering the first day was Nashon, the son of Anaminadab of the tribe of Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And when they do that, they are not to spare them. They're not to have mercy on them. Now, we're going to talk more about this as time goes on. But the most important thing, you might say, why is this? And it's highlighted incredibly clearly in Deuteronomy chapter 7. And it's going to be repeated multiple times throughout the course of Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And also what we're going to get when we get to Joshua and when we get to, man, well, I was taking such a hard stance against that intermingling with the peoples of the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Jebusites and the Canaanites. Why? Is because you're going to want to be, this is the Lord God essentially saying, you're going to want to be like the people around you. I know you already.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Like again, remember this is Deuteronomy. Moses has already led these, he's lived with these people for their entire lives. They've been in the wilderness for 38 years. And Moses is saying, I know you. When you go into the land in which you're to occupy, you're going to want to marry them. You're going to want to live among them. You're going to want to be like them. But you can't be like them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Not because you're special, he even says. Not because you're special, but because the Lord loves you. This is so important. This can seem so problematic to us, right? That it seems that God is commanding no mercy. And yet, let that not. We're going to look at that more deeply later on. Just trust me on this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
But the core of this is you can't be like the other people in the promised land because you're the people that I love. Not that I don't love them, but this is a particular kind of love. It is through you. It's through your faithfulness. It's through this covenant, this relationship that we have that the entire world is going to be blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 58, so we are reading today. Keep an On with our numbers, reading Numbers chapter 7 and Deuteronomy chapter 7. We're also going to be praying from Psalm 92.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
But before that, before that, you're going into a place that is dangerous at such a place that if you don't hold onto your faith on purpose, if you don't know my great love for you and never ever forget it, you are going to let go of it. And if you let go of this, if you let go of your faith, if you let go of your uniqueness, then the world will not be blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
If you let go of this, then my plan to bless the entire world through you will be thwarted. And so again, it's not because you're the best. That's what Moses says to the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
The Lord says through Moses to the people of Israel, not because you're great, not because you're amazing, not because you're the best, but because I love you and I've chosen you to be my instrument, to be a blessing to the world. But first you have to hold on to your faith. You cannot sacrifice it by intermarrying with people who do not believe what you believe.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
who are not in covenant with me because you will let go of the covenant. He will not be who the world needs you to be. You have to be unique. You have to be different. You can't let that go because if you do, the world will not be blessed. See, God's playing the long game here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
His long game is one, as I immediately love you now and I've chosen you now, but that also means right now you have to be faithful. Ultimately, we're going to bless the world. But right now, you have to be different than the world. That can be a hard word, but at the same time, it's a true word, and it's the word that we're going to keep walking with. And so it's not the final word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
It is just the true word that we're going to keep walking with. You guys, I am praying for you, especially when we get to hard readings or difficult readings. We're going to read about battles. As I mentioned before, we're going to read about violence, and that is a reality of life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And it's a reality of our ancestors, the people of Israel, whom the Lord has chosen, but he's chosen them for a very particular role in salvation history. And that is that they need to be faithful so that ultimately God can bless the world. I bless you right now in Jesus' name. I pray for his protection over you, his blessing over all of you, and ask you for your prayers for me as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
This is such a great journey. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you all tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one gold dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nashon, the son of Amminadab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
On the second day, Nethanel, the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, made an offering. he offered for his offering one silver plate whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels one silver basin of seventy shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for his cereal offering one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense one young bull one ram
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel, the son of Zuar. On the third day, Eliab, the son of Halon, the leader of the men of Zebulun,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
His offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering, one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
This was the offering of Eliab, the son of Halon. On the fourth day, Elisur, the son of Shadur, the leader of the men of Reuben. His offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elisur, the son of Shedior.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
On the fifth day, Shelumiel, the son of Zerushadai, the leader of the men of Simeon, his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for cereal offerings, one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for burnt offering,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shulamiel, the son of Zerushadai. On the sixth day, Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, the leader of the men of Gad,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
As always, I am reading from the Bible translation called the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. As always, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in the Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in the Year. And if you have not yet subscribed in your podcast app, please do that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
his offering was one silver plate whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels one silver basin of seventy shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense one young bull one ram one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph, the son of Deol. On the seventh day, Elishema, the son of Amihud, the leader of the men of Ephraim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
His offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishema, the son of Amihud.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
On the eighth day, Gamaliel, the son of Pedazur, the leader of the men of Manasseh. His offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one silver basin of seventy shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering, one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
This was the offering of Gamaliel, the son of Petazur." on the ninth day abed-dan the son of gideoni the leader of the men of benjamin his offering was one silver plate whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels one silver basin of seventy shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abedan, the son of Gideonai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
On the tenth day, Ahiezar, the son of Amishaddai, the leader of the men of Dan, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezar, the son of Amishadai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
That way you can receive all of your daily updates. Today, once again, it's day 58. We're reading Numbers chapter 7, Deuteronomy chapter 7, and Psalm 92. Numbers chapter 7, offerings of the leaders.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
On the eleventh day, Pagiel, the son of Okran, the leader of the men of Asher, his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering, one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel, the son of Okran. On the twelfth day, Ahira, the son of Enan, the leader of the men of Naphtali.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
His offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira, the son of Enon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed from the leaders of Israel, 12 silver plates, 12 silver basins, 12 golden dishes, each silver plate weighing 130 shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels, 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, the 12 golden dishes full of incense weighing 10 shekels a piece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
All the cattle for a burnt offering, 12 bulls, 12 rams, 12 male lambs a year old with their cereal offering, and 12 male goats for a sin offering. And all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings, 24 bulls, the rams 60, the male goats 60, and the male lambs a year old 60. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the covenant from between the two cherubim, and it spoke to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Moses continued. when the Lord your God brings you into the land which you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than yourselves."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the leaders of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, the leaders of the tribes who were over those who are numbered, offered and brought their offerings before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And when the Lord your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, then you must utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not make marriages with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons. For they would turn away your sons from following me to serve other gods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. But thus shall you deal with them. You shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and hew down their asherim and burn their graven images with fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love upon you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
But it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath which he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Know therefore that the Lord your God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and merciful love with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations and repays to their face those who hate him by destroying them. He will not be slack with him who hates him. He will repay him to his face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the ordinances which I command you this day. Blessing for obedience. And because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the merciful love which he swore to your fathers to keep. He will love you, bless you and multiply you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples. There shall not be male or female barren among you or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from you all sickness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
And none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict upon you. But he will lay them upon all who hate you. And you shall destroy all the peoples that the Lord your God will give over to you. Your eyes shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you. If you say in your heart, these nations are greater than I, how can I dispossess them?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
You shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. so will the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
six covered wagons and 12 oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders and for each one an ox. They offered them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord said to Moses, accept these from them that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting and give them to the Levites. to each man according to his service. So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
Moreover, the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in the midst of you, a great and terrible God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. And he will give their kings into your hand and you shall make their name perish from under heaven. Not a man shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become accursed like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. Psalm 92, Thanksgiving for Vindication, a psalm, a song for the Sabbath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High, to declare your merciful love in the morning and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work. At the work of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
The dull man cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this, that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever. But you, O Lord, are on high forever. For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish. All evildoers shall be scattered. But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 58: A Chosen People (2025)
You have poured over me fresh oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies. My ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord. They flourish in the courts of our God. They still bring forth fruit in old age.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Something has changed in the lives and the hearts of these brothers, of these men. When the new youngest brother, Benjamin, who also is beloved by their father, when his life is threatened and their father's life by extension is threatened, you know, earlier they didn't care that their father was heartbroken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Earlier they didn't care that their father was grieved by the fact that he believed Joseph to be dead. But now something must have changed in these years when Joseph was away, something must have changed in the lives and the hearts of these brothers. Where they must have realized we don't want to be those kinds of sons. We don't want to not only needlessly grieve our father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
We don't want to even have any reason to grieve our father. And so they put their own lives on the line for the new beloved son. They put their lives on the line for the new chosen, mostly beloved, mostly loved son, Benjamin, which demonstrates something. It demonstrates that these men have changed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
And if there's anything that we can take heart in, anything that the gospel reveals to us, anything that the Bible reveals to us, is that yes, we are broken. Yes, we're messy. That's the key words we've been following. But also that we can change. Also that, remember, who is the person who puts his life on the line here?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
It's Judah, who a couple chapters before had sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, thinking that she was a prostitute. So here is this reality of all these people in these stories. But this is Judah now. placing his life on the line for his father, for his brother, and for his other brothers. The fact that we are broken and the fact that we need God's help
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
is a present reality to all of us every day of our lives. What's not as present, what's not as obvious is the fact that we also can change with God's help, that things can become different. Judah, the fourth brother, whose name means praise, Judah had fallen seriously earlier on in this book of Genesis. But in this moment, Judah is a shining son. He's a shining brother.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
In this moment, Judah is the one that we can all look to and say, if I have the choice, if I had the chance to spare my parents, to spare my siblings, to spare those who need to be spared of needless grief, let me be like Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
we pray not only that like joseph we walk with the lord and the lord is with us we also pray that maybe like judah we can change because if there's anything that grace teaches us is that none of us have to remain stuck in our sin none of us have to remain stuck in our brokenness but with god's grace every one of us can change that's why we're doing that's why we're doing this bible in a year
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
For the man said to us, you shall not see my face unless your brother is with you. Israel said, why did you treat me so ill as to tell the man that you had another brother? They replied, the man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred saying, is your father still alive? Have you another brother? What we told him was an answer to these questions.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
is because we need to be reminded of the fact that God truly does want us, that he is communicating himself to us, that he's speaking to us. And today, I know that God spoke with you. So why not speak something back? Take these scriptures today to prayer. Take each other to prayer. Let's intercede on behalf of each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
I know that I'm praying for you, and I ask that you please keep on praying for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Could we in any way know that he would say, bring your brother down? And Judah said to Israel, his father, send the lad with me and we will arise and go that we may live and not die. Both we and you and also our little ones. I will be surety for him. Of my hand, you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
For if we had not been delayed, we now would have returned twice. Then their father Israel said to them, if it must be so, then do this. Take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags and carry down to the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother and arise. Go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them and Benjamin, and they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, Bring the men into the house and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon. The man did as Joseph bade him and brought the men to Joseph's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house and they said, it is because of the money which was replaced in our sacks the first time that we are brought in so that he might seek occasion against us and fall upon us to make slaves of us and seize our donkeys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house and said, oh my Lord, we came down the first time to buy food. And when we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks and there was every man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us and we have brought other money down in our hand to buy food.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
this is day 23 let us keep on rolling um day 23 we're gonna keep following the story of joseph and his brothers and their father as we read from genesis chapter 43 and 42 we'll also be walking with our old friend our good friend job by reading job chapter 35 and 36 we're also reading more deeply into proverbs chapter 4 verses 10 through 19.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
We do not know who put our money in our sacks. He replied, rest assured, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
then he brought simeon out to them and when the man had brought the men into joseph's house and given them water and they had washed their feet and when they had given their donkeys food they made ready the present for joseph's coming at noon for they heard that they should eat bread there
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. And he inquired about their welfare and said, is your father well? The old man of whom you spoke, is he still alive? They said, your servant, our father is well. He is still alive. And they bowed their heads and made obeisance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother, Benjamin, his mother's son. And he said, is this your youngest brother of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son. Then Joseph made haste for his heart yearned for his brother and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out and controlling himself, he said, let food be served.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
They served him by himself and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs." So they drank and were merry with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Then he commanded the steward of his house, fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest with his money for the grain. And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
When they had gone but a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, Up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, say to them, Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup? Is it not from this that my Lord drinks and by this that he divines? You have done wrong in so doing. When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. They said to him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Why does my Lord speak such words as these, far be it from your servants, that they should do such a thing? Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks, we brought back to you from our land in Canaan. How then should we steal silver or gold from your Lord's house? With whomever of your servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my Lord's slaves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
he said let it be as you say he with whom it is found shall be my slave and the rest of you shall be blameless then every man lowered his sack quickly to the ground and every man opened his sack and he searched beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest and the cup was found in benjamin's sack then they tore their clothes and every man loaded his donkey and they returned to the city
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
when judah and his brothers came to joseph's house he was still there and they fell before him to the ground joseph said to them what deed is this that you have done do you not know that such a man as i can indeed divine and judah said what shall we say to my lord what shall we speak or how can we clear ourselves God has found out the guilt of your servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
As always, if you're interested in reading along or following along, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year and you can download the Bible in a year reading plan. You can get that and you can follow along because I'm reading the revised standard version Catholic edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Behold, we are my Lord's slaves, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found. But he said, far be it from me that I should do so. Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my slave. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Then Judah went up to him and said, O my Lord, let your servant, I beg you, speak a word in my Lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. My Lord asked his servants, saying, Have you a father or a brother? And we said to my Lord, We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
And his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him. Then you said to your servants, Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him. We said to my lord, The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Then you said to your servants, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more. When we went back to your servant, my father, we told him the words of my Lord. And when our father said, go again, buy us a little food, we said, we cannot go down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us. Then your servant my father said to us, You know that my wife bore me two sons. One left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces, and I have never seen him since.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to Sheol. Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, Then as his life is bound up in the lad's life, when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. And your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to Sheol.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame in the sight of my father all my life. Now, therefore, let your servant, I beg you, remain instead of the lad as a slave to my Lord and let the lad go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the lad is not with me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
I fear to see the evil that would come upon my father. Job chapter 35 and 36. Elihu condemns self-righteousness. And Elihu said, Do you think this to be just? Do you say it is my right before God that you ask what advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned? I will answer you and your friends with you. Look at the heavens and see and behold the clouds which are higher than you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
I'm using the actual Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is super good, super handy to have because of all the notes, the maps, everything that's in there. Also, if you want to, you can subscribe in your podcast app. Every time we drop an episode, you will pick it up because you have subscribed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself and your righteousness a son of man. Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out, they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
But none says, where is God my maker who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air? There they cry out, but he does not answer because of the pride of evil men. Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him. And now, because his anger does not punish and he does not greatly heed transgression, Job opened his mouth in empty talk. He multiplies words without knowledge. And Elihu continued and said, bear with me a little and I will show you. For I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
I will fetch my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my maker. For truly, my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty and does not despise any. He is mighty in strength of understanding. He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings upon the throne, he sets them forever and they are exalted. And if they are bound in fetters and caught in the cords of affliction, then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. He He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Lastly, if you're interested in getting updates from Ascension, updates about the Bible in a year podcast, you can just simply text the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777. Once again, that's the word Catholic Bible to 33777. Once again, we're reading from Genesis chapter 43 and 44. Now the famine was severe in the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness. But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and they die without knowledge. The godless in heart cherish anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them. They die in youth and their life ends in shame. He delivers the afflicted from their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of rich food, but you are full of the judgment on the wicked. Judgment and justice seize you. Beware, lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. Will your cry avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Do not long for the night when peoples are cut off in their place. Take heed. Do not turn to iniquity. For this you have chosen rather than affliction. Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed for him his way? Or who can say, you have done wrong? Remember to extol his work of which men have sung. All men have looked on it. Man beholds it from afar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Behold, God is great, and we know him not. The number of his years is unsearchable. For he draws up the drops of water. He distills his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thundering of his pavilion? Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea. For by these he judges peoples.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
He gives food in abundance. He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. Its crashing declares concerning him who is jealous with anger against iniquity. Book of Proverbs, chapter 4, verses 10 through 19. Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom. I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction. Do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it. Do not go on it. Turn away from it and pass on, for they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
They are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble, for they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness. They do not know over what they stumble. God in heaven, we thank you and praise you. You are our good father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
You love us. You reveal your heart to us. We ask that you please continue to send your Holy Spirit upon us as we listen to your word, as we let it penetrate our minds and transform our hearts, as we let your word be the north star that guides the direction of our lives. Mary, queen of heaven, we ask for your intercession. We ask that you lead us to your son, Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
You who bore the word made flesh in your womb, help the word proclaimed dwell in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So, man, oh man. There is something about these 12 brothers. Well, about 12. Yeah, 12. It's 12. Here we go. These 12 brothers. Man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
And when they had eaten the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food. But Judah said to him, The man solemnly warned us, saying, You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you. If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if not, we will not go down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 23: Judah Changes (2025)
Originally what happened originally, these brothers were jealous of the love that their father had for the youngest brother, the 11th brother, Joseph. They were so jealous of the love that their father had for Joseph, that they were willing to kill him until they sold him into slavery. And yet something has changed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, command the sons of Israel and say to them, when you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan in its full extent. Your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin along the side of Edom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
There are prophetic psalms that contain divine statements or prophecies where God is the one speaking. There's wisdom Psalms and there's royal Psalms. In fact, one of the, I guess you might say unofficial titles of this Psalm 120 today that we prayed is God's presence during distress. Today's Psalm 120 is one of those prayers that is a Psalm of lament.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
that god is truly present even in times of distress so for the next number of days we are going to be following all those psalms and praying all those psalms of ascent so from here on day 79 and we're beginning with psalm 120 we'll continue praying until day 90 with psalm 134 So we will be praying these prayers together with each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And whenever we hit these Psalms of Ascent, just be reminded of the fact that they encompass all of the great joys and great trials of life. But they're all oriented towards journeying up to the temple of God, not only where his presence would abide, but also where he would be worshiped. He'd be worshiped as he had asked to be worshiped.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And I think there's something about that that just reminds us in good times and in bad, in times of distress, in times of joy, in times of trial, in times of thanksgiving, in times of blessing, wisdom and prophecy that we are called to worship God. Because it is in worshiping God that we truly discover who we are. That in worshiping God, he doesn't get anything out of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
But he transforms us into a certain kind of person, a certain kind of people. And that is an incredible gift. So as we continue this journey, we continue to not only worship God, we also continue to pray for each other. And I hope you know by now, I hope you believe me, that I am praying for you every single day. And I know so many of you are praying for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Let's not forget praying for each other as well because my voice might be the one that you hear. But there is someone else whose ears are hearing these words and whose heart is being touched by these words that might need your prayer, your prayers in a very powerful and very particular way today. So let's not forget each other as we continue this Bible in a Year journey. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
and your southern boundary shall be from the end of the salt sea on the east, and your boundary shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabim and cross to Zin, and its end shall be south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar Adar and pass along to Asmon, and the boundary shall turn from Asmon to the brook of Egypt, and its termination shall be at the sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
For the western boundary, you shall have the great sea and its coast. This shall be your western boundary." This shall be your northern boundary. From the great sea you shall mark out your line to Mount Hor. From Mount Hor you shall mark it out to the entrance of Hamath, and the end of the boundary shall be at Zadad. Then the boundary shall extend to Ziphron, and its end shall be at Hazar-anan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 79. We have only two days left, including today. until we're completed with the book of Numbers and the book of Deuteronomy and moving on to the next time period, the conquest and judges. But today, it is day 79.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
This shall be your northern boundary. You shall mark out your eastern boundary from Hazar Anan to Shepham, and the boundary shall go down from Shepham to Ribla on the east side of Ain, and the boundary shall go down and reach to the shoulder of the Sea of Chinareth on the east, and the boundary shall go down to the Jordan, and its end shall be at the Salt Sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
This shall be your land with its boundaries all round. Moses commanded the sons of Israel saying, this is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half tribe for the tribe of the sons of Reuben by father's houses and the tribe of the sons of Gad by their father's houses have received their inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And also the half tribe of Manasseh, the two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward toward the sunrise. Tribal leaders. The Lord said to Moses, These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance. Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
You shall take one leader of every tribe to divide the land for inheritance. These are the names of the men. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. Of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Amihud. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. Of the tribe of the sons of Dan, a leader, Buki, the son of Jogli.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Of the sons of Joseph, of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh, a leader, Haniel, the son of Ephod. And of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim, a leader, Kimuel, the son of Shifton. Of the tribes of the sons of Zebulun, a leader, Elisaphan, the son of Parnak. Of the tribe of the sons of Issachar, a leader, Paltiel, the son of Azan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And of the tribe of the sons of Asher, a leader, Ahihud, the son of Shalomi. Of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali, a leader, Pedehel, the son of Amihud. These are the men whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance for the sons of Israel in the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
The Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 33, Moses' Final Blessing This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death. He said, The Lord came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon us. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand. Thus the Lord became king in Jeshurun.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
When the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. Let Reuben live and not die, nor let his men be few. And this he said of Judah, Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him into his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
So we are reading today from Numbers chapter 34, Deuteronomy chapter 33. We'll also be praying Psalm 120. As always, I am reading from the Bible translation called the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible. from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And of Levi he said, Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massa, with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah, who said of his father and mother, I regard them not. He disowned his brothers and ignored his children, for they observed your word and kept your covenant. They shall teach Jacob your ordinances and Israel your law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
They shall put incense before you and whole burnt offering upon your altar. Bless, O Lord, his substance and accept the work of his hands. Crush the loins of his adversaries, of those that hate him, that they rise not again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
of benjamin he said the beloved of the lord he dwells in safety by him he encompasses him all the day long and makes his dwelling between his shoulders and of joseph he said blessed by the lord be his land with the choicest gifts of heaven above
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
and of the deep that lies beneath with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him that dwelt in the bush
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Let these come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of his head, of him that is prince among his brothers. His firstling bull has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he shall push the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
and of zebulun he said rejoice zebulun in your going out and issachar in your tents they shall call peoples to their mountain there they offer right sacrifices for they suck the affluence of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand And of Gad he said, Blessed be he who enlarges Gad. Gad lurks like a lion, and he tears the arm and the crown of the head.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved. And he came to the head of the people. With Israel he executed the commands and the just decrees of the Lord. And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp that leaps forth from Bashan. And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor and full of the blessings of the Lord, possess the lake and the south.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And of Asher he said, Blessed above sons be Asher, and let him be the favorite of his brothers. and let him dip his foot in oil. Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be. There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help and in his majesty through the skies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, destroy. So Israel dwelt in safety. the fountain of Jacob alone in a land of grain and wine. Yes, his heavens drop down due. Happy are you, O Israel, who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your triumph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Your enemies shall come fawning to you and you shall tread upon their high places. Psalm 120, prayer for deliverance from slanderers, a song of ascents. In my distress, I cry to the Lord that he may answer me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
If you want to subscribe to this podcast, that would be a really good idea, and I would recommend it. You can just click subscribe, and you are subscribed. As I said, today is the second to last day until we are concluding this Desert Wanderings time period. It is day 79. We're reading today, as I said, once again, this is the final blessing of Moses in Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue, a warrior's sharp arrows with glowing coals of the broom tree? Woe is me that I sojourn in Meshach, that I dwell among the tents of Kadar. Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
We thank you for being with us on this journey. You are the one who initiated this journey, God. You're always the one who leads us. You're always the one who speaks first. You're the one who moves first. You're the one who loves us first. All of our prayers to you, all of our listening to you, and all of our loving you back is simply a response to your initiative. So we just thank you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
We thank you that if we're hearing these words, we know that you have chosen us because you've loved us. Lord God, you choose your people and you continue to guide them and fight for them. And we know that you continue to choose us as messed up as we are, and you continue to love us and fight for us. Lord God, help us to love you back and help us to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
respond to your fighting for us by being the kind of people who are willing to not fight against you, but fight with you. Help us to love you well and the people around us well. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. So, so good. We have a couple things happening today. This is wrapping up. We're wrapping up the book of Numbers. We're wrapping up the book of Deuteronomy. And so at the end here in Numbers chapter 34, we have the boundaries of the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And right, so it just says, okay, on the southern side, this is the boundary. On the eastern side, this is the boundary, etc. And one of the things that reminds us of is the fact that the promised land is not some kind of abstract idea, right? I mean, maybe in modern times it's become kind of an abstract idea or it's a metaphor for something else.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
But in the ancient world, in the old covenant, for the Jewish people, it is a very specific thing. It is a tangible thing. The boundary lies from here to there to there to there, right? And there's something really powerful about that for us, because not only does it reveal to us that, it reminds us, I guess, of the fact that this is a true story. This is a historical reality.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
This is something that actually happened. This people of Israel were enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years. They were led through the wilderness for 40 years, and then they entered into this particular place and at this particular time, and lived in this particular way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And one of the things that we recognize in this is that Judaism, as well as Christianity, are historical religions, is that they happened at a time and a place to a certain people, and this is how God has interacted with them and on their behalf. It just reminds us that to be spiritual, to have faith, is not divorced from our daily lives. It's not divorced from matter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
It's not divorced from time or space. It is entrenched in time and space as well. It's like us. As human beings, what we believe as Christians is that as human beings, we are both matter and spirit. We're made of flesh and our souls. And we're not one or the other. We're both together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
and almost the very, very end of Numbers chapter 34, where we find out about the boundaries of the land of Canaan. We find out about the tribal leaders amongst the people of Israel, and we continue with our journey today. The book of Numbers chapter 34, Boundaries of the Land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And something is incredibly similar to the Judeo-Christian faith is it is intensely spiritual, but it's also very much intensely material, that it is heaven and earth united in some ways. And so the boundaries of the land of Canaan, we have the tribal leaders in the book of Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Moses' final blessing is so interesting because there are a number of times where you can kind of get a little sense of who is blessed a lot and who is not blessed a lot. As an example, the very first blessing is for Reuben, right? It's the tribe of Reuben. And it says, let Reuben live and not die, nor let his men be few. Like, okay, that is not a very powerful blessing. Let him live and not die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Because the next couple, you know, Judah and we have, um, tribe of Levi and Joseph, like all of these other tribes are blessed in some pretty powerful ways. And yet let Reuben live and not die, nor let his men be few is a little bit underwhelming, we'll say. But one of the things I want to highlight is the Psalms.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And I don't often talk about the Psalms as we're praying through these, but we just prayed Psalm 120. And And Psalm 120 marks the beginning of what it's called the Psalms of Ascent. The Psalms of Ascent are from Psalm 120 to 134. And these are the Psalms typically associated with the three major feasts in the life of the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
The Feast of Passover, the Feast of Weeks, or we call it Pentecost, or the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Booths. Now, remember, the people of Israel had to go up to Jerusalem to worship in the temple at these three times of the year. And so as they made pilgrimage, when they got to a certain place, they would begin praying these Psalms of Ascent, right? So there's two things to think about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
Well, a couple of things to think about. One is Jerusalem is always considered holy. Even if you're living in the north of Israel, you would still go up to Jerusalem because Jerusalem is situated in the hill country, right? It's on Mount Zion. And so you'd always go up to Jerusalem, even if you're coming from the north.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And so that Psalms of Ascent is as you're journeying on your pilgrimage, you are going up. So Psalms of Ascent. So when we take our pilgrimages to Israel, to the Holy Land, one of the things that we'll do is we'll typically ride the bus. It's much easier than walking, I hear. We'll ride the bus from the Jordan River all the way up to Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
And as we take that bus ride, we'll pray the Psalms of Ascent. And it's this, it's again, it's a reminder of the fact that here for thousands, thousands of years, the people of Israel would journey and make this pilgrimage upwards to be able to worship God in the temple in Jerusalem. And they pray those Psalms of Ascent as we are ascending.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
I've heard also, though, that it's not merely on the road necessarily. It's not merely on the trail leading up to Jerusalem where they would pray the Psalms of Ascent, but that there would be historically 15 steps leading up to, say, the second temple period.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
in the second temple period there were maybe 15 steps and on each one of these steps pilgrims would stop on each step and they'd pray the one psalm of ascent for every step and so they ascend to the temple while praying through these psalms of ascent and in all these one of the things that i find just kind of fascinating is you'd think okay these are psalms that you pray on your way up to being able to worship the lord
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2025)
They, in my mind, I would think, oh, they're all the same. And yet they're not all the same. Some of them are hymns. They are songs of joy. Some of them are laments. In fact, today, Psalm 120 is a lament. It's written, you know, songs written during times of distress and trouble and saying, okay, I'm leaving that behind me. There are psalms of thanksgiving. There are psalms of confidence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Oh God, do not keep silence. They say, come, let us wipe them out as a nation. Let the name of Israel be remembered no more. Yes, they conspire with one accord. Against you, they make a covenant. The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebel and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre. Assyria also has joined them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
They are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were the destroyer at Endor, who became dung for the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeb, all their princes like Zeba and Zilmunna, who said, let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Oh my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane. Fill their faces with shame that they may seek your name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever. Let them perish in disgrace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Let them know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the most high over all the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Thank you for your word and thank you for leading us on this journey. Thank you for sharing your heart with us because you enlighten us with your word. You shape our minds, our hearts. You fill them with your goodness when we open ourselves to you. And so we ask you to please help us to trust in you. Help us to continue to be open to you. Help us to have inquisitive minds but not skeptical minds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Help us to have hearts that are wise, but not hearts that are cynical. Lord God, we trust in you and we love you and we thank you. Please receive our thanks this day. Receive our thanks through the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So we have journeyed through Exodus and Leviticus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And the end of Exodus and Leviticus ends with what? Well, it ends with some of the most important things. It ends with the tabernacle in Exodus. Keeping this in mind, Exodus carries the narrative, obviously, but there have been a number of chapters, a number of days that we've been journeying through the book of Exodus where we kind of stopped when it came to the narrative.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
We focused on the priest's garments, and we focused on the building of the laver. The laver is like the bowl for washing, so just keep that in mind. We focused on the altar of incense. We focused on the menorah, all these pieces. Why? Because of the priority of place of worship. This is so important for all of us, especially all of us who are going through the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And it's just, it's incredible. So this is day 51. As I said, we're reading from Exodus chapter 39 and 40 from Leviticus 27. And also we're praying today from Psalm 83. As always, the Bible translation that I'm reading is the revised standard version, second Catholic edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
We realize that here is God's word that is so, so important. And yet, and yet, I would dare to say that almost even more important, maybe not even almost, just more important, is the worship of God. So we receive God's word, right? Because it shapes our minds. It informs us who God himself is. But how does God shape his people in the old covenant and in the new? By worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And so getting the worship right is so absolutely critical. And so just keep that in mind because this isn't the last we've heard of the tabernacle. This isn't the last we've heard of God's law either because also there is a creed and there's also what God reveals about himself. And we're going to continue to hear about that because that's... What's happening in the Bible, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
God revealing himself. But we will never be able to replace worship of God with just hearing about God. Always, always, always. As men and women who have been made in his image and likeness, those have been consecrated to him through baptism. We are called 100% to worshiping him. And that's one of the reasons why I just think this is so remarkable. That was the last words of the book of Exodus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
We talk about the cloud covered the tent of meeting. You know, they assembled ordinary stuff, right? I mean, it was good stuff. Gold is pretty great. And bronze is pretty great. And they fashioned these articles of furniture and they wove incredible pieces of clothing for Aaron and for Aaron's sons, those priests.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
But they were ordinary until they were consecrated, until they were set apart, until they were made holy. And it says there, and when Moses anointed them, God made them holy. And then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And so what was just ordinary before, these pieces of furniture were now consecrated and then God's presence was present. And
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
There's something about that that should remind every one of us when it comes to not only holy places and holy things, but also ourselves, who are pretty ordinary when it comes to how we've been created. I mean, fearfully and wonderfully made, yes, of course, but ordinary. Yet when we are consecrated, we are made extraordinary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And when we have God's presence with us, there's something extraordinary about that. It's so remarkable. The last lines, it said, when throughout all their journey, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would go onward. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward until the day that it was taken up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
If you want to download your Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You can probably, you haven't subscribed yet. My guess is you've subscribed. So you're probably tired of me telling you, inviting you to do that. Not telling you what to, I'm not here to tell you what to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And one of the things about that is we just realized that we wait on the Lord. When he's ready to move, we move. And when he tells us to stay, we stay. The last little note here is from Leviticus chapter 27, this teaching on votive offerings. And I think there's something that will obviously, scripture will teach us again and again, more and more things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
But what votive offerings are is this reality that yes, there were some, we talked about this before. There are some things that were commanded. You must offer this. You must offer these thank offerings or these serial offerings or these sin offerings or guilt offerings. But some Israelites were so moved by the Lord, they wanted to give more donations through a special votive offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And so since we have this conversion value of, you know, male 20 years old, up to six years old, a woman, a female from that old, you know, 50 shekels and 30 shekels and 20 shekels. What is that? What we're seeing is that, you know, that only a Levite could work in the temple. And so if a person wanted to serve the temple, they wanted to serve the Lord, but they couldn't.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And to serve the Lord really specifically means serve at like being like serving in the temple. but they can't because they're not a Levite. Well, what they can do is they could say, well, if I'm 20 to 60 years old, the worth of my service would be 60 shekels. Is that what it was? Yeah, it was. The value of my work would be 50 shekels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
If I'm a female from 20 to 60 years old, the value of my work would be 30 shekels. And so a person could say that, I know I can't be in the temple myself, but I can offer to the Lord, I can offer to the temple service the value of my work. Same kind of thing when it came to, I could vow an animal. Now, some animals are, dedicated to the Lord immediately.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Like the first born male of every flock or herd that belongs to God. So that's not a votive offering. But if there was another kind of animal that you wanted to dedicate to the Lord, fantastic, you can do that. But I love the fact that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 51. Let's keep on going. Actually, my goodness, congratulations to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
um scripture makes a point of saying that you might dedicate a you know say a calf when it gets born and say this is my votive offering but if that calf grows up to be like amazing it goes up to be one of those cats like oh shoot this i did not want to give away this prize steer it's like no it's holy to the lord you gave it to the lord you must keep it or you have to you know pay
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
redeem it back with an extra fifth. And I just think there's something good about, I just mean like the normal, like the realness of the dedication of anything to the Lord. Because how many times can you and I get to the place where we're thinking, okay, I want to give this to the Lord in the beginning, even the beginning of our day. Say, God, this is yours.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Once again, the last two chapters of Exodus, the last chapter of Leviticus and Psalm 83. The book of Exodus chapter 39, making the priest's garments. And of the blue and purple and scarlet stuff they made finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place. They made the holy garments for Aaron as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
I want to dedicate this beginning of the day to you. And then like, oh, I have another opportunity to do something else. Or I have another opportunity to go somewhere else. And we want to take it back. And that's how there's something in there. It's just like, no, if it's his, then it's his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And if I've made this dedication, for example, if I've said that, yeah, at eight o'clock I go to door to daily mass.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
but something else came up like oh no if i made that dedication to the lord then that eight o'clock time is his and i can't just take it back see there's it's always through the book of leviticus it's always there's some things that belong to the lord we must do because he's asked us to do and there's some things that we get to do because he's moved our hearts to say this with love and yet to offer this with love and yet sometimes we want to take back
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
our hearts, and I just love how, again, how real the book of Leviticus and the entire Bible gets to be with us, because there are so many times when we would say, I want to offer X, and then we might want to take it back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
and it's so good to be called out in that way in a way that just here's god who says i know your heart i know that that happens sometimes and so here's what you do when that happens it's holy you consecrated it to me so just let it be mine and i think that's pretty awesome what's also pretty awesome is the fact that you have concluded day 51
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Tomorrow on day 52, we're going to begin the desert wanderings. So not only will we have Mr. Jeff Cavins join us to introduce this new period tomorrow, which I'm super excited about. He gives us an overview of what are the desert wanderings and how is it significant? How is it different? We see the people of Israel be transferred from being slaves in Egypt and through the Exodus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And now here they are going to be journeying through the wilderness in Numbers and in Deuteronomy. And also we'll start day 52, which is Numbers chapter one, Deuteronomy chapter one and Psalm 85. But that is tomorrow. Today, rejoice because you have dedicated this time to the Lord. You've offered it to him and it is his and nothing ever given to the Lord is ever wasted. I am praying for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Please, please keep praying for each other and pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And he made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen. And gold leaf was hammered out and cut into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet stuff and into the fine twined linen in skilled design.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
They made for the ephod shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges, and the skillfully woven band upon it, to belt it on, was of the same materials and workmanship of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet stuff, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
The onyx stones were prepared, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
He made the breast piece in skilled work like the work of the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twine linen. It was square. The breast piece was made double, a span its length and a span its breadth when doubled. And they set it in four rows of stones.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row, and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond, and the third row adjacent an agate and an amethyst, and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold filigree. There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
They were like signets, each engraved with its name for the twelve tribes. And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords of pure gold. And they made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
and put the two rings on the edges of the breastpiece and they put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece two ends of the two cords they had attached to the two settings of filigree thus they attached it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
This is, I think, a pretty monumental day because not only is this the last day that we are reading the book of Exodus, we're reading Exodus chapter 39 and 40. And also the last day we're reading from the book of Leviticus chapter 27. But it is also the last day that we're in. That's the third time period. Remember, there's 12 time periods that we're walking through.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
then they made two rings of gold and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece on its inside edge next to the ephod and they made two rings of gold and attached them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod at its joining above the skillfully woven band of the ephod and they bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
so that it should lie upon the skillfully woven band of the ephod and that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod as the lord had commanded moses he also made the robe of the ephod woven all of blue and the opening of the robe in it was like the opening in a garment with a binding around the opening that it might not be torn
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
On the skirts of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet stuff in fine twined linen. They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round about between the pomegranates. A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the skirts of the robe for ministering, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
They also made the coats woven of fine linen for Aaron and his sons, and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen britches of fine twined linen, and the sash of fine twined linen, and of blue and purple and scarlet stuff embroidered with needlework, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, Holy to the Lord. And they tied to it a lace of blue to fasten it on the turban above, as the Lord had commanded Moses. the work finished.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the sons of Israel had done according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so had they done. And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases, the covering of tanned rams, skins and goat skins, and the veil of the screen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
the ark of the covenant with its poles and the mercy seat the table with all its utensils and the bread of the presence the lampstand of pure gold and its lamps with the lamps set in all its utensils and the oil for the light the golden altar the anointing oil and the fragrant incense and the screen for the door of the tent the bronze altar and its grating of bronze its poles and all its utensils the laver and its base the hangings of the court its pillars and its bases the
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
and the screens for the gate of the court, its cords and its pegs, and all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle for the tent of meeting, the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to serve as priests. According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel had done all the work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it, as the Lord had commanded. So had they done it, and Moses blessed them. Chapter 40 The Erection of the Tabernacle
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, On the first day of the first month, you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and you shall put in it the ark of the covenant, and you shall screen the ark with the veil, and you shall bring in the table and set its arrangements in order, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps, and you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and place the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. And you shall set up the court round about and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And when it comes to the narrative books of scripture, we had the early world, we had the patriarchs, and now we have Egypt and Exodus. Tomorrow we'll move into the desert wanderings. And just again, congratulations, because it is not necessarily an easy thing to have carved out this kind of time to be able to spend with the Lord and to hear his word every single day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it and consecrate it and all its furniture and it shall become holy. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils and consecrate the altar and the altar shall be most holy. You shall also anoint the laver and its base and consecrate it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put upon Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them and anoint them as you anointed their father that they may serve me as priests.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And their anointing shall admit them to the perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses, according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. And in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases and set up its frames and put in its poles and raised up its pillars.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it as the Lord had commanded Moses. And he took the covenant and put it into the ark and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above the ark. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen and screened the ark of the covenant as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And he put the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the veil. and set the bread in order on it before the Lord as the Lord had commanded Moses. And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the Lord as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil and burnt fragrant incense on it as the Lord had commanded Moses. And he put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle and he set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting and offered upon it the burnt offering and the cereal offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And he erected the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court, So Moses finished the work. The cloud and the glory of the Lord. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud abode upon it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would go onward. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, say to the sons of Israel, when a man makes a special vow of persons to the Lord at your valuation, then your valuation of a male from 20 years old up to 60 years old shall be 50 shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. If the person is a female, your valuation shall be 30 shekels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
This is our day 51, but maybe this is, you know, day 100 for you. Maybe it's taken a while for you to get to this point, but that is no problem because I am just absolutely convinced that that the more and more, the longer and longer that we do this, that we expose ourselves and like just immerse ourselves in God's word, it changes how we see, it changes how we think, it changes how we love.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, your valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels. If the person is from a month old up to five years old, your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And if the person is sixty years old and upward, then your valuation for a male shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. And if a man is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall bring the person before the priest, and the priest shall value him, according to the ability of him who vowed the priest shall value him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
If it is an animal such as men offer as an offering to the Lord, all of such that any man gives to the Lord is holy. He shall not substitute anything for it or exchange it, a good for a bad or a bad for a good. And if he makes any exchange of beast for beast, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
And if it is an unclean animal such as is not offered as an offering to the Lord, then the man shall bring the animal before the priest and the priest shall value it as either good or bad as you the priest value it so it shall be but if he wishes to redeem it he shall add a fifth to the valuation
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
When a man dedicates his house to be holy to the Lord, the priest shall value it as either good or bad, as the priest values it, so it shall stand. And if he who dedicates it wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a fifth of the valuation of money to it, and it shall be his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
If a man dedicates to the Lord part of the land which is his by inheritance, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. A sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. If he dedicates his field from the year of Jubilee, it shall stand at your full valuation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
But if he dedicates his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall compute the money value for it according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, and a deduction shall be made from your valuation. And if he who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then he shall add a fifth of the valuation in money to it, and it shall remain his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
but if he does not wish to redeem the field or if he has sold the field to another man it shall not be redeemed any more but the field when it is released in the jubilee shall be holy to the lord as a field that has been devoted the priest shall be in possession of it
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
If he dedicates to the Lord a field which he has bought, which is not a part of his possession by inheritance, then the priest shall compute the valuation for it up to the year of Jubilee, and the man shall give the amount of the valuation on that day as a holy thing to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
In the year of Jubilee, the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to whom the land belongs as a possession by inheritance. Every valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Twenty geras shall make a shekel. But a firstling of animals, which as a firstling belongs to the Lord, no man may dedicate, whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
But if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at your valuation and add a fifth to it, or if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at your valuation. But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord of anything that he has, whether of man or beast or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed. Every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
No one devoted who is to be utterly destroyed from among men shall be ransomed. He shall be put to death. all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. If a man wishes to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
In fact, that's in so many ways the heart of what we're trying to do. There's this thing, there's this Greek word called metanoia. And metanoia means to change your mind, to have your mind transformed. And nothing like God's grace and nothing like his word proclaimed does that to us. It changes our mind. It changes how we, gosh, it changes what we love and it changes how we see.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
In all the tithe of herds and flock, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff shall be holy to the Lord. A man shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, neither shall he exchange it. And if he exchanges it, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy. It shall not be redeemed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 51: Israel's Worship of God (2025)
These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the sons of Israel on Mount Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
then the Holy Spirit of God is united to you in a unique way that you share in the divine nature. Now, as a human being, as made in God's image and likeness, you are a beloved creature of God, of course. But as one who's been baptized, you've been transformed, and you actually don't just have a human nature. Yes, it's basically God gives you a share in his divine nature.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
we're not like Jesus in the sense that Jesus is one divine person with a human and divine nature, but we get to participate, get to share in the divine nature. The example I always like to give is the example of Pinocchio and Geppetto. I'm not sure if I used this this year. Shoot, it's been 353 days, 354 days, crying out loud. But here is Geppetto, right? He's the marionette maker.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
He's the creator and he loves Pinocchio. He makes Pinocchio in his image and likeness. He Gives him arms and legs like Geppetto. He can talk like Geppetto and walk like Geppetto, but he's not Geppetto's son. He's Geppetto's beloved creature. He's Geppetto's beloved creation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Now, Geppetto loves him, of course, but in order for Pinocchio to be able to look at Geppetto and say, not just my maker, but my father, what has to happen? In order for Geppetto to look at Pinocchio and not just say my creation, but my son, what has to happen is that Pinocchio has to have the same nature as Geppetto. And so what happens? He becomes a real boy, right? In the course of the story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
And this is the same thing with us. Any unbaptized person can look at God and say, that's my creator who loves me. I'm a beloved creation of the incredible creator. But only when you're baptized, do you become a partaker in the divine nature that you're, in some ways, what you are changes, right? So that God can truly look at you and say, this is my son. This is my daughter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
And we can truly look at God the Father and say, he is our dad. He's truly our father. And that's something so, so important here in 2 Peter. It's just, again, bonkers to realize this. Now, Peter is writing to people who are saying, how come there's such a delay in God coming to us? Jesus said he'd come back, but I haven't seen him. Um, where is he?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self-control and self-control with steadfastness and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
And Peter says, essentially, don't consider this delay. This is the final chapter, chapter three. Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as one day. God's not slow about his promises, but he's forbearing, meaning he's not, he doesn't wish that anyone should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
The idea is that God is giving us more time so more people can repent. But he says the day of the Lord will come like a thief. So we have to be prepared. We have to be ready for that day that's coming upon us. In fact, there was something similar happening in St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Paul's letter to the Thessalonians because what's happened for them is that they were concerned because people were dying and the Christians were dying and they thought, wait, shoot, does this mean that they won't be able to receive salvation? the fullness of God's glory, because they're already dead. We're waiting. We're expecting Jesus to come back in our lifetimes. But here is St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Paul in chapter four, who's able to say, we would not have you ignorant brethren concerning those who are asleep. Again, those who have died, that you may not grieve as others who do not have hope. This is so incredible. We do grieve. As Christians, we grieve, but we don't grieve as those who have no hope. We don't grieve as those who think that death is the end. Death is this place of transition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
It's this passage into eternal life for those who are to be saved. And so we do grieve, but we don't grieve as those who have no hope. We don't grieve like the rest. But St. Paul goes on to say, for this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For when the Lord comes, the dead will rise. The dead in Christ will rise. And then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
And that's incredible, incredible word of comfort for all of us, is that those who have died, those who have passed on, We'll meet them again. Those who are passed on in Christ, we'll meet them again, is the hope we have. St. Paul concludes this first letter with these words of exhortation, which are so great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I love this line, this last thing here. He says, do not quench the spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything, hold fast to what is good. There's that piece of, yep, people have a word from the Lord. Okay, great. Let's test it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
That's so important for us to do because too many people can be too easily misled if they just say, oh, that's from God. I guess I'll believe it. Nope. If someone is given a word, given a word of prophecy, we've read the entire Bible, you false prophecy. And so what we need to do is test everything and retain what is good. Ah, so good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
What an incredible, incredible gift today has been concluding that second letter of St. Peter and concluding the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. Tomorrow we have 1 John and we have 2 Thessalonians and we're on our way. What a gift. What a gift it's been to be part of this community and what a gift it is to be able to pray for you. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 354. Day 354, we're all reading the entire second letter of St. Peter, chapters 1 and 2 and 3, as well as the conclusion of the first letter of St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. And I will see to it that after my departure, you may be able at any time to recall these things. Eyewitnesses of Christ's glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
We heard this voice born from heaven for we were with him on the holy mountain and we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
First of all, you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Chapter two, false prophets and their punishment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their licentiousness. And because of them, the way of truth will be reviled. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
From of old, their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction has not been asleep. For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven other persons, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly. If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, he condemned them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the wicked. For by what the righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless deeds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Paul to the Thessalonians, chapters 4 and 5, as well as Proverbs chapter 30, verses 17 through 19. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they are not afraid to revile the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a reviling judgment upon them before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed, reviling in matters of which they are ignorant, will be destroyed in the same destruction with them, suffering wrong for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation, carousing with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed, accursed children. Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Baor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression. A speechless donkey spoke with the human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
these are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm for them the deepest gloom of darkness has been reserved for uttering loud boasts of folly they entice with licentious passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live in error They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
It has happened to them, according to the true proverb, the dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed, only to wallow in the mire. Chapter 3 The Promise of the Lord's Coming This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
And in both of them, I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all, you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, where is the promise of his coming?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
You can also subscribe in your podcast app to this podcast because why not keep making this announcement here in the final days leading up to our conclusion of our scripture and our second trip around the sun and second trip around through the Bible. It is day 354. We're reading 2 Peter chapters 1, 2, and 3, 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5, and Proverbs chapter 30 verses 17 through 19.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God, heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But by the same word, the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved and the elements will melt with fire? But according to his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Final Exhortation and Doxology Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace, and count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also, our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
there are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware, lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Chapter four, a life pleasing to God. Finally, brethren, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that as you learn from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are now doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathens who do not know God, that no man transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things as we solemnly forewarned you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But concerning love of the brethren, you have no need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. And indeed, you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands as we charged you, so that you may command the respect of outsiders and be dependent on nobody. the coming of the Lord. But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 5.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
The second letter of Peter, chapter one, salutation. Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. the Christian's call and election.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But as to the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 6. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation." For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep, we might live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Final exhortations, greetings, and benediction. But we beg you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idle, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always. Pray constantly. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesying, but test everything. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. Three things are too wonderful for me, for I do not understand. The way of the eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
We ask you to please come and meet us with your grace because you are good. You are God. We love you. We belong to you. You've rescued us from death and you brought us into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You brought us into your kingdom. You brought us into your family. Help us to live as your beloved children. Help us to live with you as our father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Help us to live as good citizens of your kingdom, taking care of one another, being responsible for each other, enjoying all of the rights of a true adopted son or daughter of you, God, our father. May we be praised and glorified. We thank you so much. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So, gosh, here we are, second letter of St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion and become partakers of the divine nature.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
Peter. Chapter one, there's a line in here that is, well, the whole thing, obviously, is very important. But here is St. Peter. At one point in verse one, sorry, chapter one, in verse four, I think it is here, Peter says this. He says,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
by which God has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and here's the line, and become partakers of the divine nature. This line is absolutely critical. It is also incredible. It is absolutely incredible. What is Peter talking about? He's talking about the fact that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
When we are baptized, when we are made into God's adopted sons and daughters, we become partakers of the divine nature, basically become a new creation. And I mean, we've all heard that we become temples of the Holy Spirit, right? Of course, we've heard that. One of the things that means, of course, is that God abides because God's presence abides in his temple.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 354: Partakers of the Divine Nature (2024)
another thing it means is that uh what was the temple for it wasn't just for the presence of god to be there it was for the place of worship right so if we're temples of the holy spirit also means that we're meant to be a place of worship that's why i believe saint paul had said offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and beloved your spiritual worship right so your body's a temple not only god's presence also worship there but also if you have the holy spirit of god
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
The righteous see it and are glad, the innocent laugh them to scorn, saying, surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed. Agree with God and be at peace. Thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
If you return to the Almighty and humble yourself, if you remove unrighteousness far from your tents, if you lay gold in the dust and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, and if the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
You will make your prayer to him and he will hear you and you will pay your vows. You will decide on a matter and it will be established for you and light will shine on your ways. For God abases the proud, but he saves the lowly. He delivers the innocent man. You will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 9 through 12.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Honor the Lord with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your produce. Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, or be weary of his reproof. For the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. God in heaven, we know that you love us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
You love us in our brokenness and in our weakness, and we can trust you, even when we do not understand what you are doing. Help us to trust you this day as we journey with you, as we live this day in your presence, as we live this day in your will. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
So Job's pal was speaking to him today. He's our friend, Job, and Eliphaz is his buddy, his pal. And Eliphaz has a common understanding of the role of suffering, the role of the tragedy that's come upon Job. And one of the reasons for suffering, and it actually is not inaccurate, one of the reasons for suffering is because We are reaping basically what we've sown.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Like scripture says, you will reap what you sow. If we sow in the vineyard of affliction, we will reap God's wrath. So there's that sense if we sow sin, then we reap sin. If we sow sin, we reap the consequences of sin. And so Eliphaz is saying that that must be the thing. Job, what you have to do is you have to repent. And once you repent, then God will be with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Then the Lord said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you. So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was and said to them, I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Once you repent, then God once again will hear your prayer because he doesn't hear your prayer now because you have done something evil. See, the things we believe almost always have an element of truth to them. That's one of the reasons why they're so convincing. They're not fully true, but they're partially true. And there is such a thing that there's a role of suffering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Sometimes the role of suffering is that it is the consequence of our own bad decisions or someone else's bad decisions. Sometimes God allows us to enter into suffering in order to wake us up, in order to get us to repent, in order to win. He would not necessarily spare our suffering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
our lives or spare our goals, our dreams, all these hopes, so we can get our soul, so that we can wake up and realize, I'm living far from God. So one of the fruits of suffering can be repentance, or it can be something that God is using to teach us, to teach us deeper wisdom about life that we could never, ever learn outside of suffering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Those are things for repentance as a consequence of our sins, or in order to teach us a deeper kind of wisdom that can only be found through suffering. that is true, but it's not the only truth. And we know the story because we've been reading from chapter one in the book of Job, that he was righteous. He was wise. He would sit in the city gates and people would come to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Now he's saying like, kids won't even listen to me now. Whereas the elders used to listen to me. So he was wise. He was righteous. He didn't have anything to repent of. And he did not experience this suffering because of something that he had done. It's a convincing argument that his friends are trying to make, but we know the true story is that Job was not guilty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
And so something else is at play right now. Something else is at work right now. It's one of the reasons why sometimes offering people platitudes, right? Offering people like, well, it must be this, or, you know, this is God's will. When we don't know if it's God's will and we don't know if it's his perfect will, it might be his permissive will, but not necessarily his perfect will.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
offering people platitudes like that can often be incredibly dangerous. In fact, it's one of the reasons why the best thing that Job's friends did for him was when he was in the depths of his suffering, they just sat with him for seven days and didn't say a word. That was the best thing they could have done for Job in his suffering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
And probably is maybe one of the best things they could do for him at this point in his suffering. But his friends are much like us as friends. Sometimes we get tired and we want to give an answer. Sometimes we get tired of just being with someone in their grief or in their pain, and we just want to talk our way out of it. We want to give them an answer. And sometimes there is no answer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Sometimes the answer is something we cannot offer. Sometimes the answer is something that can only come from God himself. And we're going to see that that's what happens in this story of the book of Job as we continue our journey, these 365 days, a Bible in a year. You guys, I'm so grateful for you all. And please know of my prayers for you every single day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Please be praying for me and pray for each other because this is a community of people. We can do this solo thing where we just kind of like listen on our own, but we also need to be praying for each other, knowing that every one of us is in The fight for our lives, right? Every one of us is in the fight of our lives. So let's hold each other up in prayer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
You know that I have served your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not permit him to harm me. If he said, The spotted shall be your wages, then all the flocks bore spotted. And if he said, The striped shall be your wages, then all the flocks bore striped. Thus God has taken away the cattle from your father and given them to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
If you are interested in getting email updates and whatnot, you can text the word Catholic Bible. It's all one word, Catholic Bible, to 33777. You can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year if you want to get the Bible reading plan. And please subscribe to this podcast. If this is helping you out, please share it with your friends or with someone you think it could bless them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
It has been a blessing to me to be with you. So my name is Father Mike. God bless you and I'll see you tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
In the mating season of the flock, I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the he goats, which leaped upon the flock, were striped, spotted, and mottled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, Jacob. And I said, Here I am. And he said, Lift up your eyes and see. All the goats that leap upon the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled. For I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go forth from this land and return to the land of your birth. Then Rachel and Leah answered him, Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house? Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has been using up the money given for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
All the property which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do. So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels, and he drove away all his cattle, all his livestock which he had gained, the cattle in his possession which he had acquired in Paddan Aram, to go to the land of Canaan, to his father Isaac.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's household gods. And Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. The God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad. And Laban overtook Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
This is day 16, and we are continuing with our book of Genesis, our book of Job, book of Proverbs. We're hitting all these massive, massive books. It is day 16, so that means we are reading Genesis chapter 31 and chapter 32, continuing our story with Jacob and Laban and some other people. We're going to be reintroduced into Esau. We're also reading Job chapter 21 and chapter 22.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country and Laban with his kinsmen encamped in the hill country of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
what have you done that you have cheated me and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword why did you flee secretly and cheat me and did not tell me so that i might have sent you away with mirth and songs with tambourine and lyre and why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell Now you have done foolishly. It is in my power to do you harm.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, Take heed that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad. And now you have gone away because you have longed greatly for your father's house. But why did you steal my gods? Jacob answered Laban, Because I was afraid. For I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and into the tent of the two maidservants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah's tent and entered Rachel's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
now rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel's saddle and sat upon them laban felt all about the tent but he did not find them and she said to her father let not my lord be angry that i cannot rise before you for the way of women is upon me so he searched but did not find the household gods Then Jacob became angry and upbraided Laban. Jacob said to Laban, what is my offense?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? Although you have felt all through my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your she-goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
That which was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. Thus I was. By day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes." These 20 years I have been in your house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
I have served you 14 years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages 10 times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we will read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, the daughters are my daughters. The children are my children. The flocks are my flocks and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me. So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
And Jacob said to his kinsmen, Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. Laban called it Jagar-Seduthah. but jacob called it galid laban said this heap is a witness between you and me to-day therefore he named it galid and the pillar mizpah for he said the lord watch between me and you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
And Proverbs 3, verses 9 through 12, the Bible translation that I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition. And I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to be able to follow along, not just kind of listen along, but also see, you can download your Bible in a year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible. Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
when we are absent from one another if you ill-treat my daughters or if you take wives besides my daughters although no man is with us remember god is witness between you and me then laban said to jacob see this heap and the pillar which i have set between you and me
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me for harm. The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, the God of their father judged between us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac, and Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and called his kinsmen to eat bread, and they ate bread and tarried all night on the mountain. Early in the morning, Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he departed and returned home. Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's army. So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, Thus you shall say to my lord Esau,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Thus says your servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now, and I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, men servants and maid servants, and I have sent to tell you, my Lord, in order that I might find favor in your sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that were with him and the flocks and herds and camels into two companies, thinking, If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then the company which is left will escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
O Lord, who said to me, Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will do you good, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercy and all the faithfulness which you have shown to your servant. For with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Deliver me, I beg you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and slay us all, the mothers with the children. But you said, I will do you good and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
So he lodged there that night and took from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau, 200 she goats and 20 he goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milk camels and their colts, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 she donkeys and 10 he donkeys. These he delivered into the hand of his servants and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
every dove by itself and said to his servants pass on before me and put a space between drove and drove he instructed the foremost when esau my brother meets you and asks you to whom do you belong where are you going and whose are these before you Then you shall say, They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau, and moreover he is behind us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who follow the droves, You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. And you shall say, Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us. For he thought, I may appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterwards I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
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The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
So the present passed on before him, and he himself lodged that night in the camp. The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh and Jacob's thigh was pulled out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, let me go for the day is breaking. But Jacob said, I will not let you go unless you bless me. And he said to him, what is your name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed. Then Jacob asked him, Tell me I pray your name. But he said, Why is it that you ask my name? And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of that place Peniel, saying, For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved. The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his thigh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew of the hip. Job chapter 21 and 22. Job replies. Then Job answered, listen carefully to my words and let this be your consolation. Bear with me and I will speak. And after I have spoken, mock on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient? Look at me and be appalled and lay your hand upon your mouth. When I think of it, I am dismayed and shuddering seizes my flesh. Why do the wicked live? Reach old age and grow mighty in power. Their children are established in their presence and their offspring before their eyes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Their houses are safe from fear and no rod of God is upon them. Their bull breeds without fail. Their cow calves and does not cast her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock and their children dance. They sing to tambourines and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity and in peace they go down to Sheol. They say to God, depart from us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him? Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes pains in his anger?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
that they are like straw before the wind and like chaff that the storm carries away. You say God stores up their iniquity for their sons. Let him recompense it to themselves that they may know it. Let their own eyes see their destruction and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what do they care for their houses after them when the number of their months is cut off?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
As I said, we are reading today, day 16, from chapter 31 and 32. Job 21 and 22 and Proverbs 3, 9 through 12. Let's get started. Genesis chapter 31 and 32. Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, Jacob has taken all that was our father's and from what was our father's he has gained all his wealth. And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
will any teach god knowledge seeing that he judges those that are on high one dies in full prosperity being wholly at ease and secure his body full of fat and the marrow of his bones moist another dies in bitterness of soul never having tasted of good they lie down alike in the dust and the worms cover them Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
For you say, where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked dwell? Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony that the wicked man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath? Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
When he is born to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb. The clods of the valley are sweet to him. All men follow after him and those who go before him are innumerable. How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless? Is it for fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
is not your wickedness great there is no end to your iniquities for you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing you have given no water to the weary to drink and you have withheld bread from the hungry the man with power possessed the land and the favored man dwelt in it You have sent widows away empty and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Therefore, snares are round about you and sudden terror overwhelms you. Your light is darkened so that you cannot see and a flood of water covers you. Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are. Therefore, you say, what does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness? Thick clouds and wrap him so that he does not see and he walks on the vault of heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 16: The Suffering of Job (2025)
Will you keep to the old way which wicked men have trod? They were snatched away before their time, their foundation was washed away. They say to God, depart from us, and what can the Almighty do to us? Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And these invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So here is this generation. Here are these people. about to go into the promised land. And while the Lord God is prohibiting Balaam from cursing the people of Israel, and he's forcing Balaam to bless the people of Israel, the people of Israel are being false to the Lord their God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
They are, as it says, playing the harlot. They are hooking up essentially with the daughters of Moab. So that means that these men of Israel were not only intermarrying if they did that, but they were also adopting the worship practices, the religious practices of the people of Israel. They were turning away from the Lord God. They were being unfaithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Meanwhile, God on the hill with Balaam is forcing Balaam to bless the people that are being unfaithful. This is the goodness, the goodness of God, but this is also the darkness of our hearts because the story that's told in chapter 25, you might not have gotten all the details It talks about this. One of the sons of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman. His name is Zimri. Her name is Cosby.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Brought her to the tent of meeting. Now, The thing that the Bible even seems to back away from explicitly saying is that this gentleman, this guy, Zimri, and this Midianite woman, Cosby, were not just around the Temple of Meeting hanging out, that they were engaging in sexual relations in the very Tent of Meeting. So here's Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
So Aaron, high priest, his son, Eleazar, has a son, Phineas. And Phineas sees this desecration, this massive sacrilege happening in the holiest space, holiest place, God's presence, right? that this guy, Zimri, and this gal, Cosby, are engaging in this particular act in the presence of the Lord, in violation, obviously, on a bunch of levels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And so he puts a spear through both of them as they're there on the ground in the tabernacle of the Lord. And then God declares, yeah, that was the right thing to do. So Eliezer is, sorry, I meant to say Phineas, is praised in other parts of the scripture.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
In the book of Psalms, it describes how Phineas rose up because here the people of Israel had not only turned away to worship of other gods, although that is... Deadly enough, but in such a way that violated in so many, so many horrible ways, the holiness of God in this chapter of 25, the book of Numbers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And then just one last note when it comes to Deuteronomy chapter 26, that we heard about the tithes and the first fruits. So good. Not only are the people of Israel commanded to give the tithes, the The tithe, right? That first 10%, the first fruits of their flocks, the first fruits of their field, the first fruits of the year, essentially, of the yield to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
But they're also called to give that tithe on the third year. For what? Not just for the Lord, but also for the sojourner or the stranger, right? The fatherless, the orphan, and the widow. Those who don't have anyone to care for them, here is God who says, no, you're going to care for them. And this is something really remarkable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And this is something that marks the Jewish people and it marks our Judeo-Christian heritage, which is we don't necessarily look to others. You don't necessarily look to a political system or to a government to take care of the poor among us. In fact, the commandment is this. It's, no, you take care of the poor. And imagine, what if all of us actually did what the commandment of the Lord was?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
What if all of us actually gave 10% of our yield not only for the worship of God, but for the service of those who could not care for themselves, those who are strangers among us, the fatherless, the widow, the orphan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Imagine how different our parishes would be, how transformed our world would be if just on a regular basis we gave our first fruits of worship to God and first fruits of tithe to take care of those who could not take care of them. We wouldn't look to other people to take care of it. We would Look to ourselves. We look to our community. We look to our parish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And I think I really like how the government takes care of the roads. I love it. But I also think that if we're going to be followers of God's word, then maybe this is an invitation and a word of conviction. of saying, okay, to what degree am I being called to give my first fruits in worship, but also my first fruits to the care of the people around me, the stranger, the widow, the orphan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
He has, as it were, the horns of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nation's adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows. He lurked, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness, who will rouse him up? Blessed be everyone who blesses you, and cursed be everyone who curses you. Balaam's Fourth Oracle
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
This is something that only the Lord can convict in our hearts. And so I just invite us all to pray. And we could say, God, if you need to convict me because I'm not doing this, you have my permission. And if God, if I am doing this, and you just want to console me in that sense of like, keep it up and you're doing well, then you have my permission to console me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Whether to console or convict the Lord God, you have my permission. Whatever I need, I will receive from your hand. Let's keep praying for each other because again, the word of God convicts us and the word of God moves us to belong more and more to him. I'm praying for you. Please keep praying for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you all tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 72, and we are reading today from Numbers chapter 24 and 25, from Deuteronomy chapter 26, and from Psalm 107. As always, I'm reading from the Revised, I can't even remember.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together, and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore, now flee to your place. I said, I will certainly honor you, but the Lord has held you back from honor. And Balaam said to Balak, did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak. And now behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And he took up his discourse and said, The oracle of Balaam, the son of Baor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty falling down but having his eyes uncovered. I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
A star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. It shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed. Seir also his enemies shall be dispossessed, while Israel does valiantly. By Jacob shall dominion be exercised and the survivors of cities be destroyed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but in the end he shall come to destruction. And he looked on the Kenite and took up his discourse and said, Enduring is your dwelling place and your nest is set in the rock. Nevertheless, Cain shall be wasted." How long shall Asher take you away captive?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And he took up his discourse and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this? But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asher and Eber, and he also shall come to destruction. Then Balaam rose and went back to his place, and Balak also went his way. Chapter 25 Worship of Baal of Peor While Israel dwelt in Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
These invited the people to the sacrifice of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Every one of you slay his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor. And behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the sons of Israel. while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the inner room and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman, through her body. Thus the plague was stayed from the sons of Israel. Nevertheless, those that died by the plague were 24,000.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Remember, as always, the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to be able to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe in your podcast app to receive daily episodes. Once again, today is 72. Today is day 72. My goodness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, has turned back my wrath from the sons of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the sons of Israel in my jealousy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Therefore say, behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood. because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel. The name of the slain man of Israel, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, head of a father's house belonging to the Simeonites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And the name of the Midianite woman, who was slain, was Cosbi, the son of Zur, who was the head of the people of a father's house in Midian. And the Lord said to Moses, Harass the Midianites and strike them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
For they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cosby, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague on account of Peor. The Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 26 First Fruits and Tithes Moses Continued
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
When you come into the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, and have taken possession of it, and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place which the Lord your God will choose to make his name to dwell there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, I declare this day to the Lord your God that I have come into the land which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us. Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God. And you shall make response before the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
A wandering Aramean was my father, and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number. And there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. And the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us and laid upon us hard bondage. Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And you shall set it down before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God. And you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you and the Levite and the sojourner who is among you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Numbers 24 and 25 and Deuteronomy 26. We're praying Psalm 107. Not sure if I mentioned that earlier. Boy, oh boy. Here we go. Numbers chapter 24 and 25. Numbers 24. Balaam's third oracle. When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as other times to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the Lord your God,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment which you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
I have not eaten of the tithe while I was mourning, or removed any of it while I was unclean, or offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God I have done according to all that you have commanded me. Concluding Exhortation This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day concerning the Lord that he is your God, and you will walk in his ways and keep his statutes and his commandments and his ordinances and will obey his voice. And the Lord has declared this day concerning you that you are a people for his own possession as he has promised you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
and that you are to keep all his commandments, that he will set you high above all nations that he has made in praise and in fame and in honor, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God as he has spoken. Psalm 107 Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in, hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his merciful love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men, for he satisfies him who is thirsty. and the hungry he fills with good things. Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor. They fell down with none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their bonds asunder. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men. For he shatters the doors of bronze.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
He cuts in two the bars of iron. Some were sick through their sinful ways and because of their iniquities suffered affliction. They loathed any kind of food and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them and delivered them from destruction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men. and let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of his deeds in songs of joy. Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters. They saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
They mounted up to heaven. They went down to the depths. Their courage melted away in their evil plight. They reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wit's end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Then they were glad, because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his merciful love. Praise wonderful works to the sons of men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
let them extol him in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders he turns rivers into a desert springs of water into thirsty ground a fruitful land into a salty waste because of the wickedness of its inhabitants
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
he turns a desert into pools of water a parched land into springs of water and there he lets the hungry dwell and they establish a city to live in they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their cattle decrease.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said, The oracle of Balaam, the son of Baor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down but having his eyes uncovered.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, he pours contempt upon princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes. But he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness stops its mouth. Whoever is wise, let him give heed to these things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
Let men consider the steadfast love of the Lord. Father in heaven, thank you so much for your word. Thank you for your blessing. Thank you, God, that we know that we have enemies in this world. We have enemies in the natural world. We have enemies in the spiritual world, in the supernatural world. And yet you are on our side. You fight for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And while others may desire to curse us, Lord Jesus Christ, in your name you bless us. In your own name, by your own power, by your own goodness, by your own love for us, you utter a blessing over every one of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And I ask you to please, Lord God, once again, this day when we're listening to these words, send your word of blessing into our lives, into our hearts, into the people that we love, people that we care about, the people that we have tried to help, but it seems like nothing helps. Lord God, speak your word of blessing over all of them and over all of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So one of the things we're going to go back to is we're going back to the book of Numbers, chapter 24 and 25. So remember that Balak... He had, king of Moab, he had asked that Balaam, son of Baor, that he would curse the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And Balaam decided to do this because he was offered the right price. And yet he was not able to curse. He said, I'm only going to say what God says. And so what he did is three, four times, four times, not three times. Well, it was three, but three plus one, four times Balaam says words of blessing over the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
And this is remarkable, not only because here is God who is telling this soothsayer, you know, telling this individual, Balaam, what to say. And the words that God speaks are blessings. But as this is happening, chapter 25 is happening. This is remarkable. Chapter 25 is the people of Israel are living on the plains of Moab, right? Because they're about to enter into the promised land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 72: The Plains of Moab (2025)
It's coming up in a few chapters. We're getting to the end of Numbers. We're getting to the end of Deuteronomy. And the next step after that is Joshua leading the people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. But right now, they're in the plains of Moab. And what is happening? It says the people of Israel began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
I ask, when will you comfort me? For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. Yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? Godless men have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to your law. All your commandments are sure. They persecute me with falsehood. Help me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your mercy spare my life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations. You have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
If your law had not been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. Oh, how I love your law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your ordinances, for you have taught me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it to observe your righteous ordinances. I am sorely afflicted. Give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And upon the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners, and you shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net shall extend halfway down the altar. And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. And the poles shall be put through the rings so that the poles shall be carried upon the two sides of the altar when it is carried.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever. Yes, they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever to the end.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your promise that I may live. And let me not be put to shame in my hope. Hold me up. that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes. Yes, their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you count as dross. Therefore, I love your testimonies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
We thank you for this. Even this prayer, Lord God, is Psalm 119, because what you do, Lord God, is this person, this psalmist, is us. On one hand, we say, I'm faithful to you, and you are good. On the other hand, it's like, gosh, Lord, please, that time is running out. Lord God, thank you. Help us to trust you even when we are at our wits end. Help us to let you shape and form us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Help us give you permission to love us as you know we need to be loved. Help us to do that, Lord God. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen. I'm in the middle of that prayer. I got a little distracted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
I was thinking, gosh, like, here's the beauty of the line in Exodus where we heard today in Exodus chapter 27 and 28, the description of what Aaron and his sons should be wearing, right? These are the priests, the Levitical priests. The priesthood can only come from the tribe of Levi. We're going to find out why in a little bit, but the priesthood can only come from the tribe of Levi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And so it's a unique priesthood. A person doesn't discern whether they should be called to be a Levitical priest or not. They're either born into it or are not born into it. But there's something about the wording that the Lord God uses through Moses when it comes to the priestly garments and when it comes to even the way they'd make the priests would wear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And that wording was really, really powerful. The wording was that it would be for God's beauty and for glory. that these garments would be made not for Aaron, they're not for his sons, but they're for glory and for beauty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
There's something so interesting, you know, as a priest myself, I, a New Testament priesthood, priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek and a priesthood according to Jesus Christ. Um, the vestments that priests wear sometimes, you know, I remember one, one day we had mass on campus. I work at the university of Minnesota Duluth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And one day after our Sunday night mass, this young man had just stumbled upon mass. He decided to join us halfway through and he said, Hey, can I ask you some questions? I'm like, sure. Yeah. What, what, I'm glad you joined us. He said, as he points to me in the vestments that I'm wearing, he says, what's with this? Like, you think this is like, why are you so special that you wear these?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
I was like, oh, oh, interesting. Because he saw the vestments that the priest wears that I was wearing at the time as something that highlighted my own uniqueness or my specialness. Like I'm the only one in the room here's wearing these vestments as opposed to what they're meant to be. What they're meant to do is they're for glory and for beauty. They're meant to highlight the Lord's glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
you shall make it hollow with boards as it has been shown you on the mountain so shall it be made the court and its hangings you shall make the court of the tabernacle on the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
They're meant to highlight the beauty of God himself. They're not meant to accent, you know, here's Father Mike who's wearing these fancy robes. What they're meant to do is actually de-accent, un-accent, the opposite of accent. They're meant to emphasize that, nope, it doesn't matter who the priest is here. It doesn't matter his name. It doesn't matter his identity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 44. Let's keep on going. Today, we are reading from Exodus chapter 27 and 28, Leviticus chapter 20, and we'll be praying Psalm 119 verses 57 through 120.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
What matters is the identity of Jesus Christ. What matters is that this is, he's, in a certain sense, when the priest puts on his vestments,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
he himself as a individual is lost and jesus can be seen that's it's meant to obscure the individuality of the priest and meant to highlight the uniqueness of jesus christ as the one great high priest who lives forever um and so here is in exodus chapter 27 and 28 you have this again wear these clothes like this not because aaron's awesome not because his sons are awesome
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
But because God is awesome, because this is for God's glory. This is for the beauty that belongs to him alone. So the next time you go to mass, you recognize the priest and he's wearing his vestments. Or even when you see a bishop and he has the bishop's hat, the mitre. Gosh, I'll say this and people will get mad at me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
I, one reason I'm so grateful the Lord has not called me to be Bishop because I don't want to wear one of those hats. I think they just look funny, but they go all the way back to here, right? Yep. And you can be mad at me about that, but you know, you thought it too. Um, and the turban of the old Testament priest, that's the hat, right? That's, that's the, uh,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
What signifies the fact that he is a kind of high priest in the old covenant. It's so beautiful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And so truly, I know, I'm just saying that like tongue in cheek when it comes to like fashion sense, because truly, just like the vestments are meant to obscure the individuality of the priest, the mitre, that hat of the bishop, is meant to obscure the individuality of that bishop and highlight the fact he belongs to something greater than him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And that's what the vestments are for, for God's glory and for beauty. Last little note. Gosh, we're going to read tomorrow morning, or tomorrow, whenever you get this, from the next part in Psalm 119. And that prayer is just so, so powerful. So we'll talk more about that tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
But it's important to note that not only with the priest's vestments, that it's meant to obscure his individuality and highlight the glory that belongs to God and the beauty belongs to the Lord. But you also noted that the 12 stones that the priest would carry over his heart
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
were of the 12 tribes of Israel, so that every time he approached the Lord, he wasn't just approaching as Aaron, he wasn't even just approaching as Aaron the high priest, he was approaching representing all of the people, the entire kingdom of Israel, the entire people of Israel, all 12 tribes. And they're meant to be over his heart, which reveals to us what it truly is to be a priest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
is to be a father and it is to carry the names of his sons and daughters in his heart as he approaches the Lord. That's the heart of the priesthood in so many ways. It's the heart of the father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And what's meant to be is that, well, here's what I do for all of our students, for my actual blood family and my friends, but also for this community of people who are going through the Bible in a year, your names are in this mysterious way are on my heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
their pillars shall be twenty and their bases twenty of bronze but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver and likewise for its length on the north side there shall be hangings a hundred cubits long their pillars twenty and their bases twenty of bronze but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
because as a New Covenant priesthood, as a New Testament priesthood, as a Catholic priest, what I'm called to be is called to be that spiritual father who has your names engraved over my heart so that every time I approach the Lord in worship, I am bringing you with me into his presence. And so just that's what your pastor does at your home parish. You're your priest in your home parish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
That's what he's doing too. Your names are inscribed and engraved over his heart so that every time he approaches the Lord, he's not just approaching the Lord as Father Joe or as Father Mike. He's approaching the Lord as a priest of God with your name inscribed and engraved on his heart. As I said, I'm praying for y'all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
This is kind of a, I apologize for my scattershot at the end of this, but it just was something that moved my heart and wanted to share that with you. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. Please pray for each other. This community, I think we need the community more than ever in these days. And so just keep lifting each other up in prayer. Continue with your discussion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
and for the breadth of the court on the west side there shall be hangings for fifty cubits with ten pillars and ten bases the breadth of the court on the front to the east shall be fifty cubits the hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three bases On the other side the hangings shall be fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three bases.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
For the gate of the court there shall be a screen, twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. It shall have four pillars, and with them four bases." All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and bases of bronze. All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs, and all its pegs of the court shall be of bronze. The oil for the lamp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And you shall command the sons of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may be set to burn continually. In the tent of meeting outside the veil which is before the covenant, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Holy garments for the priests. Then bring near to you Aaron your brother and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to serve me as priests, Aaron and Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with an able mind, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments which they shall make, a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a cloak of checkerwork, a turban and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests." The ephod.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
and the skillfully woven band upon it to belt on it shall be of the same workmanship and materials of gold blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen and you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of israel six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone in the order of their birth
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
One of the things you can do if you ever want to keep track with what we're reading. You can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. That way you would know, like, how long is it going to take us to get through Psalm 119? You would know that if you downloaded the Bible in a Year reading plan. You would know that already.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
as a jeweler engraves signets so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of israel you shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree and you shall set the two stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of israel The Breastpiece of Judgment And you shall make a breastpiece of judgment in skilled work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Like the work of the ephod, you shall make it of gold, blue and purple, and scarlet stuff, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and double, a span its length and a span its breadth. And you shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
and a second row an emerald a sapphire and a diamond and the third row a jacinth an agate and an amethyst and the fourth row a beryl an onyx and a jasper they shall be set in gold filigree There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name for the twelve tribes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And you shall make it for the breastpiece twisted chains like cords of pure gold. And you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
the two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree and so attach it in the front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod and you shall make two rings of gold and put them at the two ends of the breast piece on its inside edge next to the ephod and you shall make two rings of gold and attach them in the front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod at its joining above the skillfully woven band of the ephod
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may lie upon the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment upon his heart when he goes into the holy place to bring them to continual remembrance before the Lord. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be upon Aaron's heart when he goes in before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the sons of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. The Robe of the Ephod and you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. It shall have in it an opening for the head and a woven binding around the opening like the opening in a garment, that it may not be torn.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
On its skirts you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet stuff around its skirts with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate round about on the skirts of the robe." Other Priestly Garments And you shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it like the engraving of a signet, holy to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
You can also subscribe to this podcast if you haven't yet, and you get an update every at some point in the course of the night or course of the day. And you get to listen to this whenever you want. Lastly, the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And you shall fasten it on the turban by a lace of blue, and it shall be on the front of the turban. It shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall take upon himself any guilt incurred in the holy offering which the sons of Israel hallow as their holy gifts. It shall always be upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
and you shall weave the coat in checkerwork of fine linen and you shall make a turban of fine linen and you shall make a sash embroidered with needlework and for Aaron's sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps you shall make them for glory and beauty
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And you shall put them upon Aaron your brother and upon his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them that they may serve me as priests. And you shall make for them linen britches to cover their naked flesh. From the loins to the thighs shall they reach.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And they shall be upon Aaron and upon his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place. lest they bring guilt upon themselves and die. This shall be a perpetual statute for him and for his descendants after him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, say to the sons of Israel, any man of the sons of Israel or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Moloch shall be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
because he has given one of his children to Molech, defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And if the people of the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives one of his children to Molech and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his family and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in playing the harlot after Molech.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
If a person turns to mediums and wizards, playing the harlot after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them. I am the Lord who sanctify you. For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
It's actually, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension as we run through Exodus chapter 27 and 28, Leviticus 20 and Psalm 119 verses 57 through 120. Exodus chapter 27 and 28. The Altar of Burnt Offering. You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood is upon him. If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness. Both of them shall be put to death. Their blood is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
They have committed incest. Their blood is upon them. If a man lies with the male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall be put to death. Their blood is upon them. If a man takes a wife and her mother also, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they. that there may be no wickedness among you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
If a man lies with a beast, he shall be put to death, and you shall kill the beast. If a woman approaches any beast and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the beast, they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them. If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness, he shall bear his iniquity. If a man lies with a woman having her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's near kin. They shall bear their iniquity. If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness. They shall bear their sin, and they shall die childless. If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
They shall be childless. You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey." He says, A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
The Lord is my portion. I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart. Be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies. I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. At midnight, I rise to praise you because of your righteous ordinances.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love. Teach me your statutes. You have dealt well with your servant. O Lord, according to your word, teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Teach me your statutes. The godless besmear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. Their heart is gross like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces your hands have made and fashioned me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
And you shall make horns for it on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and firepans, all its utensils you shall make of bronze. You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your mercy be ready to comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 44: Priestly Garments (2025)
Let the godless be put to shame because they have subverted me with guile. As for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame. My soul languishes for your salvation. I hope in your word. My eyes fail with watching for your promise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Before we get started, I just wanted to offer a quick thank you to all those who have supported the Catechism in a Year or the Bible in a Year podcast. We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives, and because of your prayers and financial gifts, you are a significant part of that. You might ask a question, though.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
So they said to him, Then what sign do you do that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus then said to them, Truly, truly I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to him, Lord, give us this bread always. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst but i said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and him who comes to me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. The Jews then murmured at him because he said, "'I am the bread which came down from heaven.' They said, "'Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, "'I have come down from heaven?'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Jesus answered them, "'Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me, not that anyone has seen the Father except him who is from God, he has seen the Father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven that a man may eat of it and not die." I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Maybe I've already shared this. I don't know. If you're sitting there thinking, Father, why do you have to say the same thing every time? And I already know this and I already know what day it is because I downloaded my Bible in a Year reading plan from ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year like 98 days ago. You can just hit that fast forward button a couple of times and man, all of a sudden,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
This he said in the synagogue as he taught at Capernaum. The words of eternal life. Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it? But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
The flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe. For Jesus knew from the first who were those that did not believe and who it was that would betray him. And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
After this, many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the twelve, Will you also go away? Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God. Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the twelve? And one of you is a devil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
He spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was to betray him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your ears to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of an alien.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And at the end of your life you groan when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Man, Lord God, I just thank you so much. Thank you so much, God, for the gift of calling the Samaritan woman that she can have hope in her life. Thank you so much, Father, for the gift of revealing your love and who you are, that you have the authority to tell a paralyzed person, someone who is suffering for 38 years, to rise and walk.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
You're already there. We're reading the Gospel of John like we're doing right now. I'm just excited. I'm sorry. I need to calm it down. When we get to the Gospels, get to the New Testament, I love the Old Testament. It is incredible. It's incredible. The Hebrew covenant, the Hebrew story, the Hebrew scriptures, so good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Lord God, thank you so much for revealing that you are equal to the Father, and yet you have the humility of only doing what the Father asks. And Jesus, thank you so much for the gift of yourself in the Eucharist. It's a gift that we cannot fathom and we can never thank you for enough. We receive our thanks, Lord God, today and every day. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. As I mentioned yesterday, I said that today's reading is a reading that has changed my life. It has truly changed my life. And all of it, of course, as I mentioned, the woman of Samaria and we have the man who's suffering for 38 years. We have the official son. But here when we get to Chan chapter 6, it's remarkable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
We have the feeding of the 5,000. Incredible. We have the walking on water on the Sea of Galilee. Amazing. And then we get to this place where all these people, 5,000 people, this big crowd is wondering, who is Jesus? And they come to him and Jesus sees them coming. And he basically says, you're not here because you believe in me. You're here because you got fed. You just want more food.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
That's all that it is. My feeding you yesterday with five loaves and two fish didn't convince you to believe in me. Because if you believe in me, here's what you're going to do. You're going to realize that not only am I the one sent by the Father, but also if you want to have life... Here's what you need to do. You have to recognize that I'm the true bread that came down from heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Of course, they murmur against this. We know where he came from. We know his mom. We know his dad. We know his brethren. We know his relatives, that kind of situation. But Jesus makes it very clear. He says in John 6, verse 51, he says, I am the living bread which came down from heaven. Remember the manna that came down from heaven in the book of Exodus and Numbers? Yeah, that's awesome.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
But Jesus is saying, I'm the true bread, living bread that came down from heaven. And he goes on, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. Now, this is remarkable. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Because not only is Jesus saying that I'm the new bread came from heaven, but he also is making a connection between what we heard yesterday, which is when John the Baptist said, behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Because remember this. What happened when you ate the flesh of the lamb? You were given freedom and life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Remember this, you had to eat the flesh of the lamb, be marked with the blood of the lamb, and you were given freedom and you were given life. And Jesus is saying so clearly here, if you eat the bread of heaven, which is my flesh, you will have what? You have freedom. You have life. And now, to think that, well, maybe that's just being symbolic. Maybe Jesus is being figurative in this case.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
The question is, what does Ascension do with these financial gifts? Great question. The answer is we make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God. And we do it all for free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
But there's something about even today's gospel of John chapter 4, 5, and 6 that I got to tell you right now, it's changed my life. It has changed my life, especially that last chapter, John chapter 6. So I will try to contain myself as we read the gospel of John chapters 4, 5, and 6, book of Proverbs chapter 5, verses 7 through 14. The gospel according to John chapter 4.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Well, you read verse 52. The Jews disputed, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? It does not sound like they're taking him figuratively. They are taking him literally. And if Jesus wanted to correct them and say, you guys, I'm not being literal. I'm being figurative. That's disgusting. He doesn't. In fact, from verses 53 all the way down to 58, Jesus is five times saying,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
reiterating the fact that he just said, you must eat my flesh and drink my blood. In fact, he goes on to say, he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. And if you don't eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. That he says this five times, Jesus reiterates when they're taking him literally, he is saying, yep, absolutely. That is exactly what I'm saying.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And they take offense at it. In fact, in verse 66, it says that as a result of this, many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him. I don't know if you know this, but this teaching, this is the teaching on the Eucharist. This is teaching that at the mass, what we have, that bread and wine actually becomes Jesus's body and blood, soul and divinity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
We don't say this because it's a recent invention. We say it because that's what he said. That's what he said. In fact, the Last Supper, Jesus doesn't say, this is like my body. This is like my blood. This is a symbol of my body. He says, this is my body. This is my blood. Do this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
You know, all the time we spent in Exodus, all the time we spent in Leviticus and in Numbers and Deuteronomy, where it was so important that we get the worship of God right. In the new covenant, Jesus makes it absolutely, unmistakably, undeniably clear how he wants to be worshiped. Or he says at the last supper, take this all of you and eat of it. This is my body. Do this in memory of me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Taking the chalice filled with wine, take this all of you and drink of it. This is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant. Drink of it. in memory of me for the forgiveness of sins. It's incredible that Jesus makes it absolutely clear. And as a result of this, people turned away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I don't know if you know this, but this is the one spot in the entire gospel where you have actual disciples of Jesus leaving him over a teaching that he offers. There's people who leave him over fear. People leave him out of covering their own tails. But this is the only time when someone has ever left Jesus over one of his teachings. And that teaching is what?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
The teaching is about the Eucharist. That at the mass, what we have is Jesus truly, body, blood, soul, divinity. The stakes are so high. I know this is the longer one, but thousands of people are walking away. Hundreds of disciples maybe even are walking away that Jesus turns to his apostles and he doesn't say, oh, you guys stay here, stay here. Don't go anywhere.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
He says, are you also going to go? Will you go away as well? He basically, Jesus is saying, everyone can leave me. I'm not changing this teaching because we can't change the teaching that the mass, the Eucharist really is Jesus's body, blood, soul, and divinity. And I love Simon Peter's answer because Simon Peter doesn't act as if he understands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
He doesn't act as if he gets like, oh, of course, it's called transubstantiation where the accidents remain the same, but the substance changes. Peter looks at Jesus and he says, Master, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believed and have come to know that you are the holy one of God. Basically, I have no idea what you just said, but I trust in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And this is the big challenge for all of us. That the big challenge for all of us is that Jesus has revealed that he's given us himself in the Eucharist and that's how he wants to be worshiped. And if I don't want that, then I don't want him. If I don't want that, then I don't want him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
it's interesting i have a a family member um who uh after i was ordained a priest she wanted to convince me that i shouldn't be catholic anymore and so i out of out of kind of her heart right you know she um just wanted we had a lot of debates and at one point we were walking through this john chapter six this is the last thing here before we end
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Walking to John chapter six and she saw, yeah, I can see that's an interpretation. This is a legitimate interpretation. Some of you might say, wait a second. It says that Jesus says the spirit gives life. The flesh is of no avail.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Well, obviously that's not Jesus saying the flesh doesn't mean anything because he literally just said, if unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. In this case, Jesus is referring to flesh, meaning the fallen human nature. Just clarifying this. So we went through the whole thing and she said, I guess that's one interpretation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I can see how that is one interpretation where Jesus is saying, making it very clear that the Eucharist really is him. And then that's what he's calling us to do. And I said, yes, that is one interpretation, but keep these two things in mind. For 1,500 years, every Christian believed that one interpretation. Keep that in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Jesus and the woman of Samaria. Now when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John, although Jesus himself did not baptize but only his disciples, he left Judea and departed again to Galilee. He had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a city of Samaria called Sychar near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
That's one interpretation, but listen, 100% of Christians for the first 1,500 years of Christianity all believed this interpretation. And that's massively important. Secondly, if this interpretation is wrong, That means that all Catholics worship a piece of bread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
That means that all Catholics basically for the last 2000 years, which also means that the first 1500 years, every Christian was guilty of idolatry in the most horrible degree. Remember what happened in the golden calf episode that Moses is on the mountain of Mount Sinai and people turn to make a golden calf.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I know how quickly God put a stop to that saying, oh, this is the Lord God who set us free from slavery in Egypt. And God stopped that immediately. And yet, do we really believe that if the Eucharist really isn't Jesus, that God allowed 100% of Christians to worship bread and worship wine as if it was actually him? God would never tolerate that kind of thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And so what we are left with is, we're left with, this is the one interpretation that 100% of Christians believe for 1500 years, that in the mass, in the Eucharist, that is truly Jesus Christ. The bread and wine transformed into his body and blood. And he is in every tabernacle, in every Catholic church throughout the entire world. My invitation today, gosh, I'm praying for you all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Go to a Catholic church today. Kneel down in front of the tabernacle, that holy place where the body and blood of Christ are, and give him your heart. Hear him ask the question, will you walk away as well? And give the answer that Peter answered. Lord, I don't have anywhere else to go. You have the words of eternal life. We have all believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I know it's a big teaching and it's a big maybe pill to swallow, but it's a long one too here today. But I hope you stuck through. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me, all of us, whether you're Catholic or not. This is the truth. This is the reality of what every Christian believed for 1,500 years of Christianity. Maybe, maybe Jesus is asking you to put your faith in his word even more today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Anyways, my name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Jacob's well was there and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give me a drink. For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
For Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well and drank from it himself and his sons and his cattle? Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. The water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water that I may not thirst nor come here to draw. Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband and come here. The woman answered him, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You are right in saying I have no husband, for you have had five husbands. The woman said to him, Jesus said to her, You worship what you do not know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
If you found this podcast to be helpful in your life and would like to help us continue making free Catholic content we can post online, please consider making a financial contribution, an ongoing financial contribution by going to ascensionpress.com support. That's ascensionpress.com support. Thank you and God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
We worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
When he comes, he will show us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he. Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, what do you wish or why are you talking with her? So the woman left her water jar and went away into the city and said to the people, come see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
They went out of the city and were coming to him. Meanwhile, the disciples begged him, saying, Rabbi, eat. But he said to them, I have food to eat of which you do not know. So the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought him food? Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say there are yet four months? Then comes the harvest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I tell you, lift up your eyes and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, one sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored and you have entered into their labor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. He told me all that I ever did. So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
They said to the woman, It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world. Jesus departs for Galilee. After the two days, he departed to Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. Jesus heals an official's son. So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him, Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. The official said to him, Sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus said to him, Go, your son will live.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, Your son will live, and he himself believed in all his household.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. Chapter five, Jesus heals on the Sabbath. After this, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, a pool in Hebrew called Bethsatha, which has five porticos. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
One man was there who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going, another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry your pallet. But he answered them, The man who healed me said to me, Take up your pallet and walk. They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Take up your pallet and walk?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, and there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well. Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the Sabbath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
But Jesus answered them, My father is working still, and I am working. This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his father, making himself equal with God. the authority of the Son. Jesus said to them, Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
For whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how you and I, or we, fit into that story today. Today is Day 100. You guys, we did it!
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself and has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. The Testimony to Jesus I can do nothing on my own authority. As I hear, I judge. And my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony which I receive is from man, but I say this, that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John. For the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard. His form you have never seen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
phenomenal well done you are almost a third of the way through you're definitely way over a quarter i don't do math well but today is day 100 and we have the second day of our messianic checkpoint we're reading through the gospel of john today is john chapter 4 5 and 6 three chapters in john's gospel we're also reading from proverbs chapter 5 verses 7 through 14 as always the translation that i am reading from is the revised standard version second catholic edition
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness to me. Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men, but I know that you have not the love of God within you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe who receive glory from another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. It is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
chapter six feeding the five thousand after this jesus went to the other side of the sea of galilee which is the sea of tiberias and a multitude followed him because they saw signs which he did on those who were diseased jesus went up into the hills and there sat down with his disciples now the passover the feast of the jews was at hand
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Lifting up his eyes then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, How are we to buy bread so that these people may eat? He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place, so the men sat down in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated, so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost. So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the hills by himself. Jesus walks on the sea. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat and started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, it is I.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
do not be afraid then they were glad to take him into the boat and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going the bread from heaven on the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there and that jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples but that his disciples had gone away alone however boats from tiberias came near the place where they ate the bread after the lord had given thanks
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
So when the people saw that Jesus was not there nor his disciples, they themselves got into boats and went to Capernaum seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, Rabbi, When did you come here? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him has God the Father set his seal. Then they said to him, What must we do to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 100: This Is My Body (2025)
I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. To download your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. And if you have not yet subscribed on day 100, then we don't want you to subscribe. That's it. I'm done asking. Just kidding. I think I have to keep asking. But you know that there's no pressure. Also, this is a little pro tip.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
But then you have this devastating... So you have the guy's justice established. Then you have this devastatingly awful story about the daughters of Lot. And how the daughters of Lot basically have relations with their father so that they can continue their bloodline. And you find like, well, gosh...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
bible didn't say and that was wrong right sometimes what we have is we don't necessarily have the bible telling us that something was wrong that they did the wrong thing we have the bible showing us that they did the wrong thing why because the descendants of these uh incest essentially um are the moabites and the ammonites who became then the enemies of the israelites they became the enemies of the people of the chosen people of god
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And so there is this way in which the scriptures are pointing out that this was exactly the wrong thing to do. And from this union, this sinful, evil union, there was these two peoples, the Ammonites and the Moabites, who were the enemies of the Israelites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
There are so many questions that come up in all these readings, including the questions of, well, at the one point, Lot offered his daughters to these men. How is that good? It wasn't good. And this is the key thing. Just because something's in the Bible doesn't mean that it's good. But we can still learn from it, even if it doesn't immediately make sense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
That goes to the book of Job today as we're following the story of Job and you have his friends. You had Eliphaz yesterday and Bildad today saying that Job, this is what we know. We know that God is just and he never ever allows evil to happen to someone who doesn't deserve it somehow. So just basically admit that you deserve it somehow, because we know God's just.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And after that, you may pass on since you have come to your servant. So they said, do as you have said. And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah and said, make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it and make cakes. And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf tender and good and gave it to the servant who hastened to prepare it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And here's Bildad today, who's defending God's justice. At the same time, it doesn't help his friend. I don't know if you've ever had that happen where if someone who gives you kind of like the pat answer, right? They give you the memorized answer. This is the religious answer of why something horrible is happening in your life. And you're like, that doesn't help at all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And that's going to be Job's response to him as well, which is just like, I appreciate. He doesn't even say he appreciates it. He is basically saying, but I know this. And we know this is true, too, because we read the beginning of the book of Job. Job says, but I'm righteous. I haven't done anything evil. I do believe God is just, but I don't get what's going on here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And that's the big question that obviously the book of Job raises. If God is just, why is there so much evil in the world? Why do good people suffer? I want to spare you. I want to share with you, I guess, the story is going to end. It's not going to end with an answer. It's not going to end with here is why.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
I remember reading this book, the book of Job, for the first time, maybe in high school or college, thinking, okay, this is going to be the answer to the problem of evil. God's going to say, here is why. Here's why bad things happen to good people. Here's why there's suffering in the world. And I got to the end and realized, oh, that wasn't really an answer. And that's part of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
What's happening is we're going on the journey with Job. And so my invitation is rather than seeking an answer, like where's that nugget? Where's that kernel that says, this is why. My invitation for us all is to just journey with Job, to enter into his suffering and to allow his questions to be our questions and allow our questions to be his questions so that we can get his ultimate answer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Because there is an answer, even if it's not the answer why. I'll tell you a hint. The answer is not a why. The answer is who. But we're on our journey and we're continuing our journey today and tomorrow and the next day. If you have not yet downloaded your Catholic Bible in a reading plan, please visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Please subscribe to this podcast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
You can also like and share and all those kind of things. That'd be great. And you can also sign up for our email list by texting the word. Catholic Bible. That's two words, but it's combined into one word, Catholic Bible to the number 33777. As I said, my name is Father Mike, and I'm so grateful to be able to read the Bible with you and be on this journey with you as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Please know of my prayers this day and every day as we continue to do this Catholic Bible in a year. Man, oh man, God bless you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, Where is Sarah your wife? And he said, She is in the tent. The Lord said, I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age. It had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure? The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh? And say, Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old? Is anything too hard for the Lord?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
At the appointed time I will return to you in the spring, and Sarah shall have a son. But Sarah denied, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid. He said, No, but you did laugh. Then the men sent out from there, and they looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to set them on their way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
The Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by him? No, for I have chosen him that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Then the Lord said, Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry which has come to me, and if not, I will know. So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
This is day nine. Let's get started. We are continuing our journey with Abraham in Genesis chapter 18 and chapter 19. We're also continuing our journey with the righteous suffering man Job by reading Job chapter 7 and chapter 8. We're also following the Lord's wisdom by reading Proverbs chapter 2. Now in the second chapter of Proverbs, reading verses 1 through 5.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Then Abraham drew near and said, Will you indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked. Far be that from you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? And the Lord said, If I find at Sodom fifty righteous people in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham answered, Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for the lack of five?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And he said, I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there. Again he spoke to him and said, Suppose forty are found there. He answered, For the sake of the forty, I will not do it. Then he said, O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there. He answered, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. He said, Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Suppose twenty are found there. He answered, For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it. Then he said, O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there. He answered, For the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it. And the Lord went his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, My lords, turn aside, I pray you, to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way. They said, No, we will spend the night in the street.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
But he urged them strongly so that they turned aside to him and entered his house, and he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house, and they called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Lot went out of the door to the men, shut the door after him, and said, I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof. But they said, Stand back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And they said, This fellow came to sojourn, and he will play the judge. Now we will deal worse with you than with them. Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door. But the men put forth their hands, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves groping for the door. Then the men said to Lot, Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone who you have in the city, bring them out of the place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it. So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, Up, get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city. But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city. But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him forth and set him outside the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
The Bible translation that I'm using and use every day is Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. It's the RSV-CE. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension and also following the reading plan that you can also download. If you go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year, you can get your own Catholic Bible in a Year reading plan by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And when they had brought them forth, they said, Flee for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Flee to the hills, lest you be consumed. And Lot said to them, O no, my lords. Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot flee to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me, and I die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Behold, yonder city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there. Is it not a little one? And my life will be saved. He said to him, Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Make haste, escape there, for I can do nothing till you arrive there. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord of heaven. And he overthrew those cities and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities and what grew on the ground. But Lot's wife behind him looked back and she became a pillar of salt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord, and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and beheld, and behold, the smoke of that land went up like the smoke of a furnace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
So it was that when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt. Now Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. So he dwelt in a cave with his two daughters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And the firstborn said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come into us after the manner of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring through our father. So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
He did not know when she lay down or when she rose. And on the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him that we may preserve offspring through our father. So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ami.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
He is the father of the Ammonites to this day. We now continue with our readings from the book of Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Yesterday, Job responded to Eliphaz, his friend, who tried to convince Job that he must have done something wrong or he should not complain against the Lord. And Job responded to Eliphaz. And now Job continues to speak and he's spoken to by a second friend, Bildad. This is Job chapter seven and chapter eight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Job said, has not a man a hard service upon earth and are not his days like the days of a hireling, like a slave who longs for the shadow, like a hireling who looks for his wages. So I am allotted months of emptiness and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise? But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till dawn.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
You can get these updates on the podcast by simply subscribing, and you can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777. With all that out of the way, let's get started with Genesis chapter 18 and chapter 19. And the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt. My skin hardens, then breaks out afresh. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. They come to their end without hope. Remember that my life is a breath. My eye will never again see good. The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more. While your eyes are upon me, I shall be gone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up. He returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore. Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I the sea or a sea monster that you set a guard over me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
When I say, my bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint, then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones. I loathe my life. I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are a breath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
What is man that you make so much of him and that you set your mind upon him, visit him every morning and test him every moment? How long will you not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle? If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you? Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
For now I shall lie in the earth. You will seek me, but I shall not be. Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, How long will you say these things? And the words of your mouth be a great wind. Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the power of their transgression.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
If you will seek God and make supplication to the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and reward you with a rightful habitation. And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. For inquire, I beg of you, of bygone ages. Consider what the fathers have found. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
For our days on earth are a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding? Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. Such are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
His confidence breaks in sunder and his trust is a spider's web. He leans against his house, but it does not stand. He lays hold of it, but it does not endure. He thrives before the sun and his shoots spread over his garden. His roots twine about the stone heap. He lives among the rocks. If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him saying, I have never seen you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Behold, this is the joy of his way and out of the earth others will spring. Proverbs chapter 2, verses 1 through 5.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding, yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
He lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, my Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree while I fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Father in heaven, we thank you so much.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
We thank you for your word. We thank you for revealing your heart to us. We thank you for all of the gift that your word is when it's proclaimed to us. And we give you praise. We ask you to please in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Father in heaven, receive our thanks, receive our praise now. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. You guys, oh man, confusing, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
Here is the story of Abraham and Sarah. They're blessed with a child. Isaac is going to be born to them. And then these three figures, these three figures that in some way are... types of the Trinity in some ways, but they're referred to as angels. We don't know who these personages are because Abraham is also standing before the Lord as they go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
These three people go down into Gomorrah or to Sodom. I mean, So we don't know necessarily who they are, but we know what their role is, and their role is to exact justice. And this is very, very important. Their goal was to enact justice, not vengeance. This is very, very important. Justice is giving someone what is their due, while vengeance is simply, again, taking out my anger upon somebody.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And this justice is clearly established in the story today because you have God destroying an entire city. And Abraham challenges him on that and says, well, but Lord, if there's any righteous people, 50 and 45 and 30 and 20 and 10, would you still destroy it? Would you destroy those 10 for the sake of the unrighteous? along with the unrighteous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (2025)
And God says, No, I'm just I would not do that for the sake of those ten righteous. I would spare the city. In fact, you have, I guess in some ways you have Lot and his daughters and his wife who were somewhat righteous and a bit more righteous because their relationship with Abraham And the strangers save their lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
to love goodness, and to care for those who are around us. Lord God, help us to have hearts like yours, hearts that love justice, hearts that run away from evil, that hate evil, and hearts that are open to those around us who are in need. Lord God, Before you, we stand in need.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And so we ask you to send us your Holy Spirit to meet us in every one of our needs because you are the source of all goodness. You are the source of all truth. You are the source of all justice. And we need you. So come and be near us now. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Oh my gosh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
When Moses heard it, he fell on his face and he said to Korah and all his company, in the morning, the Lord will show who is his and who is holy and will cause him to come near to him. Him who he will choose, he will cause to come near to him. Do this, take censers, Korah and all his company, put fire in them and put incense upon them before the Lord tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
So here we are back up in Numbers 16. And the theme, I think, has been rebellion, right? We had back in chapter, I think it was chapter 12, we had Aaron and Miriam rebelling against Moses. Then we had the people after they went up in Canaan and they came back and those 10 scouts said, we can't possibly do this. They're rebelling against Moses. once again against Moses and Aaron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And today in chapter 16, we have this story of Korah and Abiram and Dathan, and they're rebelling against Moses and Aaron. Remember that it specifically says that Korah is the son of Kohath, the son of Levi. And if you remember this, the Kohathites were, they're of the tribe of Levi. That's why it says Kohath, the son of Levi. Remember there were the four families in the tribe of Levi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
There was Aaron, the family sons of Aaron. Those are the priests. Then we had the Merorites and the Gershonites. And now we have also the Kohathites. Remember those other two families, those the Merorites and the Kohathites. Nope, Gershonites, you know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
We got a lot of names, you guys got a ton of names that their responsibility was to care for the like the tent to care for the poles of the tent to care for, like almost you would say like the structure. They're at the service of the tent of meeting that the service service of the tabernacle service of what ultimately will be the temple service.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
But the Kohathites were those who were responsible for caring for the holy objects. In fact, you might say second to the sons of Aaron, the Kohathites were closest to, you might say, the presence of the Lord and serving the Lord directly, meaning worshiping the Lord directly. But as you can see, that wasn't enough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And so they said, well, why does it have to be the sons of Aaron who are the only ones who are able to offer sacrifice before God? Why can't we be priests too? And then we have this throw down. And I love this because in chapter 16, in verse four, when the Kohathites assemble against Moses and against Aaron, and they say that, why do you exalt yourselves above everyone else?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Verse four says, when Moses heard it, he fell on his face, which means that he went to prayer. That Moses' response to this rebellion, essentially, And this rebellion of saying like you exalt yourselves over us. That's what they're going to say later on to you made a prince of yourself over us. that Moses' response is to pray. Now, he gets mad. It's not like he is a person without emotion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
But his first response is, okay, this person's attacking me. And unjustly, right? They're attacking him unfairly. But Moses turns to the Lord first. Of course, he comes back and says, okay, get these censers. We're going to offer an incense. We're going to offer worship before the Lord. And who's worship the Lord accepts, like that's going to be, you can be a priest then, essentially.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And we see how it goes, that the Lord God destroys the families of Korah and Dathan and Abiram and removes them from the face of the earth. And then even then, my goodness, so remarkable, the people rebel against God. Moses and Aaron again, even though this is clearly God's will, that he's exacting justice. Remember, this is a God of justice, not a God of vengeance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
This is very fair what's happening right now, because God has to make it absolutely clear that he is God. He is holy. He is alone, holy, and that only those who he has called those sons of Aaron can worship in the temple. And this is so, so key. So then they rebel. And what happens is Moses tells Aaron to get that incense and stand before the plague and the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And as he's making atonement for them through the incense, the burning fire, the plague stops. Now, there's a couple of things to note about this. The first is in chapter 16, it says that Dathan and Abiram, they say to Moses that they're not going to do it. They're not going to do this challenge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi. And Moses said to Korah, hear now, you sons of Levi, is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
They said, is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Remember, the promised land is a land described as a land flowing with milk and honey. Where they came from was Egypt. And again, yes, Egypt was a rich place, obviously. But they were slaves there. But they're describing their home.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
They're describing their place of slavery as a land flowing with milk and honey. And it is remarkable. To think how easy it is, as Jeff Cavins has noted, like these are people who are addicted. They're addicted to their past. They're addicted to this comfort. They're addicted to their former way of life. And they have to be cured of this addiction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
They're looking back at this place of slavery, a place of bondage. and saying that was the land flowing with milk and honey, which is absolutely remarkable. And to our eyes and to our ears, when we hear that, we think that is really, that is remarkable and crazy. And yet, isn't that how we can live as well?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
So often we can look back on our past, even if that was a past of sin, even if it was a past of a brokenness and a bondage and say, yeah, but you know, I mean, it was really fun or yeah, but you know, it was, I was happier than I ever was or something like this. And yet the Lord God is leading us. He's leading you and me through a desert, through battles, to a place of true freedom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Now, if we go up to Deuteronomy, a couple of things we hear is once again, that God is not only a God of justice. That's going to be the last couple marks that he's going to clearly communicate that he's a God of justice, but also that he's a God who cares about those who are poor and that his people, those who belong to him, God says, there shall not be one poor person among you. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Essentially, you're being brought into a land flowing with milk and honey, right? The promised land will be rich and bountiful with enough for everybody. But if there is someone who is poor, then you'll take care of them. If there's someone who's in need, then you'll take care of them. Even going so far as to saying that you might have to employ them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Now, if this is a person who you're employing as an employee, that would be one thing. But sometimes people are so desperate that they might sell themselves into bondage, sell themselves into slavery. But even so, we said it before, we'll say it again. This slavery or this bondage, this service was only six years of service. And did you note how incredible this was on the sabbatical year, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
The seventh year, the year of covenant, that seventh year, you let this servant go free. And not only you let them go free, but you give them stuff to make a new life. You don't just say, okay, you were a servant for me for six years. Now go try to do it on your own. It was, you were a servant with me for six years. Now I'm going to give you what you need to start a new and free life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Because that's how they're taking care of each other, even to the point where if that servant doesn't want to, he says, if he loves you or she loves you and loves your family, then they can stay. And they can stay to the end of their lives. It's just really remarkable and really powerful how the people of Israel were called to take care of those who couldn't take care of themselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And not only that, in this last note, But God says very clearly, you will do this with an open hand. You won't do this grudgingly. You won't do this resentfully. You won't even think badly about those who are poor among you. You will provide for them and help them and serve them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And in Deuteronomy chapter 16, I know I said last thing, but this is the true last thing, is we have the three major feasts, three major festivals of worship. We have the Feast of Passover. We have the Feast of Weeks, which is Pentecost. And we have the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Tabernacles. And in all of this, what do we have? We have go before the Lord and worship him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
This is such an incredible piece of Deuteronomy 15 and 16. 15, care for the poor, love those people around you with justice and with mercy and with joy. And then in chapter 16, and also worship the Lord, your God. This is so key. Okay, you guys, I am praying for you. We're going to get to the end of this and we're going to see each other tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore, it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you murmur against him? And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. And they said, We will not come up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And I'm so excited about that, but let's keep praying for each other. My name is Father Mike. I I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them. And Moses said to Korah, Be present, you and all your company, before the Lord, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And let every one of you take his censer and put incense upon it, and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer, two hundred and fifty censers. you also and Aaron each his censer. So every man took his censer, and they put fire in them, and laid incense upon them, and they stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are punished. And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, Separate yourselves from among this congregation that I may consume them in a moment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And they fell on their faces and they said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin and will you be angry with all the congregation? And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the congregation, Get away from about the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And he said to the congregation, Depart, I beg you, from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins. So they got away from about the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
and dathan and abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents together with their wives their sons and their little ones and moses said hereby you shall know that the lord has sent me to do all these works and that it has not been of my own accord if these men die the common death of all men or if they are visited by the fate of all men then the Lord has not sent me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
as always i'm reading from the revised standard version second catholic edition and as always also i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to get your own great adventure bible you can buy it i guess you could also download your own bible reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com bible in a year if you haven't yet subscribed subscribe to the podcast please do that that would be phenomenal as i said today is day 65 we are reading from psalm sorry numbers chapter 16 deuteronomy chapter 15 and 16.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split asunder and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all the men that belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol and the earth closed over them and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And all Israel that were round about them fled at their cry, for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up. And fire came forth from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense. Then the Lord said to Moses, Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to take up the censers out of the blaze, then scatter the fire far and wide.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
For they are holy, the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives. So let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, to be a reminder to the sons of Israel. A plague strikes the rebels. But the next day, all the congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, You have killed the people of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
my name is father mike schmitz and you're listening to the bible in a year podcast where we encounter god's voice and live life through the lens of scripture the bible in your podcast is brought to you by ascension using the great adventure bible timeline we'll read all the way from genesis to revelation discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today it is day 65 and we are reading from numbers chapter 16 as well as from deuteronomy chapter 15 and 16 we're also praying today from psalm 97
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord said to Moses, Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell on their faces.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And Moses said to Aaron, Take your censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them. For wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun. So Aaron took it, as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living. And the plague was stopped. Now those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting when the plague was stopped.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Chapter 15, concerning the sabbatical year. At the end of every seven years, you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release. Every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed. Of a foreigner, you may exact it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
But whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release. But there will be no poor among you. For the Lord will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess, if only you will obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment which I command you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
For the Lord your God will bless you as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns within your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Take heed, lest there be a base thought in your heart, and you say, the seventh year, the year of release is near, and your eye be hostile to the poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cried to the Lord against you, and it be sin in you. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Because for this, the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore, I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in the land. If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, He shall serve you six years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And in the seventh year, you shall let him go free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this day. But if he says to you, I will not go out from you because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you, then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your bondsman forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
as well as praying through Psalm 97. The book of Numbers, chapter 16. Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Now Korah, the son of Izar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Pelleth, sons of Reuben, took men and they rose up before Moses with a number of the sons of Israel, 250 leaders of the congregation chosen from the assembly, well-known men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And to your bondswoman you shall do likewise. It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, For at half the cost of a hired servant he has served you six years. So the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do. Regulations Concerning Livestock All the firstling males that are born of your herd and flock, you shall consecrate to the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
You shall do no work with the firstling of your herd, nor shear the firstling of your flock. You shall eat it, you and your household, before the Lord your God year by year at the place which the Lord will choose. But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind, or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. You shall eat it within your towns.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
The unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or a deer. Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water. Chapter 16 Keeping the Passover Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the Lord your God. For in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And you shall offer the Passover sacrifice to the Lord your God from the flock or the herd, at the place which the Lord will choose to make his name dwell there. You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction. For you came out of the land of Egypt in hurried flight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out from the land of Egypt. No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the flesh which you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain all night until morning. You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns which the Lord your God gives you,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
but at the place which the Lord your God will choose to make his name dwell in it. There you shall offer the Passover sacrifice in the evening at the going down of the sun at the time you came out of Egypt. And you shall boil it and eat it at the place which the Lord your God will choose. And in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. For six days you shall eat unleavened bread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God. You shall do no work on it. keeping the feast of weeks. You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Then you shall keep the feast of weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place which the Lord your God will choose to make his name dwell there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe all these statutes. Keeping the Feast of Booths You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
When you make your ingathering from your threshing floor and your winepress, you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. Seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place which the Lord will choose.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the works of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place which he will choose, at the feast of unleavened bread, at the feast of weeks, and at the feast of booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you. appointing judges and officers. You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns, which the Lord your God gives you according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
You shall not show partiality, and you shall not take a bribe. For a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God gives you. Forbidden forms of worship. You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God which you shall make.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, you have gone too far for all the congregation are holy, every one of them. And the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
And you shall not set up a pillar which the Lord your God hates.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
The Lord reigns. Let the earth rejoice. Let the many islands be glad. Cloud and thick darkness are round about him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries round about. His lightnings lighten the world. The earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples behold his glory. All worshippers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols. Let all his angels bow down before him. Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, O God. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
The Lord loves those who hate evil. He preserves the lives of his saints. He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light dawns for the righteous and joy for the upright of heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 65: Revolt Against Moses (2025)
We thank you and we give you praise and we thank you for your justice. And you reveal that when you set up the people of Israel and when you gave them a law, when you gave them your law, you revealed your heart and your heart is true. You are true. You are truth, Lord God. And you are justice. And you call your people just like you call us to live justice, to do right, to walk humbly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
It's very, very rare that someone has actually consecrated a Nazarite from birth and lives that way for their entire life. The three examples that we get is here, Samson, we get John the Baptist, and maybe, maybe, maybe Samuel, who is in the first book of Samuel. So we can introduce to him in 1 Samuel. We don't know necessarily if Samuel for sure is a Nazarite, but nonetheless, here we have Samson.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And Samson is not a good guy. Samson is the hero, right? He is that figure of the action hero. He is the person that I got to tell you, when I read my action Bible growing up, it was my favorite scenes were all the Samson scenes of this guy who was, you know, just ripped and jacked and, and the servant of God. And yet when you get to know the story, you realize, wow, Samson is not great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Samson is strong, but he's not wise. Samson is consecrated, but he actually isn't living a consecrated life. We even see that in the fact that he not only killed the lion, right? He goes back and he eats out of, killing a lion's not, that's not bad. It's when he goes back and he eats honey from the carcass of the lion, right? He's touching a dead thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
We have, all of us have heard the rules when it comes to coming into contact with dead bodies. Not only that, but he also then gave his mom and dad honey that come from a dead thing. So he made them ritually unclean without even telling them. And there's that sense of even when he defeats the thousand people at Lehi, he's using the job one of an ass, right? Of a donkey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And again, an unclean object. And so one of the things we recognize is that Samson, while strong, has a lot of weaknesses. One is that while he's consecrated, he's not living a consecrated life very clearly. But also while strong, he has so many weaknesses. And one of his weaknesses is his passion, his anger that has gotten him into so much trouble, even in the chapters we've read.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
but also his lust, which we're going to hear about in the next couple of chapters tomorrow. Not only his lust when it comes to Delilah, as that story unfolds, but also some other, at least one other occasion where it just kind of gets him into trouble. One of the things we recognize for all of us is that all of us have certain strengths, but also all of us have certain weaknesses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And those strengths do not make up for the weakness. We have to actually address the weakness. We can't just say, well, I'm strong in this area, therefore I can tolerate the weakness. What we get to do is we get to say, okay, Lord, I am strong in these areas. You made me strong in these areas. And yet I also recognize that I am in great, great need of purification.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
I'm in great need of strengthening in a number of other places. And so rather than a despairing over that, we come to the Lord with them or be dismissing those things. We, we come to the Lord with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
So my invitation for all of us is acknowledge our strengths, praise the Lord for the times where the spirit of the Lord does come upon us, but also address the weakness, neither despair because of it or nor dismiss the weakness, but bring them and entrust them to the Lord saying, God, um, However, whatever you want to do with this weakness, I give you permission to purify it for my life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
When they said no, they said to him, then say Shibboleth. And he said, Sibboleth, for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites. Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead. Ibsan, Elon, and Abdon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
I give you permission to release me from it. I give you permission to heal me of this, or I give you permission to just simply give me the strength to not let these weaknesses become my downfall, because that is what's going to happen with Samson. Spoiler alert. Oh, we keep praying for each other. Man, oh man, I love the book of Judges.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
It is so powerful and it is so good for us because, not because they're all great heroes that save the day and are incredible, but because they reveal us to us. And thank you, that's what God's word does. Thank you, God, for doing that. Please keep praying for each other. I'm praying for you and please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 93. We're reading from Judges chapter 12, 13, 14, and 15. There's no secondary book except for the book of Psalms, which we're praying Psalm 146 today, kind of jumping ahead. to Psalm 146.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
After him, Ibsan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and 30 daughters he brought in from outside for his sons, and he judged Israel seven years. Then Ibsan died and was buried at Bethlehem. After him, Elon, the Zebulonite, judged Israel, and he judged Israel 10 years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Then Elon, the Zebulonite, died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulon. After him, Abdon, the son of Hillel, the Periathanite, judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years. Then Abdon, the son of Hillel, the Periathanite, died and was buried at Periathan in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
chapter thirteen the birth of samson and the sons of israel again did what was evil in the sight of the lord and the lord gave them into the hand of the philistines for forty years and there was a certain man of zorah of the tribe of the danites whose name was manoah and his wife was barren and had no children
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, behold, you are barren and have no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore beware and drink no wine or strong drink and eat nothing unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head for the boy shall be a Nazarite to God from birth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines. Then the woman came and told her husband, a man of God came to me. And his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name. But he said to me, Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazarite to God from birth to the day of his death. Then Manoah entreated the Lord and said, O Lord, I beg you. Let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the boy that will be born.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman ran in haste and told her husband, Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me. And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, Are you the man who spoke to this woman? And he said,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
I am. And Manoah said, Now, when your words come true, what is to be the boy's manner of life, and what is he to do? And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, Please, let us detain you and prepare a kid for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, If you detain me, I will not eat of your food, but if you make ready a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord. For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, What is your name, so that when your words come true we may honor you? And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why do you ask my name?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Seeing it is wonderful. So Manoah took the kid with the cereal offering and offered it upon the rock to the Lord, to him who works wonders. And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar while Manoah and his wife looked on and they fell on their faces to the ground. The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
As always, the Bible translation that I am reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe in your podcast app. If you have not yet done that, that would be a nice thing to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, Manoah, We shall surely die, for we have seen God. But his wife said to him, If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a cereal offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or announced to us such things as these. And the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And the boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir in him at Mahanadan between Zorah and Eshtoel. Chapter 14, Samson's marriage at Timnah. Samson went down to Timnah and at Timnah, he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. Then he came up and told his father and mother, I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah, now get her for me as my wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
But his father and mother said to him, is there not a woman among the daughters of your kinsmen or among all our people that you must go and take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines? But Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she pleases me well. His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
At that time, the Philistines had dominion over Israel. Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah. And he came to the vineyards of Timnah, and behold, a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion asunder as one tears a kid, and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. And after a while, he returned to take her and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion and honey. He stripped it out into his hands and went on eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them and they ate.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion. And his father went down to the woman and Samson made a feast there for so the young men used to do. And when the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. And Samson said to them, Let me now put a riddle to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
If you can tell me what it is within the seven days of the feast and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments. But if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments. And they said to him, put your riddle that we may hear it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he said to them, out of the eater came something to eat, out of the strong came something sweet. And they could not in three days tell what the riddle was. On the fourth day, they said to Samson's wife, entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Anyways, day 93 today, Judges 12, 13, 14, and 15, praying Psalm 146. The book of Judges chapter 12, intertribal fighting. The men of Ephraim were called to arms and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And Samson's wife wept before him and said, you only hate me. You do not love me. You have put a riddle to my countrymen and you have not told me what it is. And he said to her, behold, I have not told my father nor my mother. And I shall tell you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
she wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted and on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him hard then she told the riddle to her countrymen and the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down what is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he said to them, if you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. And he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 men of the town and took their spoil and gave the festal garments to those who had told the riddle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
In hot anger, he went back to his father's house and Samson's wife was given to his companion who had been his best man. Chapter 15, Samson defeats the Philistines. After a while, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a kid and he said, I will go into my wife in the chamber, but her father would not allow him to go in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And her father said, I really thought that you utterly hated her. So I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister fairer than she? Please take her instead. And Samson said to them, this time I shall be blameless in regard to the Philistines when I do them mischief.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches and he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails. And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and burned up the shocks and the standing grain as well as the olive orchards. Then the Philistines said, Who has done this?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. And Samson said to them, If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged upon you, and after that I will quit. And he struck them hip and thigh with great slaughter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam. Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi. And the men of Judah said, Why have you come up against us? They said, We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Then the three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us? And he said to them, As they did to me, so have I done to them. And they said to him, We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hand of the Philistines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And Samson said to them, Swear to me that you will not fall upon me yourselves. They said to him, No, we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will not kill you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
so they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock when he came to lehi the philistines came shouting to meet him and the spirit of the lord came mightily upon him and the ropes which were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire and his bonds melted off his hands And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and put out his hand and seized it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And with it, he slew a thousand men. And Samson said, with the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey, have I slain a thousand men. When he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand, and that place was called Ramath-Lehi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he was very thirsty, and he called on the Lord and said, You have granted this great deliverance by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised? And God split open a hollow place that is at Lehi, and there came water from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned and he revived. Therefore, the name of it was called En-Hakor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And Jephthah said to them, I and my people had a great feud with the Ammonites. And when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand. And when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
It is at Lehi to this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. Psalm 146. Praise for God's help.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God while I have being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no help. When his breath departs, he returns to his earth. On that very day his plans perish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
The Lord watches over the sojourners. He upholds the widow and the fatherless. But the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever. Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Praise the Lord. Father in heaven, we do give you praise and glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
We thank you so much for the gift of yourself, the gift of faith, the gift of your word that you've given to us every single day. These last 93 days, Lord, you keep speaking to us and you keep teaching us. You teach us not only about ourselves and about the history, but you teach us about your heart. You teach us about yourself. And so we ask that you please continue to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
I'll allow our ears to be open, our hearts to be open, our minds to be shaped by who you are and what you call us to. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So we heard from a couple different judges. We had Jephthah, obviously. We had Ibsen, Elon, and Abdon, really briefly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And then we had Samson, who is probably, I would say, the most famousest of all the judges. One of the things to keep in mind is this theme. The theme is of couples who long for a child and Samson's parents are no different. This is one of those stories we're going to hear in just even a couple of days in first Samuel, the same thing with Hannah, the mother of Samuel who longs for a child.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Here is Manoah and his wife. who long for a child, and here is the Lord God who blesses them with a child. And so again, whenever we have this theme, I think it's so important for us to stop and to pray for all couples that are in crisis pregnancies, couples that are unable to conceive or have been unable to conceive until this point.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
and it's just been so powerful so many people have reached out whenever we bring this up and i invite this community right the people who are going through the bible in a year to pray some things have powerful things have happened so many lives have been blessed particularly when it comes to those couples that are again as i said truly longing and praying desperate maybe even sometimes for a child here's the lord god who comes to manoa and his wife
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim because they said, You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh. And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, let me go over, the men of Gilead said to them, are you an Ephraimite?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
And he is consecrated as a Nazirite from birth, which is, we talked about the Nazirite vow back in Leviticus. We talked about how people would go off on a retreat. And at the end of that retreat, you know, during the retreat, they would basically retreat. That's our kind of common word for it. During that time, probably wouldn't shave, wouldn't really cut their hair, wouldn't drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 93: Strengths and Weaknesses (2025)
They would have that retreat time. And at the end of it, they might cut off the hair that grew during that time, the beard that grew during that time, or maybe even shave their head and then burn that. Now, The Nazarite vow would be a very brief vow, right? For maybe a week, maybe four weeks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So just heads up, that is my disclaimer that, yeah, this is real, real stuff today on day 89, reading from Judges chapters 1, 2, and 3, Ruth chapter 1, and praying Psalm 133. The Book of Judges, chapter one, Israel's failure to complete the conquest. After the death of Joshua, the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord, who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me. Then they lifted up their voices and wept again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law. But Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go. And where you lodge, I will lodge." Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Where you die, I will die and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you. And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, is this Naomi?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
She said to them, Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab, and they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Psalm 133, the blessedness of unity, a song of ascents. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
It is like the precious oil upon the head running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you so much for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
We thank you for these stories that you revealed to us because you revealed to us that even in the midst of trial, even in the midst of our unfaithfulness, once again, in the midst of unfaithfulness, you are faithful and you fight for us. You give us a deliverer whose name is Jesus Christ and it's in his name that we pray to you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
amen in the name of the father and of the son and the holy spirit amen okay gosh oh man you can see how this is gonna this is gonna happen right okay a couple things to note about judges what's going to happen it's already happened a couple times is that the people of israel they disobey and they fall into distress then they repent and they're having renewal this is the thing it's it's this constant hamster wheel that we're going to see throughout the entire book of judges and it could become
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
a some source of frustration for a lot of people because it is this this complete you see it coming you you say what are you doing this is craziness it's the insane cycle right where you just keep doing the same thing expecting a different result there's disobedience which leads to distress the israel falls away they are not faithful they turn to other gods and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And then God gives the power of the Philistines or the Amorites or the Amalekites or the Moabites into their hand. They call out, they repent. God raises up a redeemer and then they have renewal. And it's this pattern again and again. I want to highlight a couple things. One, it says at the beginning of the book of Judges, it says when they go into battle, they say Judah should go up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Judah is the one who's going to go up into battle. I think this is powerful for many reasons, but one of the reasons was pointed out to me by Jeff Cavins. He had noted that the name Judah, as we've noted in the course of this Bible in a year, the name Judah means praise. And there's something so powerful about Judah going up first, Judah going into battle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
When you face a difficulty, when you face a struggle or a trial, to let Judah go up first is so powerful, to let our praise of the Lord go up first. But then in the book of Judges, it talks about the death of Joshua and the fact that after Joshua died, people were no longer faithful. While he was alive, people were faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
While the elders who lived in the time of Joshua were alive, people were faithful. But then came a generation that did not know the Lord. It did not know who God was. And that generation turned away from service of the Lord. As it says, and all that generation were gathered to their fathers, those who knew and saw the Lord's mighty works. What does that tell us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
The Lord said, Judah shall go up. Behold, I have given the land into his hand. And Judah said to Simeon, his brother, come up with me into the territory allotted to me that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you. So Simeon went with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
It tells us that everything that Moses and Joshua had been commanding the people and reminding the people of, of never forget,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
never forget what god has done for you and also teach your children every single day what god has done for you he's done it for them too and they didn't they failed to raise up subsequent leadership leaders who are willing to be able to call those people back to faithfulness and so thus begins the cycle of disobedience into distress they repent and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
God raises up a redeemer, and then they're renewed. Again, it's kind of like we have some alliteration going on there, right? So disobedience into distress. They repent, they have a redeemer, and they have renewal. And so what you're going to hear is things like whenever there's a judge that's raised up, at the end of the judge doing their thing, it says the land had rest for such and such a time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
That land had rest means that during that next time, they were faithful. And so when it came to judges, we heard about these first three judges. We One of the things we're going to note about judges is don't think judges with gavels. Don't think someone in the long black robe. We're talking about people who are redeemers. We're talking about people who are generals.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
We're talking about people who lead into battle. We heard the story of Ehud, right, who's basically an assassin who goes up against the king of Eglon, the king of Moab, and assassinates him in his upper chamber.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So one of the things we recognize is that this is a very dark and violent time where here is this judge who's raised up, Ehud, who I don't want to say he's no more than an assassin, but at the very least, he is an assassin. Keep in mind, judge means redeemer. It means someone thinking like a savior. And that is what these 12 judges in the book of Judges, that's their purpose.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
That's what they serve as, even though, as we've already noted, they're not perfect. That doesn't mean what they're doing is good. It just means that what they're doing is effective when it comes to defeating their enemies. One last note on the book of Ruth. We only have four chapters in the book of Ruth. That's today and then the following three days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
We have one chapter each day for the next three days of the book of Ruth. One thing we note is here's Naomi, the wife of Elimelech. And what happens? They go into Moab. And while they're in Moab, what do they do? They have their two sons, Malone and Kilian, marry Moabite women. which is not something you want to be doing. And yet they do that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
It's one of those, again, once again, a frustrating moment. But there's always this grace. And I mean grace, and not just like it's graceful. I mean like grace from God. There is grace that's working in this as well. Because yes, even though Elimelech and Malone and Killian die, the women they've married, the Moabite women are... profoundly faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
This is one of the things we can be reminded of is that God is not against any people. He's not against any kind of people. What he is, he's for faithfulness. He is for bringing people into the covenant. And so here is Orpah and here is Ruth. And they're both of them They're both of them so moved by love for their mother-in-law, they both want to go with her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Then Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek. They came upon Adonai Bezek at Bezek, and fought against him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Adonai Bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
It turns out only Ruth does go with her. And to keep this in mind, keep this in mind, there is nothing about ethnic battles that's going on in Book of Judges or in the Book of Joshua that is actually this ethnicity versus that ethnicity. It's not about that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
What it is about is about the true worship of the Lord and belonging to his covenant versus these forms of idolatry and these forms of essentially demon worship that are happening amongst those other people. Because what we're going to see is Ruth who says, your God will be my God. It actually is true that Ruth essentially converts. She becomes a member of the covenant community.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
and it's through ruth that we get the great king of israel david and it's through that line that we get the great actual great savior the great redeemer the great judge of the universe jesus christ comes from this line of this woman who started out as a moabite and died as a moabite but also died in covenant with the Lord. It's through that line. Again, we keep this in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
This is not a battle of ethnicities or races or anything like this. This is a battle between the true worship of God and belonging in relationship with him versus false worship and belonging, essentially, again, belonging to demons. That is where we're at. And it's a big deal. And also, it's such a big deal that it took us 30 minutes to get here. So let's keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
I am praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And Adonai Bezek said, 70 kings with their thumbs and their great toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table, as I have done so, so God has repaid me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And afterward, the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the hill country, in the Negev, and in the lowland. And Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron. Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath Arba, and they defeated Shashai, and Achiman, and Talmai. From there, they went against the inhabitants of Debir.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
The name of Debir was formerly Kiriath Sefer. And Caleb said, He who attacks Kiriath Sefer and takes it, I will give him Aksa, my daughter, as wife. And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it, and he gave him Aksa, his daughter, as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field, and she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, What do you wish?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
She said to him, Give me a present, since you have set me in the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of Palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negev near Arad. And they went and settled with the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
from a new book actually two new books we're reading from judges and from ruth um judges chapters one two and three as well as ruth chapter one we'll also be praying today from psalm 133 um as always you probably know this i'm reading from the revised standard version second catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to download your own bible in a year reading plan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Judah also took Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had chariots of iron. And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove out from it the three sons of Anak. But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who dwelt in Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So the Jebusites have dwelt with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel. And the Lord was with them. And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
We'll be right back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
and the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him please show us the way into the city and we will deal kindly with you and he showed them the way into the city and they struck the city with the edge of the sword but they let the man and all his family go and the man went to the land of the hittites and built a city and called its name That is its name to this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Bet-Shan and its villages, or Taanak and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Iblam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor but did not utterly drive them out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer, but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol, but the Canaanites dwelt among them and became subject to forced labor. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Akko or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Alab or of Aksib or of Helba or of Afik or of Rehob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Bet Shemesh or the inhabitants of Bet Anah, but dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Bet Shemesh and of Bet Anath became subject to forced labor for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
The Amorites pressed the Danites back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Har Haras, and in Ajalan, and in Shal'adim. But the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily upon them, and they became subject to forced labor. And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabim, from Sila and upward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Chapter 2 Israel's Disobedience Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim, and he said, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you into the land which I swore to give to your fathers. I said, I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed my command.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
You can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, and you can subscribe to this podcast in your podcast app, wherever you listen to this, wherever you're listening to my voice, and just hit that word that says subscribe. A couple of heads up kind of issues right now. This is one of those, the book of Judges is phenomenal, and it is phenomenal not because it's a great story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you. When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim, and they sacrificed there to the Lord. The Death of Joshua
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
When Joshua dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work which the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And they buried him within the bounds of his inheritance at Timnath-Herez, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them, who did not know the Lord, or the work which he had done for Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Israel's Unfaithfulness And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals. And they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. And they went after other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were round about them and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
They forsook the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to the plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the power of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them, and they were in great distress. Then the Lord raised up judges who saved them out of the power of those who plundered them, And yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed down to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And he said, because this people have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
From now on I will not drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, that by them I may test Israel, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did or not. So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out at once, and he did not give them into the power of Joshua. Chapter three, nations remaining in the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Now these are the nations which the Lord left to test Israel by them. That is all in Israel who had no experience of any war in Canaan. It was only that the generations of the sons of Israel might know war, that he might teach war to such at least as had not known it before.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
It is more like you just kind of ventured into... Some really incredible and incredibly dark history. And so what's going to happen is in the next number of days, as we walk through the book of Judges, is we're going to hear some stories that are familiar, maybe like stories about Deborah, maybe stories about jail, maybe stories about Samson.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
These are the nations, the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who dwelt on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon as far as the entrance of Hamath. They were for the testing of Israel. to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So the sons of Israel went among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And they took their daughters to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods. Othniel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, forgetting the Lord their God, and serving the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishatim, the king of Mesopotamia. And the sons of Israel served Cushan Rishatim eight years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
But when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel who delivered them, Othniel, the son of Canaz, Caleb's younger brother. The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-Rashatayim, king of Mesopotamia, into his hand, and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rashatayim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel, the son of Kenaz, died. Ehud. And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. And the Lord strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab, against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites and went and defeated Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And they took possession of the city of Palms. And the sons of Israel served Eglon, the king of Moab, 18 years. But when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord... the lord raised up for them a deliverer ehud the son of gerah the benjaminite a left-handed man the sons of israel sent tribute by him to aglon the king of moab and echud made for himself a sword with two edges a cubit in length
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And he girded it to his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon, king of Moab. Now, Eglon was a very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people that carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the sculptured stones near Gilgal and said, I have a secret message for you, O king. And he commanded silence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him. as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, I have a message from God for you. And he arose from his seat, and Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly, and the dirt came out. Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber upon him, and locked them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
These are going to be some stories that we are, as I said, relatively familiar with. We might not be entirely familiar with all of the details, and the details are pretty horrible, and they get worse. The book of Judges begins in the dark and ends even darker.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, he is only relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber. And they waited till they were utterly at a loss, but when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Ehud escaped while they were delayed, and passed beyond the sculptured stones, and escaped to Sirah. When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. And the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country, having him at their head. And he said to them, Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So they went down after him, and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and allowed no man to pass over. And they killed at that time about ten thousand of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men, not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel, and the land had rest for eighty years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Shamgar After him was Shamgar, the son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an ox-goat, and he too delivered Israel. The Book of Ruth, Chapter 1 Elimelech's Family Goes to Moab In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. And the names of his two sons were Malon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives. The name of one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
They lived there about ten years, and both Malone and Kilian died, so that the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband, Naomi, and her Moabite daughters-in-law. Then she started with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find a home, each of you, in the house of her husband.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience (2025)
Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people. But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain that is through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay. And again, the Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
But recall the former days when after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry. But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
She opens her mouth with wisdom and her teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. Many women have done exceedingly, but you surpass them all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
We are reading Revelation 2 John chapter 18, 19, and 20, the letter to the Hebrews chapters 9 and 10, as well as Proverbs chapter 31 verses 26 through 29. The Revelation to John chapter 18, the fall of Babylon. After this, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his splendor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
We thank you for 364 days of hearing your word and letting ourselves be shaped by your word. Thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for continuing to call us your children. Thank you for even speaking to us of judgment that is coming. We ask you, Lord, please help us always, always to repent of our sins, to come back to you. Help us always, always.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
to not rely on our own faithfulness because Lord God, we know that we are not, we're not faithful, but you are faithful. And so please help us to belong to you, help us to be faithful to you. Even when we sin, help us to rely upon the right sacrifice of your son, the blood that takes away sins because Lord God, when your son has offered himself, he offered himself to you for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
So please receive the sacrifice of your son and Once again, bestow that mercy upon us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Okay, so Revelation's getting intense, obviously. Getting really intense. Chapters 18, 19, and 20 here. One of the things that comes up is the fall of Babylon, chapter 18.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And the term Babylon is used obviously a bunch of times. And so I'm just going to offer, you know, these books are so rich. They're so deep that 10 minutes of commentary is not enough. Obviously. Um, there's some incredible, uh, incredible commentary books that are around. In fact, there's, there's one book of commentary called, uh, the Ignatius Catholic study Bible, new Testament.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
It's the second Catholic edition, you know, so that's good. But, uh, It's really good because it has all the details, all the little notes can be so incredibly important and helpful, but they have a longer note about Babylon and what Babylon is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
In fact, one of the interesting notes they have when it comes to chapter 18 in the fall of Babylon is they know the several images and expressions in this chapter, chapter 18 here, are taken from the judgmental oracles of the prophets, especially Jeremiah's condemnation of ancient Babylon. from Jeremiah 50 and 51.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
So if you remember, and you do, the history of Babylon and the history of the Babylonian exile and evil Babylon, there's all these connections with what happens here in chapter 18 and what Jeremiah had prophesied back in the book of the prophet Jeremiah, which is remarkable. Now, another guy, St. Caesarius of Arles, he once said this. He said,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Babylon and the harlot, whose smoke goes up forever, are none other than the lustful, the adulterous, and the arrogant. So he was saying, he was making a point, like in a sermon, right, in a homily, that he was saying that it doesn't have to be a place, right? It doesn't have to be a city I'm talking about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Now, John, in Revelation, is likely talking about a specific city, which we'll talk about in just a second. But here is St. Caesarea of Arles, who is saying that, listen, this can be in our own hearts. Babylon and the harlot, he says, whose smoke goes up forever are none other than the lustful, the adulterous and the arrogant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
So if you wish to escape such punishments, have no desire to commit such grave sins. For in the present age, Babylon is always going to destruction and burning up in part. And that's this. That's really interesting and fascinating. Now, question, of course, who or what is Babylon? There are many theories, obviously.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And the two primary theories are that Babylon is a symbol of Rome or Babylon is a symbol of Jerusalem. And there's an ancient, I mean, gosh, and there's so much evidence that it could be either. And that's the crazy part is that here is Rome. I mean, think about all of the blood of the martyrs that the Roman Empire shed in those first centuries of Christianity and the first decades of Christianity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And at the same time, remember, in the Old Testament, here is the way in which the prophets spoke about Jerusalem as being unfaithful, as being unresponsive to God's promises. And there are a number of reasons that you could make a case for Rome being the Babylon or Jerusalem being Babylon. And what that ultimately means, though, for us is it's important, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And he called out with a mighty voice, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul and hateful bird. for all nations have drunk the wine of her impure passion. And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich with the wealth of her wantonness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Obviously, it matters whether this is Rome or Jerusalem. In some ways, you could say it could be both. But what we're really talking about when you and I are reading Revelation, yes, we're reading something from the past. We're reading about the revelation of John of this judgment that came upon the ancient peoples. But we're also reading about our own lives. That's why St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Caesarius of Arles had his words about pointing out that, One of the reminders of Revelation is for us is that sense of, am I being faithful? Am I walking in the Lord? Because God will judge us, right? And yes, he's merciful. He's also just. And we're going to hear tomorrow in our conclusion that God at some point will set everything right. And we want to be the people that he vindicates, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
That he sets right. And so there's this praise of God and rejoicing in heaven in chapter 19. And that rejoicing where they say hallelujah and that hallelujah literally means praise the Lord. You want to be among those people who are able to praise the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
You know, and there's the, as I said, you know, there's the thousand years and Satan's locked up and then he's released for a little bit of time. And those are very important things. But ultimately we have this, this, and the end of chapter 20, the dead are judged as it says, and there's a resurrection from the dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
If those who are first resurrected are those who are martyrs and, and they get to reign with the Lord and they get to serve as priests with the Lord. And then everyone else, everyone else who's died is resurrected. Yeah, I don't know if you know this, you're getting your body back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
That is the ancient Christian belief is that in the resurrection, you get your body back, whether your body is restored to you for glory or whether it's restored to you for shame, you know, whether it's restored to you for the praise of God or whether it's restored for the sake of destruction in hell, everyone gets their body back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
and there's that second death lake of fire if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life he was thrown into the lake of fire remember it says multiple times they'll be judged by what they've done in chapter 20 verse 12 and 13 it says and i saw the dead great and small standing before the throne as the end books were opened also another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged by what was written in the books by what they had done
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And the sea gave up the dead in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead in them and all were judged by what they had done. And that's the reality is that our decisions matter. Our decisions make a difference. They don't just echo in time. They also echo in eternity. And so we say, Lord, for all those things that I've done, where I failed you, please cover me with your blood. And that is Hebrews.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Oh my gosh. How incredible is this? How incredible is it? That yes, there's judgment, but here in the letter to the Hebrews, we have this absolute declaration that Christ's blood takes away our sins. Now here's an interesting part. That's just, I don't know if you've ever noticed this. We have the celebration of Christmas, obviously the incarnation, Jesus Christ becomes one of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
We have the celebration of the passion. and Easter. So you have Good Friday and Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. It's the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which is incredible. And just here's God's love for us. But we also have the Feast of the Ascension. And so many of us, we underestimate the Ascension. And yet here's what the Hebrews is all about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
It talks about the old covenant, right? And here's the old temple. And here's what the priests would do. Once a year, they would go in to the temple. And in that place, they would offer up the sacrifice of blood and goats, bulls and goats, that kind of thing. But here is this absolute key in chapter 9, verse 11. It says, What he just described there. Oh my gosh, is the ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues. For her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Rendered to her as she herself has rendered, and repay her double for her deeds. Mix a double draft for her in the cup she mixed, as she glorified herself and played the wanton.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
I sometimes get lost in the ascension as being, here's Jesus ascending to heaven and telling the disciples, the apostles, hey, wait for the promised Holy Spirit and that'll come upon you. And that's it, he's just leaving. But he wasn't just leaving. What was he doing? He was entering into the sanctuary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
He was entering into heaven with the sacrifice of himself presented before God for the, oh my gosh, this is insane. Just like the priest would go into the Holy of Holies As Jesus ascends into heaven, he is the great high priest entering into the actual holy of holies. Remember, the temple was made as a copy, as a foreshadow of what actually exists in reality in heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
When the high priest goes into that copy, he's bringing with him something that's limited. But when Jesus Christ, the great high priest entered into heaven, he brought a sacrifice that is unlimited. His one sacrifice once for all. Hopefully that makes sense. It is remarkable and incredible. And we get to conclude our story tomorrow. It has been an incredible journey to be able to walk with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
So please know that this journey is not over because we can continue to walk with each other, not just tomorrow, but even the day after tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that, because I will be praying for you. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
So give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, A queen I sit, I am no widow, mourning I shall never see. So shall her plagues come in a single day, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she shall be burned with fire. For mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and were wanton with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off in fear of her torment and say, Alas, alas, you great city, you mighty city Babylon. In one hour has your judgment come. And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots and slaves, that is, human souls.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
the fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you and all your delicacies and your splendor are lost to you never to be found again the merchants of these wares who gained wealth from her will stand far off in fear of her torment weeping and mourning aloud alas alas for the great city that was clothed in fine linen in purple and scarlet adorned with gold with jewels and with pearls
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
In one hour, all this wealth has been laid waste. And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, what city was like the great city? And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, alas, alas for the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
In one hour she has been laid waste. Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence and shall be found no more, and the sound of harpists and minstrels, of flute players and trumpeters shall be heard in you no more. And the craftsmen of any craft shall be found in you no more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And the sound of the millstone shall be heard in you no more. And the light of a lamp shall shine in you no more. And the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall be heard in you no more. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Chapter 19 The Rejoicing in Heaven After this, I heard what seemed to be the mighty voice of a great multitude in heaven crying, "'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just. He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.' Once more they cried, "'Hallelujah!
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.' And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen, Hallelujah. And from the throne came a voice, crying, Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him small and great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
It was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, Write this, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are true words of God. Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The Rider on the White Horse Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
His eyes are like flames of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to strike the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. the beast and its armies defeated.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. and the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and who worshipped its image.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone, and the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. Chapter 20, The Thousand Years Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. and who had not worshipped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years. Satan's doom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea, and they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
But fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever. The dead are judged. Then I saw a white throne and him who sat upon it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
The Earthly and the Heavenly Sanctuary. Now, even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of offering. It is called the holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the holy of holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna and Aaron's rod that budded and the tables of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties. But into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 364. And there are 364 unbirthdays. We're reading the Revelation of John, chapter 18, 19, and 20.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
By this, the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing, which is symbolic for the present age.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
but when christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come then through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands that is not of this creation he entered once for all into the holy place taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood thus securing an eternal redemption
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant." For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it is established.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Hence, even the first covenant was not ratified without blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people saying, this is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you. And in the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood. And without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. Christ's sacrifice takes away sin. Thus, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites. but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. nor was it to offer himself repeatedly as the high priest enters the holy place yearly with blood not his own, for then he would have to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Hebrews, the letter to the Hebrews, chapters 9 and 10, as well as the book of Proverbs, chapter 31, verses 26 through 29. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. and just as it is appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgment so christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many will appear a second time not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
Chapter 10, Christ's Sacrifice Once for All For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
If the worshippers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices, there is a reminder of sin year after year. for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God. as it is written of me in the roll of the book. When he said above, you have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. These are offered according to the law. Then he added, behold, I have come to do your will.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering, he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, maybe for the next trip, visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You can also... You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on subscribe, receiving daily episodes and daily updates. It is day 364.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 364: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All (2024)
For after saying, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds. Then he adds, I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. a call to persevere.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
In fact, he blesses Judah. Judah is the fourth born and he gives him a particular blessing. He says that the mace will not depart from Judah's legs. Judah is a lion's wealth. Judah is the one. Basically, Jacob is saying, He's prophesying in many, many ways. Maybe by his power of his blessing, this is how the future unfolds. But he says that Judah, your brother, shall praise you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And he goes on to say that the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet until he comes to whom it belongs. And to him shall be the obedience of all the peoples. Okay, who does that sound like? Well, that is our Lord. It's a prophecy. It's actually what we come to understand as a prophecy of Jesus. Jesus comes from the tribe of Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
David comes from the tribe of Judah. So David would be a prophecy of David as well, because David is a Judahite.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
but then later on obviously jesus is in the line of david and so that kingdom that he establishes on earth and in heaven the kingdom of heaven that jesus is christ the king uh is a reminder and it begins here or at least it's prophesied here as well as the prophecy of king david the second thing is such a powerful reminder for all of us
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed. Then you defiled it, you went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brothers, weapons of violence are their swords. O my soul, come not into their counsel. O my spirit, be not joined to their company, for in their anger they slay men, and in their wantonness they hamstring oxen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
The very last story, essentially of Joseph's story in this last story of Genesis, after Israel dies, after Jacob dies, they bury him right back in Canaan. And the brothers are concerned now that, well, now our father is dead. And the only reason maybe that Joseph didn't kill us or treat us horribly for what we did to him was because our father was alive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And Joseph hearing this, hearing their lack of trust in him, hearing the fact that they Do not trust his love for them or his forgiveness of them. He breaks down and weeps. And he says this powerful line. He says, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, that many would be saved. And this is what we know about God's permissive will, right? God's will is over everything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And yet we know that there's God's perfect will, which is his plan A, the things he directly wills. And there's God's permissive will, which are the things he allows. It's not the things he wants to happen, but it's the stuff he has allowed to happen. Those are things like evil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
He doesn't want evil to happen, but he allows it to happen because he wants to preserve our freedom and because he knows he can bring about a greater good. And this is Joseph pointing out that, pointing that out very clearly. You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good so that many could be saved.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And this is the mystery of trust that we're called to enter into ourselves as well, because that is what God's calling us to do, to be able to say, okay, Lord, in all things, I trust you. even if someone's doing evil to me. You don't want that to happen. You're allowing it to happen because you know you can bring a greater good out of it. Again, not because God doesn't care.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Remember, the refrain the entire time in this story of Joseph is that the Lord was with him, and yet the Lord was with him. Here's Joseph rejected, and yet the Lord was with him. Here's Joseph falsely accused and forgotten and abandoned, and yet the Lord was with him. And that's so critical, so key for us to remember this as we move on into the age of the Exodus in Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And the last point is from our friend Job. I don't know if you noticed this, but one of the struggles of the book of Job is that it addresses the problem of evil, but doesn't answer the problem of evil. God never gives a why of like, here's why I allow suffering to happen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Now, again, our theology would reveal to us that maybe in some whys would be to preserve our freedom and because God can bring a greater good out of it. That's great. But God never says why, he just responds to Job with a bunch of questions. But he responds to Job, not just with questions, he responds to Job with himself. And this is the key of the entire book of Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
At the end of the book of Job, he says, I had heard of you beforehand, but now I have seen you with my eyes and therefore I repent and I will speak no more. Basically, the answer to the problem of pain is God himself. The answer to the problem of suffering is God himself. You know, if we had a question for God, like, God, why this? You know, and he maybe give us an answer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And then we come up the next day with, okay, but God, why this? And he'd have to give us an answer again. But God has spoken definitively, especially when it comes to suffering, by offering himself. And this is the mystery of the cross. This is the mystery of the crucifixion. That God could give us a reason why. He could tell us, here's the story behind everything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Or he could say, I'm no stranger to suffering. All that you have experienced, all that has collapsed against you, all that has come down on your head, I have also allowed to come down on my head. That just like God responded to Job by showing Job his face, God has responded to all of us by showing us the face of Jesus, particularly Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
the broken and rejected, the beaten and the crucified face of Jesus. This is God's answer to the problem of pain. And the answer is himself. That's the secret of the book of Job. That's the secret of our friend Job. is that God does give an answer. But the answer isn't logic. The answer isn't reason. The answer isn't just have faith. The answer is himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. Your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp. From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And he gives himself to us today as well. My friends, I am praying for you. And I'm so grateful that you and I are on this journey together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
of this bible in a year again as we said it is day 26 going into day 27 tomorrow entirely new page entirely new um period we're going to the egypt in the exodus as we say goodbye to the patriarchs we will not say goodbye to each other in fact we're going to double down our prayers for each other because we know that sometimes things get even more difficult.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Tomorrow, we're starting the book of Exodus and Leviticus and continuing on in the Psalms. But today, right now, keep praying for each other. Keep praying for me. And I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
He stooped down, he lurked as a lion, and as a lioness, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet. until he comes to whom it belongs, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine, and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea, he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon. Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. He saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant. So he bowed his shoulders to bear and became a slave at forced labor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward. I wait for your salvation, O Lord. Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels. Asher's food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a deer let loose that bears comely fawns.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
It is day 26. This is our last day in the book of Genesis and our last day with our friend Job. We're going to be reading Genesis chapter 49 and 50. Job 41 and 42, and Psalm 17. If you want to be able to follow along with this, you can download the Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring. His branches run over the wall. The archers fiercely attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him sorely, yet his bow remained unmoved. His arms were made agile by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob, by the name of the shepherd, the Rock of Israel."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
by you, the God of your father, who will help you, by God Almighty, who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of the eternal mountains.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
The bounties of the eternal hills may be on the head of Joseph and on the brow of him who was separated from his brothers. Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil. All these are the 12 tribes of Israel. And this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with blessing suitable to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Then he charged them and said to them, I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron, the Hittite. In the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought from the field of Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife. And there I buried Leah. The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites. When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for so many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, I speak, I beg you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, I am about to die. In my tomb, which I have hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Now therefore let me go up, I beg you, and bury my father, then I will return. And Pharaoh answered, Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear. So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation. And he made a mourning for his father seven days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
When the inhabitants of the land of the Canaanites saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians. Therefore the place was named Ebel Mizraim. It is beyond the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, it may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil which we did to him. So they sent a message to Joseph saying, your father gave this command before he died. Say to Joseph, forgive, I beg you, the transgressions of your brothers and their sin because the evil they did to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
I will be reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Catholic Edition. I'm actually using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension for the reading. Once again, we are going to be reading today from Genesis 49 and 50. This is our final step, not only in Genesis, but also in the period of the patriarchs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And now we pray you, forgive the transgressions of the servants of the God of your father. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, Behold, we are your servants. But Joseph said to them, Fear not, for am I in the place of God?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. So do not fear. I will provide for you and your little ones. Thus he reassured them and comforted them. So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's house. And Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Their children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born upon Joseph's knees. And Joseph said to his brothers, I'm about to die, but God will visit you and will bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Then Joseph took an oath of his sons of Israel, saying, God will visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Can he make many supplications to you? Will he speak to you in soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird or will you put him on a leash for your maidens?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide up him among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay hands on him. Think of the battle. You will not do it again. Behold, the hope of a man is disappointed. He is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he that can stand before me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Who has given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. I will not keep silence concerning his limbs or his mighty strength or his large frame. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who can penetrate his double coat of mail?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
who can open the doors of his face round about his teeth in terror his back is made of rows of shields shut up closely as with a seal one is so near to another that no air can come between them they are joined one to another they clasp each other and cannot be separated his sneezings flash forth light and his eyes are like the eyelids of dawn
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
If you're following along with the Bible in a year reading plan, you know that we went through the early world for the first five days. That was Genesis chapter one through 11. And then we started with the patriarchs and that's Genesis 12 through today, Genesis 50. Also in that same timeframe, we have the book of Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Out of his mouth go flaming torches, sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, and it's from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth. In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before them. The folds of his flesh cling together, firmly cast upon him and immovable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
His heart is hard as a stone, hard as a nether millstone. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid at the crashing they are beside themselves. Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He counts iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee, for him sling stones are turned to stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
He laughs at the rattle of javelins. His underparts are like sharp potsherds. He spreads himself like a threshing sledge in the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him, he leaves a shining wake. One would think of the deep to be hoary. Upon earth, there is not his like, a creature without fear. He beholds everything that is high.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
He is king over all the sons of pride. Then Job answered the Lord, I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know. Hear, and I will speak.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
I will question you, and you declare to me, I had heard of you by the hearing of my ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken to me what is right as my servant Job has.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Now therefore, take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Namathite went, and did what the Lord had told them. And the Lord accepted Job's prayer. And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
So again, once I, once again, we're reading Genesis 49 and 50, Job 41 and 42 and Psalm 17.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Then came to him all his brothers and sisters, and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy, and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money, and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters, and he called the name of the first Jemima, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren Hapuk.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
And in all the land, there were no women so fair as Job's daughters, and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. And after this, Job lived 140 years and saw his sons and his sons' sons four generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Hear a just cause, O Lord. Attend to my cry. Give ear to my prayer from the lips free of deceit. From you, let my vindication come. Let your eyes see the right. If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me. A mouth does not transgress. With regard to the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have avoided the ways of the violent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God. Incline your ear to me. Hear my words. Wondrously show your mercies, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
They close their hearts to pity, with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They track me down, now they surround me, they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. They are like a lion, eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Then Jacob called his sons and said, gather yourselves together that I may tell you what shall befall you in days to come. Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob, and hearken to Israel your father. Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the first fruits of my strength, preeminent in pride and preeminent in power.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Deliver my life from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O Lord, from men whose portion in life is of the world. May their belly be filled with what you have stored up for them. May their children have more than enough. May they leave something over to their babies. As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness. When I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding your form.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Father in heaven, we thank you so much. We give you praise and glory. We thank you for sharing your word with us. We thank you for revealing your heart to us. We thank you for letting us journey with the patriarchs, with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, with Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel. We thank you for letting us be part of the story of Joseph and his tragedy, but also your triumph through tragedy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Lord God, we thank you for Our friend Job, we thank you for what you've revealed in our journey with him and his pain and his suffering. What you reveal about yourself and our pain and our suffering. And we thank you, Lord, for always... reminding us that we can trust you in even the darkest times. Help us to trust you in even the darkest times.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
We ask this, Father, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Wow. So there's two things I want to highlight. Again, we're coming to the last day, the last day of the patriarchs, and tomorrow we're starting an entirely new journey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 26: God Responds to Job (2025)
Well, we're continuing the journey, essentially, with the age or the period of Egypt and the exodus. But before we go there, I want to highlight two, three things, three quick things. First is you might've noticed that in the second to last chapter of Genesis, Israel or Jacob, he doesn't bless his first three sons. There's a particular reason for it, but Jacob does not bless the first three sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time. So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath Haraloth. And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them. All the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war had died on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And Joshua asks the question, are you for us or are you for our adversaries? Are you for us or are you for our enemies? And the answer of the angel of the Lord is so unique. He just says, no. I love this. This is so powerful. He just says, no. And what he is indicating is one of the things he's indicating is he says, basically, the question we can say is, is God on our side?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the response is, well, not yes or no, but the response is, that's not the question. That's not the right question. The question really should be, are we on God's side? I think that might've been something Abraham Lincoln had once said, something along those lines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
What's revealed in this is not only our need to be on God's side and not wanting to just make God agree with us and be on our side, but it also reveals that this battle really isn't going to be simply against the Canaanites. This battle, these subsequent battles are not merely against the Philistines or against any of the other Amorites or Jebusites or any of these other people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
The battle truly is a cosmic battle. One of the things that gets revealed to us about those, whether they be the Moabites or the Jebusites or the Canaanites or the Philistines, is not only that they were quote unquote different, they're not just different. They were living a life, they were building a culture truly upon wickedness, upon the denigration of the human person.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
I mean, truly, where you would offer in these communities, we already experienced this, they would offer human sacrifice, sacrifice of their own children to the god Moloch. And so there's this cosmic battle happening. Or again, it's not against the people. It's not against those other people. It's against a cosmic thing. And St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Paul will later on go on to say, our battle is not with flesh and blood, but is with principalities and powers. And that's one of the things that's revealed here with Joshua's vision is that this isn't merely armies coming together. This isn't merely let's drive out this people. What it really is, is a cosmic battle. And again, with eyes of faith, we can see that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
With eyes that don't have faith, we question that. And that's one of the things we're going to continue to run into again and again, where there's things that are happening in scripture that if we read them and listen to them through the eyes or ears of faith, from the perspective of faith, we say, okay, Lord, I trust you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
But if we read them or listen to them, take them in through the perspective of distrust, the I don't know if there's too much that we can really allow to penetrate our hearts. Even this last story of Achan, where Achan takes some of the plunder, essentially, from the destruction of the city of Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And it even says that so he and his whole family and everything he owns is going to be destroyed. Now, we could look at that and say, gosh, that's so brutal. That's so violent. It's so unfair. And yet... And yet it wasn't as if that was lost on the people. Like the tragedy of that wasn't lost on the people of Israel. But what happened was here's this one man's sin that does what?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
That comes at the price of 36 people's lives. If you remember that it was because of Achan's sin that they lost the battle of Ai. And at the battle of Ai, 36 Israelites died. And so you think this is towards the level of justice, but it's not like a triumphant kind of justice. It's not like, yeah, let's get this guy. Let's destroy Achan and destroy his whole family and everything he has.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
It's not a moment. It's not a happy moment. In fact, they named the place where he dies. They named the place where this justice is extended or doled out. They name it the Valley of Achor, A-C-H-O-R. The Valley of Achor means trouble. Trouble is what Achor means. or sadness or despair. It's our shame. It's a moment of our shame because it's not a great moment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
It's not a moment where the people of Israel are saying, yeah, get Achan. This is terrible. We were so mad at him. What it is, is here's the valley of a horror, which is the valley of our shame, the valley of our trouble. And so just keep, as we read this, like, let's look at from the perspective of the people of Israel. Here is the justice that we have to dole out, but it is not a happy moment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people that were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. For the sons of Israel walked 40 years in the perished because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
No one considered it to be a happy moment. And so again, when we read through the eyes of faith, we see that. If I read through the eyes of cynicism or skepticism, I can't see that. But later on, what's going to happen is we're going to read the book of the prophet Hosea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And one of the things that the Lord says through the prophet Hosea about this valley of a whore is he's going to say this because he references it in Hosea chapter two. He says, I will take your valley of a whore, your valley of trouble, your valley of shame and make it into a door of hope. That here's what the Lord can do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
He can transform even this low point in the people's lives, in our lives, in the lives of our families, this low point that no one wanted, but we had to do, and transform it into a door of hope. And so just as a kind of a quick teaser before we get to the book of Hosea, which is going to come up, you know, in a couple of weeks or months, to recognize that every one of us has a valley of a whore.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Maybe it's something someone has done to us. Maybe it's something that we've chosen. We brought upon ourselves trouble. We brought upon ourselves shame. We brought upon ourselves something that we just absolutely hate about our reality, about our lives. Well, Hosea promises, That even that, even this low point, even this thing you say, I can never, ever get away from this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
This will haunt me for the rest of my life. It'll come with me for the rest of my life. That the Lord God says, actually, that's not true. I can take this valley of horror, this valley of trouble, this valley of shame. and I can transform it into a door of hope. So that's my prayer for every one of us today, is we all have a valley of trouble and we all have a valley of shame.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
We all have things in our past that have wounded us and continue to linger and hold on to us. to surrender that today and say, okay, God, I gave you permission. Transform my valley of a whore, my valley of trouble, my valley of shame into a door of hope. If I surrender it to you, you can change it. And so that's what I'm praying.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
I'm praying that that's what happens, that every one of us can do that today. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me that I can do that because I have my valleys as well. And we'll just keep praying for each other. My name is Father Mike, and I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 82, and we are on the second day of the time period of conquest and judges. We are reading today from Joshua chapter 5 through chapter 7.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
To them the Lord swore that he would not let them see the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So it was their children whom he had raised up in their stead that Joshua circumcised. for they were uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
When the circumcising of all the nation was done, they remained in their places in the camp till they were healed. And the Lord said to Joshua, This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. the Passover at Gilgal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
While the sons of Israel were encamped in Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the 14th day of the month at the evening in the plains of Jericho. And on the next day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the manna ceased on the next day when they ate the produce of the land and the sons of Israel had manna no more, but ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, Are you for us or for our adversaries? And he said,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
No, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped and said to him, What does my Lord bid his servant? And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so. Chapter 6 Jericho Taken and Destroyed
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Now Jericho was shut up from within and from without because of the sons of Israel. None went out and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given into your hand Jericho with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
and seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark and on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times the priests blowing the trumpets and when they make a long blast with the ram's horn as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet then all the people shall shout with a great shout and the wall of the city will fall down flat and the people shall go up every man straight before him
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
sticking, as I mentioned yesterday, with the book of Joshua pretty much for the next eight or so days until day 88, where we'll conclude Joshua, and then day 89, move over to Judges. We're also praying today from Psalm 125. I am reading, as always, from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the Lord. And he said to the people, Go forward, march around the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
and the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets and the rear guard came after the ark while the trumpets blew continually but joshua commanded the people you shall not shout or let your voice be heard neither shall any word go out of your mouth until the day i bid you shout then you shall shout. So he caused the ark of the Lord to compass the city going about at once.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua rose early in the morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord and the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the Lord passed on blowing the trumpets continually.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the armed men went before them and the rear guard came up after the ark of the Lord while the trumpets blew continually. And the second day they marched around the city once and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. On the seventh day, they rose early at the dawn of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Only Rahab the harlot and all who were with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers that we sent. But you keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them, you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing of destruction and bring trouble upon it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
But all the silver and gold and vessels of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord. They shall go into the treasury of the Lord. So the people shouted. And the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people raised a great shout and the wall fell down flat so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Then they utterly destroyed all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep and donkeys with the edge of the sword. And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, go into the harlot's house and bring out from it the woman and all who belong to her as you swore to her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
so the young men who had been spies went in and brought out rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her and they brought all her kindred and set them outside the camp of israel and they burned the city with fire and all within it only the silver and gold and the vessels of bronze and iron they put into the treasury of the house of the lord
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
But Rahab the harlot and her father's household, and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Joshua laid an oath upon them at that time, saying, Cursed before the Lord be the man that raises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast that you're currently listening to on day 82 for crying out loud if you've not yet subscribed. We just all wonder. We just wonder, like, what is it we need to do? What is it we need to do after 82 days to get you to subscribe?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates. So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land. Chapter 7. The Sin of Achan and its Punishment But the sons of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things. For Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him... Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are but few. So about three thousand went up there from the people, and they fled before the men of Ai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the men of Ai killed about thirty-six men of them, and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim, and slew them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water." Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel, and they put dust upon their heads.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all to give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan. The Lord said to Joshua, Arise, why have you thus fallen upon your face? Israel has sinned. They have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
They have taken some of the devoted things. They have stolen and lied and put them among their own stuff. Therefore, the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies because they have become a thing for destruction. I will be with you no more. unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Up, sanctify the people and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the Lord God of Israel, There are devoted things in the midst of you, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you. In the morning, therefore, you shall be brought near by your tribes, and the tribe which the Lord takes shall come near by families.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the family which the Lord takes shall come near by households, and the household which the Lord takes shall come near man by man. And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord and because he has done a shameful thing in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe and the tribe of Judah was taken. And he brought near the families of Judah and the family of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man and Zabdi was taken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Chances are you've already subscribed and we are really, really grateful for that. As I said today, we are reading from Joshua chapter 5 through chapter 7 and praying Psalm 125. The book of Joshua chapter five. The sons of Israel are circumcised.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and render praise to him, and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And Achan answered Joshua, Of a truth, I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did. When I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shiner and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And behold, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the sons of Israel, and they laid them down before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah and the silver and the mantle and the bar of gold and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why did you bring trouble upon us? The Lord brings trouble on you this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Therefore, to this day, the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. Psalm 125, the security of God's people, a song of ascents.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from this time forth and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands to do wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts. But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways, the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Peace be in Israel. Father in heaven, we give you praise and we thank you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
We thank you for sharing this story with us. Thank you for being part of our stories as we, like Aiken, as we can be unfaithful, knowing exactly what you've asked us to do. So often, Lord, we turn away and do what we want to do. Lord, the heart of every sin is knowing what you want and yet doing what we want in violation of that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
When all the kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites that were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the sons of Israel until they had crossed over, their heart melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And so we come back to you knowing that in our guilt, you meet us with your mercy. In our shame, you meet us with your reconciliation. So please, Lord God, transform our valley of Achor into a door of hope. Hope for our lives, hope for our children, for our families, hope for our culture, hope for our world, hope for your people. In Jesus' name we pray.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Amen, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So, gosh, oh man, there's so much. You know, in the narrative book here of Joshua, there are so many things to cover. One thing, just to kind of recap, you noticed that when they entered the Promised Land, right, so they crossed the Jordan River, That was yesterday. And today they're into the promised land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And the Lord said to Joshua, who replaced Moses, that we need to circumcise all of the men. Now, this is remarkable because remember those, even the scripture even indicates that those who were set free from slavery in Egypt had been circumcised. But during the wilderness journey, during those 40 years, they didn't circumcise anyone. And there's almost this sense of why is that? Why would that be?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Well, part of it is there's being fully delivered here in the scripture today from this history of their slavery. They're being released in this particular way that scripture indicates that says, no, you have a new life. There's this covenant that's being renewed. As often as the Jewish man is circumcised, he's brought into that covenant, that covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
And so that's what happens is like you're breaking free from this history of your slavery and being brought into a relationship of love right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
and so that's the first thing and then another thing is the recognition of that the men here of fighting age who are circumcised would be very vulnerable as we know that from back in story of genesis where the families of simeon and levi had basically entered into covenant with the men of the family who had raped a dinah and then killed them all in their vulnerability after they had been circumcised and so here they are why didn't they get circumcised in the plains of moab on the other side of the jordan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
Well, there's a certain element of trust, and that's, I mean, the very reality of circumcision when it comes to Abraham is all about the sense of I am making myself vulnerable in a very particular way out of trust for God, which is just really, again, once again, really remarkable. Next is they celebrate the Feast of Passover, and the next day the manna ceases, and there's something about that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 82: The Valley of Achor (2025)
The Lord cared for them all throughout their wilderness wanderings, their desert journey, And that's over now. And now he will care for them in a different way. But they've been trained. Remember, they've been trained by being fed by the Lord. And so now that manna is ceasing. Now, the last two quick things I want to highlight. At one point, this angel of the Lord appears to Joshua.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
or it's a current promise about a future reality, but you're going to have to continue to fight. You're going to have to continue to serve your brothers and sisters here, the other tribes of Israel. And I think there's something just really powerful about that, that imagine here's your home. Oh, great. This is our land. Yes, it is. But keep moving with us because we are not done yet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And that's something that is way on our hearts so often is like, I want to be done. I just want to be able to have like, put my stake in the ground and say, okay, this is home. These are my roots. This is, I'm done. And for Ruben and Gad and Manasseh, okay, they got, this is your home, but you can't be here yet. Speaking of here's your home, but you can't be here yet is the last point.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And we have the story of Moses and he recounts, he said, I begged the Lord at that time, Lord, your God, you've only begun to show your servant to your greatness and your mighty hand. What God is there in heaven or earth or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Let me go over. I pray that I may see the good land beyond the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
But he says, the Lord was angry with me because in Numbers 21, Moses is going to strike a rock twice when God did not tell him to do that. In fact, he told him to do something else. And Moses in anger struck a rock twice. And because of that, he, as the leader was held to a higher standard. And because of that rash act, he was not able to cross over into the Jordan. And this is, that's the,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
They shall have charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and attend to the duties of the sons of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons and they shall attend to their priesthood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Something that can be a difficult teaching for us is that here is Moses who was very faithful for a long time, a long, long time. And yet, even in the midst of that, there are consequences to his actions. He was not displeasing to the Lord. God loved Moses. God loves Moses. And Moses was a faithful man, but there also are consequences to our actions.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And so you have Moses saying, I plead with you once more, you know, oh Lord, let me go over. And God basically says, do not bring this up anymore. He says, speak no more to me of this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah, this top of this mountain and look and behold the promised land, but you're going to die here. Now, that can seem harsh to us, but at the same time, it is true, isn't it?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
That the leaders among us and the teachers among us are held to a higher standard. And Moses is one of those, and he was held to a higher standard. Not a standard of perfection. but a higher standard nonetheless. And so we recognize all of us that, my gosh, Lord, please help me. Because if you have a family, you're held to a higher standard. You're the mom or the dad of that family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
If you're a teacher, you have a higher standard. James chapter three, verse one says that. Not many of you should aspire to be teachers because you'll be held to a more strict judgment. all of us are in some ways responsible for others. And so here's Moses who in his responsibility, he failed that task. Nonetheless, he still was loved by the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
It just meant that he couldn't enter the promised land. Sometimes the answer to our prayer is no. And today, the answer to Moses' prayer was no. And yet, God is faithful. And God still loves Moses, and God still loves you, and God still loves me. I'm praying for you. As we continue this journey through the Bible, we are going step by step, just like the children of Israel, through the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And yeah, we can only do this if we pray for each other. So I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
But if anyone else comes near, he shall be put to death. And the Lord said to Moses, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn that opens the womb among the sons of Israel. The Levites shall be mine, for all the firstborn are mine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
On the day that I slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine. I am the Lord. Census of the Levites. And the Lord said to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, Number the sons of Levi by father's houses and by families. Every male from a month old and upward you shall number.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord as he was commanded. And these were the sons of Levi by their names, Gershon and Kohath and Merari. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families, Libni and Shemii. And the sons of Kohath by their families, Amram, Ishhar, Hebron and Uziel. And the sons of Merari by their families, Mali and Mushi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today it is day 54 and today we're going to be reading from numbers chapter 3 and deuteronomy chapter 3 keeping a pace with those two stories those two books as well as praying psalm 87. the bible translation that i'm using is the revised standard version the second catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to download your own bible into your reading plan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
These are the families of the Levites by their fathers' houses. Of Gershon were the families of the Libnites and the families of the Shemaites. These were the families of the Gershonites. Their number, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, was 7,500.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
The families of the Gershonites were to encamp behind the tabernacle on the west, with Eliasaph, the son of Lael, as the head of the father's house of the Gershonites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting was to be the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the door of the tent of meeting, the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar and its cords, all the service pertaining to these.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Of Kohath were the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Isurites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzielites. These are the families of all the Kohathites. According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were 8,600 attending to the duties of the sanctuary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
The families of the sons of Kohath were to encamp on the south side of the tabernacle, with Elizaphan, the son of Uziel, as the head of the father's house of the families of the Kohathites. And their charge was to be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen, all the service pertaining to these.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who had charge of the sanctuary. Of Merari were the family of the Malites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. Their number according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And the head of the father's house of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihel. They were to encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. And the appointed charge of the sons of Merari was to be the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories, all the service pertaining to these.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Also the pillars of the court round about with their bases and pegs and cords. And those to encamp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary. Whatever had to be done for the sons of Israel, And anyone else who came near was to be put to death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord by families, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000. redemption of the firstborn. And the Lord said to Moses, Number all the firstborn males of the sons of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking their number by names.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And you shall take the Levites for me, I am the Lord, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the sons of Israel. So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the sons of Israel as the Lord commanded him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
In all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and upward, as numbered were 22,273. And the Lord said to Moses, Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine. I am the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the sons of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, you shall take five shekels apiece, reckoning by the shekel of the sanctuary the shekel of twenty gerahs, you shall take them, and give the money by which the excess number of them is redeemed to Aaron and his sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So Moses took the redemption money, and those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites from the firstborn of the sons of Israel, he took the money, 1,365 shekels, reckoned by the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Simply visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can download that for free. And make sure you subscribe on your podcast app to receive the daily episodes. But let's get started. The book of Numbers, chapter three, the sons of Aaron. These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Moses continued. Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. And Og, the king of Bashan, came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. But the Lord said to me, Do not fear him, for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So the Lord our God gave into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people, and we struck him until no survivor was left to him. And we took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we did not take from them, sixty cities, the whole region of Argab, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
all these cities were fortified with high gates walls and bars besides very many unwalled villages and we utterly destroyed them as we did to sihan the king of heshbon according to every city men women and children but all the cattle and the spoil of the cities we took as our booty
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So he took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon. The Sidonians called Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Sinir. All the cities of the table land and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Seleka and Edrei,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, for only Og, the king of Bashan, was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites, the territory beginning at Aroar, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities. The rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the region of the Argab, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
The whole of that Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. jair the manasite took all the region of argab that is bashan as far as the border of the geshurites and the makathites and called the villages after his own name havath jair as it is to this day
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
To Makir I gave Gilead, and to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the valley of Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a boundary, as far over as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites. The Arabah also, with the Jordan as the boundary, from Chinareth as far as the sea of Arabah, the salt sea, under the slopes of Pisgah on the east.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And I commanded you at that time, saying, The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall pass over armed before your brethren, the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
But your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, I know that you have many cattle, shall remain in the cities which I have given you, until the Lord gives rest to your brethren as to you, and they also occupy the land which the Lord your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then they shall return every man to his possession which I have given you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And I commanded Joshua at that time, Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. So will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are going over. You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. Moses views Canaan from Pisgah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
These are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests whom he ordained to minister in the priest's office But Nabab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered unholy fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And I begged the Lord at that time, saying, O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what God is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as you? Let me go over, I pray. and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that excellent hill country and Lebanon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
But the Lord was angry with me on your account and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, let it satisfy you. Speak no more to me of this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward and behold it with your eyes. for you shall not go over this Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land which you shall see.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
A Psalm of the sons of Korah, a song. On the holy mountain stands the city he founded. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, O city of God. Among those who know me, I mention Rahab and Babylon. Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia. This one was born there, they say.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one were born in her. For the Most High himself will establish her. The Lord records as he registers the peoples. This one was born there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Even in the midst of the depths, even in the midst of darkness, you are faithful and we can trust in you. Amen. Amen. We make this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Okay, quick, I want to highlight a couple of quick things. One is in Numbers chapter 3. What do we have? We have the tribe of Levi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
Remember that among the other tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi was set apart, right? They had set themselves apart. You have ordained yourselves this day, you know, when Levi, the tribe of Levi, rose up against the other people of Israel who had worshipped the golden calf. One thing that I think I may have not been clear about is the following. I
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
that while all of the tribe of Levi was set apart for service in the tabernacle or service in the temple, not every one of the tribe of Levi was a priest. And I think this is important. All priests have to be Levites, but not all Levites are priests. That is an important note because I think that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that, oh, if you serve in the tabernacle, if you're a Levite, you're therefore a priest. That's not exactly the case. And here in Numbers chapter three, it spells that out. It spells out that there were a number of the tribe of Levi who were set to particular tasks, right? So You have the sons of Levi, Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. duties of the Levites. And the Lord said to Moses, bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest that they may minister to him. They shall perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting as they minister at the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
And so they're all given different tasks to do. So the family of Gershon is on the west side of the tabernacle, and they're given charge over the screen and the tent of meeting and its covering. And you have Kohath, and it's on the south side, and they're given a number of tasks that have to do with the ark and the table and the lampstand. And so what we realize is that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
all levites are there for the service of the temple but not all are serving in the same particular way and it is noted by the lord god here in numbers chapter 3 that you only the levites are those allowed to this have this temple service and among that tribe of levi right is the sons of aaron and those are the ones who are the priests working in the the service of offering up the worship or offering up
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
performing out those rights and duties in the tabernacle. The other duties that have to do with maintaining and making sure that everything's running well, that has to do with those other families of the tribe of Levi. I hope that that makes sense. It is a often missed little piece that us as modern Christians can sometimes not understand or realize.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So again, all priests are from the tribe of Levi. Not all Levites are priests. The next thing to kind of highlight is Deuteronomy chapter 3. I just want to pull out two quick things. The first is that the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Manasseh, they're given land in what they call the Transjordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
So this is before they've crossed over the Jordan River and entered into the Promised Land. Their land there in Transjordan is given to them. That's where those tribes dwelt. That's where those tribes ultimately are going to exist. But the Lord God through Moses says, okay, this is your land, but you have to keep coming with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 54: The Tribe of Levi (2025)
You have to keep journeying with us over the Jordan River because we still have battles to fight. We still have the promised land to obtain. And so we need you to go with us across the Jordan. And after you've taken the land, you can come back to this land. This is going to be your land. And there's this element of here's a gift. This is almost like a future promise that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
the church is not the first line of defense against poverty. The church isn't the first line of defense against someone living a life of desolation, that it's actually the family. And so if you're going to be a Christian and you're not taking care of your own family, then you're failing in religion. In fact, he says you're worse than an unbeliever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we follow his commandments. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
A Christian who doesn't take care of their own family when they can is worse than an unbeliever, which is convicting for so many of us who might be separated from our families and might be distant from our families and say, okay, how can I do that now in this life, in this day, and in this age will be a call for all of us. I love the fact that St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Paul writes to Timothy in chapter four and he says, train yourself in godliness. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is a value in every way. And I like it because I find myself going for a run, doing some workouts, exercising this. And Paul says bodily training is of some value. So he doesn't denigrate it. But then he highlights the fact that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
But at the same time, godliness, right? Training in the spirit is a value in every way as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. And that is a good reminder that we just are called to not just have fitness in our lives, are called to have wealth in our lives, success in our lives, but to be the kind of men and women that God has created and redeemed us to be.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
The last thing here is the good fight of faith. And here is Paul exhorting Timothy you know, who is young, who is comparatively young, this young Bishop essentially of Ephesus. As for you, man of God, shun all of this, which all of what? Well, love of money, which is the root of all evil. Remember that money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And through this craving, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. I've seen this so many times. I maybe haven't seen it in older people. It's probably present, but I work with college students and I see this desire to be successful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
I see this desire to accumulate wealth, be the thing that just drives so many of our students from a life of prayer and from a life of service. to becoming distant and cold to the Lord because they're like, I'm gonna go, I'm gonna get after it, I'm gonna crush the day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And instead of giving God their first fruits and pursuing that training and godliness is this pursuit after wealth, this pursuit after money, the love of money, the root of all evils. And some by craving this have wandered away from the faith. But then that's when Paul says, but you men of God shun all this aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And then bam, here's the line. Fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. And this is so important. Take hold of the eternal life. to which you are called. My brothers and sisters, you and I have been called to the eternal life. So why not fight for it? I mean, truly, here we are on day 357. You've been fighting for 357 days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
You've been listening to the Lord's word for 357 days. Take hold of the eternal life that God has in store for you, that he wants for you, that he wills for you, that he's given you in Christ Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Fight for it. This is the most precious gift
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And by doing so, to follow the commandments, to love one another as God has loved us, and to be worthy of the gift.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward. Anyone who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Thank you so much for being on this journey together with me, with each other. Let's keep fighting. I'm praying for you. Please, please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
He who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting, for he who greets him shares his wicked work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Final Greetings Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come and see you and talk with you face to face that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister greet you. The Third Letter of John Salutation The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Gaius commended for his service.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And while we fit into that story today, it is day 357. We're reading 2 John and 3 John. the entirety of both of those letters of St. John, as well as the conclusion of the first letter of Paul to Timothy, reading chapters 4, 5, and 6. Also, we are reading Proverbs chapter 30, verses 29 through 33.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you, and that you may be in health. For I know that it is well with your soul. For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth. No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to the brethren, especially to strangers who have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey as befits God's service, for they have set out for his sake and have accepted nothing from the heathen. So we ought to support such men that we may be fellow workers in the truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Diotrephes and Demetrius. I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, accusing me falsely with evil words. And not content with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has testimony from everyone and from the truth itself. I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true. Final greetings. I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Peace be to you. The friends greet you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
False Asceticism Now, the Spirit expressly says that in later times, some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, though the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. a good minister of Jesus Christ. If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in godliness. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in the Year reading plan for this last week and a half, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in the Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on subscribe and... Or you know what?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance for to this end we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living god who is the savior of all men especially of those who believe command and teach these things Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Till I come, attend to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given to you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are real widows.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some return to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. She who is a real widow and is left all alone has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, whereas she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Command this, so that they may be without reproach. If anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age having been the wife of one husband and she must be well attested for her good deeds as one who has brought up children shown hospitality washed the feet of saints relieved the afflicted and devoted herself to doing good in every way
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
but refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to house, and not only idlers, but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, rule their households, and give the enemy no occasion to revile us. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her assist them. Let the church not be burdened so that it may assist those who are real widows.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the scripture says, you shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and the laborer deserves his wages. Never admit any charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Actually, hold out. Hold out. You don't want to give in now. It's been 357 days. You do not want to crack at the last minute. So just please don't subscribe. Don't be part of this. Just kidding. You are part of this. And we are so grateful. It is day 357. We are reading 2 John, 3 John, 1 Timothy chapters 4, 5, and 6, and Proverbs chapter 30, verses 29 through 33.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all so that the rest may stand in fear. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. Men's Deeds, False Teaching, and True Riches The sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
So also, good deeds are conspicuous, and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden. Chapter 6. Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be defamed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Rather, they must serve all the better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, He is puffed up with conceit. He knows nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
He has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
the good fight of faith. But as for you, man of God, shun all this. Aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
In the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Personal Instructions and Benediction O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. For by professing it, some have missed the mark as regards the faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Three things are stately in their tread, four are stately in their stride. The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, and does not turn back before any, the striding cock, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people. If you have been foolish exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
The second letter of John, salutation. The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love. truth and love.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Thank you for your word. Thank you for calling us your children and making us into your children and your beloved son, Jesus Christ. We ask you to please help us to walk in faith, help us to walk in hope, and help us to walk in love in all things, in all ways. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
So as we noted before, the second letter and third letter of John are quite short. And yet the same themes apply where John is saying, okay, this is the key. This is the key. Love. That's it. And not only love in this idea of affective love, like affection. Affection is fine. Affection is good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
But John is talking about effective love in the same way that Jesus, when he preached love, he's talking about effective love, love that actually clothes the naked, love that actually does something. That's effective, right? Not just affection, which is a feeling, which is great. Love is felt, but it's more than a feeling. We recognize that love to truly be the love that God has must be effective.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And that's one of the reasons why, as John reminds us, this is love, that we follow his commandments. So important. This is love that we follow God's commandments. And that's not only is it love, but also it is doctrine. It's truth. And so John talks about this truth and love. And that's these are two things that must go together. Truth without love is a hammer, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
Truth without love is just a sledgehammer. But love without truth is ineffectual. Love without truth is syrup, essentially. And neither of those actually does a lot of good. Neither of those build up. And what we're called to do is belong to the Lord and help in building up the people around us. Anyways, that's John.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And the next time we see John, we're going to be hitting the book of Revelation, which is basically the day after tomorrow, which is kind of awesome. But we also have the conclusion of the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Now, remember, writing to Timothy, Timothy's living in Ephesus. And so the Ephesian Christians have got a number of things wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And one of the things that they had gotten wrong is they started to have this, as the header of chapter four says, have a false asceticism. They were denying certain things. They were forbidding marriage. They were enjoining abstinence from some foods. And Paul is writing to Timothy saying, no, no, no, remember, Marriage is good. Marriage is a gift from God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And also, remember, in the new covenant, you can eat all foods. Whatever food you have, you can eat those foods. It says, nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. There are also, this is the thing, there's also some people who were not living very noble lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
In fact, there's groups of older men who were, the stories are that they might have been walking around drunk all the time. There were older women who were widows, but they were wealthy widows. And so they're basically kind of living off of the generosity of the church. And they were giving the church a bad name. Not only were they giving a bad name, they were also gossiping.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And that is, as we know, gossip is deadly to community. Gossip is deadly to relationships. And so here's Paul writing to Timothy saying, listen, those men, correct them, but correct them as you would correct a father, right? So you're not just lambasting them in front of everybody. And these women, remember, we need to give our support to true widows, those who actually are in need.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 357: Truth and Love (2024)
And those who are willing to take the gifts that we're giving them and not just live idly, but live nobly. And that's this key. It's really hard. It's one of those calls that we have, which is not simply to kind of throw charity wherever, but to apply it where it's needed. In fact, the reminder that St. Paul gives to Timothy to pass on to everyone in Ephesus is this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
It is because that's my name. My name is Father Mike. And I am so grateful that we are taking this journey together. I'm praying for you and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
He was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives, and Joseph brought an ill report of them to their father. Now, Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a long robe with sleeves.
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Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they only hated him the more. He said to them, Hear this dream which I have dreamed. Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf. His brothers said to him, are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to have dominion over us? So they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and he told it to his brothers and said, behold, I have dreamed another dream.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And behold, the sun, the moon and 11 stars were bowing down to me. but when he told it to his father and to his brothers his father rebuked him and said to him what is this dream that you have dreamed shall i and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you and his brothers were jealous of him but his father kept this saying in mind
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Now his brothers went to pastor their father's flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, are not your brothers pastoring the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them. And he said to him, here I am. So he said to him, go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock and bring me word again. So he sent him from the valley of Hebron and he came to Shechem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And a man found him wandering in the fields and the man asked him, what are you seeking? I am seeking my brothers, he said. Tell me, I beg you, where are they pasturing the flock? And the man said, They have gone away, for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
They saw him afar off and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, here comes the dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
This is day 19, so let's keep on going. Today we're reading actually only one chapter of Genesis, Genesis chapter 37. It is the beginning of the story of our friend... Our friend Job is there, our friend Joseph. And we're also reading Job chapter 27 and 28, and then Proverbs chapter 3, verses 25 through 27.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands saying, let us not take his life. And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood. Cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him, that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore, and took him and cast him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat, and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
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Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Then Judah said to his brothers, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh. And his brothers heeded him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Then Midianite traders passed by, and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver, and they took Joseph to Egypt. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, The lad is gone, and I, where shall I go?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Then they took Joseph's robe and killed a goat and dipped the robe in the blood, and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their father and said, This we have found. See now whether it is your son's robe or not. And he recognized it and said, It is my son's robe. A wild beast has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth upon his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, No. No. I shall go down to Sheol to my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. Meanwhile, the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Job chapter 27 and 28. Job maintains his integrity. And Job again took up his discourse and said, as God lives, who has taken away my right and the almighty who has made my soul bitter. As long as my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips will not speak falsehood and my tongue will not utter deceit. Far be it from me to say that you are right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we will read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Till I die, I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not reproach me for any of my days. Let my enemy be as the wicked, and let him that rises up against me be as the unrighteous. For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life? Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times? I will teach you concerning the hand of God. What is with the Almighty I will not conceal. Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves. Why then have you become altogether vain? This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage which oppressors receive from the Almighty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
If you're interested in getting this Bible in your reading plan that we are going through, you can just go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, and you can download that. I have it right in front of you. You can put it in your Bible, and you can follow along with us every single day. I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition of the Bible right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his offspring have not enough to eat. Those who survive him the pestilence buries, and their widows make no lamentation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
though he heaps up silver like dust and pile up clothing like clay he may pile it up but the just will wear it and the innocent shall divide the silver the house which he builds is like a spider's web like a booth which a watchman makes he goes to bed rich but will do so no more when he opens his eyes and his wealth is gone Terrors overtake him like a flood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
In the night, a whirlwind carries him off. The east wind lifts him up and he is gone. It sweeps him out of his place. It hurls at him without pity. He flees from its power in headlong flight. It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
surely there is a mine for silver and a place for gold which they refine iron is taken out of the earth and copper is melted from the ore men put an end to darkness and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness They open shafts in a valley away from where men live. They are forgotten by travelers. They hang afar from men. They swing back and forth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it. The proud beasts have not trodden it. The lion has not passed over it." Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
He cuts out channels in the rocks and his eye sees every precious thing. He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle and the thing that is hidden he brings forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
The deep says, it is not in me, and the sea says, it is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal. The price of wisdom is above pearls.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. From where does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and death say, we have heard rumor of it with our ears. God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And I'm using actually the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. It's just really, really good, especially when it comes to some of the details regarding notes, some of the details when it comes regarding maps, and also when it comes to the whole actual Great Adventure Bible timeline. This Great Adventure Bible is really, really helpful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
For he looks to the end of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he gave to the wind its weight and meted out the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it. He established it and searched it out. And he said to man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
and to depart from evil is understanding. Proverbs 3, verses 25-27 Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. God, you are good, and we give you praise. Thank you so much for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
We ask that you please send your Holy Spirit to enliven our minds, to enliven our hearts as we belong to you more and more this day and every day. In Jesus' name we pray, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So you guys, here we are. Only one chapter from Genesis, but today we get introduced kind of for the first time, basically.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
We heard his name once or twice before this, but for the first time we hear the story of Joseph. And he is beloved by Israel because he is the son of Rachel. And Joseph is not only that little brother, apparently, who is not necessarily entirely well-liked by his brothers. Actually, I'm laughing about it. But at the same time, we realize this is the brokenness that happens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Gosh, is that like the key word? I brought it up every day in our journey of these last 19 days in the scripture is the word brokenness. But here's what we have. We have Joseph being 17 years old. So his older brothers are quite older. Quite a bit older. They can be. And what happens is because Israel loves their little brother more than them, here is jealousy. Here is envy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And this is kind of the key, isn't it? When there is something unjust happening, At first, we're maybe righteous in noting that this is wrong. This isn't how it should be. But then something can happen and something can twist inside of us where we're not merely fighting for justice anymore, but now we're fighting out of a place of resentment, fighting out of a place of jealousy or envy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And that's what we see happen. You go from a place where like, okay, here's our little brother who, I mean, gosh, at this point, he's the youngest son. At this point, he's the 11th. So Benjamin hasn't been born yet. As far as we know. And here is, because later on Joseph's going to find out, oh, there's a little brother named Benjamin. I didn't even know him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
His brothers go from this place of Joseph, who is not going to have a lot of power. He's not going to have a lot of authority. He's not the firstborn. He is the 11th born. And yet, because of this distortion, because of this jealousy that turns to envy, that turns to resentment, there seems to be no stopping what we will do when we feel resentment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
You can subscribe to this podcast by just clicking subscribe. It'd be super good if you did that, because then you would get the updates without any extra work from yourself. If you want to get an e-report on our email list, you can text the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
When we feel that someone else has something that we believe is ours. That, in so many ways, is the root of resentment. When we believe someone else has something that we believe is ours or should be ours. In this case, it was their father's love. So they're not wrong. They're not wrong, but they are wrong in choosing to be resentful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And that resentment leads them to the place where they're literally willing to kill, to murder their youngest brother, a 17 year old. And you think, I would never do that. I could never get to that place. And yet, jealousy distorted into envy, distorted into resentment could lead us to do anything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And so as we just read this story, one of the things we do, we pay attention to the brokenness, not to say, oh my gosh, I can't believe they were so broken back then. We read these stories so we know our family tree, but also so we know our own hearts. Because this is where God not only reveals his heart to us in his word, it also reveals our hearts to ourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
because we recognize that if I leave my, I recognize if I leave my jealousy unchecked, it becomes this envy that can become resentment, that can become deadly. And I don't want to be that kind of person. And I know that you don't want to be that kind of person. So what do we do?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
We say, okay, Lord, if that jealousy has come up, if that envy has taken root in my heart, if resentment, where I think that someone else has something that ought to belong to me, then what I need to do So I need to turn to you. I need to tell the truth. And that truth is that their life is a gift. And it is not something that I can say is owed to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And in so many ways, the love of the people around us is not something that I can say is owed to me. When it is given, it just has to be received with gratitude. But it can't be something that is asserted or claimed or, or demanded. Just like this life. I can't believe that this life is something that is owed to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
Once again, as I said today, it is day 19, reading Genesis 37, Job 27 and 28 in Proverbs chapter three, verses 25 through 27. Genesis chapter 37. Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings in the land of Canaan. This is the history of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
It is merely something that I can, when it's given to me, I can receive it with gratitude, but I can't demand it. I can't force it. It is simply a gift. So today is a gift for all of us, for every single one of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
And so as we launch forward into this day on this 19th day of this Bible in a year podcast, we just give thanks to the Lord because the cure for resentment, the cure for jealousy and envy is gratitude. And so Lord God, thank you. Thank you for this day. If you want to follow along, you can download the Bible in a year reading plan by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 19: Joseph and His Brothers (2025)
If you want to get updates, just text the words Catholic Bible, but with no spaces, Catholic Bible, all one word, to the number 33777. And as always, please pray for each other. Please pray for each other. You are not alone. And yet, you know, we know that He can feel alone pretty easily, pretty darn easily. And so another day, God's word. I was going to say, my name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But he's asked this of us. And in our abundance, to give in abundance is one of the things that is just such an incredible blessing. When we're surrounded by abundance, to give out of that abundance is such a gift. And that's what that Feast of Booth is all about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But in chapter 30, it talks about the keeping of avows and talks about the difference between if someone, a man, makes a vow, he shall keep the vow. And if he doesn't, that shall be on his head. He has bound himself, and that's a real thing. And when a woman makes a vow, Same kind of thing. But it does talk about the dynamic between men and women.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
If a woman is widowed or she's not married and she's not living under her father's home or in her husband's home, then she is in control of her own vows. But there is this, you know, as we said from Genesis chapter three, there is this balance when it comes to the life of the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And that balance has to do with the fact that while men and women, male and female, are created equal in their dignity, equally made in God's image and likeness, oftentimes because of the fall, there is this sense of imbalance, right? There's this sense of what we don't like. I mean, we would say that, and not just don't like, but there is an unfairness in some ways.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
The law here, when it comes to her father or her husband being able to kind of cancel out her vow, isn't because that's the perfect thing or that's the way it ought to be. It's ascribing that's how life is in a broken world. And that's important for us to understand that it's not saying, okay, this is ideal world. In fact, let's talk about it like this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
All of the laws, we recognize every one of the laws is not written for an ideal world. All the laws of Deuteronomy, we've been going through almost the entire book in a couple of days, we'll be completely done with this book. All the laws of Leviticus, all the laws of Numbers, are given to the people of Israel because they're living in a broken world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
You don't need to give laws to people that are not living in a broken world, but we're trying to give, here's God giving that next step, that way of like, okay, when you're living in relationship with each other, when you're living in relationship with me, your tendency, your temptation is going to be to go beyond, to use each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Your temptation is going to be to ignore me or to not give the Lord what is his due. And so these laws are here because your temptation is going to be to use each other, to manipulate each other, to dominate each other. And so these laws are there to put a cap on that. It's put a limit to that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
On the first day of the seventh month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets and you shall offer a burnt offering, a pleasing order to the Lord. One young bull, one ram, seven male lambs, a year old without blemish. Also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
So that's kind of like one of the ways we can understand some of the laws that are, they don't fit in our time and place necessarily. Now, going on. When it comes to vows, though, we note that a vow is defined as a promise made to God. And that promise is binding. That vow is a promise made to God that's binding upon us. Now, it's not the same thing as a simple resolution.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Like say, I want to read the Bible every day. And then you don't. And it's not like you are bound by that. And yet we recognize that any time we make a promise to God or a vow to God, it is going to be relatively, I was going to say relatively serious. And you can take that word relative out and say, really, it is going to be really serious.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
So much so that here is the book of Numbers that talks about how If you're released from your vow, then it will not be held against you. Which is to say that if you're not released from your vow, you don't live up to your vow, then it will be held against you. Because this is a serious thing. It is a serious thing to make a promise
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
to the Lord, which is one of the reasons why Jesus talks about rash oaths. He talks about taking the vow lightly. He said, don't swear upon the hair on your head because you can't make one hair white or black on your own. Don't swear upon the temple. Don't swear upon the footstool or on earth because it's God's footstool, upon heaven because it's where It's God's throne.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But Jesus wasn't prohibiting the use of vows. He was highlighting the fact that the use of vows had proliferated in the early first century when Jesus was walking this earth. And what he was doing was he was highlighting the fact that we need to be very careful when we are making vows to the Lord because we're taking our lives into our hands when we do this kind of a thing.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Now, all that is to say that in Deuteronomy chapter 29, here is the Lord who's renewing, making a new covenant in many ways with the people of Israel in the plains of Moab. Because they're about to head into the promised land. Moses is about to come to the end of his life.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And so here is this renewal of the covenant and the renewed invitation and command of the Lord God to say, do not turn to other gods because this is what you're going to want to do. I've said this so many times. I might sound like a broken record because the temptation is always going to be, let me just fit in. Let me just look like everyone else.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But here is the Lord God who says you can't look like everyone else because you're not, not because you're special, but because you're mine. And that's the key for today as we move into the end of this Day 75 Bible in a Year podcast. Remember, you can't be like everyone else, not because you're special, but because you belong to him. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Let's pray for each other as we continue on this incredible, incredible journey. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs, with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its cereal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering, and their drink offering, according to the ordinance for them, a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the Lord."
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 75. Oh my gosh, 75 is a phenomenal milestone. I think it's worth celebrating the fact that you made it to this day. We are reading from Numbers chapter 29 and 30, Deuteronomy chapter 29.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
offerings on the day of atonement. On the tenth day of this seventh month, you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves. You shall do no work, but you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing odor. One young bull, one ram, seven male lambs, a year old. they shall be to you without blemish.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the ram, a tenth for each of the seven lambs, also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and its cereal offering, and their drink offerings. offerings at the Feast of Booths.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you shall have a holy convocation, you shall do no laborious work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. And you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord. Thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old,
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
They shall be without blemish, and their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams, and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs. Also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its cereal offering, and its drink offering, on the second day."
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
twelve young bulls two rams fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish with the cereal offering and the drink offering for the bulls for the rams and for the lambs by number according to the ordinance also one male goat for a sin offering besides the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering and their drink offerings
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
on the third day, eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, with the cereal offerings and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs by number, according to the ordinance. Also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and its cereal offering, and its drink offering.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
on the fourth day ten bulls two rams fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish with the cereal offerings and the drink offerings for the bulls for the rams and for the lambs by number according to the ordinance also one male goat for a sin offering besides the continual burnt offering its cereal offering and its drink offering
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
On the fifth day, nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs by number according to the ordinance. Also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering and its drink offering.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
on the sixth day eight bulls two rams fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish with the cereal offering and the drink offering for the bulls for the rams and for the lambs by number according to the ordinance also one male goat for a sin offering besides the continual burnt offering its cereal offering and its drink offerings
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
On the seventh day, seven bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs by number according to the ordinance. Also one male goat for a sin offering. Besides the continual burnt offering, its cereal offering and its drink offering. On the eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
We're also praying Psalm 113. One of the things to keep in mind is we are getting to these last chapters in Numbers and the last chapters in Deuteronomy. And so to pay attention of like as the story kind of wraps up this desert wandering time period We're going to hear some rules. Gosh, that's a surprise. But we're also going to hear the ending of the story when it comes to the desert wanderings.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
You shall do no laborious work, but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord, one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish, and the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs by number according to the ordinance.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Also, one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering and its drink offering. And Moses told the sons of Israel everything, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Chapter 30, The Keeping of Vows Moses said to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, This is what the Lord has commanded.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
When a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Or when a woman vows a vow to the Lord, and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father's house in her youth, and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself, and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But if her father expresses disapproval to her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself, shall stand. and the Lord will forgive her, because her father opposed her.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And if she is married to a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, and her husband hears of it, and says nothing to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But if on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he expresses disapproval, then he shall make void her vow which was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she bound herself, and the Lord will forgive her. But any vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, anything by which she has bound herself shall stand against her.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound herself by a pledge with an oath, and her husband heard of it and said nothing to her and did not oppose her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she bound herself shall stand.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But if her husband makes them null and void on the day that he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning her pledge of herself shall not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the Lord will forgive her. Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself her husband may establish or her husband may make void.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges that are upon her. He has established them because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them. But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses as between a man and his wife and between a father and his daughter while in her youth from within her father's house.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
The Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 29 The Covenant Renewed in Moab These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he had made with them at Horeb. And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Not so much today, but keep that in mind as these times, as I mentioned before, the timelines are converging, right? Numbers telling the whole story from the beginning of Mount Sinai and the wandering through the wilderness. But then Deuteronomy being that look back that Moses has been able to proclaim to the people of God.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and those great wonders. But to this day, the Lord has not given you a mind to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. I have led you 40 years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out upon you and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
You have not eaten bread and you have not drunk wine or strong drink that you may know that I am the Lord, your God. And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them. We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manasites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Therefore, be careful to do the words of this covenant that you may prosper in all that you do. You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God, the heads of your tribes, your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives and the sojourner who is in your camp, both he who hews your wood and he who draws your water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God makes with you this day, that he may establish you this day as his people, and that he may be your God as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Nor is it with you only that I make this sworn covenant, but with him who is not here with us this day, as well as with him who stands here with us this day before the Lord our God, You know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them. Beware, lest there be among you a man or woman or family or tribe whose heart turns away this day from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart. This would lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. The Lord would not pardon him, but rather the anger of the Lord and his jealousy would smoke against that man.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And the curses written in this book would settle upon him and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven. And the Lord would single him out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the law.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And the generation to come, your children who rise up after you and the foreigner who comes from a far land would say when they see the afflictions of that land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
and the sickness with which the Lord has made it sick, the whole land brimstone and salt, and a burnt-out waste, unsewn and growing nothing, where no grass can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Adma and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger and wrath. Yes, all the nations would say. Why has the Lord done thus to this land? What means the heat of this great anger?
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
and then giving them that new law, or not the new law, but the law once again, knowing their hearts and knowing that they need to be reminded of the great laws of God. So the Bible translation we are reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Then men would say, It is because they forsook the covenant of the Lord, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt and went and served other gods and worshipped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book. and the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great wrath and cast them into another land as at this day.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may all do the words of this law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down upon the heavens and the earth. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
We thank you for this day. We thank you for the gift of your word. We thank you for the gift of your heart because you share your heart with us by sharing your word with us. In a special way, we give you praise for sharing the word made flesh, Jesus Christ, with us and giving us access to your heart, Father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
in jesus christ and the power of your holy spirit you give us access to your heart and we give you praise for that especially as we're coming closer and closer to the end of this desert wanderings and coming into the the period of conquest and judges we ask you to please give us courage give us strength give us a persistence and a perseverance to be able to continue to listen to your word to allow it to shape our heart and above all to give us your holy spirit that we can have
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
If you want to download your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. And if you have not yet subscribed in your podcast, please do that. But don't let me tell you what to do. Once again, we are reading today from Numbers chapter 29 and 30, Deuteronomy chapter 29, and as I said, Psalm 113. Deuteronomy chapter 29, offerings at the feast of trumpets.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
access to your heart and that we have the courage to pursue you with everything we are. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Well, one of the things I've noticed is that I say man, oh man, a lot at the end of these things. After I get done with the prayer, I say, man, oh man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
And I apologize for that because it's probably really annoying. One of the things we heard today, but man, oh man, one of the things we heard in Numbers chapter 30 Well, Numbers 29, we have a review of these are the gifts, these are the feasts. We have the Feast of Booths, we have the Feast of Trumpets, the Feast of Day of Atonement.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
You might have noticed that on the Day of Atonement, it is day they say you shall afflict yourselves. It's the only day that it says you shall afflict yourselves. It is the day of, as it says, the Day of Atonement. aptly named, because it is a day of sorrow for sins. And so the people would take upon themselves, remind themselves of their sins and offer those sacrifices.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
We heard all about the sacrifices for those three different feasts, trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Booths. One of the things you might have noticed is the repetition on the offering at the Feast of Booths. The one thing that changed every day, beginning on the first day, was there were 13 young bulls. And then the second day, 12, and the third day,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
11, and then so on and so forth, down to the seventh day. And eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly. Seventh day, seven bulls, and that's the last thing. On the eighth day then, a solemn assembly, you offer to the Lord one bull, one ram, seven male lambs. And it changes because you're marking these days. One of the things about the Feast of Booths is that they're giving so many.
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Day 75: The Keeping of Vows (2025)
You can hear this. I mean, the first day, 12 young bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs with all the cereal offerings and the drink offerings. Why? Because it's a feast of abundance. It's one of the great feasts of saying, Lord, you've given us so much. So we are going to give back so much. Not that the Lord needs this. And this is so important for all of us. He doesn't need this.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
We don't know what happened to him. And so they have this uncertainty. And in the midst of their uncertainty, what do they do? They try to take control. And this is, oh my goodness, this is the lesson for all of us. Here is God who allows us to walk and invites us to walk in faith. He invites us to walk in the And yet in the midst of that uncertainty, what do we do? We say, well, what can I take?
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
How can I take control of this situation? Because I'm tired of waiting and I'm tired of the uncertainty. I'm tired of not knowing. And so I'm going to take matters into my own hands. So that's the first thing. The first thing is, what's the impetus? What's the motivation for these people? It was not they wanted to rebel against God. This is very, very important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
They didn't say, we defy the God who brought us out of Egypt. They simply say, basically, we don't know what happened to this Moses. So what we're going to do is we're going to take matters into our own hands. We're going to take control of the situation. So that's the first thing to understand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
The second thing is, I think, very, very important, is that when Aaron makes the golden calf, how do the people respond? They are not acting as if they are turning away from the God who led them out of Egypt to a different God. What they're saying is, this, O Israel, is the God who led you out of Egypt. It's so fascinating that instead, they're not completely,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
I guess whole hog, I don't know what the term would be. They're not completely rejecting the God who delivered them out of slavery in Egypt, but they're ascribing to this image, the golden calf, the very role of God. So they're saying, this is the God who delivered you out of slavery. And this is the thing that's so often for us. So often for us, we turn to idols, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
We turn to other sources of trust or confidence. We take good things, make them into ultimate things. Why? Because we're uncertain and we want to take control. But then secondly, they do this in this, and we do this in this such a unique way where it's not... I'm turning away from God, but instead it's, I'm making a God of my own, a God that I can control.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
I'm making a God that I'm still saying that, no, this is the God, but it's one that I can put away when I'm done with him and take him out when I need him. You know, I think about this. How often do we treat God like that? Say, no, no, I know who you are. Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity. Like, yes, I know this.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
But then we treat God as a toy. We treat God as that kind of like, again, that idol. The idea is like, he's on the shelf. When I need him, I take him off the shelf. When I don't really want him around, I put him back on the shelf. And that's what you can do to a God that you've made on your own, is that you can isolate him. You can dismiss him when you want to, when you feel like it.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And then he's there when you need him. But that's idolatry. And as someone has once said, that the human heart is an idol-making factory. And I believe that that is true about my heart. And that is true probably about your heart. Because if we have the broken human heart that we all have, we can trade in uncertainty for control, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And this is the heart of, in so many ways, what God is trying to do and break through to the people. One of the reasons, one of the things we're going to see as they journey through the wilderness in the book of Numbers and Deuteronomy, what we're going to see is here's God training his people to trust him. That they're not in control. Just like you and I are not in control.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
But God allows us, he calls us, and he calls us to walk in faith. Why? Not just so that, like, I don't want you to know what's next, what's happening next. It's, I want you to walk in faith so that you can learn, you can trust me. I know that you live in uncertain times. I know that what's going on in the world is uncertain. I know what's going on in your life is uncertain.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And I know the temptation is to turn to something that you can control and put your faith in that. But here is the true God who says, no, I'm the true God. You can't control me, but you don't have to because I love you. Last thing, the last thing to note here, not only is to note that Aaron, it clearly says in Exodus that Aaron fashions the golden calf and then Aaron's excuses. They gave me gold.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And Aaron said to them, Take off the rings of gold which are in the ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters, and bring them to me. So all the people took off the rings of gold which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron, And he received the gold at their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a molten calf.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
I threw it into the fire and there came out this golden calf. Like, okay, bro, whatever. But is the birth of Levitical priesthood. Up until this point, in the people of Israel, the father of the family was the priest of the family. So that Passover that we had at the very beginning of the book of Exodus, that Passover sacrifice was done by the father.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
From now on, the Levites are going to be the priests. That priesthood was taken away from the, by nature, fatherhood. and is now given to the Levitical priesthood. That's why we have, obviously, the book of Leviticus, right? Because it's the Levitical priesthood coming from here, Exodus chapter 32, where the tribe of Levi becomes the tribe of priests.
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Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And that's going to do a lot, obviously, to shape the future of the people of Israel. And it's also going to do a lot to reveal to us now in the new covenant what it is to be a priest as well. And so there we are, gosh, what a gift we have to be able to not only hear this story of Exodus chapter 32, but also of Leviticus 23, where we have the feasts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
We talked about them a couple of days ago, the feasts of tabernacle, the feasts of Passover, the feast of weeks. And so, and also the feast of Yom Kippur, the feast of the day of atonement, which we already talked about before. So again, some of these things, hopefully as we keep reading them again and again, the And that's not a mistake. That is on purpose and that is for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
So that we didn't just hear about something once and then we just kind of like, what was that? That we hear about it again and again. And we are going to hear about these feasts again, again, and again. And oh my gosh. So as we continue to pray with each other and we continue to pray for each other, recognize that our hearts can make idols out of almost anything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And so we pray for each other so that So that we have freedom and we have trust that even in the midst of uncertainty in our world, in our lives, in our hearts, that we have the confidence to follow after the Lord God as he truly has revealed himself. Pray for each other. Please pray for me. I am praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 47. We are reading from Exodus chapter 32, Leviticus chapter 23, and we are praying Psalm 79. Psalm 79. I keep forgetting to say that. I keep forgetting to mention that the Psalms are prayers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Go down, for your people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it and said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore, let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them. But of you I will make a great nation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
But Moses begged the Lord his God and said, O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people whom you have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, with evil intent he brought them forth to slay them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Turn from your fierce wrath and repent of this evil against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people. And Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tables of the covenant in his hands, tables that were written on both sides, on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, There is a noise of a war in the camp. But Moses said, It is not the sound of shouting for victory or the sound of cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tables out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. And he took the calf which they had made and burnt it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it upon the water and made the sons of Israel drink it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And Moses said to Aaron, What did this people do to you that you have brought a great sin upon them? And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my Lord burn hot, you know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And I said to them, let any who have gold take it off. So they gave it to me and I threw it into the fire and there came out this calf. And he said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword on his side, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And when we don't just read the Psalms, we pray the Psalms, much like the rest of scripture. But there's something about the Psalms. There's something about that particular genre in the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. And Moses said, Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, that he may bestow a blessing upon you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
The next day Moses said to the people, You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up to the Lord. Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. So Moses returned to the Lord and said, Alas, this people have sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin, and if not, blot me, I beg you, out of your book which you have written.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
But the Lord said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me, him I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them. And the Lord sent a plague upon the people because they made the calf which Aaron made.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, say to the sons of Israel, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed feasts are these. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
the passover these are the appointed feasts of the lord the holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them in the first month on the 14th day of the month in the evening is the lord's passover and on the 15th day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the lord seven days you shall eat unleavened bread on the first day you shall have a holy convocation you shall do no laborious work but you shall present an offering by fire to the lord seven days
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
where it's it's meant to be a prayer and so hopefully um that's the sense that you get and hopefully that's what's been happening if it hasn't well we have a lot of psalms to go so as you probably already know the bible translation that i'm reading from is the revised standard version second catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension you can also follow along by downloading your own bible in a year reading plan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
On the seventh day is a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. The offering of first fruits.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, that you may find acceptance on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord. And the cereal offering with it shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil to be offered by fire to the Lord, a pleasing odor. And the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And you shall eat neither bread nor grain, parched or fresh, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. the feast of weeks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And you shall count from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven full weeks shall they be, counting 50 days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a cereal offering of new grain to the Lord. You shall offer from your dwellings two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
They shall be baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord. And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish and one young bull and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the Lord with the cereal offering and their drink offerings, an offering by fire, a pleasing order to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits as a wave offering before the Lord with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. And you shall make proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
You shall do no laborious work. It is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. The Feast of Trumpets And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
You shall do no laborious work, and you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. the day of atonement. And the Lord said to Moses, On the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present an offering by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
When I say follow along, I mean, you get to see where we are and get to see where we're headed. But that reading plan is found at ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. And when you do that, you can check it off and you can check off every day and you can see that we're on page two and we're moving on to day two of page two, which is actually day 47.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And you shall do no work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whoever is not afflicted on this same day shall be cut off from his people. And whoever does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest. And you shall afflict yourselves on the ninth day of the month, beginning at evening. From evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath. the Feast of Booths. And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, and for seven days, is the Feast of Booths to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. Seven days you shall present offerings by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly. You shall do no laborious work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
these are the appointed feasts of the lord which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocations for presenting to the lord offerings by fire burnt offerings and cereal offerings sacrifices and drink offerings each on its proper day besides the sabbaths of the lord and besides your gifts and besides all your votive offerings and besides all your free will offerings which you give to the lord
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
on the fifteenth day of the seventh month when you have gathered in the produce of the land you shall keep the feast of the lord seven days on the first day shall be a solemn rest and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest and you shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
All that are native in Israel shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the sons of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those round about us. How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name, for they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his inhabitation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers. Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God, our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. Why should the nations say, where is their God? Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Anyways, you can also subscribe in your podcast app. All that being said, Today, moving on to the story of the golden calf in the book of Exodus chapter 32.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you according to your great power. Preserve those doomed to die. Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord. Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever. From generation to generation, we will recount your praise. Father in heaven, we thank you for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
We thank you for this prayer. We thank you for revealing to us the brokenness of our own hearts. When we hear the story of the Exodus and the story of the golden calf, we know, Lord God, that our hearts are idol-making machines and we can turn to anything instead of turning to you. Help us always, always to be faithful to you, not just in great things, but also in small things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
Lord God, we want to belong to you. We want to be yours. Help us to be yours fully. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. So, this is the famous story of the golden calf. Here's Moses on the mountain, and he's at Mount Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 47: The Golden Calf (2025)
He's received the Ten Commandments, written as it specifically says, very, very clearly says, written by the very hand of God. And yet, meanwhile, down in the camp, what happens? There's a couple of things that are very important for us to highlight. One is that the people become upset. They become uncertain, right? Because here's Moses, the one who led them out of Egypt, he's nowhere to be seen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
He says, if anyone thinks he's religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, the man's religion is vain. I think that's fascinating, isn't it? Where we think, what does our speech have to do anything to do with belonging to true religion? belonging to the Lord for real in the depths of our heart. Well, St. James will go on tomorrow. We're going to hear about this more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
He'll go on to talk a little bit more about how our speech reveals the truth of our heart and how we will be reliable for every word that is uttered. And I think it's really remarkable. If anyone thinks he's religious, does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, that man's religion is vain. And again, I can go back to this because how often do we say words that ought not to be said?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
oh my gosh we just we just say stuff say things of gossip we say things of detraction we say things again we take the lord's name in vain all these pieces and we realize that when we do that we are demonstrating that we don't belong to the lord this is just bonkers
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Again, taking care of those that no one else is taking care of. That is what true religion is all about. And then we have, of course, we have this big teaching in James, which is faith without works is dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And this is really interesting. I don't want to be polemical about this, but it is really important. When St. Paul is writing about works, he's talking about works of the law. Remember that whenever St. Paul is writing and he's saying, you're not justified by works, you're justified by faith. Yes, he's talking about works of the law. He's talking about Old Testament covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
The Old Testament covenant does not justify anyone. The New Testament covenant is what justifies. Jesus does justify us, right? Again, through grace, we're justified. We're saved by grace through faith. Working itself out in love is the full formulation of the Catholic vision of what salvation really is. Saved by grace, God's gift through faith. Yes, that response to God's gift.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
working itself out in love, because as scripture makes it absolutely clear today, faith without works is dead. And that faith cannot save us. In verse 24, you see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. You know, I know, and I don't mean to make this into an argument. But one of the principles of the Protestant Reformation was faith alone, sola fide.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And the hard thing, this kind of a challenging thing here, is the only time those words, faith and alone, are put together in the scriptures are right here in chapter two of James, verse 24, when James says, you can see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And so it's worth highlighting, again, what I'm trying to do here is, like I said a couple days ago,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
I'm not trying to make a case. I'm not trying to convince anyone. Actually, I kind of am. I really believe that Jesus founded the Catholic Church. And so, of course, I am. And I believe that every person will find the fullness of faith in the Catholic Church. And so, but all my Protestant brothers and sisters, all of our friends who are separated brethren in Christ,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Basically, I'm not trying to beat you over the head about this. I do, I do believe that the Lord Jesus is calling you to become Catholic, but that's not the point. The point right now is just to explain a little bit about, wait a second, we've heard in Galatians, we've heard in Corinthians, we've heard these other places where St. Paul is saying that it's all about faith and not about works.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And yet my story is that I hear you Catholics talking about works all the time. Well, this is one of the places where if you want to know where do Catholics get the truth that we need both faith and works. We're not saved by works. We're not saved by works. That's important. But where is the place that Catholics get the idea that we need faith and works? Well, here we are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
This is one of the many places in James chapter two that comes from. Again, not trying to cause an argument, not trying to beat anyone about the head by this, but just trying to show here's where we get that from. And as I said, I love the Lord Jesus and I love our brothers and sisters who are Catholic, those who are not Catholic.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
But I do think, I think that everybody in the world should be Catholic. That's all I, That's all I'm saying. St. Paul's letter to the Philippians. Ah, just consider, consider how St. Paul makes it so clear that everything else in life is worthless when compared to Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
In fact, he says, whatever gain I had, this is chapter three, verse seven, whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. And he goes on to make it even more intense. He says,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. This is so important. Why? Because that word refuse is actually the word for, we'll say dung, we'll say dung.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
I count everything, every gift in the world, every good thing I can do in the world, every possession I could possibly have, every accomplishment I could possibly have, I count that all to be fertilizer, we'll say, compared to knowing Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
not having a righteousness on my own based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Ah, so, so important. So good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds, and I'll weave it into that story today. It is day 350. You know what that means. You can do math. There's only 365 days in the year. And so that means we're a few days away from the conclusion of this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass, its flower falls and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Trial and Temptation Blessed is the man who endures trial.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Again, we're not saying one or the other, not saying faith or works. We're saying faith and works are so, so incredibly important. But also I love this, St. Paul's last exhortation. This is chapter four, verse four. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The last words that St. Paul has for us today in his letter to the Philippians are also just so good about what we feed ourselves with.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
He says, finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there's any excellence. anything worthy of praise, think about these things. There's this thing called the law of exposure. It's a psychological principle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
The law of exposure is those things that you think about, those things you expose yourself to, those are the things that shape your heart and they shape your mind. That's one of the reasons why for the last 350 days, we've been listening to God's word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
The law of exposure is that if we think about things that are pure and good and beautiful and excellent, then those things take root in our lives and we become like them. And that's what we've been striving after. Again, not just to learn more about God, although that's so important, but to be transformed, to be like him, because that's what he desires. He desires us to have hearts like him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And so that's what I'm praying for. I'm praying to all of us separated brethren and those who are not even Christian yet, maybe those who are on their way in RCIA to get baptized. that all of us one day may be united in Christ Jesus our Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit in one body, giving glory to the Father. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Then desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Know this, my beloved brethren, that every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Therefore, put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls." Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets, but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Chapter two, warning against partiality. My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, have a seat here please, while you say to the poor man, stand there or sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
We're actually, we've departed from the historical books. Now we've concluded the Acts of the Apostles yesterday. And today we're starting exclusively, essentially letters and then the book of Revelation at the end in a little over a week from now. But today we're reading James chapter one and two, as well as Philippians chapters three and four. That's the conclusion of the letter of St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Listen, my beloved brethren, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name by which you are called?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, do not commit adultery, also said, do not kill.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty." For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Yet mercy triumphs over judgment. Faith without works is dead. What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you foolish fellow, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by works.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same thing to you is not irksome to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs. Look out for the evil workers. Look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the true circumcision who worship God in spirit and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Paul to the Philippians. and Proverbs chapter 30, verses one through six. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also, if any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more. Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness on my own based on law,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. pressing toward the goal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Let those of us who are mature be thus minded, and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so walk as you have an example in us. For many of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Their end is destruction. Their God is the belly and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things. But our commonwealth is in heaven and from it we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. Chapter 4. Exhortations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
You can also subscribe to this podcast and receive daily episodes and daily updates for the last 15 days of this podcast. You can do it if you like. If you don't, that is just fine. You need to stay 350. We're reading from James chapter one and two, Philippians chapters three and four, and Proverbs chapter 30, verses one through six.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, stand firm in this way in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Iodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And I also ask you, who are a true co-worker, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Acknowledgement of the Philippians Gifts I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I complain of want, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
For even in Thessalonica, you sent me help once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit. I have received full payment and more. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Final greetings and benediction. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Sayings of Agur. The words of Agur, son of Jaca of Massa. The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ukal, surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what is his son's name? Surely you know. Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
The Letter of James Chapter 1 Salutation James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greeting. Faith and Wisdom Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Another day. Thank you, Lord, for another day, for this next step, for the letter of James, for the conclusion of St. Paul's letter to the Philippians. We thank you, God. We ask you to please help us to put these into practice. Help us to put this instruction into action in our lives. Help us to be not only hearers of the word, but also doers of your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Lord God, let this time we've spent listening to your word, not simply wash over us and we just forget it and are unchanged by it, but help us to put this into practice, to put the love in our hearts into action in our lives and help us to do all of this in the name of Jesus and for the glory of God, the Father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Well, praise God. Oh my gosh. So we left behind, as we said yesterday, Acts chapter 28. And today we're starting the letter of James, very short letter, only two days, chapters one and two, and tomorrow will be chapters three, four, and five. But James, who is James?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
James is, as he says, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James is most likely, according to St. Jerome, James was the son of Clopas and Mary, the wife of Clopas. It says very clearly in scripture that Mary, the wife of Clopas, was the mother of James and Joses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And so there is a, I'd say a more recent tradition that, well, we could go through this whole thing, but we would say this, that the ancient tradition of the church has always been that Mary was a virgin, that she had no other children other than Jesus. We talked about this a couple of the times when we hit the gospels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And how it said the brothers of Jesus is actually the Greek word adelphoi, which means, could mean brothers, means relatives, could mean cousins. So the earliest tradition of the church was that Jesus had no other brothers. And that here again, even St. Jerome in third and fourth century was like, no, no, James is a cousin of Jesus. He's an adelphoi of Jesus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
And he is the son of Mary, wife of Clopas, who is already indicated in scripture. So that's who James is. James is the Bishop of Jerusalem. We got that going. Okay. Okay. So, he's writing in Jerusalem to the tribes of the dispersion, basically to all those Jewish Christians who are outside Palestine, outside that region. And this is, I love how Jeff talks about the letter of James.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
He has a Bible study in it. I think it's called Pearls of Wisdom or something like this. And it is so good because James is so good. And the Bible study is great because Jeff's great. But The Bible study is really great because the letter of St. James is just phenomenal. Where, oh my gosh, he begins by saying, count it all joy when you meet various trials.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
For the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And this is so, so incredible. I don't know what even to highlight because St. James talks about So many things in these first two chapters that are worth reflecting on and praying for.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
It's almost like the New Testament version of the book of Proverbs, where almost every line is another little gem, another little, as Jeff talks about it, another pearl where we can take and just apply to our lives. For example, we would say this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
We would say in verse 12, blessed is the man who endures the trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he's tempted, I'm tempted by God for God cannot be tempted with evil. And he himself tempts no one. And then it's just really important for us to recognize this. It's so important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 350: Faith and Works (2024)
Another one, verse 19, know this, my beloved brethren, that every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger for the anger of man does not work for the righteousness of God. Just another gem. And what a gift we recognize also. that St. James talks about true religion and false religion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And yet their lives on either sides of this day where Isaac and Rebecca meet was just like our lives, where they're walking in faith, where they're walking in trust, walking not knowing, is this the right decision? Is this the right direction? Am I doing the right thing? And yet God's providence is at work always.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
when we don't necessarily understand what he's doing in any given situation, to continue to give him praise then is the invitation. That is the challenge. That's what we're called to do this day and every day. Of course, our lives can often resemble the life of our friend Job, where he just keeps coming back to the Lord and just speaking to the Lord from the heart and saying, God, I would get it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
I would understand if... I had done something wrong. That makes sense. But this doesn't make sense. It just seems like you don't care. Coming back to that refrain. God, do you not care? Are you fighting against me? Are you fighting for me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
That's one of the reasons why it's so important for every one of us and every day to let our eyes, our heart, our attitude be shaped by scripture, because we realize that it is one thing to praise God when we see his presence. It's one thing to praise God when we understand his work, his providence. But it is another thing to say, I am in the darkness. I do not get this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And yet you're calling me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. My brothers and sisters today, that's what God's calling one foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Maybe today's a day where you can see his work. You can see his presence. You can understand his providence and give God glory for that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
But maybe today's a day where you just have to keep walking forward in the darkness. And we never forget in the darkness what we knew was true in the light. We walk with Isaac and Rebecca. We walk with Job. And we walk in faith. Please know if we keep praying every single day, this community of people walking through the Bible together, this Bible in a year is going to be, it is an adventure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
It's going to be an incredible, maybe even say great adventure, great adventure for all of us. If you're just joining us now, you can get updates by texting the word Catholic Bible to 33777. You can also download the Bible in a year reading plan. If you go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, be sure to subscribe and please be sure to pray for each other. None of us can do this alone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
We're on this journey. We've started. We have so far to go, but we are well on our way. We have each other and we do have the grace of God, which we absolutely need right now and in every moment of our lives. My name is Father Mike, and I am praying for you. Please pray for me. See you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, Put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred and take a wife for my son Isaac.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
The servant said to him, perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came? Abraham said to him, see to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth and who spoke to me and swore to me, your descendants, I will give this land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
He will send his angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine. only you must not take my son back there. So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Then the servant took 10 of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And he said, O Lord, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today, I beg you, and show mercy to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the maiden to whom I shall say, please let down your jar that I may drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And who shall say, drink, and I will draw water for your camels, let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown mercy to my master. Before he had done speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar upon her shoulder and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
The maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her and said, please give me a little water to drink from your jar. She said, drink my Lord. And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
This is day 12. Let's get started. Let's keep going. Actually, man, oh man, this has been a... incredible gift. I am reading today from Genesis chapter 24, just that one chapter from Genesis, and also from Job chapter 13 and 14. We're getting closer and closer to the middle of the book of Job, and that is going to be kind of a crux moment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also until they have done drinking. So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw and drew for all his camels. The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
When the camels had done drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half a shekel and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels and said, Tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in? She said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor. She added, We have both straw and food enough and room to lodge in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
the man bowed his head and worshiped the lord and said blessed be the lord the god of my master abraham who has not forsaken his mercy and his faithfulness towards my master as for me the lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsman Then the maiden ran and told her mother's household about these things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Rebecca had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man to the spring when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms. And when he heard the words of Rebecca, his sister, thus the man spoke to me. He went to the man, and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. He said, Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
For I have prepared the house and that place for your camels. So the man came into the house, and Laban ungirded the camels, and gave him straw and food for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Then food was set before him to eat, but he said, I will not eat until I have told my errand. He said, speak on. So he said, I am Abraham's servant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
The Lord has greatly blessed my master and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, men's servants and maid servants, camels and donkeys. And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
My master made me swear, saying, You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell, but you shall go to my father's house and to my kindred and take a wife for my son. I said to my master, perhaps the woman will not follow me. But he said to me, the Lord before whom I walk will send his angel with you and prosper your way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father's house. then you will be free from my oath when you come to my kindred. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath. I came today to the spring and I said, oh Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will prosper the way which I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Let the young woman who comes out to draw to whom I shall say, please give me a little water from your jar to drink. And who will say to me, drink, and I will draw for your camels also. Let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son. Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca came out with her water jar on her shoulder and she went down to the spring and drew.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
I said to her, please let me drink. She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, drink and I will give your camels drink also. So I drank, and she gave the camel's drink also. Then I asked her, Whose daughter are you? She said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him. So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
We're also reading from Proverbs chapter 2, verses 16 through 19. I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Catholic edition, and I'm using actually the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Then I bowed my head and worshipped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me, and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered, The thing comes from the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
We cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken. Let the maiden remain with us a while, at least ten days. After that she may go. But he said to them, do not delay me since the Lord has prospered my way. Let me go that I may go to my master. They said, we will call the maiden and ask her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And they called Rebecca and said to her, will you go with this man? She said, I will go. So they sent away Rebecca, their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebecca and said to her, Our sister, be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gait of those who hate them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
If you want to follow along in your own Bible, whether it's the Great Adventure Bible or whatever Bible you have around, you can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. Again, that's ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also sign up. You can subscribe to this podcast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Then Rebecca and her maids arose and rode upon the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebecca and went his way. Now Isaac had come from Bir Lahairoi and was dwelling in the Negev. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening and he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, there were camels coming.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And Rebecca lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel and said to the servant, who is the man yonder walking in the field to meet us? The servant said, it is my master. So she took her veil and covered herself and the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into the tent and took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know. I'm not inferior to you, but I would speak to the Almighty and desire to argue my case with God. As for you, you whitewash with lies. Worthless physicians are you all. Oh, that you would keep silent and it would be your wisdom. Hear now my reasoning and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him as one deceives a man? He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. Will not his majesty terrify you and dread of him fall upon you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Your defenses are defenses of clay. Let me have silence and I will speak. Let come on me what may. I will take my flesh and my teeth and put my life in my hand. Behold, he will slay me. I have no hope, yet I will defend my ways to his face. This will be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him. Listen carefully to my words and let my declaration be in your ears.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Behold, I have prepared my case. I know that I shall be vindicated. Who is there that will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. Only two things grant to me. Then I will not hide myself from your face. Withdraw your hand far from me and let not dread of you terrify me. Then call and I will answer. Or let me speak and do reply to me. How many are my iniquities and my sins?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Make me know my transgression and my sin. Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy? Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff? For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. You have put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Just click that little subscribe button and you'll get an update every single day. You can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777. That's Catholic Bible to 33777. As I said, we are reading today from Genesis 24. We get to kind of follow new people. Abraham. is still around, but Isaac is now around as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and withers. He flees like a shadow and continues not. And do you open your eyes upon such a one and bring him into judgment with you? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with you and you have appointed his bounds that cannot pass, look away from him and desist that he may enjoy like a hireling his day. For there is hope for a tree if it be cut down that it will sprout again and that its shoots will not cease.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Though its root grow old in the earth and its stump die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant. But man dies and is laid low. Man breathes his last, and where is he? As water falls from a lake, and a river wastes away and dries up, so man lies down and rises not again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Till the heavens are no more, he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep. O that you would hide me in Sheol, and that you would conceal me until your wrath be passed, that you would appoint me a set time and remember me. If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my service, I would wait till my release should come. You would call and I would answer you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
You would long for the work of your hands. For then you would number my steps. You would not keep watch over my sin. My transgression would be sealed up in a bag and you would cover over my iniquity. But the mountains fall and crumble away and the rock is removed from its place. The water wears away the stones, the torrents wash away the soil of the earth, and so you destroy the hope of man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
You prevail forever against him and he passes. You change his countenance and send him away. His sons come to honor and he does not know it. They are brought low and he perceives it not. He feels only the pain of his own body and he mourns only for himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
You will be saved from the loose woman, from the adventurous with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house sinks down to death and her paths to the shades. None who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. God of heaven, we thank you so much for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
We thank you for sharing your heart with us through your scripture. And we ask that you please help us always to see with your eyes and to love always with your heart. In Jesus' name we pray. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. You know, it's so interesting how powerfully we rely upon God's grace or how necessary our dependence is upon what God does in our lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
The story of the servant of Abraham finding Isaac a bride is all about God's providence. It's all about the depth of our need. Imagine this servant who is going to a far off land where he knows literally nobody. And he has this prayer. The prayer is, but Lord, without you, I can't do anything. But without you, I'm just wandering in the darkness. I'm wandering in complete unknown.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And we get to see what his story is and how this story unfolds that God had promised to bless the world through Abraham and his descendants. And so now we're going to meet some of the descendants. We go on to the story of the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca in Genesis chapter 24. Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Everything is simply just me on my own, and me on my own is not enough. And yet God is present. And it's interesting because one of the things we are confident about is when we can see God's providence working. So we have this story, right? In retrospect, we have the story of Isaac and Rebekah becoming husband and wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
And they're going to later on become the mother and father of Israel, of Jacob and Esau, of course. And in retrospect, we can see God's providence and how this worked. And the prayer of the servant was answered. And it's clearly Rebekah is, you know,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
Intended for, for Isaac and it's seems so neat and seems so clear and we can praise God when we understand and we can see his providence in the get it. Cause we see him being active. We know that he's there. But we have to understand that God's providence is always working, even when we don't see it, even when we're unaware of it, even when we don't understand it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 12: Isaac and Rebekah (2025)
But God's providence is working in every single situation. The one thing about reading these stories of our forefathers, our ancestors in the faith, is it all seems so neat. It all seems so tidy. It seems so clean. And yet...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
He strikes the rock twice in anger and it changes everything because he and Aaron do this. the word of the Lord comes to them and says, you're not going to be entering into my inheritance. You're not going to be leading these people into the promised land. And that can seem really unfair, especially since here is Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And he is, he, you know, from the beginning, he has been pretty, pretty faithful. He's been the one who has been delivering God's message so clearly and so well. And so faithfully, he's been interceding on behalf of the people before God. And he's been bringing God's word back to the people and, And yet it's this lapse that is so serious. Why is it serious?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And the heifer shall be burned in his sight, her skin, her flesh, and her blood, with all her dung, shall be burned. And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet stuff and cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water. And afterwards he shall come into the camp and the priest shall be unclean until evening.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Well, because we recognize that the actions of a leader, they don't have to be perfect, but they are judged in a different sense. And this is the sense that God even says, you were there essentially to witness to my righteousness. You were there to witness to my mercy and my justice. And you didn't, you acted in anger in front of everybody.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And instead of it being clearly a miracle, now it just looks like you hit a rock and water came forth. But not only this, we recognize that St. Paul later on will say, and the rock was Christ. The rock in the wilderness was Christ. And so here is Moses in this mysterious way, striking the symbol of Jesus. So we recognize, again, the seriousness of this, which is just remarkable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Lastly, when it comes to before the death of Aaron, we have this passage through Edom refuse. Remember, the Edomites are the descendants of Esau. Remember, Esau and Jacob were the two brothers. And Jacob stole Esau's birthright or he sold the blessing and he exchanged, you know, a pot of red stuff for the birthright.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And so here are the people of Israel saying, Hey, we're family, you know, we're long lost cousins. Can we go through your land? We're not going to leave the highway. And the people of Edom are like, yeah, you're not, we don't believe you. If you come through here, we're going to destroy you because you're going to probably take, try to take our land. And so they were refused.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
They refused Israel passage through there. And again, it just shows the depth to which brokenness has entered this family. And moving on, just last little note when it comes to Deuteronomy. And in this chapter of Deuteronomy, chapter 21, part of us can see, oh gosh, these laws can be so challenging. At the same time, these laws, you guys are so wise. Now, keep this in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
I know that when it says, when you go out to war against your enemies and you see a beautiful woman of your enemy, you can take her for your wife. You're like, what the heck? Are you kidding me? Why? Well, because that's how it went back then, right? That's how kind of life was. But here is how God's word comes into this reality of life and says, but here's the thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
You are going to treat her in a particular way. She's not just your property. She's not your captive. She's not your slave. So first she's gonna shave her head and trim her nails. What is that a sign of? That's a sign of like, okay, she's leaving behind her old life and she's entering this new life. And then she's gonna put off the clothes of her captivity and reign in your house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Okay, she's not a slave. If she comes to your house and you're making her your wife, you're gonna be family now. And she's not second class in your home. Thirdly, she's gonna mourn her father and mother a full month. You're gonna give her time
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
to like you would give anyone you cared about time to mourn the loss of their family the loss of their past life and also if you find her displeasing again that that language just bothers us so much bothers me a lot if you find her displeasing you can divorce her and whatnot but he says but you will not sell her for money she's not your slave she was your wife and you shall not treat her brutally or shall not treat her poorly
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
If you divorce her, eventually you will divorce her as a fully equal member of your family. She would actually have been your wife. So, so you see what's happening here is the recognition of your hearts. Our hearts are broken and we are, we are a mess and you're going to want to do it like this, but here's the limitation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
You're going to want to take, you know, the beautiful captive woman as yours. But if you do, you actually have to take her as your wife, not as your slave, not as a Make her your full wife. So I see the wisdom here is here's God's word meeting our brokenness. And even the next thing, if a person has two wives, is allowing for this, like, yep, you are a mess. You should only marry one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
He who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening. And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the congregation of the sons of Israel for the water for impurity, for the removal of sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
That's Genesis chapter two, right from the very beginning of the story. But if you have more than one wife and one is loved and the other unloved, Here's the deal. If the one who's loved gives birth to your second son, you're not going to say, well, I love this second son's mother more, so I'm going to give him the inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
No, even the disliked wife, even the gosh, even saying this, you guys, I'm so sorry, but even the disliked wife. No, the law is this. The firstborn son gets the inheritance. That's it. Regardless of how you feel, regardless of what your temptation is going to be to do, you're going to do it like this. And it's just so interesting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
The last, again, last two pieces, I'm so sorry, I'm going to make this overly long, but the last two pieces here have to do with a rebellious, stubborn and rebellious son that could ultimately be stoned. What is this? You know, when it comes to laws, there are some laws that are oriented towards remedy, right? There's some punishments that are oriented towards remedy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
That's meant to say punishments that are saying, okay, here's the punishment. Now you're not going to do that again. You've been changed interiorly. There are some punishments that are revenge, right? You're taking revenge upon this person. Maybe justice, we'll say. But there are some punishments that are meant to be deterrents. And this is one of those.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Talking about a rebellious, a stubborn and rebellious son who, when he's been corrected, when he's been chastened, will not heed to his parents. And it talks about him being stoned to death. that is, and it goes on to say, all Israel shall hear of this and fear the Lord. And so this is the kind of punishment that is meant to be a deterrent. And we might say, well, that's not wise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
I don't think that's actually fair, or I don't think that actually works. Nonetheless, that's why it exists, is this is a punishment that's meant to be a deterrent. Lastly, before we break for the day, the last thing is If a man is committed to sin, deserving of death, and he's put to death, you hang him on a tree. His body should not remain overnight on the tree, but you bury him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And this is this moment. You might not see this as justice and mercy meeting, but this is justice and mercy meeting. If someone is doing something deserving of death and he's killed, capital punishment, you know, justly, essentially, that's justice. But also you're not going to leave his body there for animals to destroy, to animals to tear apart, to treat him shamefully, humiliate him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
You're going to bury him before nightfall. And that's mercy. And there's something about this that, again, this is God's word coming into a brutal and violent world and making it slightly less brutal and slightly less violent. I think if we understand that whenever we read these commandments from Leviticus to Numbers to Deuteronomy, all these things,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
We recognize this is God's word coming into a brutal and vicious world and saying, let's make it a little less brutal, a little less vicious. For cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree. Wow, those words point to Jesus. In fact, St. Paul comments on this Deuteronomy chapter 21 in Galatians chapter three. And he says, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And then he quotes Deuteronomy 21. He says, for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. And he's done this so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of spirit through faith. So Jesus became accursed, right? Curses anyone who hangs on a tree.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And he who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And this shall be to the sons of Israel and to the stranger who sojourns among them a perpetual statute. Laws concerning the dead. He who touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days. He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day and so be clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Jesus took the curse that belongs to us and put it on himself so as to bring us into the blessing. So you have this in the middle of, at the end of this chapter 21, Deuteronomy, middle of Deuteronomy, You have this word that's going to come to pass in Jesus so powerfully and so fully and so beautifully that, yep, it curses anyone who hangs on a tree.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And here's Jesus who lets himself be hung on a tree, lets himself accept the curse so that you and I could receive the freedom, could receive the blessing. Gosh, such a gift. I am praying for you all and I hope you're praying for me, please. Let's pray for each other as we continue this journey. It is day 68. You've got it in the record books. Here you are moving on as we move forward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
We'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 68, and we are reading today from Numbers chapter 19 and chapter 20, kind of a big chapter. 19 obviously is important. All the chapters of the Bible are important, but Numbers chapter 20 is kind of critical when it comes to the story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean. Whoever touches a dead person, the body of any man who has died and does not cleanse himself, This is the law when a man dies in a tent. Everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And every open vessel which has no cover fastened upon it is unclean. Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword or dead body or a bone of a man or a grave shall be unclean seven days. For the unclean, they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering and running water shall be added in a vessel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Then a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it upon the tent and upon all the furnishings and upon the persons who were there and upon him who touched the bone or the slain or the dead or the grave. and the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean. But the man who is unclean and does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. Because the water for impurity has not been thrown upon him, he is unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And it shall be a perpetual statute for them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening. And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be unclean until evening. Chapter 20, The Waters of Meribah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and said,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Would that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord. Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them. And the Lord said to Moses, take the rod and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron, your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
So you shall give drink to the congregation and their cattle. And Moses took the rod from before the Lord as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock. And he said to them, here now, you rebels, shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his rod twice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
We're also reading from Deuteronomy chapter 21 in Psalm 100. We'll be praying Psalm 100. As always, I am reading from The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. The translation it is is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. If you want to get your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can download that for free from ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank and their cattle. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in me to sanctify me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
These are the waters of Meribah, where the sons of Israel contended with the Lord, and he showed himself holy among them. passage through Edom refused. Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. Thus says your brother Israel, you know all the adversity that has befallen us, how our fathers went down to Egypt and how we dwelt in Egypt a long time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us forth out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. Now let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, neither will we drink water from a well. We will go along the king's highway.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your country. But Edom said to him, You shall not pass through, lest I come out with sword against you. And the sons of Israel said to him, we will go up by the highway. And if we drink of your water, I and my cattle, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
But he said, you shall not pass through. And Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong force. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory. So Israel turned away from him. The death of Aaron. And they journeyed from Kadesh. And the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor, and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there. Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Moses continued, If in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess, anyone is found slain lying in the open country, and it is not known who killed him, then your elders and your judges shall come forth, and they shall measure the distance to the cities which are around him that is slain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And the elders of the city which is nearest to the slain man shall take a heifer which has never been worked and which has not pulled in the yoke.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water which is neither plowed nor sown and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley and the priests the sons of levi shall come forward for the lord your god has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of the lord
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And lastly, if you've not yet subscribed, in your podcast app to this particular podcast, please feel free to do that. Again, it is day 68. We're reading from Numbers 19 and 20, Deuteronomy 21, and we are praying Psalm 100. Numbers chapter 19 and 20. Chapter 19, Ceremony of the Red Heifer. Now the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, this is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
and by their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled and all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley and they shall testify our hands did not shed this blood neither did our eyes see it shed
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Forgive, O Lord, your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and set not the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel, but let the guilt of blood be forgiven them. So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
women taken captive, when you go forth to war against your enemies and the Lord your God gives them into your hands and you take them captive and see among the captives a beautiful woman and you have desire for her and would take her for yourself as wife, then you shall bring her home to your house and she shall shave her head and pair her nails and she shall put off her captive's garb and shall remain in your house and bewail her father and her mother a full month.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
After that, you may go into her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. Then if you have no delight in her, you shall let her go where she will. But you shall not sell her for money. You shall not treat her as a slave since you have humiliated her. Write of the firstborn son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other disliked, and they have born him children, both the loved and the disliked, and if the firstborn son is hers that is disliked, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the disliked who is the firstborn.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the disliked, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For he is the first issue of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his. rebellious sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and though they chastise him, will not give heed to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of the city at the gate of the place where he lives. And they shall say to the elders of this city, this our son is stubborn and rebellious.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard. then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones so you shall purge the evil from your midst and all israel shall hear and fear miscellaneous laws and if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death Psalm 100 All Lands Summoned to Praise God A Psalm for the Thank Offering
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us and we are his. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him. Bless his name. For the Lord is good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
His mercy endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations. Father in heaven, we know that you are good and you are faithful and that your faithfulness does endure for all generations. We ask you to help us to be faithful. Lord God, help us to see your faithfulness, your mercy, your justice, your truth, your goodness in all of your words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
We ask you please allow your word to shape our eyes, our minds, our vision. and shape our hearts. Help us to love what you love, to hate what you hate, and above all, help us to love you and to love our neighbor as ourself. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
So as I noted before we started, that chapter 19 and chapter 20 are gonna be interesting. Chapter 19, obviously, is gonna be about worship, as well as about laws concerning the dead, which is really so cool. Two things to note about chapter 19. One is it says that you take that red heifer and burn the entirety of the red heifer, and then you throw three things upon it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Tell the sons of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect. in which there is no blemish, and upon which a yoke has never come. And you shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and she shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered before him. And Eleazar the priest shall take some of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
You would throw the cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet stuff, whatever that is, right? Scarlet stuff. But the hyssop is going to be important. Why? Because later on, it is hyssop that Jesus Christ on the cross, he's offered to Wine on a sponge stuck onto a spring of hyssop. Now, this isn't the first time we've seen that hyssop in part of this. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Because the people of Israel, they painted the lentils and the doorposts of their homes with the blood of the lamb. Wow. Using hyssop. And so here is Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, who's on the cross. His blood is, um,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
pouring out of him and that sprig of hyssop has reached up to him so there's this connection between the passover and this but also with this ceremony of the red heifer that do you see the hyssop once again we see that kind of thing we think oh jesus again why because that ceremony of the red heifer is all about forgiveness it's all about being made uh from being going unclean to being clean from being estranged from the community to being brought back into the community
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
Later on in that same chapter 19, it says laws concerning the dead and talks about anybody who touches the body of a dead person and all these rules, which makes so much sense. In fact, the wisdom of this being, you know, there could be a plague. It could be an illness that you could catch that could kill you. So you have to wait a while.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And but in that process of waiting, not only do you have to wash yourself. germ-wise, but also ceremonially, which is unique. One of the things that is important is that it says you could walk over a grave and not know it. Later on in the Gospels, Jesus is going to say that you Pharisees are whitewashed tombs. On the outside, you seem like, oh, no, this is clean. This is pure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
But inside, you're full of dead men's bones. There's this connection there that goes back all the way to Numbers where it has this instruction about if you come into contact with even the top of the grave, you walk upon it, then you are unclean. Later on, it gives us a foreshadowing or foreshadowing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
It's a connection with what Jesus talked about when it comes to things on the outside might seem clean, but if interiorly they are not clean, then they're not clean, right? In the heart. So going into chapter 20 of Numbers, this is where we pick up the narrative once again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
We keep going back and forth when it comes to Numbers of here's the story, and then we jump back and say, here's some more rules. Then we go back to the story. Chapter 19, more rules. Chapter 20, here's the story. And this story is critical. This is the story where the people of Israel, they're at the desert of the wilderness of Zin, right? The desert of Zin. And they don't have any water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 68: The Waters of Meribah (2025)
And so they complained to Moses and Aaron. God says to Moses, speak to this rock in the front of the congregation and I will pour forth water for the entire congregation as well as for their animals. And what does Moses do? He loses his temper. And instead of speaking to the rock and having this incredible miracle in front of everyone, he just spoke to the rock and it brought forth water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
So Monica knew that Augustine's great mind would not be something she could change because he was super smart. He was incredibly intelligent and she was of average intelligence, I imagine. She couldn't convince him. So what she did was she just prayed. She prayed, God, you're the only one who can convince him. You're the only one who can save the soul of my son who is rejecting Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
He's rejecting the truth. She goes into the church in Milan and there's a bishop there named Ambrose and And a similar kind of situation where Monica is praying and weeping over her son. And Ambrose at one point, when Monica tells the story, Ambrose says, there is no way that the child of so many tears could ever possibly be lost.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And just gave her that confidence to continue to pray for her son, just like Eli had given Hannah the confidence to pray for a son. And ultimately, Augustine came to faith and he met Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, the one who had prophesied that Monica's tears would not be wasted, her prayers would not be wasted, but they would be heard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And since Ambrose is quite the smart cookie, he helped lead Augustine closer and closer to the Lord. And Augustine had a massive conversion experience. and basically was one of the most, maybe if not the most influential theologian in the history of 2000 years of Christianity. There's others who are incredibly influential, but it all started with a mother's prayer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
It all started with a mom's prayer, but it didn't end with a mom's prayer here with Hannah. And with Samuel, what happens? Hannah gets everything she prayed for. Hannah gets everything she longed for. Hannah gets the son that she wanted. And then what does she do with her son? This is remarkable. Like this is something that we need to stop and just marvel at.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Hannah gets the desire of her heart, which is to have a child.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
and she says even before he's conceived that if you give me this child lord i will give him back to you and she actually follows through she follows through with this i mean think about how you know and we've talked we've prayed so many times as a community here in this bible in a year for moms who longing to get pregnant for couples who are longing to get pregnant for those who are in crisis pregnancies and there can be such a desperation and i don't i'm not making light of that in any way shape or form
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
But I know that there can be almost a single-mindedness that can overtake families or overtake couples when they desire to have a family. And everything becomes about charting and everything becomes about the latest test and everything becomes about everything we can do to achieve pregnancy, everything we can do to have a child.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And in some ways, and again, this is someone from the outside, so please forgive me. In some ways, when we have a desire like that, it can sometimes become the new God in our life. It can sometimes become the only thing we want in life. And so that's all of us, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Penina. And Penina had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
But here's Hannah, who just like so many couples as part of this community, she prayed and she did everything she could and God blessed her with a child. And her response was, God, this child is yours. It wasn't to possess. It wasn't to grasp. It wasn't to own. It wasn't to say, okay, God, now this child is mine and no one else gets him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Her response was to say, God, this blessing, the blessing of this son of mine is actually your gift. And so I'm merely a steward of him until he's weaned. And then I'm giving him back to you, which is just heartbreakingly heroic, heartbreakingly loving, heartbreakingly incredible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
How many of us with because we all have longings of our hearts, we all have these things in our lives that we desire so much to possess that when we finally get them, we finally get them. We no longer see them as being on loan from the Lord. We no longer see them as being a gift from the Lord. we see them as, you know, quote unquote, ours.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And we can cling to those things in such a way that what was meant to be a gift ultimately can become a curse. What's meant to be a gift can ultimately become the thing that makes our hearts smaller, not larger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And so for all of us, whether it's with a child or in family or work or whatever that thing is, as we've said before many times, the heart is an idol-making factory, and we can make an idol out of anything, and especially out of really, really good things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And so we are checked by Hannah today, and we recognize that, okay, here's Hannah who prayed for a son, prayed for a child, like so many are praying. We're praying with you too. We're supporting you in this. But she didn't hold on. She didn't grasp. She received the gift and loved the gift with all of her heart. And she kept God center. One of the last things we have here today is that Eli.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Eli, we're going to see him as we move forward. But Eli is not necessarily a great guy. Eli has his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. and Hophni and Phinehas and the other priests there, what were they doing? They were taking from the sacrifice that belonged to the Lord and stealing the best parts, essentially.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Instead of saying, yes, we'll do it according to what was prescribed in Deuteronomy and in Leviticus, And after the gift is offered, we'll take the portion left over. That's what belonged to the priests. They would claim the best portion before it was given to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And not only that, they would also, as it's very, very clearly said in scripture today, Hophni and Phinehas would lay with women and have sexual relations with them before the tabernacle of the Lord. Remember, there was...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
There was an earlier Phineas in the book of Numbers who, when the priests, well, not the priests, but this man and this woman were having those relations in front of the tabernacle of the Lord, he speared them to the ground. This is a very, very, very serious thing. And in doing so, he stopped the plague from wiping out the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Penina his wife and to all her sons and daughters, but And although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her sorely to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
What Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were doing was awful. And what Eli does is he just corrects them and then lets them be. He just says a word to them and then goes on his way. He doesn't actually follow through with his discipline, his charge, his responsibility.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And so what happens is the man of God, this unnamed anonymous man of God comes to Eli and says, here's because of what you're doing, not just because of your sons, but because you had the responsibility to stop your sons from doing this and you didn't. Now the blessing will pass away from your house and in your family and your father's family and will go to a different family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 96. We just finished Judges yesterday. We're now starting a new book. The new book is 1 Samuel. Actually, you might remember this from yesterday or the day before.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And that's what's going to happen in the next couple chapters as we move forward in this first book of Samuel. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. Please pray for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Again, whenever we bring up these deep, deep heart things like Hannah and her desire for a child and so many, so many, I've gotten so many messages, so many letters, so many emails from couples who, since we prayed, you guys, since this Bible in your community prayed for those moms, for those husbands, for those couples that many of them have achieved pregnancy. Now, not all, obviously, not all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
But we can rely on prayer and we do rely on the prayers of each other. So do not stop praying for each other. I will not stop praying for you. Please do not stop praying for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
So it went on year by year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons? After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, and no razor shall touch his head. As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart, only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you. But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. Then Eli answered, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him. And she said, Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes. Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord. Then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, for she said, I have asked him of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And the man Elkanah, in all his house, went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and abide there forever. Elkanah, her husband, said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Only may the Lord establish his word. So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And she said, O my Lord, as you live, my Lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord. And they worshipped the Lord there. Chapter 2.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Can't even remember when I said it, but we only have three days of 1 Samuel. We'll be reading 1 Samuel 1 and 2 today, and then 3 and 5 tomorrow, then 6 through 8 the next day. But after that, in just four short days from today, or I guess three days, I don't know how to count, we are starting the Gospel of John, and we're going to be reading
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Hannah's Prayer Hannah also prayed and said, My heart exalts in the Lord. My strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the Lord. There is none besides you. There is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Let not arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has born seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich. He brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from the dung heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces. Against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
the lord will judge the ends of the earth he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed eli's wicked sons then elkanah went home to ramah and the boy ministered to the lord in the presence of eli the priest Now, the sons of Eli were worthless men. They had no regard for the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come while the meat was boiling with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot, all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. So they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw. And if the man said to him, Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish, he would say, No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Thus, the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy girded with a linen ephod. And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
through the gospel of john in seven days which i am just absolutely i'm pretty stoked about that if i can use the word stoked i will because i'm pretty stoked about that but today as i said it's day 96 we're reading first samuel chapter 1 and chapter 2 we're praying psalm 149 as always i'm using the revised standard version second catholic edition i'm reading the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to download your own bible in your reading plan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "'The Lord give you children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the Lord.' So then they would return to their home." And the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. Eli tries to correct his sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Now, Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And he said to them, Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings with all the people. No, my sons, it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him? But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to slay them. Samuel's Virtues Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men. a prophecy against Eli's household.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, Thus the Lord has said, I revealed myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh. And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me. And I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Why then look with greedy eye at my sacrifices and my offerings which I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves upon the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel? Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares, I promise that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever. But now the Lord declares,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Then, in distress, you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity which shall be bestowed upon Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever." The man of you, whom I shall not cut off from the altar, shall be spared to weep out his eyes and grieve his heart, and all the increase of your house shall die by the sword of men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And this, which shall befall your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you, both of them shall die on the same day. And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, put me, I beg of you in one of the priest's places that I may eat a morsel of bread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel be glad in his maker. Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in his people. He adorns the humble with victory. Let the faithful exult in glory. Let them sing for joy on their couches.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands to wreak vengeance on the nations and chastisements on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written, This is glory for all his faithful ones.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
If you haven't yet, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You can also subscribe in your podcast app to receive daily episodes. Today, just three chapters, which is a nice little break from the last couple of days where we've been going through heavily and quickly through Joshua and through Judges.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
We do lift up your name and we want you to be glorified. Father, God, you are good and you are glorified this day and every day, whether we acknowledge it, whether we even notice or recognize your great glory. Lord God, you are... You're the source of all goodness and all goodness on its own gives you praise. Every beautiful thing praises you because you are the source of all beauty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Every true thing praises you because you are the source of all truth. Every good thing praises you even if it praises you in ignorance because you are the source of all goodness. And so help us to always, always recognize that. your hand and your sustaining power in goodness and truth and beauty. Come to us in our need with your power.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Come to us in our brokenness with your healing and come to us in our weakness with your strength. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Okay, gosh. 1 Samuel, what a gift. Now, you probably know this, but 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel are two different books, but originally they're the same book, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Kind of like 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles. It's just that they were writing on scrolls, and the scrolls get a little bit too unwieldy and a little too cumbersome, so they have to divide them up into separate books. So right now we're in 1 Samuel. Eventually we're going to get to 2 Samuel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
But 1 Samuel starts out by telling us the origin of this young man, Samuel, which is just phenomenal, right? We have Hannah, Hannah and her husband who continually go up to worship the Lord in Shiloh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Now, here's an important thing we haven't yet noted that when the Israelites were wandering throughout the wilderness in the desert, in the wilderness, in the desert, that they would worship the Lord at the tabernacle, right? At the tent of meeting. And anywhere. But God said that when you go into the promised land, there is a place you worship me that I will point out to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And that place immediately was Shiloh. Shiloh ultimately changes to be the place is Jerusalem. And Jerusalem is the only place that sacrifice is able to be offered later on. But right now, the tent of meeting, the tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept, and where the menorah, the altar of the showbread, those are kept at Shiloh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
So here's Hannah and Elkanah, and they go up to worship God like you would.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
at Shiloh so as we have seen a number of times already there is a wife who is loved by her husband and yet she desires to have a child now keep this in mind that Elkanah has two wives Penina and Hannah and again once again the bible never endorses polygamy in fact the bible makes it really clear that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and they should become one flesh not one flesh and then another set of one fleshes almost every time that there is this
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
But today, here we are, 1 Samuel chapter 1 and chapter 2, and then praying Psalm 149. The first book of Samuel, chapter one. Samuel's birth and dedication. There was a certain man of Ramathizophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuth, an Ephraimite. He had two wives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
Polygamy, almost there's always something wrong. Actually, not almost, always there's something wrong. In this case, Penina would be cruel to Hannah. So, moving on. Hannah in the temple then, in the tabernacle of the Lord, in the tent of meeting, she's praying. And it's so interesting how... The Bible reveals that Eli sees her and thinks she's drunk.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
And how reminiscent that is, or actually maybe even foreshadowing that is, of another story. Later on in the history of the church, there's a woman named Monica. Monica has a, this is in the third or fourth century. Monica has a young son, a son whose name is Augustine. And Monica was a Christian. And Augustine was raised as a, I mean, raised in his mother's home. His father was not a Christian.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
His father was a pagan. And Augustine was captivated not only by his own wisdom, but he's captivated by praise. He's captivated by popularity and by fame and by influence and by his own intelligence. And he turned away from Christianity, never embraced it himself. And his mother, Monica. would continually bring him things to read.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 96: Hannah's Prayer (2025)
I remember reading the story about how Augustine first read the Gospels, which were written originally in Greek, and threw him across the room, essentially, because it was kind of really rudimentary and rustic Greek, and he was accustomed to incredibly eloquent Greek and beautiful Greek. And he said, how could this possibly be God's word? You know, it's not even that great in human words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And it's really interesting how the young man and Joshua come to Moses because Eldad and Medad, who are not among the number of the 70, even though they were registered and they received the Holy Spirit, they're prophesying. And here's Moses' response. With that, everyone of the Lord's peoples were prophets.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And here we are, you know, when you were baptized, if you've been baptized, you were anointed a priest, prophet, and king. You're a kingdom priest and you are a prophet of the Lord and a king or queen. That means that God has sent his Holy Spirit upon you to anoint you as prophet. And so the question we always have to ask is, am I exercising my blessing, my anointing of being a prophet?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at. Now the manna was like coriander seed, in its appearance like that of gum resin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
So that's Numbers chapter 11. Remember this, that this is the beginning of their desert wanderings. And Deuteronomy chapter 10, which we heard today, is the end of the desert wanderings and is Moses kind of summing up the story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
This first chapters of Deuteronomy is Moses giving a recap and he does the recap of the second set of tables of stone or the second tablets of the 10 commandments, putting them in the Ark of the Covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
But one of the things in this key, key line, key section of Deuteronomy chapter 10, the essence of the law, and it goes on to say many, many times, the Lord has set his heart in love upon your fathers and chosen their descendants after them. You above all peoples, he has set his heart in love upon you. And this is the word that God speaks over every one of us today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
The Lord has set his heart in love upon you. That's why the commandments exist. That's why these commandments have been given. That's why you and I have been invited into being part of this Bible in a Year podcast, because the Lord has set his heart upon you. Yes, originally, it says very clearly, Deuteronomy, God has set his heart upon the people of Israel, the Jewish people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
He has set his heart upon them. But it's through the Jewish people that God has been able to bless the entire world. And that's you and that's me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And that means that he's expanded that blessing and he has set his heart in love upon you, which is why we keep the commandments, which is why we pray, which is why we are opening our hearts and our minds to his word today, because he has set his heart in love upon you. We are not the ones who first love him. He is the one who first loves us. That is so good. God loves you. God loves you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Just make it purely personal. Hear this last word. God has set his heart upon you. He set his heart in love upon you. So let's pray. Let's pray for each other. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. This is a community of people who are on day 61 of this journey. So support each other. I know you have a lot of discussion groups going on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
I know there's a lot of prayer groups that talk about what we've been reading, what we've been hearing. Keep that going. This is such a blessing, such an incredible blessing to be able to be with you. My name's Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
The people went about and gathered it and ground it in mills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil. When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent, and the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. Moses said to the Lord, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people upon me? Did I conceive all this people?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Did I bring them forth, that you should say to me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries the sucking child to the land which you swore to give to their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep before me and say, give us meat that we may eat. I am not able to carry all this people alone. The burden is too heavy for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
If you will deal thus with me, kill me at once. If I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness. the seventy elders. And the Lord said to Moses, Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And I will come down and talk with you there, and I will take some of the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them. And they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. And say to the people, Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat. For you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, Who will give us meat to eat?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
For it was well with us in Egypt. Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat one day or two days or five days or ten days or twenty days. but a whole month until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him saying, why did we come forth out of Egypt?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Today is day 61, and we are reading from Numbers chapter 11 and Deuteronomy chapter 10. We'll also be praying Psalm 33 today. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can get that Bible wherever you get Bibles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
But Moses said, the people among whom I am number 600,000 on foot. And you have said, I will give them meat that they may eat a whole month. Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them to satisfy them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to satisfy them? And the Lord said to Moses, Is the Lord's hand shortened?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not. So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered 70 men of the elders of the people and placed them round about the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the 70 elders.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other named Medad. And the spirit rested upon them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And Joshua, the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, My Lord Moses, forbid them. But Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them. And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp. the quails.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and it brought quails from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side round about the camp, and about two cubits above the face of the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day and gathered the quails, he who gathered least gathered ten homers, and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. While the meat was yet between their teeth before it was consumed, The anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Therefore, the name of that place was called Kibroth Hatavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving. From Kibroth Hatavah, the people journeyed to Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Moses continued. At that time, the Lord said to me, hew two tables of stone like the first and come up to me on the mountain and make an arc of wood. And I will write on the tables, the words that were on the first tables, which you broke and you shall put them in the arc.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Hi, my name is Fr. Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
You can also download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. Also, before we start, if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, go ahead and click on that subscription button. I don't know why it's taking you 61 days to do it, but this could be the day that changes everything. As I said, today is day 61.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
So I made an arc of acacia wood and hewed two tables of stone like the first and went up the mountain with the two tables in my hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
and he wrote on the tables as at the first writing the ten commandments which the lord had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly and the lord gave them to me then i turned and came down from the mountain and put the tables in the ark which i had made and there they are as the lord commanded me
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
The sons of Israel journeyed from Baroth-Banek-Jachan to Mozarah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried, and his son Eleazar ministered as priest in his stead. From there they journeyed to Gogodah, and from Gogodah to Jubathah, a land with brooks of water. At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
to stand before the Lord, to minister to him, and to bless in his name to this day. Therefore Levi had no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord God said to him. Moses continued, I stayed on the mountain as at the first time forty days and forty nights, and the Lord listened to me that time also. The Lord was unwilling to destroy you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And the Lord said to me, Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, that they may go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. the essence of the law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I command you this day for your good?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens and the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love upon your fathers and chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples as at this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no longer stubborn.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
You shall serve him and cling to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrible things which your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as the stars of heaven for multitude."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright. Praise the Lord with the lyre. Make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright. and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
We're reading Numbers chapter 11, Deuteronomy chapter 10, and Psalm 33. The book of Numbers chapter 11, complaining in the desert. And the people complained in their hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes. And when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle. He put the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke and it came to be. He commanded and it stood forth. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. The Lord looks down from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
From where he sits enthroned, he looks forth on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. A king is not saved by his great army. A warrior is not delivered by his great strength. A war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his merciful love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord. He is our help and shield. Yes, our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
We know that in the challenges of life, you are there. In the challenges where we rely upon our own strength, our own wisdom, you call us ever more deeply and ever more resolutely to rely upon your strength and to rely upon your wisdom. Yes, God, you ask us to use our own. The strength we have and the wisdom we have, you have given them to us as gifts and yet,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
You know that on our own, we are bound to fail. And so you offer us your strength. You offer us your wisdom and you give it to us for free. It is your gift of grace. And so this day, this day, we accept your gift. This day, we accept the gift of your strength and your wisdom. And we ask that you please transform our hearts and help us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Set us free from what binds us and give us the power to lift up those around us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So Numbers chapter 11 is a big chapter. It's kind of, it's one of those chapters
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
So the entire Exodus, I remember hearing this in seminary and they repeated it every time I studied the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, that the Exodus is the watershed event in the life and history of the people of Israel. And that was that even that line, it was the watershed event. The Exodus is the watershed event in the history of the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And this is still part of it, that being released from slavery in Egypt and and heading out into the wilderness, heading out into the desert. What do we have in chapter 11? We have these stories of the people of Israel who are rebelling, the people complaining in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And they're not just complaining in the sense of like book of Lamentations, not complaining in the sense of like the book of Psalms. Even we've prayed a number of Psalms where people are crying out to God saying, God, what is going on? Why is this happening to us? but it's a different kind of complaint.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
It's not just the complaint of a, you might say it like this, like, you know, a child going to their parent and saying, please, can I have this thing? Or why can't we go wherever? It's the complaint of rebellion. And that's at the heart of the whole thing. It's not merely, hey, we're really hungry right now. It's the complaint of rebellion. But think about this. Here are the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Then the people cried to Moses and Moses prayed to the Lord and the fire abated. So the name of that place was called Taborah because the fire of the Lord burned among them. Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving, and the people of Israel also wept again and said, Oh, that we had meat to eat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
They're being fed every single day. And yes, it's with manna. And yes, it's manna for breakfast, manna for lunch, manna for supper. And there's been nothing but manna. But think about how the people responded to this. They say, would that we were back in Egypt. Remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing? Honestly, let's think about this. When we were slaves, we got to eat for free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
No, you didn't. You were slaves. And yes, you got to have cucumbers and you got to have onions and garlic. And I love garlic, but... It was at the price of your freedom. It was at the price of you being a non-people in the midst of the people of Egypt. And now here you are God's people and here you are free and here you are being brought by God's care. He's feeding you every single day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And you're saying, we wish we were still slaves. And how much is that like ourselves? That, gosh, we can, I don't know how many people I've spoken with who have said things like, well, if I became a Christian, if I become Catholic, will I be happy? If I go to confession, will I feel better? If I give my life to Christ, will things go well for me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
And I'm like, okay, man, all those things are great. I wanna feel better and I wanna be happy and I want things to go well for me. But that's never been the promise of those who belong to the Lord. Like health and wealth have never been the promise of those who belong to Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus says, come after me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
If you want to be my disciple, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. but you'll be free, but you won't be a slave. You'll have life and you'll be able to belong to the Lord and be his. And yet, but you'll have problems. And in this world, you'll have trouble, but take heart, I've overcome the world. And yet, we can still sometimes say,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 61: Complaining in the Desert (2025)
Man, I was happier when I could eat garlic and onions and melons and leeks. We can trade our freedom. We can trade our freedom for anything. We can trade our freedom for comfort. We can trade our freedom for garlic. Later on... Moses is able to share the burden with the 70 elders and the 70 elders received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God that has come upon Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Hey everyone, before we get started today, I wanna say a quick thank you for all your prayers and support for this podcast. It's been such a gift. This whole Ascension team has been so humbled to hear about the impact of this show in your lives. We have heard unbelievable stories of renewed faith, of conversion, of grace, and we're praying for each other, so please keep those prayers coming.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the mighty one of Jacob. Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the fields of Ja'ar. Let us go to his dwelling place. Let us worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. For your servant David's sake, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back. One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Today is the last day of Joshua, and we're finding what happens at the very end of his time serving the people of Israel and serving the Lord and helping the people become, as prepared as they possibly can be to dwell in the promised land. If you want to subscribe to your podcast, you can do that. And that would be helpful for all of us involved in this whole thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit upon your throne. For the Lord has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. This is my resting place forever. Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provisions. I will satisfy her poor with bread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. There I will make a horn to sprout for David. I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him his crown will shed its luster.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
We thank you so much for bringing us through the book of Joshua, bringing us through this story, this history of the way in which you have fought for your people and the way in which you are calling us to faithfulness, the way in which you are reminding us of the dignity of being your sons and daughters, the dignity of being chosen by you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
but also the responsibility of having been chosen by you to be faithful, to trust in you. Father, we ask you to please help us, help us to trust in you, help us to be faithful to you because you are faithful. Your love is unstoppable. And we ask you to please help us to live and walk in that love every day, especially this day. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As I noted, this is the last day. I mean, noted a couple times. This is the last day of the book of Joshua. And this last chapter is maybe one of my favorites of the entire book that we've just journeyed through.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
where here is the renewal of the covenant and just like moses before him joshua's last words are words of challenge their words of saying listen i know you i i know that you are fickle i know that you will fall away i know that you probably will fail to follow the lord you will fail to belong to him But I know this too. I know that God will not fail.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
I know that God will not falter in his love and his choice of you. And I love this. It's just so powerful. And we'll close with this because we took in the story and we heard all the lessons and we know what happened. But this piece where Joshua is speaking these words and he's inviting the people, maybe even challenging them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And he says, now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the rivers and in Egypt and serve the Lord. And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve. That's so key. That's so key for us. Because sometimes we just put off. We put off deciding.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
We put off deciding that, no, I belong to Jesus Christ. I belong to the Lord God. And so we have these other false gods. We have these other idols in our lives. And we just put off. Again, if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose this day whom you will serve. Choose whatever your God's gonna be. Is it gonna be money? Is it gonna be fame? Is it gonna be comfort? Is it gonna be whatever?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Just choose today so that you can stop pretending, right? And then he says, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, which is not just a nice set of words to stitch on a pillow or to put over your entryway to your home, but our word is to live by. Yeah, I think it's great to put them on a pillow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
I think it's wonderful to put them on a piece of wood over the doorway to your home or over the window in your home. They are great words to live with in your sight, but they are even more powerful words to live by. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. What a gift. Oh my gosh. Lord, I thank you for this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And I thank you all for listening to this and for the journeying with us, journeying with me through the Bible together. It has been a gift so far. It is day 88 today. And now tomorrow, day 89, which means 10 days away from our first crack at the gospel of John, which is just, talk about gifts, man, oh man. I am praying for you. Please keep praying for me. Pray for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Without anything further, once again, it is day 88. We're reading Joshua chapter 22, 23 and 24 and Psalm 132. The book of Joshua chapter 22, the Eastern tribes return. Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, You have kept all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
My name's Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
You have not forsaken your brethren these many days down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brethren as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your home in the land where your possession lies, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Take good care to observe the commandment and the law which Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you. to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cling to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And if you're able, please consider giving a small financial gift to support the production of this show. This show is free to everyone, to anyone, but it's not free to make. And so if you wanna find out how to make a gift, Visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brethren in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, he said to them, Go back to your homes with much wealth, and with very many cattle, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren. So the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the sons of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had possessed themselves by command of the Lord through Moses. an altar of witness by the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And when they came to the region about the Jordan that lies in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of great size.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And the sons of Israel heard say, behold, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan in the region about the Jordan on the side that belongs to the sons of Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the sons of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Then the sons of Israel sent to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And they came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead, and they said to them, Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, What is this treachery which you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor, from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the Lord, that you must turn away this day from following the Lord? And if you rebel against the Lord today, he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
But now, if your land is unclean, pass over into the Lord's land where the Lord's tabernacle stands and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord or make us as rebels by building yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, break faith in the matter of the devoted things and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And did he not perish alone for his iniquity? Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, the mighty one, God, the Lord, the mighty one, God, the Lord, he knows.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And let Israel itself know if it was in rebellion or in breach of faith toward the Lord, spare us not today for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or cereal offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
No, but we did it from fear that in time to come, your children might say to our children, what have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no portion in the Lord. So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Therefore, we said, let us now build an altar, not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you and between the generations after us that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
lest your children say to our children in time to come you have no portion in the lord and we thought if this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come we should say behold the copy of the altar of the lord which our fathers made not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifice but to be a witness between us and you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offerings and cereal offering or sacrifice other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
When Phineas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the Reubenites and the Gadites and the Manassites spoke, it pleased them well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the Manassites, Today we know that the Lord is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord. Now you have saved the sons of Israel from the hand of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 88. It is the last day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Then Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought back word to them. And the report pleased the sons of Israel. And the sons of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them, to destroy the land where the Reubenites and the Gadites were settled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar witness. For they said, it is a witness between us that the Lord is God. Chapter 23, Joshua exhorts the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders and heads, their judges and officers, and said to them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
i am now old and well advanced in years and you have seen all that the lord your god has done to all these nations for your sake for it is the lord your god who has fought for you behold i have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain along with all the nations that i have already cut off from the jordan to the great sea in the west
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
the Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight, and you shall possess their land as the Lord your God promised you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Therefore, be very steadfast to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow down yourselves to them, But cling to the Lord your God as you have done to this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to withstand you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand since it is the Lord your God who fights for you as he promised you. Take good heed to yourselves, therefore, to love the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
we are reading from the book of joshua we're reading uh joshua chapter 22 23 and 24. we're also praying psalm 132 as always i am reading from the revised standard version second catholic edition and i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to download your own bible in a year reading plan to follow along with us prepare your day to know what you're going to be reading or hearing from you can visit ascensionpress.com bible in a year if you did that you would know that tomorrow we're starting the book of judges
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
For if you turn back and join the remnant of these nations left here among you and make marriages with them so that you marry their women and they yours, know assuredly that the Lord your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
But they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides and thorns in your eyes till you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. And now I'm about to go the way of all the earth. And you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
All have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
If you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Chapter 24 The Tribes Renew the Covenant Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And Joshua said to all the people, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor, and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the river and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac, and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And I gave Esau the hill country of Syir to possess. But Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it. And afterwards I brought you out. Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them. And your eyes saw what I did to Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. Then Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and invited Balaam, the son of Baor, to curse you. But I would not listen to Balaam, therefore he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand, and I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites. It was not by your sword or by your bow."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
I gave you a land on which you had not labored, in cities which you had not built, and you dwelt therein. You eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards which you did not plant. Now therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
Then the people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God. But Joshua said to the people, you cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you after having done you good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
and the book of Ruth. So we're kind of taking a turn in the sense of turning back to what we haven't done for maybe the last eight days or so, which is having multiple books proclaimed to us, multiple books read to us. In the next four days, starting tomorrow, we're reading through Ruth chapter one through chapter four, one chapter a day, following her story, as well as Judges, as I said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And the people said to Joshua, No, but we will serve the Lord. Then Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. He said, Then put away the foreign gods which are among you and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel. And the people said to Joshua,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God. And he took a great stone and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said to all the people, "'Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us.'"
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
for it has heard all the words of the Lord which he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God. So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance. the death of Joshua and Eleazar. After these things, Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work which the Lord did for Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
The bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the portion of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 88: Joshua's Last Words to Israel (2025)
And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim. Psalm 132, the eternal dwelling of God in Zion, a song of ascents. Remember, O Lord, in David's favor, his humility, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the mighty one of Jacob, I will not enter my house or get into my bed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
That word legacy, it's just been kind of turning around in my heart and my mind lately and what you're describing. I was just thinking of that, both with your mother-in-law and your grandfather here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
That's awesome. The, um, you mentioned your, you had your, your first, I had my picture Bible, but at one point, um, I had, I knew I was in high school and the paper was probably 1991, I think was when it was. Uh, so 30 plus years ago or 30 less, I don't know, 29. I'm not sure. I'm not good at math. Let's read the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I had asked my parents for Christmas for a Bible of my own, like an adult Bible. I remember specifically saying, can I have an adult Bible, like a big kid's Bible? And it was this New American Bible that has been, I've duct taped it. This is like the, I think the fourth of duct taped together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
But just like, even I look back through this and I think like, here are not just my markings, like just my notes inside the Bible that I'll go back to when I was in high school. And reading is particularly, you mentioned when it came to having that word of hope that you know is inside.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
You don't even have to necessarily even pick it up sometimes just to be like, nope, there it is, that's God's word to me. I remember just how many times going to confession, even in high school, and having the priest say, okay, go home and read Psalm 51. And so just like, this is the Bible that I got to know, Psalm 51, this Psalm of David,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
in his repentance and asking for forgiveness and being forgiven. The Lord washed me more and more from my sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And it's just like the Bible almost falls open to that page in so many ways because it's like even back in high school, these priests would direct me to read the Bible even after confession as that sense of like, not just as your penance, but also get back to the Lord's word, let him speak through you words that you don't even necessarily have in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And that's the thing too, is like right when we read the Lord's word, that he's giving us words that we don't even have sometimes. That if I could say, if I could pray a prayer of repentance, it would sound like this, but I don't have those words. And so I can pray them because God has given us the words. It's just so incredible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Yeah, I'm overwhelmingly excited about it for not only for like anyone who's going to be listening to this and going to be journeying with us, but for even the people that I know that are in my life. So I have a sister and a brother-in-law. I have a couple of sisters and brothers-in-law, but one in particular who got the Great Adventure Bible maybe, I guess, maybe three or four months ago now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Yeah, no, and thank you for that because that was the whole, you know, it was kind of the revolutionary part of this. There are, I think, a number of Bible in a Year reading plans. There are probably even a number of Bible in a Year podcasts that exist.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
But I don't know of any that, A, follow the narrative books, and B, have, like you said, the sprinkling of those other books and trying to have them as much in context as possible because I mean, gosh, we think about, like you said, here are the prophets. Well, just to kind of dive in, that's kind of what we do at mass, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
We have the lectionary and all of a sudden in the first Sunday of Advent, we're here's Isaiah 63, 64. And then the second Sunday of Advent, we have Isaiah 40. And like, okay, well, what is the context for this? And so the idea behind this whole thing that we wanted to do was contextualize the entire Bible, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
To have that, here's part of the story, and here's Isaiah speaking into this problem that's going on with the kingdom of Judah. And that sense of being able to say, the call to repentance is now specific to these people, but also obviously timeless in the sense that it's our call as well. So right off the bat, if anyone's downloaded the Bible in a Year reading plan,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
You can see that after day 11, we have, you know, Genesis 1 through 11, or day 5, Genesis 1 through 11, with some Psalms in there and Proverbs and whatnot. And then we kick off, here is the story of the patriarchs or the era of the patriarchs. And you have Genesis 12. And we start at the beginning of the book of Job as well. That's kind of like this, okay, this...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
this parallel track of not only the unfolding of the patriarchs, but also here's the story of this man, this man Job, who asks the most ancient of questions, if God is good, then why do I suffer? If God is good, then... Why am I going through what I'm going through? And so it's just this remarkable, I think it's really cool.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And also when we get to Exodus, that's when we begin Leviticus, which would be then kind of this, again, simultaneously as we unfold the law in Leviticus, we also are hearing the story of God setting his people free in Exodus and saying, okay, I need to give you some structure to your lives as I begin to build you up into a new people. And just, I mean, really excited about that, how that all will,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
and maybe a little longer than that. I think it was April. Who knows? Time, it just all happens. But she not only got the Great Adventure Bible, but she also was like, hey, what's a good Bible study? I'm like, okay, the Great Adventure Bible timeline, you need to do it. So she and her husband
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
fit together. So we'll be reading every day, as I said, something from the narrative books until we get halfway into the year, give or take. We're going to be really living with the prophets because there's more prophets than there are narrative books. But up until then, we have some narrative and then we have those, I don't want to say ancillary books or supplementary because they're all still...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
verifiably the word of God. Exactly. With some commentary and not a ton of commentary in the sense of it's not necessarily a study every day, but it's meant to kind of pull out some nuggets every day of just, here's something that might be difficult to understand, or here is something that just it's worth reflecting on, or it's worth like, let's just underline and highlight
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
this phrase or this idea in this particular section that God is trying to communicate to us. And so it's meant to be in some ways a guided tour as well as it's just proclamation. And that's one of the things I love about the idea of the podcast is, here is the word of God proclaimed out loud. And I think in so many ways that I know for myself, I learn best through my ears.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And especially the word of God, what I've found is it gets to my heart more quickly when it goes through my ears. I don't know why, but maybe it's because the word of God's meant to be proclaimed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Yeah, no, thanks. That's a great question. Because my hope originally was this vision of changing one's vision. Like really was that, was allowing oneself to be like shaped, fashioned by the word of God. So that was it. I mean, that was my first vision. That's all I can see this as, as just like we're allowing God himself to fashion us with his word. So we're looking at the world differently.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
started it and I was over at their house a couple days ago and I picked up her Great Adventure Bible and I saw that that ribbon was still somewhere in the book of Genesis and I'm like, oh, I'm so grateful because the podcast is gonna help people who are trying to get through, who just like, you know, you kind of bottom out sometimes or you just kind of get,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
But then I was thinking more and more about it and thinking, you know, there's a certain rootedness as well that I just would love for more and more Catholics to become more deeply grounded, not just in, not quote unquote, just in the word of God, but in God's will itself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I think a lot of times, not only do we struggle to know how to read the Bible, I think a lot of us struggle with knowing how to pray. And so not just here's a fashion, my worldview, but also this is now allow me to find myself and my rootedness in hearing God's word proclaimed and then meditating on God's word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Like really, truly to be able to turn that, transition this, not just from information, but to real transformation by the power of prayer. So I'm meditating on God's word and it's actually, changing not only the way I see the world, that's the vision stuff, but it's changing how I now relate with the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Like I really talk to God in a new way because his heart has been revealed to me by what he's done through these narrative books, what he's done through his word, what he's done through his prophets. And then thirdly, I have the sense I'm becoming more and more convicted as we get closer and closer to this, kind of the kickoff date, is the community that I believe this will form online.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I think the online community of people going through, that you've experienced this when it comes to the Great Adventure, well, all of your Bible studies, that you have a group of people coming together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
That's phenomenal. And so that sense of they're probably together, but there's that certain element, I think, of all the people who will be listening, that there's a sense of like, okay, I'm not doing this alone. Here I am on day 63, I'm gonna continue, not only because I'm getting formed and I'm getting more deeply related to the Lord, but also because I am not alone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And my hope is that there's a community of people that are praying with each other and praying for each other as we're listening to the Word of God and journeying through the Word of God. Yeah, that's my third hope. So there's three things, that vision, that rootedness, and prayer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And then that there's a community of people that comes out of this that's willing and able to support each other in prayer and intercession and brotherhood and sisterhood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
the log jam becomes so much that it's like, oh, how do I break through to the next book and keep on moving?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Because that's one of the things that I found when it came to reading the Bible and when it came to doing the Great Adventure Bible timeline is that sometimes it was like, oh, shoot, I can't sit down right now or I'm not finding the time or making the time to sit down and reading through the next section.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
oh that's that's incredible because because it is that sense of here is the story but i'm finding my story in the story and i'm finding myself so it's not it's not in just an ancient book well full of wisdom um but it is speaking to me right now and calling me to do to act in a certain way right now right that sense of i think again we both have experienced that when it comes to um i know that when i first started reading the bible a lot of what i was looking for was answers i was looking for
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
not just into some of the big questions of life. I was looking for answers of like, what should I do? What can I do right now? God, are you calling me this way or that way? And I wanted to play the Bible roulette, you know, where it's just like flip open the book and I put my finger down the page and it's like, go be a priest now or don't go be a priest, marry Karin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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You know, like the sense of like, I didn't find that to ever be to be the case. What about my life, Lord? Jesus wept. Yeah. But in that, over the course of time realizing, just because I wasn't getting an answer to that specific question in the specific way that I wanted, Every time I went back to the word of God, God was calling me forward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Not just like, here's another thing to know, but here is my voice. And gosh, and you've taught me so much about this, but in so many ways, you know, Jesus says, I know my sheep and they know me and they recognize my voice and they do not recognize the voice of strangers, but they do recognize my voice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And the more and more I think that we expose ourselves to God's word, the more and more we know like, oh, this is the voice of God versus no, that is the voice of a counterfeit or that's the voice of the destroyer or the thief, the liar. And yeah, I think so many of us can be really held hostage by those false voices.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I think too many of us maybe are held hostage by the voice of the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
That the whole idea behind the podcast is like, okay, no, you just get to let the word of God, like kind of wash over you in a different way. Um, and to be able to not just get through it, that's not the point, but the, to allow it to get through to you really, uh, by the word of God being proclaimed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And too few of us know how to really, really, truly identify the voice of our Lord, the voice of the shepherd, who calls us to, obviously, repentance, but calls us to freedom, calls us to life, and reminds us, like your mother-in-law had said, Jeff, here is what God wants to say about you, about how he sees you and his love for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
But they're big.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
So I prefer to underline and to bracket in my Bible. I will write in the front and I'll write in the back. So you mentioned how you have some dates, some key moments in your life. I have on some of the pages, intro pages, I have things like... some things that the Lord spoke to me through his word and through other people that I just like, here is these images.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And they're almost a little bit too close. I don't know if I can say them out loud. And so I do write, but I don't necessarily always write little notes in the margin. But I know you do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Yep, absolutely. And I have so many. Oh, gosh. And also, I like, because of you as well, highlighter. So I have different colors of highlighter when it comes to like, here's breaking down some ideas. I mean, there are so many areas in here. Every one of the gospels is just marked with pink and blue and yellow and... It's great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
So, so not only for the people who will be listening, but also for my family members who, um, you know, all of us at times can struggle to like, let's keep on going. Let's keep on moving through the word of God and let it keep changing us. Um, and let it keep shaping our lens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Yeah. Well, no, I'm glad you asked that question. Before that, though, I do want to emphasize what you just said, which is, so when I'm reading, I'm reading from The Great Adventure book. And one of the things that can happen is I can hear it and then like, oh, that was really good. But if I don't have a way of capturing it, then it can elude me the next day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And I'm like, oh yeah, I remember this. But I, so what I need to do is even as I'm hearing, I need to go back and say, okay, that, like you said, here's the underline, here's the highlighting. Here's even that notation because it's one of those things where we can take in a lot of stuff, but at some point the sieve gets a little leaky. And so I need to go back and say that was this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I need to have an actual tangible record of even what I heard, which I think is just so good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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Well, it's almost like one of those, um, that's like map my run type apps where, you know, you take the phone with you and you go on a bike ride, you go on a run or whatever. And then it says, this is where you were. And it's kind of good to be able to look back and say, I know where I was, but no, this is the route I took. And on this corner, that's right, that's that big hill right there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And there's something about it that you have a record of where you've been that then we have a greater sense of where we're going and what God is doing, as opposed to not having any record, just our memories. And how many times does scripture talk about, like, remember, remember, remember what the Lord has done. Remember how he delivered your ancestors from slavery. Remember these things, because
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
why because we forget god has to tell us to remember so often because we forget so often um yeah so it's just that's uh i think that having that that written recorded record is
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Actually, as we kick off this podcast, this Bible in a Year podcast, one of the things that I think needs to be said before anything else is that this Bible in a Year podcast is following basically a...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Well, even as you noted, I mean, there are so many times where I'll listen to people who are coaching when it comes to parishes, and one of the things that happens in some of these coaching seminars or these great parishes, like Amazing Parish being one of those things, they talk about how often staffs on parishes don't necessarily talk about their faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
They don't actually talk about their relationship with the Lord. They are just doing the business of running a parish or serving their parishioners. And so this could be one of those really like, what do you call like easy access, like low barrier of entry kind of ways for like having that discussion of saying like on the way to work, I listened to the podcast at, you know,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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1.5 speed and I got through the whole thing in 10 to 15 minutes or whatever the thing it takes because there's an opportunity there. I've actually, you know, when you mentioned that on the way to work, that was the thing I remember talking with this man named Todd and Todd owns a CrossFit gym. in Baxter, or he used to before he moved down to Florida with his family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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And he was saying, he's like, hey, I joined the gym with my sister and brother-in-law, they were there, and they said, hey, come along with us. And so I'm talking to Todd, and at one point, he's talked about his commute to work at four in the morning to be there before the 5 a.m. class. And I said, what do you do on that drive?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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He's like, oh, no, no, no, that's the favorite part of, my favorite part of the day is my drive in. I was like, how come? He's like, because I listen to the Bible. And I'm like, really? And he's like, yeah, I just love, that's part of my devotions every morning as I'm driving to my gym and I'm listening to God's word and it just shapes the rest of my day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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And even him saying that sparked our conversation about, I mean, he knew I was a priest and everything, but it gave like permission to be able to talk about the deeper things because he had been shaped that morning by God's word and just, it was living inside of him. And I think that that is one of the goals.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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Yeah, well, the idea behind the whole thing was, so what I found myself doing is I found myself listening to a lot of, you and I have talked about this in various phone calls over the last six months, but one of the things I found myself doing was, I was taking in all this input.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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Love to hear their ideas. Well, it's such an, yeah, that's the thing is like, I think out of this community are gonna be a lot of ideas of what works, what doesn't work, what's worked for some people and some families, what's worked for some individuals. And I think that that could be a,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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Again, I just am looking forward to the community that's going to be formed out of this interceding on behalf of each other, but also giving each other ideas of like, here's how, I mean, like you mentioned, you can share podcasts. So here is a poignant reading from scripture that like struck someone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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They actually have the ability to share, share to their family members, share to friends, share to social media and say, this was something that struck me today of God's word. that has changed my day, has changed my heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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Right. Fine. Let's give yourself permission to do that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Well, yeah, because you want to keep it clean. Do you bullet journal?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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I was listening to a lot of different voices when it came to different podcasts and YouTube videos, people who are teachers who I think like, you have something good to say, you have something wise to say that is enlightening and is informative, and it's actually forming me. But what I found was that there were times when I would listen to some of these people who, again, I'm grateful for,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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But in that, I started doing that a bunch of years ago, probably also from you. And you see people's layouts or their spreads and you're like, oh, I need to make it perfect. And then you get to the place where you have to cross stuff out and like, well, I need a new journal now, because I had to cross stuff out, it doesn't look perfect.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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But when you start writing in your Bible and you're like, oh, I misspelled this word. I had to cross it out and re-correct. Like, oh, it's okay. Like, it's completely fine to be able to mark up your Bible and not have it look pristine because, I mean, also that's kind of life in many, many ways.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I've ruined my Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Yeah. One last thing before we might have to end and our time right now. But you mentioned you holding up the Bible timeline and the whole the color coded and we get to the messianic age being the gold. One great thing about this is we had looked at this and said, wait, we have these 14 narrative books.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
If we're going to be doing this chronologically, we won't get to the New Testament until, I don't know, somewhere around November. And that doesn't seem right. And so what we were able to do was we were able to insert Messianic checkpoints. And so roughly three-ish months into the timeline, three months into the podcast, we have a week of
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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the gospel and we go through one gospel in roughly a week every quarter and so that that sense of like being able to even just kind of like zoom out and say okay you know what what has been said which is here is the old testament hidden or revealed in the new and the new testament hidden in the old these messianic checkpoints being opportunities of like i i'm so excited about them too because i just keep imagining and just anticipating
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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the community of people who will be listening and going through the Bible with us to be able to take in an entire gospel in a week and just to allow it to just like that was the story. That was how Mark, how Peter proclaimed the gospel via Mark. And here's how Matthew proclaimed the gospel via his gospel. And just I love this, how it's going to happen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
but I wasn't thinking with the mind of Christ. And so then what I would do is I would listen to scripture because I love audio books. And so one of the audio books I have is the Bible. And I found that when I would listen to the Bible I wouldn't just get more information.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And just to know that around the world, there are Catholics who are going to be hearing the entire gospel in one week. at four different times throughout the course of the year. And it's like, it's genius. Whoever thought of that, give them a raise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
to just sort of give the historical okay there's here's where you're going to be walking and this is where most people get lost right you know right which i'm excited for and really honored that you're willing to do that because again if there's anyone that i i sound like i began this whole thing with maybe too much praise not true not too much praise i want to end up with too much praise but i don't think any one person has taught me more about scripture than you have and um that's yeah that's nine years of theology undergrad and major seminary
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And even studying afterwards, I don't think there's anyone who's taught me more. And so I'm so grateful for your willingness to do that as well, not only to create this, but also to continue to contribute to it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
So good. Ah, thank you. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
we pray for all of those who are going to be going through it and and how do people get in touch how do people get in touch yes so um they can uh go to wherever they listen to their podcast and they can subscribe just go to bible in a year podcast with father mike schmitz um they can also text the word catholic bible which is two words but scrunch them together with no spaces catholic bible to the number three three seven seven seven
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I wouldn't just be reminded of a story or introduced to a new story that maybe I had forgotten or whatever the thing is, a new element. But it was that my lens, my worldview was being shaped. And I don't know if you, I'm sure you've heard the story of Saint Ignatius of Loyola when he had broken his leg and he was convalescing in I think his sister-in-law's house or something like this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Or they can download the Bible reading plan by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. It's all one word again, Bible in a year, ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. And they'll get the reading plan and they'll get updates. And it's, yeah, that's the best way to get in contact and get connected.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Father, we ask that you please hear this prayer and receive our thanks, receive our praise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Thank you for not withholding yourself from us, but for giving yourself to us so fully through your word and through your word made flesh by giving us sacred scripture, by giving us sacred tradition, by giving us this teaching office of the church that we can just, we can stand upon your promises, we can stand upon your truth, we can stand upon your all that you've revealed to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And we just give you praise and thank you for this. Thank you for giving us this opportunity. Thank you for the technology that exists, that not only are we able to have this conversation now, but we're able to, wherever we are, have access to your word proclaimed to us. Thank you for this opportunity to do this Bible in a Year podcast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Talk later. Thanks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And he used to read romance novels or stories of like the glory of knights and whatnot. And he'd also read stories of the saints and life of Jesus. And he said that after he read those stories of those knights, he said, during while I was reading them, I felt like charge it up. I wouldn't want it to live like that. But afterwards, I kind of like a sugar crash.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
It's kind of like this disappointment he experienced versus reading the life of Christ. He was lifted up, but then afterwards he was sustained. It was like the sense of like, this was something not just inspiring, not just powerful, but it was something that was good and true and beautiful that had lasting effect.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And that's what I found was I found that when I listened to scripture, that it had this lasting effect in me that because it had shaped my lens of looking at the world and reminded me of like, I just, here's an example. I was reading the book of Judges and that sense of the last line of, in those days there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and I want to welcome you to the Bible in a Year podcast. With me today is Mr. none other than the illustrious, the inimitable, the incomparable, the infamous, Mr. Jeff Cavins. Hey, good to be with you. Jeff, I'm so grateful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
template that you designed that that you came upon when it came to the great adventure bible timeline which has probably i don't want to just start this whole thing off by by going over the top but for me i've said this many times i've told this to anyone who asks or anyone who will listen uh that that uh great adventure bible timeline was the most significant um most significant tool that i've ever encountered that ever um i've ever used that has gotten me more uh
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
In that sense of man, the lawlessness kind of a sense or people who are striving after the Lord but then unfaithful to him and this how God continued to work with their brokenness was one of the things that just, again, it kept reminding me as a touch point, it kept shaping how I was,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
living through like, I don't know, pandemic times and living through just trying to be with others in the midst of their brokenness and their crises of their lives. And it just, again, it wasn't just like I got a nugget of, here's a nugget of truth, or here's a little kernel of something good. It was more like, again, my lens or the way I was looking at the world and really interpreting,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
what I was going through, living through was being shaped. It was being like fashioned. And so that was a really big conviction of like, I think we need to do this from a real solidly Catholic perspective. And I don't think of a more powerful perspective than to go through it via the Great Adventure Bible Timeline.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Well, I think that you nailed it when you said that one of the things The Great Adventure Timeline does, and I think this podcast is shooting for, is to get the story, not just the stories. And I love that because so we were talking before we started recording about like our original, our first Bibles. And I went to get my first Bible and I
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
saw next to it, my actual kind of first Bible, my first Bible is this one. It's the picture Bible, which is like a comic book Bible. It's awesome. It is this, like every page is, here's the- Did you underline? Did you highlight? Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. So I have underlined, highlighted notes. But this was, I got this for my first Holy Communion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
So when I was in second grade, still have it, and I lent it to my little sister, her first Holy Communion, and then lent it to my little brother, took it back after he got done with it. And now what I do for all of my nieces and nephews is,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
there is a new version of this called the Action Bible that they know, their parents know, that Uncle Father Mike is going to give them an Action Bible to all the second graders when they get it. Because part of it is, like you said, it can be so daunting for us as anyone, as Christians, specifically as Catholics, because I don't want to get it wrong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I think one of the things that as Catholics we have is going for us and kind of going against us is we don't want to get it wrong. We don't want to read it and misinterpret it. We don't want to read it and misunderstand it. And so it's kind of like there's hesitation. And so what I've always wanted to do with my nieces and nephews is get them started by having something that's accessible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And then the really cool thing is my oldest nephew I think he was the first one that I ever gave the Action Bible to. He went to one of our camps for Inch in Your High, so sixth grade. And at camp, we said, you know, all campers, what we want you to do is we want you to get your Bible, your actual Bible, and read 10, 15 minutes a day. And Max is his name. Max just he started doing it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
There's nothing has been better to get me more deeply into the Bible than the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. And I'm just really grateful, not only for you and for that, but also that here you are now as we begin this Catholic Bible or the Bible in a Year podcast, that we get to use this thing that has changed my life, maybe more than any other study I've ever done in my entire life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I mean, he would have it in the car when his parents were driving him to this and that. And he'd just read the Bible. I remember being so struck by a couple of things. One was years later. He's a senior this year. So a couple of years ago, one of his cousins, one of my nieces, second grade, got the Action Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And then her parents got her like a pack of trivia cards based off the Action Bible, just kind of like and it was. Things like this. The first question was, who am I? And it had a list of identifiers. And the first identifier of this person, guess who I am, was son of Kush. And Max, here he is as a, probably at that point, maybe 15 or 14 year old, maybe 15 year old. He was like, oh, King Saul.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
I'm like, what? Oh my gosh, how did you know that? He's like, well, it's in the Bible. And I, you told us that camp to read it 10 to 15 minutes a day. So of course I do. And I was just like, man, oh man. And even just last weekend, I was talking with him
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
And the way that even just starting at sixth grade, and now he's in 12th grade, those six years of regular, not perfect, but regular exposing himself to scripture, he just knew so much. We just came out in a normal conversation of just, oh, this is such and such about scripture. And that's the thing is like,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
that's the goal right that's one of the things we we want is um for all catholics not just those who have gone through the great adventure and not just those who um you know as you said social media or here on our campus um but all catholics to be able to say this is accessible to me and i know it like it gets in my bones um right so my question for you i'm gonna throw this back to you is um when did you first let the word of god like when did it first like impact you and get in your bones
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: Bringing the Bible Back to Catholics (with Jeff Cavins)
Well, your grandfather, so he was a Catholic pastor? Bible reader?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For he finds fault with them when he says, The days will come, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my law into their minds and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow or everyone his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
You can also subscribe to this podcast because why stop saying it now? It is day 363. We're reading Revelation, not Revelations. Why did I say Revelations? It's not plural. It's singular, although... It's pretty great. Revelation chapter 15, 16, and 17, Hebrews, letters to the Hebrews, chapter 5, 6, 7, and 8, as well as Proverbs chapter 31, verses 23 to 25.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. In speaking of a new covenant, he treats the first as obsolete and what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them. She delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Thank you so much for this opportunity to be once again together in these final days of the Bible in a year. We thank you for all the prayers that we've uttered on behalf of each other. We thank you for, thank you for this time. There are no words, Lord God. We just thank you. Just thank you. Receive our hearts. Receive our praise. Receive the glory that belongs to you now and forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
In Jesus' name we pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Just, I know that we have Revelation and we have Hebrews to go through, but this last chapter, Proverbs chapter 31, you know, that wife, the description of this wife, some things I love about this is, in verse 24 it says, she makes her linen garments and sells them and delivers her sashes to the merchant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
She can be an entrepreneur, which is great. Strength and dignity are her clothing. That's something, something, something so good. I'm just like, ah, man, I think of, you know, my mom, I think of my sisters that is in women that I've just have been really helped by and strength and dignity are her clothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And that is an app description, an incredible description of, I know the women in my family. It's so good. And the last line here, and she laughs at the time to come. What does that mean? It points to how often we can be worried and just tremble at the thought of the future. But she laughs at the time to come. Why? Because strength and dignity are her clothing. She trusts in the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And so she doesn't need to be afraid of the future. And that's the truth for us too. Anyone who belongs to Christ, you don't need to be afraid of the future. So speaking of the future and speaking of the past and speaking of the book of Revelation, We have in chapter 17, we have the story of the harlot and the beast. And it talks about here's the woman, the harlot, and the beast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And the beast has the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. And it says that in chapter 17, verse 9, it calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads of the beast are seven hills on which the woman is seated. There are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen. One is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must reign only a little while. So what is that?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And consensus typically is that the seven hills, Rome is a city built on seven hills. And also, but also there's a rabbinic tradition that says that Jerusalem is also a city built on seven hills. And so I think, okay, either one. But knowing that here are the Christians who are undergoing incredible persecution from the Roman empire at this point.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
you recognize that if you begin with these kings or these emperors, these rulers, that the first one being Caesar, that the one they're talking about here, the sixth one would be Nero or Domitian. And there's an interesting kind of thing because here they are describing this. And so in some ways we say, oh my gosh, what is this beast? And what are these hails? And what is this harlot?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
The revelation to John, chapter 15, the angels with the seven last plagues. Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And when's that going to happen? Well, the author, St. John, he's saying, no, he's not describing something that necessarily will happen. He's describing something that has already happened. And that's why he's speaking in this code. He's saying, you just figured this out. This is what we're talking about right now. And the point is this, where it applies to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
This persecution is going to be limited. It is going to be devastating, but it is going to be limited. That Jesus Christ continues to reign. It goes on to say, even though all this power here at the end of chapter 17, it says in verse 16, it says, And the 10 horns you saw, they and the beast will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh and burn up her fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. Basically, it's all going to be over. All this great city of the city of Rome, this persecutor of the world, that's going to end at some point. That Satan's time is powerful on earth. but his time is short. And that same is true for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
There are sufferings, there's gonna be times of great persecution, but it will not end in absolute destruction. Even if it ends with our lives, it will not end with absolute destruction. God is giving us this word of hope through in the midst of this description of destruction in the book of Revelation. In the letter to the Hebrews, oh gosh, this is incredible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
You know, we've already established that Jesus is higher than the angels. He's higher than Moses. He's also talking about he's higher than the priests. He's higher than the priesthood. That Jesus is the new and eternal priest. In fact, remember, you know this already because this is so great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And that's why, as they're writing to the Hebrews here, they're writing to a bunch of people who know the story. They know the story like you know the story. Maybe they know it a little better, but you've heard the whole story. And they know that the priesthood, it only comes from the line of Levi, right? The priesthood of Aaron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And so Jesus though, as the author says, we know that he wasn't in the line of Aaron. He was a tribe of Judah. So Jesus belongs to a different kind of priesthood. The priesthood of Melchizedek, which we saw back in Genesis and heard about in Psalm, in the book of Psalms, Genesis 14 and in Psalms 110. That Jesus has a priesthood that does not pass away. That's not bound by a genealogy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
A priesthood that he doesn't have to offer up a sacrifice for himself like the priests would do in the old covenant for themselves daily and yearly. Because he was spotless, he offered a sacrifice of himself once and for all. And I love this. Chapter 7, verse 26.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He did this once for all when he offered up himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and wonderful are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of oath, which came later than the law, appoints a son who has been made perfect forever. And chapter eight talks all about how he is the mediator of a new covenant. You are part of that covenant right now. This is the great news. You're part of that covenant right now. I just thank God so much for this community.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
I thank God so much for this journey. Thank God so much for all the people who have been part of this. And you've just been so faithful. Even if you fell off, you're back on. Here you are on day 363, back together, praying for each other. Because we cannot, we cannot do this alone. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Just and true are your ways, O King of the ages. Who shall not fear and glorify your name, O Lord? For you alone are holy. All nations shall come and worship you, for your judgments have been revealed. After this I looked, and the temple of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, robed in pure bright linen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Chapter 16 The Bowls of God's Wrath Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God. So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth and foul and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
The second angel poured his bowl into the sea and it became like the blood of a dead man and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of water say, Just are you in these your judgments, you who are and were a holy one.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For men have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is their due. And I heard the altar cry, Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and just are your judgments. The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun and it was allowed to scorch men with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Men were scorched by the fierce heat and they cursed the name of God who had the power over these plagues and they did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast and its kingdom was in darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores and did not repent of their deeds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, issuing from the mouth of the dragon, and from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet, three foul spirits like frogs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his garments, that he may not go naked and be seen exposed. And they assembled them at the place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a great voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake, such as had never been since men were on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And God remembered great Babylon to make her drain the cup of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, heavy as a hundredweight, dropped on men from heaven, till men cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Chapter 17 The Great Whore and the Beast Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who is seated upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with the wine of whose fornication the dwellers on earth have become drunk. and he carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery, Babylon the Great, mother of harlots and of earth's abominations. And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. But the angel said to me, Why marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
The beast that you saw was and is not and is to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to behold the beast because it was and is not and is to come. This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman is seated.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
They are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen. One is, the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth, but it belongs to the seven and it goes to perdition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And the 10 horns that you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour together with the beast. These are of one mind and give over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the lamb and the lamb will conquer them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. And those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And he said to me, the waters that you saw where the harlot is seated are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the 10 horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the harlot. They will make her desolate and naked and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and giving over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this, he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also, Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my son. Today I have begotten you. As he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death. Spiritual Growth About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
You need milk, not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, free as a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Chapter 6 The Peril of Falling Away
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to be incursed. Its end is to be burned. Though we speak thus, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things that belong to salvation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you. And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 363, another palindrome day, maybe our final palindrome day of the year. We're reading Revelation chapter 15, 16, and 17, as well as Hebrews chapter 5, 6, 7, and 8. Just... Piece of cake.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath so that through two unchangeable things in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
And to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness. And then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life. But resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever. See how great he is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Abraham, the patriarch, gave him a tithe of the spoils. And those descendants of Levi who received the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man, who has not their genealogy, received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men, there by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Another priest, according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Now, if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people received the law, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
for the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe from which no one has ever served at the altar for it is evident that our lord was descended from judah and in connection with that tribe moses said nothing about priests
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, you are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness, for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
But he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to god through him since he always lives to make intercession for them for it was fitting that we should have such a high priest holy blameless unstained separated from sinners exalted above the heavens
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
It's going to be super short. We're also reading Proverbs chapter 31, verses 23 through 25. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a son who has been made perfect forever. Chapter 8, Mediator of a New Covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Now, the point in what we are saying is this. We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent, which is set up not by man, but by the Lord. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Hence, it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
Now, if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, for when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 363: The New Covenant Priesthood (2024)
But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
So when Job's three friends come and then the fourth friend we heard from yesterday, the three friends come and the fourth young man who thinks he knows a lot of stuff come to Job. They're all spouting off the kind of things that I guess, yeah, smart people would say. Things like, you know, sometimes pain, sometimes suffering is a result of our sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Sometimes God allows our brokenness, God allows our wounds, our suffering as a way to call us back from evil, as a way to wake us up and to get us to repent. Sometimes those who do the right are blessed and those who do evil are not blessed. And yet their logic, while it's somewhat sound, is not accurate in Job's case. And then the final friend, of course, he is also not accurate.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
This young man Elihu, he basically again says, how can you yell at God? How can you contend with the Lord? And now finally, God himself shows up. I remember when I read this book of Job for the very first time when I was in high school, I was looking for an answer. I was looking for the clear answer of like, why do bad things happen to good people? Job is clearly a good person.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
The Bible even says so. God himself says so. So why do bad things happen to Job? And here is God and he shows up and God seems to have a little bit of an attitude in terms of saying, hey, Job, tell me, what do you know about the eagle? What do you know about the lion? Hey, if you had a wild ox, would that wild ox be your servant? Or would you not have any idea what to do with a wild ox?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Not to mention this behemoth. God talks about a behemoth today. Tomorrow he's going to talk about a Leviathan. These creatures that we don't exactly know what they are. Maybe the behemoth is something like a hippopotamus. I'm not sure. No one really knows. But God is pointing out to things like, Job, there's so much beyond you. He's not pointing this out to Job to say, Job, stop asking questions.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And they said to Pharaoh, We, your servants, are shepherds, as our fathers were. They said to Pharaoh, We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now we pray you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, your father and your brothers have come to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
He's not saying, Job, stop coming back to me and wrestling with me. But he is also putting Job in context. And the context is, Job, there are so many more elements to this story that you do not know. He's not telling Job to be quiet and sit down. But he is revealing to God in a way that only God can do this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Because when his friends in Elihu, when they brought up some of these same points, it wasn't the same. God is revealing to Job that there is a bigger story happening. And even if you can't understand the meaning of this moment, this moment has meaning. That Job, even if you can't understand why you're going through this right now, There is a purpose that I have for it all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
In Jesus, what Jesus reveals about our suffering is not only that suffering can be an opportunity for us to repent, not only that our suffering can be an opportunity for us to learn and grow in wisdom, not only that our suffering can be a thing that breaks our heart and makes us more compassionate, makes us gentler with people, more patient with people, more merciful with other people, but also that our suffering can be redemptive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Now, Job doesn't know this yet. God knows this from all eternity because God knows everything. Yeah, Job doesn't. And so God, when he's questioning Job, it sounds like he's being kind of sarcastic. Sounds like he's being kind of snarky and putting Job in his place. But really what's happening is he is putting Job in his place, but in the way that only God can do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
His friends couldn't do this because they're not righteous. His friends couldn't do this because they don't know the whole story. Only God can reveal this to Job. that yes, some suffering is oriented towards repentance. Some suffering is oriented towards wisdom and growing in knowledge. Some suffering is oriented towards breaking our hearts and making us gentler, better people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
But also some suffering can be oriented towards redemptive suffering that not only transforms us, but also can be offered up to God for the salvation of the world. Now that doesn't come out explicitly in the book of Job. The Old Testament is revealed in the New, and the New Testament is hidden in the Old. Every one of us is in a great battle, a great struggle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And so all of us need people around us who are patient. All of us need to learn wisdom. All of us need to repent. And all of us need to be reminded that God knows the full story, even when we cannot, cannot possibly see the full story. And part of that full story is God can use our suffering For not only his glory, he can use our suffering for our redemption and for the redemption of the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
That is the mystery of the cross. Let's continue to pray for each other because it is easy to talk about the cross. It is not easy to carry your cross. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any able men among them, put them in charge of my cattle. Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and set him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, How many are the days and the years of your life?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my sojourning are a hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Ramses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food according to the number of their dependents.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
now there was no food in all the land for the famine was very severe so that the land of egypt and the land of canaan languished by reason of the famine and joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of egypt and in the land of canaan for the grain which they had bought and joseph brought the money into pharaoh's house
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone. And Joseph answered, give your cattle and I will give you food in exchange for your cattle if your money is gone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
So they brought their cattle to Joseph and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds and the donkeys. And he supplied them with food in exchange for all their cattle that year. And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, We will not hide from my Lord that our money is all spent, and the herds of cattle are my Lord's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
It is day 25. Let us keep on rolling. We are reading from Genesis chapter 47 and 48. We are just a few chapters from the end of the very first book of the Bible. reading Genesis 47 to 48. We're also two chapters from the end of Job at the end of this day, reading Job chapter 39 and 40. We're also leaving the Proverbs for a little bit. We're jumping into the book of Psalms.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
There is nothing left in the sight of my Lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and with our land we will be slaves to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate. So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
For all the Egyptians sold their fields because the famine was severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he made slaves of them from one end of Egypt to the other. Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore they did not sell their land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Then Joseph said to the people, behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you and you shall sow the land. And at the harvest, you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh and four fifths shall be your own as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households and as food for your little ones. And they said, you have saved our lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
May it please my Lord, we will be slaves to Pharaoh. So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day that Pharaoh should have a fifth. The land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they gained possessions in it. And they were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt 17 years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years. And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal loyally and truly with me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place. Joseph answered, I will do as you have said. And he said, swear to me. And he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed. After this, Joseph was told,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession. And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And the offspring born to you after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. For when I came from Paddan, Rachel, to my sorrow, died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath. And I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, that is Bethlehem. When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, who are these?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Joseph said to his father, they are my sons whom God has given me here. And he said, bring them to me. I pray you that I may bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face. And behold, God has let me see your children also.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Then Joseph removed them from his knees and bowed himself with his face to the ground. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel's right hand, and brought them near him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
We're going to be reading Psalm 16. If you want to know, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition of the Bible. I'm also actually reading from the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you're interested in getting your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year, and you can download that for free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand upon the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has led me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And in them, let my name be perpetuated in the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the hand of Ephraim, it displeased him. And he took his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon his head. But his father refused and said, I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
So he blessed them that day, saying, By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh. And thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. Then Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Moreover, I have given to you, rather than to your brothers, one mountain slope, which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow. The Lord questions Job Do you know when the mountain goats spring forth? Do you observe the deer bringing forth their young? Can you number the months that they fulfill?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And do you know the time when they bring forth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring and are delivered of the young? Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open. They go forth and do not return to them. Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey? To whom I have given the step for his home and the salt land for his dwelling place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
He scorns the tumult of the city. He hears not the shouts of the driver. He ranges the mountains at his pasture and he searches after every green thing. Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your crib? Can you bind him with a furrow of ropes? Or will he harrow the valleys after you? Will you depend on him because his strength is great? And will you leave to him your labor?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
do you have faith in him that he will return and bring your grain to the threshing-floor the wings of the ostrich wave proudly but are they the pinions and plumage of love for she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beasts may trample them she deals cruelly with her young as if they were not hers
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Also, if you haven't yet, please subscribe to this podcast app. I know it's day 25, but why haven't you subscribed? It's day 25, for crying out loud. Lastly, if you want to get on our email list and get updates and be part of this community, you can text the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777. As I said, today we are reading from Genesis chapter 47 to 48, Job 39 and 40, and Psalm 16.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider. Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with strength? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
He goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed. He does not turn back from the sword. Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear and the javelin. With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground. He cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says, aha. He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains and the shouting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. From there he spies out the prey. His eyes behold it afar off. His young ones suck up blood and where the slain are, there is he.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
And the Lord said to Job, shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, Deck yourself with majesty and dignity. Clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Pour forth the overflowings of your anger and look on everyone that is proud and abase him. Look on everyone that is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together. Bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can give you victory. Behold, behemoth, which I made as I made you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
He eats grass like an ox. Behold his strength in his loins and the power of his muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tombs of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. He is the first of the works of God. Let him who made him bring near his sword. For the mountains yield food for him, where all the wild beasts play.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Under the lotus plant he lies, in the hiding place of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the locust trees cover him. The willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent, he is not frightened. He is confident, though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him with hooks or pierce his nose with a snare?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Genesis chapter 47 and 48. So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, My father and my brothers with their flocks and herds and all that they possess have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen. And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, What is your occupation?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
The book of Psalms chapter 16, a song of trust and security in God, a mictum of David. Preserve me, God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, you are my Lord. I have no good apart from you. As for the saints in the land, they are noble, in whom is all my delight. Those who choose another God multiply their sorrows.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Their libations of blood I will not pour out or take their name upon my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup. You hold my lot. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel. For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your godly one see the pit. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy. In your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
Father in heaven, we give you praise. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your will. We thank you for your son, Jesus Christ. Lord God, the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
All this time we're spending in the Old Covenant, in the Old Testament, in the Hebrew scriptures, we give you praise for and we thank you for because you're revealing to us that you work with us and that you want us to be your children. Help us to be your children every single day, no matter what, in rain, in sun, when we're suffering and when we are in rejoicing. Help us to always say yes to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We are getting close to the end of our time with our friend Job. And one of the things that strikes people as being somewhat difficult to understand is how Job has been, he's been essentially, he might say like unjustly, meaning like undeservedly punished.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 25: Job's Questioning (2025)
He's been brought to a place of suffering even though he did nothing to deserve it. And God even knows that, God says that. No, my servant Job is righteous. He hasn't. He hasn't done anything wicked. He has been just and righteous before God. And yet God in his mystery and his wisdom has allowed Satan to deprive Job of so many things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
But the two things are, some of the first words that the Lord is reiterating to Joshua, and those first words that the Lord is reiterating to Joshua are the words that not only does Joshua need to hear, but the people of Israel will need to hear these words as well. And those words are, be strong and of good courage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Be strong and of good courage, repeated often throughout these first couple chapters, gonna be repeated again throughout scripture. But in chapter one, especially, there's this line where God says, have I not commanded you? Like, listen, you're going to do what I've asked. You're going to do what I've commanded. So be strong and of good courage. Be not frightened, neither be dismayed. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. And there is something about this that we recognize that when God is with us, there is a change. There is something completely different that even in the midst of struggles or trials, in the midst of battles, even in the midst of failure, when God is with us, we can still be strong and of good courage. We can be strong and of very good courage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Moses has just died and Joshua is now the new leader of the people of Israel as he leads them from the wilderness, across the plains of Moab, over the Jordan River, into the promised land. And today we're reading Joshua 1 through 4 and praying Psalm 123. The Book of Joshua, Chapter 1. God Commissions Joshua.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Because the Lord is the God of our hearts. And to have courage, the word courage comes from the Latin word cor, which is C-O-R, which means heart. And so to be discouraged is to lose heart, but to be encouraged is to be given strength at heart. So to be of good courage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
is to let our hearts not be afraid, let our hearts not be weary, let our hearts not be discouraged, but to know that God is with us, again, in the midst of trials, in the midst of struggles, in the midst of battle, and even in the midst of failure, we can be those people like Joshua, like the people of Israel who are called to be. very strong and of good courage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
The other thing is, why can we be strong and of good courage? Because it says that, Lord, your God is with you. And I love the fact that here, as the people of Israel are passing through the Jordan River on dry ground, remember that these are the children of the people who passed through the Red Sea on dry ground. So these people had never seen this miracle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
They've heard of the miracle their parents had lived through. But they themselves did not pass on dry ground through the Red Sea. And so what is God doing? He's giving them an experience of his power.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
He's giving them an experience of his might and giving them an experience that they can now, as they go into the promised land, that they can look back on and say, no, God has brought us to this place. This is the way he wants us to walk. And this is where he wants us to be. And he is willing to act for us. He's willing to fight for us. And we know this because we saw it with our own eyes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
But here's the thing. Even when we've seen things with our own eyes, even when we know what God has done for us personally, we can so quickly forget. We can, yeah, be strong of our courage. I'm with you. But we can even forget those. We can even forget miracles in our lives. If you've ever had something like a miracle or a true miracle happen in your life, you know that this is the case.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
We are often tempted to forget in the dark what we knew was true in the light. We're often tempted to forget in the new trial what we learned in the old trial. We're often tempted to forget that God is fighting for us when we're in the midst of the battle. And so what is the command?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
The command is take these stones from the center of the Jordan and stack them up, pile up into an altar, reminding the people as long as they live, where did these stones come from? They came from the middle of the river. That's how deep down the Lord went for us. And as often as you see this pile of stones, this altar of stones, what you can see is that's what he did for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And I'll never forget it. It's one of the reasons why when we're going through this Bible in a year, one incredible thing you can do for yourself. is to write down the insights that you receive when you listen to the Bible, when you read the Bible. Write them down, capture them down somewhere that you can always come back to them because it's so easy to forget.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
So if you stack up those stones, basically another way to say it is here you are writing down those insights, you're stacking up those stones that came from an impossible place, that came from a place where God was and where he was fighting for you, where God was and he was revealing his heart to you, where God was and you knew that he was present to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
To write down those lines, write down those actions of God, write down those reminders.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
They will be kind of like your 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan that are stored up in your journal, that are stored up in the margins of your Bible, that are stored up in a safe place that you can always go back to and be reminded of the reason why we can be strong and have good courage because he is with us. We are praying for you. I am praying for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
I know so many people are telling me, gosh, Father, whenever you say you're praying for us and please pray for you, I do. And I am so grateful because I am praying for you as well. We're praying for each other. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' minister, Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you, as I promised to Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 81. It is the first day in a new time period, the time period of the conquest and judges. And it's a little bit different because we're We're going to be reading four chapters from Joshua.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
From the wilderness and this Lebanon, as far as the great river, the All the land of the Hittites to the great sea toward going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and of good courage.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to the law all which Moses my servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Be not frightened, neither be dismayed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Preparations for Taking Over the Land Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, Pass through the camp and command the people, Prepare your provisions. For within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
But all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brethren and shall help them. until the Lord gives rest to your brethren as well as to you, and they also take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and shall possess it, the land which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise. And they answered Joshua, All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage. Chapter two, spies sent to Jericho. And Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies saying, go, view the land, especially Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And it was told the king of Jericho, Behold, certain men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land. Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land. But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Actually, for the next, give or take, I don't know, seven days or so, we're going to be taking a chunk of chapters, meaning like, I don't know, anywhere from two to four chapters each day to get through the book of Joshua in the next, give or take, eight days. People who are better than me at math will know. Father, it's exactly eight days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And she said, True, men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. And when the gate was to be closed at dark, the men went out. Where the men went, I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them. but she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with stalks of flax which she had laid out in order on the roof.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. Before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land and that the fear of you has fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted and there was no courage left in any man because of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
For the Lord your God is he who is God in the heaven above and on earth beneath. Now then, swear to me by the Lord that as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house and give me a sure sign and save alive my father and my mother, my brothers and sisters and all who belong to them. and deliver our lives from death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And the men said to her, Our life for yours, if you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she dwelt in the wall. And she said to them, Go into the hills, lest the pursuers meet you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
and hide yourself there three days until the pursuers have returned then afterward you may go your way the men said to her we will be guiltless with respect to this oath of ours which you have made us swear behold when we come into the land you shall bind this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down and you shall gather into your house your father and mother your brothers and all your father's household
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
If anyone goes out of the doors of this house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid upon anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath which you have made us swear. And she said, According to your words, so be it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Then she sent them away, and they departed, and she bound a scarlet cord in the window. They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until their pursuers returned, for the pursuers had made search all along the way and found nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Then the two men came down again from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands, and moreover all the inhabitants of the land are faint-hearted because of us. Chapter three, Israel passes over the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
From day 81 to day 88, we'll be reading through the book of Joshua. This is day 81, Joshua chapter 1 through chapter 4. We're also going to be praying Psalm 123. As always, the Bible translation that I am reading is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Early in the morning, Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the sons of Israel, and they came to the Jordan and lodged there before they passed over.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
At the end of three days, the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, when you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it, that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits. Do not come near it. And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. And Joshua said to the priests, Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And the Lord said to Joshua, This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And you shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, Come here and hear the words of the Lord your God. And Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will, without fail, drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is to pass over before you into the Jordan. Now, therefore, take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be stopped from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water, the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest, the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And those flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the salt sea, were wholly cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. And while all Israel were passing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. Chapter 4. Twelve Stones Set Up at Gilgal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
When all the nations had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you lodged tonight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
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The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Then Joshua called the twelve men from the sons of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, that this may be a sign among you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
When your children ask in time to come, what do these stones mean to you? Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the sons of Israel immemorial forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And the men of Israel did as Joshua commanded and took up 12 stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged. and laid them down there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood, and they are there to this day. For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
people passed over in haste. And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the sons of Israel as Moses had bidden them. About 40,000 ready, armed for war, passed over before the Lord for battle to the plains of Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses all the days of his life. And the Lord said to Joshua, Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant to come up out of the Jordan. Joshua therefore commanded the priests, Come up out of the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, and the the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
And those twelve stones which they took up out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. And he said to the sons of Israel, When your children ask their fathers in time to come, what do these stones mean? Then you shall let your children know. Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over. So all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
As noted before, if you got to the podcast episode that introduces this time period of conquest and judges, you know what we're about to do. You know what we're about to face. You know what the people of Israel are about to encounter. We are leaving Deuteronomy chapter 34. We come to the end of Numbers chapter 36. And now we're taking the next step.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God till he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us. For we have had more than enough of contempt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Too long our soul has been sated with the scorn of those who are at ease, the contempt of the proud.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
We glorify your name and we just are reminded, Lord God, of your goodness. We're reminded of your faithfulness and we're reminded of the need to be reminded. We're reminded of the need to remember, Lord God, this day. As we hear these words, as we pray and let your word shape us, Lord God, let our lives be a memorial.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
Let our lives be one that our hearts be one, our minds be one that remembers who you are and what you have done in this world and in our lives. Help us never, ever to forget your goodness and to never, ever forget your presence. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
So the book of Joshua gets off to a pretty fast start, you know, establishing Joshua as the new Moses. And one of the things that establishes Joshua as the new Moses is not only Moses. I mean, we heard in numbers, we heard in Deuteronomy how Moses had said, you're going to be following Joshua, basically. And then we have God himself saying, yeah, you're going to be following Joshua. So he's being
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
installed essentially as the new leader of the people of Israel. He's been installed as the new leader of the people of Israel over the Jordan and into the promised land. And this is part of it, right? How the waters get stopped and how the Jordan River is halted because of the presence of the Lord in the Ark of the Covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 81: Israel Crosses the Jordan (2025)
One of the things that is so important for us, I want to highlight two things because we're deep in the story right now and we're going to be following this narrative and it's going to be just so good already.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, and that's so interesting because even though, like you said, even though here's Samson who has been set apart as the Nazirite, he regularly seems to break this vow. He regularly seems, I mean, even, even the story of Samson and the lion before the Samson and Delilah that he, you know, even eats honey out of the dead carcass of the lion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And as a Nazirite, those who would make a Nazirite, how he wouldn't come into contact with it, but he doesn't seem overly preoccupied with others. And that's one of the things that we realize is some of these judges, they're not, as you said, not merely, are they not judge Judy? They're not all
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
great like they're not they do the job but they're not necessarily kind of like some of the other characters we've met in the course of this this bible the scripture time is that even though they're called by god and even though god can use them not everything they do is like hey go do that and not everything they do is the role model example for us to follow and samson's very
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
He's consistent in that line of people who have been called by God, the spirit of the Lord is upon them, set apart by the Lord for service, but not always faithful to that being set apart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And yet, there's going to be not just green means go, like in the sense of easy or in the sense of just kind of go up and take the land. There's going to be some struggle that is kind of really marks, I think, this time of conquest and judges. I mean, obviously, conquest would involve struggle, but this time period isn't clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Well, that, as you said, there's a couple of different ways to be tempted to read this. One is God is on trial. And the other is, this is about something else or someone else, as opposed to God is not on trial here. And also this is about me. And this is a, this is like we talked about before. Scripture can be a mirror. It can be that flashlight spotlight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It can be that sandpaper that in this, this is one of those cases where it's a mirror where we hold this up and say, okay, I know, I know personally, whenever, uh,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
i read the story of samson and he didn't realize the spirit of god had left him it's just one of those haunting lines in the chapters describing oh yeah he wakes up you know and his hair is gone samson the philistines are here but he didn't realize the spirit of god had left him and it's like oh my goodness lord i just uh i don't ever want that to happen and and that's the like that unique like you said the unique piece of
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
The people of Israel is they're not the biggest of the nations. They're not the best. They're not the whatever, but they're chosen. And that's what makes God has chosen to be among them. He's chosen to reveal his heart to them. He chosen to use them to bless the world. And that's what makes them unique.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And it's one of those things, I think, if anything, we take away from these first however many days we've been journeying through the Bible is is that even though God is with his people, it's not always very clean. You know, it's not that one of those situations where it's just, oh, God's with us, therefore the road is smooth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And if we don't say as Christians now in this age, the age of the church that God has chosen us, not because of our beauty or our power or wisdom or our strength. but because he loves us and wants us to expand his blessings to the world. And we have to live like that, or else, like you said, we're just like everyone else.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
But God will. And just as haunting as the line, Samson did not realize the spirit of the Lord had left him, is the promise of the next line. After his eyes are gouged out and after he's there to just grind the mill, it says, but Samson's hair began to grow. And that kind of piece, again, there's that sense of promise here that it's not the end of the story yet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And when he prays, Lord God, give me the strength once more to defeat the Philistines. Give me the strength to do what you've created me to do. And like you said, there's so much grace, even if there has been presumption, even if there had been sin, but even if the spirit of the Lord left him, but his hair began to grow and he called upon the Lord and the Lord answered in a powerful way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And that's for us, again, this is the mirror and this is a microcosm of the good news and not only microcosm of the story of Israel, but also of our story, hopefully.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It is oftentimes marked by a certain struggle and certain even catastrophe.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It doesn't lead to covenant faithfulness and doesn't even lead to happiness. There's that sense of, and that's what we see. I mean, the book of Judges, it's one of my more, I'm inspired by the book of Judges in many ways, but mostly because it reveals to me that, okay, this is, things can get worse, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
No matter how bad I'm living in right now, realizing, and you know, whatever culture, country, nation, history, whatever it is, you read Judges and realize, okay, things can get worse because they're pretty dark through that entire book of Judges. Yes, God is working in the story, but we're also... choosing to not be faithful in this story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
So he raises up, I like how you mentioned that they're not Judge Judy. These judges are, they're more along the lines of like a William Wallace or a Frederick Douglass or a Harriet Tubman in the sense of these people that God gets to, chooses to use in order to, again, bring his people back to this place of strength again, bring these people back to a place of fidelity and faithfulness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And that's on Facebook, right? That's every Thursday on Facebook? And that's recorded then? It gets posted later on?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Which is gonna be super helpful for people because again, as you said, these books, this section, this time period will bring up so many questions and that's one of them. And so I'm really grateful for you to be there. Jeff, as we conclude this episode, any last takeaways as we launch into this next time period?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
That's awesome. Yeah, just that again, once again, living these stories, avoiding the temptation of making God on trial and avoiding the temptation of making this be about someone else or some other people. This is not impersonal. This is incredibly, incredibly personal for all of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Speaking of on this journey, I'm so grateful that you are still with us after all these days, after all these months, you're still journeying through scripture with us, this Bible in your podcast. And so please know that I am praying for you. Please be praying for me. And also as part of this community, keep praying for each other with Jeff Cavins. My name is Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
and how we fit into that story today. Once again, today we are joined by Jeff Cavins, who's going to introduce the next time period. We've gone through a number of time periods already from the early world to the patriarchs, to the desert wanderings, Exodus in Egypt. And now we're coming on to the next time period, which is conquest and judges.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And we're entering into this time period where Israel is about to cross the Jordan River and heading on in to the promised land. And whatever happens now is going to be the content of the next number of days as we're going into Judges and the book of Joshua. And that's what we have.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah. And then the Lord had said to the Levites, he said that you won't have any land to inherit because I'm your inheritance. That the Lord himself is your inheritance. Now you mentioned just a second ago that journey through numbers. And then at the end, Deuteronomy there, Moses's words were saying that this was bootcamp and it was training. It was, it was getting them ready.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And in some ways, you know, I think about it like as a retreat too, but maybe not a, maybe bootcamp is a way better phrase, a better way to understand this. It's kind of that sense of okay, you've been protected, isolated in many ways out in the wilderness, but you're going to have to go into this land where you can't forget me. You have to remember what I've done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And as you said, a big call is to pass on to your children, teach your children about me because you have to be unique amongst these people. Again, in the wilderness, maybe you've been protected from infiltration. Although we actually had seen a number of stories towards the end of the book of numbers where they weren't necessarily protected.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
They did intermingle with the peoples that they were among. But this is going to be showtime, like you said, and that sense of, okay, how are you going to move forward? If this is the land, the promised land, there's going to be a certain way to live.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
But then for us, then there's gonna be a certain, a certain attitude we need to have when we're reading these stories, because that's going to be, that's going to determine, I think a lot when it comes to whether we're approaching these stories, the scripture, this history, God's working with cynicism and skepticism, or whether we're going to approach this time period with, with faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
So Jeff is joining us today as the expert, helping us to kind of get ourselves situated and having a context for these next number of days as we're going through this new time period. Welcome, Jeff, once again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
So it's so important and powerful. Also, not to stop reading. There was, you know, in this last section that we had when it came to Desert Wanderings, there is a section in Deuteronomy where the Lord talks about the blessings and the curses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And I know that for many people who contacted me after this, as part of this community journeying through scripture, they contacted me saying like, this is really disturbing. I don't like the fact that, that God has said, if you are faithful, you have these blessings. And if you're not faithful, there's these curses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And because they said, it just seems like here's God trying to instill the fear of God in them or trying to like maybe buy their affection or buy their faith because of, again, this kind of coercion kind of situation. And yet again, when you keep reading the very next day, which I understand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I understand that coming from a modern perspective, we, again, as you mentioned, from the perspective where God is on trial, and if I don't understand it, it must be because I know of unfair judges. Here's a God who reveals he's a good dad, but I know of bad dads, that kind of situation where We get all mixed up like this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
But the next day is the following chapter where the Lord says, basically, or Moses says that, and those are the blessings and curses. But here is what God would say. Yes, he visits those curses upon you so that you can once again come to repentance. And it's this sense of, it's never about the curse. It's never about the end isn't meant to be destruction. The end is meant to be
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I will allow these curses to come upon you. I'll allow this destruction to visit upon you so that you can come back. And that's what we're going to see, right? Even here in Joshua and Judges, this kind of almost this cycle of unfaithfulness and then destruction and then repentance and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
They keep forgetting, right? There's this silence in the land where God blesses them. And then, as you said, it seems like on this repeat thing of like this, I just forget and I just turn away and I let myself drift.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And one of the big, big things it seems like is that if they would just remember, if they would just, I know this is, it reminds me in so many ways of in the Christian life, how we're called to not just make the decision one time, for Jesus to be the Lord of my life. But every day is that sense of, okay, let me remember, what has God done in my life? Let me remember, he's present here right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Conquest & Judges (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Let me remember, what is he calling me towards? And then everything in my life becomes under his dominion and that he gets to be the leader of the life. And yet, again, the big temptation for all of us is to forget this. And what happens is, you know, go off the rails.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And then all of a sudden you're in the wilderness. And then all of a sudden you're being reminded of who you are as a people. So it's so important here that the tribes of Israel are being divided up into their families, right? Into the families of Israel. And what that does is it reminds them, oh, this is my identity. Not only am I one of the tribes of Israel, I'm this tribe of Israel, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And not only is it this kind of generic tribe or generic family, but it's not. It's this specific family under this specific head of the family. And there's something so powerful about knowing your identity here. And so God is giving them order. He's giving them their identity. And again, they're ordered all around the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
The presence of God is at the center of everything they are and everything that they do. Why? Because they were formerly slaves and God is training them to be the kind of people who can live freely, people who can live freely.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
live well right they can they can actually not abuse freedom but will actually live in freedom now obviously the story is a lot bumpier than that they do not necessarily do this but he is shaping them and forming them into the kind of people that can be free so that's the order of the camp and judah goes up first right praise goes up first
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And that's a lesson for all of us when it comes to how we begin our day. It's so important for us to at least take a moment to praise God and to let praise go up first and even to praise his faithfulness. So in the book of Deuteronomy today, in Deuteronomy chapter two, we have a number of times where here is Moses and he's recapping their journey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
If you want to be able to follow along and see where we're going, you can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to the podcast app. Once again, reading from Numbers chapter 2, Deuteronomy chapter 2, and Psalm 85. Numbers chapter two, order of encampment and marching.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And they go through the land of the Edomites, right? And they say, he says, don't, don't attack them. Why? Because Edomites are the descendants of Esau. Remember Esau is the brother of twin brother of Jacob, AKA Israel. And so no, they're your family. So you're not going to attack them and you're going to dwell peacefully with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And they're going to sell you food and water and you're going to buy it and you're going to And you're going to like it. And then we're going to go into the land of Ammon. And that is the land of Lot, right? Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Because you're not going to attack them either. Because they're your family. They're a distant family. But still, not only are they your family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
but i gave them this land i gave esau in his descendants the edomites this land i gave lot and his descendants the ammonites this land and so i am faithful and i'm going to give you your land too but it's not this land and that's again so so vitally important for all of us to understand uh this this depth of we can praise god for his faithfulness
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And then Moses recounts the battle that is there in Numbers chapter 21. We'll get to that in roughly 18 or 19 days from now. But against Sihon, the king of the Amorites. And again, one of the things that can bother us, we could say, this is so great. Here is the people of Israel being led past the Edomites. No wars. That's awesome. That's so good. And there's peace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And led past the Ammonites and the descendants of Lot. And that's good. And there's peace. But then we're going to encounter... We're going to encounter violence, and that can really disturb us because we're not necessarily accustomed to associating violence with God. I mean, that's one of the things that we are typically not accustomed with.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And at the same time, we have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. And there are ways to understand this. But the first thing I have to do is say, okay, I'm going to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. If I'm not really comfortable with the notion, with the idea, with the reality that as the people of Israel came into possession of the promised land, they had to fight for it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And if I'm not comfortable with that, I invite you to hang on still. Hang on still because there is an explanation. It's not to explain it away, but it is to understand more deeply what is it that God is doing in the midst of a violent world. God does not desire violence for its own sake at all. He doesn't desire death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
In fact, in the book of Wisdom, he says, God does not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. So we know that the heart of God is not one that rejoices in violence at all, at all, and doesn't rejoice in death at all, at all. But we live in a broken world and in a violent world. We live in a world where... That is what we do to each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
There is depth of explanation about this. My invitation for all of us is to hold on. Hold on because there is an explanation coming. But also there is a lot of violence coming too. And that's part of our story. It's kind of like when we have a family and we'd say, you know, we have great times. We also have some big fights. We have some really great, you know, heroes in our family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
We also have some kind of some scoundrels in our family. We have some great moments of glory in our families and we have some great moments of shame in our families. And this is the family of God. And the family of God is very, very similar. So as I said, please hang on because it all is going to make sense. I promise it is all going to make sense. In the meantime, let Judah go up first.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, the sons of Israel shall encamp each by his own standard with the ensigns of their father's houses. They shall encamp facing the tent of meeting on every side.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
In the meantime, let praise go up first. In the meantime, we situate our lives like the Israelites situated their tents and their families and their tribes around the tabernacle. We center God in the midst of our lives. And when he's in the midst of our lives and praise goes up first, then there's nothing that can stop us because he's at the center and we're on his side.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Keep praying for each other. You guys, it's day 53 and we're moving along, but it sometimes can get easy to get bogged down, easy to get distracted, easy to get off track. So let's stay on track and let's give God the praise that is due today. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Those to encamp on the east side, toward the sunrise, shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the leader of the people of Judah being Nashon, the son of Amminadab, his host as numbered being 74,600. Those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, the leader of the people of Issachar being Nethanol, the son of Zohar. his host being numbered 54,400.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 53, and we are continuing along with our journey into Numbers and Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Then the tribe of Zebulun, the leader of the people of Zebulun being Eliab, the son of Helon, his host as numbered being 57,400. The whole number of the camp of Judah by their companies is 186,400. They shall set out first on the march.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the leader of the people of Reuben being Eleazar, the son of Shediur, his host as numbered being 46,500. And those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, the leader of the people of Simeon being Shelumiel, the son of Zerushadai. his host as numbered being 59,300.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Then the tribe of Gad, the leader of the people of Gad being Elisaph, the son of Reul, his host as numbered being 45,650. The whole number of the camp of Reuben by their companies is 151,450. They shall set out second. Then the tent of meeting shall set out with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
as they encamp so shall they set out each in position standard by standard on the west side shall be the standard of the camp of ephraim by their companies the leader of the people of ephraim being elishima the son of amihud his host as numbered being forty thousand five hundred
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh, the leader of the people of Manasseh being Gamaliel, the son of Petazur, his host as numbered being 32,200. Then the tribe of Benjamin, the leader of the people of Benjamin, being Abedan, the son of Gideonai, his host as numbered being 35,400. The whole number of the camp of Ephraim by their companies is 108,100.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
They shall set out third on the march." On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their companies, the leader of the people of Dan being Ahiezar, the son of Amishadai, his host as numbered being 62,700. And those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, the leader of the people of Asher being Pagiel, the son of Okran, his host as numbered being 41,500.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Then the tribe of Naphtali, the leader of the people of Naphtali being Ahira, the son of Enan, his host as numbered being 53,400. The whole number of the camp of Dan is 157,600. They shall set out last, standard by standard. These are the sons of Israel, as numbered by their fathers' houses. All in the camps who were numbered by their companies were 603,550.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
As I mentioned yesterday, one of the things that happens at the very beginning of numbers is kind of a lot of numbers and a lot of details. We're going to pick up the narrative in a couple days, but... In the meantime, Deuteronomy has Moses giving us the narrative. He is giving us that kind of big overview of the journey of the people of Israel through the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
But the Levites were not numbered among the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses. Thus did the sons of Israel. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, every one in his family, according to his father's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
The Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 2 The Years in the Wilderness Then we turned, and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we went about Mount Sair. Then the Lord said to me, You have been going about this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And command the people, you are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the sons of Esau, who lived in Seir, and they will be afraid of you. So take good heed and do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land. No, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
You shall purchase food from them for money that you may eat, and you shall also buy water of them for money that you may drink. For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows you're going through this great wilderness. These 40 years, the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing. So we went on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Away from our brethren, the sons of Esau, who lived in Seir, away from the Arabah road to Eleth and Ezion Geber. And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab. And the Lord said to me, Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot for a possession.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim. Like the Anakim, they are also known as Rephaim. But the Moabites called them Emim. The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the sons of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their stead as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the Lord gave to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Now rise up and go over to the brook Zered. So we went over to the brook Zered. And the time from our leaving Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the book Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them to destroy them from the camp until they had perished.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
So when all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, the Lord said to me, This day you are to pass over the boundary of Moab at Ar. And when you approach the frontier of the sons of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
that also is known as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly lived there, but the Ammonites called them Zamzumim, a people great and many and tall as the Anakim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And he's going to do it in basically, I don't know, like one verse. Actually, he will do it in a couple different chapters. But there is even one of the verses in chapter two of Deuteronomy where Moses just basically says, and we were there for 38 years. And it was kind of like, oh, it was over just like that. So what we have is in Numbers, we're having the setup. We have the scene.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
But the Lord destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and settled in their stead, as he did for the sons of Esau who lived in Seir when he destroyed the Horites before them, and they dispossessed them and settled in their stead even to this day. As for the Avim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Kaphtarim, who came from Kaphtor, destroyed them and settled in their stead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Rise up, take your journey and go over the valley of Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon and his land. Begin to take possession and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples that are under the whole heavens, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
The Defeat of Sion, the King of Heshbon So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemath to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, Let me pass through your land, and I will go only by the road. I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left. You shall sell me food for money that I may eat, and give me water for money that I may drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Only let me pass through on foot, as the sons of Esau who lived in Seir and the Moabites who lived in Ar did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land which the Lord our God gives us." But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as at this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And the Lord said to me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jehaz.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And the Lord our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people, and we captured all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed every city, men, women, and children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
We left none remaining, only the cattle we took as spoil for ourselves with the booty of the cities which we captured, from Arwer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley as far as Gilead. There was not a city too high for us. The Lord our God gave all into our hands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jebok and the cities of the hill country and wherever the Lord our God forbade us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
The Book of Psalms, Psalm 85.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Prayer for the Restoration of God's Favor. To the Choir Master. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Lord, you were favorable to your land. You brought back the captives of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people. You pardoned all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath. You turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your merciful love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what the Lord God will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and faithfulness will meet. Righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground and righteousness will look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
We have all the tribes of Israel, right? There's the 12 tribes of Israel. They're gathered around the tabernacle. That's what we're looking at for Numbers. And then in Deuteronomy, it is the story of Numbers, but just kind of retold because Deuteronomy is the end of the wilderness journeys. And it begins with Moses. Well, it is Moses basically summing up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Father in heaven, we thank you. We thank you for your word. We thank you for trusting us and entrusting your word to us. We thank you for sharing who you are. We thank you for sharing that you are faithful to your promises, that you are faithful to your people. And we thank you for giving us the opportunity today to come into contact with you through the power of your word proclaimed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And we thank you in the midst of confusion. We thank you in the midst of not being inspired. Or we thank you in the midst of clarity and in the midst of being illuminated and inspired and moved forward by your grace and your spirit. Because Lord God, whenever your word is proclaimed, whenever it's read or heard, We know that you are present and we know that you are telling us something.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
You're revealing something of your heart to us and you're revealing something of our hearts to ourselves. So Lord God, where there is confusion, give us clarity. And where there is dullness, give us inspiration. Where there is a lack of zeal, give us a great joy and a love for you this day and every day, Lord God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
we ask this of you in the mighty name of your son jesus christ our lord amen in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen so we have as i said yesterday there's good news and there's bad news we have the book of numbers which at at first glance could seem like okay so just you're just organizing uh when you how you camp and that's true and ask also how they march so as we noted before
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
the tent the center of the camp is the tabernacle right the presence of god and right around them right around that where the presence of god are the levites and that then to the east to the west to the north and to the south are the 12 tribes of israel and we got the numbering of them but also it's important to know not just the numbering of them but to know the order you might have noticed this and we talked about this back in the book of genesis
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
that the first of the tribes was judah in fact you might have even recognized the name of the leader of the tribe of judah he was nashon the son of aminadab and you like how would i recognize that name well you'd recognize that name if you knew matthew's gospel the opening of matthew's gospel
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Matthew gives a genealogy, and the genealogy is from Abraham all the way down to Joseph, all the way down to Jesus, essentially. And we go through a list of names of the tribe of Judah, because here's Jesus who comes from the tribe of Judah. And so that first tribe, remember Judah was the fourth of Israel's sons. He wasn't the first son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
And yet he was selected as the one who would receive essentially, yeah, that birthright blessing, that the blessing to the whole world would come through the tribe of Judah. But it's interesting to note, I don't know if I mentioned this before, but But you note that Judah was first on the east next to the tabernacle, but also Judah would be the first to march.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Here is our journey and here is the law that the Lord is calling you to live. So that's what we're reading today. Again, Numbers chapter 1, Deuteronomy chapter 2, and then we're praying Psalm 85. As always, the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
They'd be the first to march whenever they would go up into battle. They'd be the first to march as they go out into the wilderness. And there's that phrase, I remember Jeff Cavins teaching me this years ago, the phrase, let Judah go up first. And so Judah goes up first. Well, Judah, the name Judah means praise. And that is so fitting for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
Here's God, again, in Numbers chapter two, which we could just think, okay, bunch of names, bunch of numbers, bunch of directions, north, south, east, west, doesn't really tell me a lot. Actually, it tells us a ton. Not only does it tell us that God is a God of order, right? that these are people that he's bringing together. Remember, they were formerly slaves, and they don't have any order.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 53: The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2025)
So when we have the Levitical laws, when we have the laws of Deuteronomy once again being proclaimed by Moses as we go forward in these next couple days, remember that God is making them into a people, a people who have the strength to be free. Think about how difficult it would be to live your entire life for generations, generations of slaves. And then all of a sudden you have your freedom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
The Lord desires us to even just, I just want what God wants. I want to choose what God wills. And that is the heart of holiness. And that is the heart of the person who is a man or woman after God's own heart. It's hard to be that way. It's hard to obey when we don't understand. It's hard to obey when we'd rather do other things. It's hard to listen to the voice of the Lord and respond.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And because of that, we need his help. We actually can't do it without his grace. And so we pray for ourselves. We pray for each other. I am praying for you. Please, as we keep journeying, please pray for me. This is an incredible community of people who just continue to pray for each other. I know you are doing that. And I know, I can recognize, I experience your prayers for me. And I'm so glad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Hopefully, you know my prayers for you. And hopefully, it's helping you take that step at a time to have a heart like the heart of the Father. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites, and Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless, they utterly destroyed. The Lord rejects Saul for his disobedience. The word of the Lord came to Samuel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 109, and we are reading from 1 Samuel chapter 15 and 16. We're also praying Psalm 61 is always the Bible translation that I am using and reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
I repent that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments. And Samuel was angry and he cried to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, Saul came to Carmel. And behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
and samuel came to saul and saul said to him blessed be you to the lord i have performed the commandment of the lord and samuel said what then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen which i hear saul said
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night. And he said to him, Say on. And Samuel said, Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
The Lord anointed you king over Israel, and the Lord sent you on a mission and said, Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed. Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said to Samuel, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag, the king of Amalek, and I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now, therefore, I beg pardon my sin and return with me that I may worship the Lord. And Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
As Samuel turned to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it tore, and Samuel said to him, The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. And also the glory of Israel will not lie or repent for he is not a man that he should repent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Then he said, I have sinned yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel and return with me that I may worship the Lord, your God. So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord. Then Samuel said, Bring here to me Agag, the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. And Samuel said,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
I am actually reading from the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to get that, you can track it down at ascensionpress.com or at amazon.com or wherever Bibles are sold. Maybe Bible.com. I don't even know. Let me buy a Bible.com. It's slapped on there. I don't know. If you want to download your Bible in a year reading plan, you can also visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed a gag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. But Samuel grieved over Saul, and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Chapter 16, David anointed as king. The Lord said to Samuel, how long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse, the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons. And Samuel said, how can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And the Lord said, take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. and invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do, and you shall anoint for me him whom I named to you. Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, Do you come peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, surely the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature because I have rejected him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
For the Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel, and he said, Neither has the Lord chosen this one. Then Jesse made Shammah pass by, and he said, Neither has the Lord chosen this one. And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And Samuel said to Jesse, the Lord has not chosen these. And Samuel said to Jesse, are all your sons here? And he said, there remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, send and fetch him, for we will not sit down till he comes here. And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And the Lord said, arise, anoint him for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. David plays the liar for Saul. Now the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our Lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the liar. And when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well. So Saul said to his servants, Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
You also, if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, click on subscribe and then you'll be subscribed and your whole life will change for the better, I think. I mean, I'm not making any promises. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. As I said, today is 109 and we are reading from 1 Samuel chapter 15 and 16 and praying Psalm 61. 1 Samuel 15. Saul defeats the Amalekites, but disobeys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
One of the young men answered, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him. Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send me David your son who is with the sheep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, and a skin of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service, and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. Psalm 61, assurance of God's protection to the choir master with stringed instruments, a Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I call to you when my heart is faint.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever. Oh, to be safe under the shelter of your wings. For you, oh God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king. May his years endure to all generations. May he be enthroned forever before God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Bid steadfast love and faithfulness watch over him. So will I ever sing praises to your name as I pay my vows day after day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Father in heaven, we give you praise and thanks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And we just give you glory today and just honor you for who you are and all that you've done. We give you thanks not only for calling us to be yours, but also for being so patient with us. Even in our disobedience, Lord, there are consequences to our sins. There's consequences to us saying no. And yet you continue to give us mercy. You continue to restore us. You continue to be with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
In our weakness, you are strong. In our faithlessness, you are faithful. And so we praise you and we honor you and we love you. Thank you so much. May you be praised and glorified and loved all the more in Jesus' name. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay, here we go. We're reading 1 Samuel 15 and 16.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Again, just like yesterday, so many things that are happening.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
once again we see the achilles heel of saul and you're going to get so sick of me saying this maybe you already are sick of me saying this the achilles heel of saul is that he is inordinately preoccupied with what other people think of him the sin of vanity is not just thinking like oh my gosh i look so great the sin of vanity is not being obsessed with one's appearance necessarily
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
The sin of vanity at its heart is an inordinate preoccupation with what other people think. So yes, we have to be concerned with what other people think. That's actually just being kind. That's being aware of the fact that there are such a thing as other people in this world. And so we should be sensitive to what other people are thinking.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
The sin of vanity is being inordinately preoccupied with what other people think. And here, once again, is King Saul, who goes and fights the Amalekites. And he's told very, very clearly, here's what you need to do. This destruction of everything and destruction of everything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
uh the king the people and all the animals and what does king saul do yep he destroys all the people but then he spares the life of the king which is so strange very interesting why he does this and then next he takes the best of the flocks takes the best of the herds takes the best of the animals and he uses the excuse of saying we're going to sacrifice these to god and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And this is something so remarkable about this because we've said it before when it came to the book of Leviticus and it comes to some of the other books that instruct how God is to be worshiped. But sometimes we can say, oh, I'm going to give this thing to God where he's actually asked us to do something else with it. What we've done when it comes to worship is we've taken what we want to offer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And Samuel said to Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you king over this people Israel. Now, therefore, listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
We've taken what we want to give. And we make that our gift as opposed to taking what God has asked us to do and simply doing that. In fact, it's one of those things where very consistently, I know this in my life, if it's very clear that God is asking me to do one thing, but that's the thing I don't want to do, I can be willing to do really a bunch of other really difficult things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
So as an example, I don't know, I'm trying to think, but way back to say Lent or something like this, at the beginning of the season of Lent, where we oftentimes, we entered a season of prayer and fasting and almsgiving. If it's very clear that God is saying, okay, here's what I want you to do. I want you to sacrificially give in this area.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And I really don't want to sacrificially give in that particular area. Maybe that's, you know, my time or my resources and money, that kind of thing. And so what I'll do is a bunch of other really hard things and say, this is all really good too, right? I know God in my heart of hearts, you're asking me to do this one thing, but that's not what I wanna do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
So I'll do a bunch of other hard things, thinking that that makes up for it. And here's maybe something along the lines of what King Saul is doing, what the people of Israel are doing. God has told them, destroy all of the flocks, all the herds, all the animals. And they say, no, no, no, no. What we're going to do is we're going to take those great things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
We'll destroy all the bad stuff, all the stuff that we don't want anyways. We're going to keep the good stuff and then give God some of those things. And you just think, okay, that's why we have this incredible, incredible saying from Samuel. He says, has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams. There's something so, so critical and so key for us to let that into our minds and to our hearts is that one of the principal virtues, one of the principal actions any of us can do is obedience.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
In fact, if you ever have studied any of the religious communities or any of the lives of those men and women who have really conformed their hearts and their wills to the heart and will of God, they will tell you that the heart of holiness is often obedience and not just, I'm going to do this incredible thing. I'm going to do this great thing. I'm going to do this holy thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
Well, the holiest thing in many ways is that heart of obedience. What has God asked me to do? I only do that. What has God told me to not do? I don't do that. You know what I'm saying? It's just so important because here is King Saul, who once again is, I guess, once again loses the kingdom. I don't know if it's once again, but he loses the spirit of God in this and through his disobedience.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And it ends in catastrophe as we're going to continue to see. Also, this is the scene where David is anointed as king. Just one quick note on King David, or on anointed David, young David who's anointed. Remember God has said to Saul through Samuel, I will choose another who is after my own heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
And when Samuel is sent before Jesse and Jesse's sons, he sees the oldest son, and the oldest son looks a lot like King Saul. He is handsome, just like King Saul. He is tall, like King Saul. He looks like a king, like King Saul looked like a king. And yet God says to Samuel, no, I have passed over him. I've rejected him. Why? Because do not look at his appearance or the height of his stature.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
and utterly destroy all that they have, do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Talim, 200,000 men on foot, 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 109: A Heart of Obedience (2025)
The Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. And this is so critically important for all of us. Again, when we assess ourselves, when we present ourselves before the Lord, I can look a certain way on the outside. But what the Lord desires is that heart of obedience. The Lord desires a heart just like his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Then we have the death of Isaac and the account of Esau's descendants. Why does God do this? Why does God include this whole chapter on the descendants of Esau since that wasn't exactly the line of blessing? Remember, because Israel got the blessing, so he passes it on to his 12 sons who become the 12 tribes of Israel, right? The kingdom, the nation of Israel. So why do we follow Esau's sons?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Well, one is because what God is revealing to us in chapter 36 is he's revealing that even though Esau did not receive the blessing, Esau is a son of his father. He is the son of Isaac and he is the grandson of Abraham. And God is going to go out into the world as well and give what? Give Abraham descendants like the stars of the sky because God is faithful to his promises.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And that's what we're going to be just leaning into today. This truth that God is faithful to his promises. I know that a lot of us are in a place right now, tonight, today, whatever time of day you're listening to God's word proclaimed, where we can question that. We can wonder if God is faithful because of the brokenness around us and the brokenness inside of us. And yet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Yet, even though there is such brokenness, we recognize that he is faithful. He is steadfast. And that's just the word I want to leave you with today. He is faithful and he is steadfast. I guess that's two words. He is faithful and he is steadfast. And we see that in this small detail of Genesis chapter 36, where God reveals the descendants of Esau.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
thereby fulfilling his promise that he made to Abraham, to Isaac, and now to their descendants. My name is Father Mike Schmitz, and this is the Bible in a Year podcast. I just hope that this has been a blessing for you, these first 18 days of our journey together. It's been really remarkable for me. I've really enjoyed it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Please pray for each other, lift each other up in prayer, because this is a community of people who are going through the Bible and allowing God's word to shape us, to form us, and to make us into new kinds of people who can see the world in a different way because of God's word working in our hearts, in our minds, and in our lives. And so please pray for each other. Pray for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
I am praying for you. You are not alone. We're journeying together through God's word. And his word is journeying through us as we are attentive to him. His word does not return empty, but always accomplishes the mission, the plan, the purpose for which it was sent. I can't wait to join you again tomorrow as we go through this Bible in the Air podcast. So I'll see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there, and make there an altar to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make there an altar to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone. So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were round about them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. And Jacob came to Luz, that is Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there they built an altar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
and called the place el bethel because there god had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother and deborah rebekah's nurse died and she was buried under an oak below bethel so that the name of it was called alan God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan Aram and blessed him. And God said to him, Your name is Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
No longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name. So his name was called Israel. And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall spring from you. The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him, and Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel. Then they journeyed from Bethel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
This is day 18, and let's get started. Let's keep on going through Genesis, Job, and Proverbs. Today we'll be reading from Genesis chapter 35 and 36, Job chapter 25 and 26, and Proverbs chapter 3, verses 19 through 24. As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. And when she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, Fear not, for now you will have another son. And as her soul was departing, for she died, she called out his name, Ben-Oni. But his father called his name Benjamin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
so rachel died and she was buried on the way to ephrath that is bethlehem and jacob set up a pillar upon her grave it is the pillar of rachel's tomb which is there to this day israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of eder While Israel dwelt in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
The sons of Leah, Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel, Joseph, and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid, Dan, and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid, Gad, and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, in Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Now the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years, and Isaac breathed his last, and he died, and was gathered to his people old and full of days, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. These are the descendants of Esau, that is, Edom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Esau took his wives from the Canaanites, Adah, the son of Elan the Hittite, Aholamabah, the daughter of Anah, the son of Zibion the Hivite, and Besamath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaoth. And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz, Basamath bore Reol, and Aholamabah bore Jeush, Jelam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
So Esau dwelt in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom. These are the descendants of Esau, the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. These are the names of Esau's sons. Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau. Reul, son of Basamath, the wife of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz were Timan, Omar, Zipho, Gatham, and Canaz. Timnah was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
She bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Reul, Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizah. These are the sons of Basemat, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Aholamabah, the daughter of Anah, the son of Zibion, Esau's wife. She bore to Esau Jeush, Jelam, and Korah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kanaz, Korah, Getam, and Amalek. These are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They are the sons of Veda. These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son. The chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shema, and Mizah. These are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
If you want to get your own Bible in a Year reading plan, just go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe in your podcast app and also sign up for updates. Be part of our email list by texting the two words, but connected Catholic Bible, Catholic Bible, that one word, two words combined, no spaces in between to number 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
They are the sons of Basamath, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Holimabah, Esau's wife, the chiefs Jeush, Jelam, and Korah. These are the chiefs born of Holimabah, the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Esau, that is Edom, and these are their chiefs. These are the sons of Seir, the Horite, the inhabitants of the land Lotan, Shabal, Zibion, Anah, Dishan, Ezer, and Dishan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
These are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. The sons of Lotan were Horai and Heman. And Lotan's sister was Timnah. These are the sons of Shabal, Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shiffo, and Onam. These are the sons of Zibion, Aiah and Anah. He is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of Zibion, his father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
These are the children of Anah, Dishan and Holibamah, the daughter of Anah. These are the sons of Dishan, Hamdan, Ashban, Ithran, and Sharon. These are the sons of Ezer, Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. These are the sons of Dishan, Uz, and Aran. These are the chiefs of the Horites, the chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibion, Anah, Dishan, Ezer, and Dishan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
These are their chiefs of the Horites, according to their clans in the land of Seir. These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites. Bilah, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Dinhabah. Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his stead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his stead, the name of his city being Avith. Hadad died, and Samlah of Masraqah reigned in his stead. Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his stead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Shaul died, and Baal Hanan, the son of Akbor, reigned in his stead. Baal Hanan, the son of Akbor, died, and Hadar reigned in his stead, the name of his city being Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabal, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mehzababah. These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their dwelling places.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
By their names, the chiefs Timnah, Alvah, Jepheth, Oholimabah, Elah, Penan, Kenaz, Timan, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, that is Esau, the father of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Job chapter 25 and 26. Bildad speaks asking, how can man be righteous? Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, Dominion and fear are with God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
He makes peace in his high heaven. Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise? How then can man be righteous before God? How can he who is born of woman be clean? Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not clean in his sight. How much less man who is a maggot, the son of man who is a worm? Then Job answered, How have you helped him who has no power?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And you'll get updates and you'll get whatever kind of information you might need to follow along. Today, we are going, as I said, Genesis chapter 35 and 36. We're continuing on with the story of Jacob, now Israel, and his family. And gosh, yeah, how the family is going to unfold. They're going to continue to grow. He's got a number of sons and they are getting older.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled him who has no wisdom and plentifully declared sound knowledge? With whose help have you uttered words and whose spirit has come forth from you? The shades below tremble, the waters and their inhabitants. Sheol is naked before God and Abaddon has no covering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth upon nothing. he binds up the waters in his thick clouds and the cloud is not torn under them he covers the face of the moon and spreads over it his cloud he has described a circle upon the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness the pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
By his power, he stilled the sea. By his understanding, he struck Rahab. By his wind, the heavens were made fair. His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. And how small a whisper do we hear of him. But the thunder of his power, who can understand? Proverbs chapter three, verses 19 through 24. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
By understanding, he established the heavens. By his knowledge, the deeps broke forth and the clouds dropped down the dew. My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion. Let them not escape from your sight and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down, you will not be afraid.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Father in heaven, we give you praise. We give you thanks for your word and we ask that you please send us your Holy Spirit so that your word remains powerful and effective in our lives, that your word penetrates not just our minds and our hearts, but penetrates our very lives and shapes the way in which we respond to your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. So the heart of Jacob, the heart of Israel, I mean, as he buries his wife, Rachel, we recognize that while Israel's slash Jacob's life had been marked by deception, had been marked by manipulation and cunning, and also been marked by brokenness, right? We have these three, sorry, these four women from whom came Jacob's 12 sons,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
we still have this birth of a new thing that God is doing, this new thing that God is continuing to do, where God once again promises to Israel, formerly Jacob, what he had promised to his father and his grandfather, that he would, through him, make of him a great generation. a great kingdom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And that's one of the things that we get to see throughout the book of Genesis and the book of Exodus coming up and Judges and all the books in the Old Testament is how often, it's a theme that I keep pointing back to, but how often God allows, no, how often God accomplishes his will in spite of our brokenness. Sometimes I think that I expect the Bible to be a hallmark story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
The hallmark story is very, very clear. It's very predictable. It's very clean. And it starts out with maybe a little bit of some conflict, but then that conflict gets resolved and everything is kind of happily ever after. And we recognize that actual grace doesn't work that way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
and things are getting complicated. Things are always complicated. Man, yesterday, what did his sons do? His sons took vengeance upon the family of Shechem, Hamor, that whole entire family after they had agreed to make a covenant with them because Shechem had raped their sister. And so the family continues to grow. This is Genesis chapter 35 and 36.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
That God's working in a person's life, in a people's life, in a family's life, in a kingdom, in our lives, never works that way. There are times when God manifests himself in his power, times when God manifests himself miraculously, but there are many more times when God allows us to choose.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
Although he wants us to choose good, he wants us to choose grace, he wants us to choose the best thing, he allows us to choose brokenness. He allows us to act in a way that he would not, that he actually condemns. And yet he still works with it. Because as we know, everything that we surrender to God can be used. There's nothing that God can't use when we give it to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2025)
And so here is Israel burying his beloved wife, Rachel, with his 12 sons now. um these 12 sons that we're going to find out more about their story in the next couple chapters next couple days leading on because we already noticed that yep joseph's born so is benjamin which is going to be interesting because um by this point in the story i think joseph and benjamin might not know each other yet
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
and they stood before moses and before eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting saying our father died in the wilderness he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the lord in the company of korah but died for his own sin and he had no sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
For want of all things, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns, if you are not careful to do all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sickness grievous and lasting."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
and he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of, and they shall cling to you. Every sickness also, and every affliction, which is not recorded in the book of this law, the Lord will bring upon you until you are destroyed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God. And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and in multiplying you, so the Lord will delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land which you are entering to take possession of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples from one end of the earth to the other. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. And among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say, Would it were evening? And at evening you shall say, Would it were morning? Because of the dread which your heart shall fear and the sights which your eyes shall see.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And the Lord will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey which I promised that you should never make again. And there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments. His descendants will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house and his righteousness endures forever. Light rises in the darkness for the upright. The Lord is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved. He will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of evil tidings. His heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady. He will not be afraid until he sees his desire on his adversaries. He has distributed freely. He has given to the poor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Why should the name of our father be taken away from his family because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brethren. Moses brought the case before the Lord, and the Lord said to Moses, the daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
His righteousness endures forever. His horn is exalted in honor. The wicked man sees it and is angry. He gnashes his teeth and melts away. The desire of the wicked man comes to naught. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. Thank you so much for your word. We thank you for filling us with your light and with your truth. We thank you for the fact that you're a God of justice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Lord God, we declare your justice to be just and we declare your goodness to be good. Not because you need us or our declaration, but because we need to continue to declare that your justice is right and just and that your goodness is truly good. Help us to choose the right, Lord God. Help us to obey your commandments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So once again, just to remind us all about this, Numbers, the book of Numbers is the narrative book. And so that's the book that's telling us the story of the people in Israel as they're getting closer and closer to the end of their wilderness wanderings. Now, the book of Deuteronomy, right, is Moses' last speech.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Deutero, second. Nomos, word. So the second command, second word. This is Moses in Deuteronomy who's recapping what has come before and is establishing once again, here are the rules. Here's the second law that we're offering a second time or the law we're offering a second time before you go into the land of promised land of Canaan, the promised land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
So what we're finding though, here we are in chapter 27 and 28 of Numbers is we're coming really close to to the beginning of Deuteronomy. And we're coming right up to like our timelines are coming closer and closer. So as they get to the end of their desert wanderings, chapter 27 has a couple things we need to resolve. One is, remember Manasseh. Manasseh was one of the two sons of Joseph.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
So Joseph had the two sons who were both gonna receive an inheritance of the tribes of Israel. So it's the kind of a very unique situation where it wasn't just Joseph, it was his two sons, that make up the tribes of Israel, make up the 12. And the sons of Manasseh was Machir. The son of Machir is Gilead. And the son of Gilead is Hefer. And the son of Hefer is Zelophehad.
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Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Well, Zelophehad doesn't have any sons. Zelophehad has only daughters. And so the big question is, Well, you pass on inheritance, you pass on the land to the sons. What if there are no sons, but only daughters? And it's so good here because what we have is Moses being glad that the daughters of Zelophehad came before him. Because he's like, we want to be just here. We want to do the right thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
We want to honor the Lord, also honor these families and honor all these people. And so the conclusion is that that if a man dies, he has no sons, then the land goes to his daughters. Now, what's going to happen is the very end of the book of Numbers, chapter 36 in the book of Numbers, it's going to talk about kind of some of those rules when it comes to female inheritance and male inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
One of the reasons why this is going to be kind of important is because of the way they set things up in the ancient world. So typically the inheritance would go to the sons because the dowry would go to the daughters. So the land would go to the sons, keep that land in the family,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And you shall say to the sons of Israel, if a man dies and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 74. And we are reading today from Numbers chapter 27 and 28, Deuteronomy chapter 28, a long chapter, and we are praying from Psalm 112.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
But the dowry like property or property goods, you know, essentially whether it be flocks or whether it be actual money would go to the daughters. And that would be one way to keep the lands separated. Because what if here's a woman who has not only the dowry, but also she has the land. And she marries a man who now that other family now has land from multiple families.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
So it gets a little bit messy. What they're trying to be here is they're trying to be as just as possible. And in this case, in Numbers chapter 27, the response, the justice would be, yeah, if a man dies with no sons, his daughters shall receive the inheritance. And if they're not there, then goes the next person, next person, next person. in as wise as possible in that particular context.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
After that, in chapter 27, we also have Joshua appointed as Moses's successor. Joshua is the one, right? He and Caleb were two of the spies who went into the promised land, who came back and said, we can do it. We can take this land. The Lord God is with us. And the other 10 said, no, we can't. So now what's going to happen is Joshua
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
is going to be the one who leads the people of Israel across the Jordan River and into battle in the promised land. And so he stands before the entire community and Moses lays his hands on him. It's almost like an ordination right, essentially, where Moses is bestowing that gift, that authority upon his successor, Joshua.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
and it's going to be incredible because not only does joshua lead the people into the promised land but yahshua or the word yeshua right is is another form of the name jesus yeshua who leads the people of god through the rivers of the jordan right through baptism into the promised land so just like ancient joshua is the one who leads the people of god into the promised land
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The New Testament, Yeshua, Jesus himself, is the fulfillment not only of Moses, not only of David. He's the fulfillment of Joshua. And he leads his people through the waters of baptism into the promised land. It's just really remarkable and really incredible when you realize all these different connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
There are so many more things to say about today's readings, the blessings and the curses of Deuteronomy chapter 28. And yet we can talk about those as we move forward in scripture. So keep those things in mind. The Lord promises goodness, even if we don't experience immediate blessings as a consequence of doing good, and we don't experience immediate curses as part of doing evil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the sons of Israel a statute and ordinance, as the Lord commanded Moses. Joshua appointed Moses' successor. The Lord said to Moses, Go up into this mountain of Abirim and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And yet God is just, he is faithful. And ultimately, we get what we choose, which is going to be one of the lessons in scripture ultimately. But until then, we pray for each other as always, obviously. And I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people as your brother Aaron was gathered, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin during the strife of the congregation to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. These are the waters of Meribah, of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Moses said to the Lord, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Cause him to stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And at his word they shall come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, the whole congregation. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation. And he laid his hands upon him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, command the sons of Israel and say to them, my offering, my food for my offerings by fire, my pleasing odor, you shall take heed to offer me in its due season. And you shall say to them, this is the offering by fire which you shall offer to the Lord. Two male lambs, a year old without blemish, day by day as a continual offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The one lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening. Also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil. It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing odor and offering by fire to the Lord. Its drink offering shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
In the holy place, you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
the other lamb you shall offer in the evening like the cereal offering of the morning and like its drink offering you shall offer it as an offering by fire a pleasing odor to the lord sabbath offerings on the sabbath day two male lambs a year old without blemish and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering mixed with oil and its drink offering this is the burnt offering of every sabbath besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you are interested, download your own Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast by hitting subscribe on whatever podcast app you're listening to this particular podcast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Monthly offerings. At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord, two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs, a year old without blemish, also three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering mixed with oil for each bull, and two-tenths of fine flour for a cereal offering mixed with oil for the one ram.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
and a tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a cereal offering for every lamb, for a burnt offering of pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the Lord. Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and a fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Also, one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord. It shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering in its drink offering. Offerings at Passover. On the 14th day of the first month is the Lord's Passover. And on the 15th day of this month is a feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. On the first day, there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
but offer an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the Lord, two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old. See that they are without blemish. Also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah shall you offer for a bull and two tenths for a ram. A tenth shall you offer for each of the seven lambs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Also one male goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you. You shall offer these besides a burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. In the same way, you shall offer daily for seven days the food of an offering by fire, a pleasing order to the Lord. It shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And on the seventh day, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. offerings at the feast of weeks on the day of the first fruits when you offer a serial offering of new grain to the lord at your feast of weeks you shall have a holy convocation you shall do no laborious work but offer a burnt offering a pleasing odor to the lord
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old. Also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for one ram, a tenth for each of the seven lambs with one male goat to make atonement for you. Besides the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering, you shall offer them and their drink offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
See that they are without blemish. The book of Deuteronomy chapter 28, blessing for obedience. Moses continued. And if you obey the voice of the Lord, your God, being careful to do all his commandments, which I command you this day, the Lord, your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Once again, this is day 74. Some people catch colds occasionally, and this guy has got one. So hopefully you don't hate the deeper, raspier version of Father Mike normally reading the Bible. So day 74. Chapter 27 and 28 from Book of Numbers. Chapter 28 from Deuteronomy and praying Psalm 112.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
If you obey the voice of the Lord, your God. Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself as he has sworn to you if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord and they shall be afraid of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity in the fruit of your body and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground within the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail. And you shall tend upward only and not downward if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, being careful to do them. Warnings against disobedience.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God, or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in and cursed shall you be when you go out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The Lord will send upon you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your doings because you have forsaken me. The Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until he has consumed you off the land which you are entering to take possession of it. The Lord will strike you with consumption and with fever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
inflammation, and fiery heat, and with drought, and with blasting, and with mildew, they shall pursue you until you perish. And the heavens over your head shall be brass, and the earth under you shall be iron. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder and dust. From heaven it shall come down upon you until you are destroyed. The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. And your dead body shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth. And there shall be no one to frighten them away. The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt and with the ulcers and the scurvy and the itch of which you cannot be healed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And the Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind. And you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness. And you shall not prosper in your ways. And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually. And there shall be no one to help you. You shall betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her. You shall build a house and you shall not dwell in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
You shall plant a vineyard and you shall not use the fruit of it. Your ox shall be slain before your eyes and you shall not eat of it. Your donkey shall be violently taken away before your face and shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies and there shall be no one to help you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people while your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all the day and it shall not be in the power of your hand to prevent it. A nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
And you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually so that you shall be driven mad by the sight which your eyes shall see. The Lord will strike you on the knees and on the legs with grievous boils of which you cannot be healed from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The Lord will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the Lord will lead you away. You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather little in, for the locusts shall consume it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The Daughters of Zelophehad. Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hefer, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the families of Manasseh, the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were Malah, Noah,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes for the worm shall eat them. You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil for the olives shall drop off.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
you shall beget sons and daughters but they shall not be yours for they shall go into captivity all your trees and the fruit of your ground the locusts shall possess the sojourner who is among you shall mount above you higher and higher and you shall come down lower and lower he shall lend to you and you shall not lend to him he shall be the head and you shall be the tail
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded you. They shall be upon you as a sign and a wonder and upon your descendants forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart by reason of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and in want of all things. And he will put a yoke of iron upon your neck. until he has destroyed you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you do not understand, a nation of stern countenance who shall not regard the person of the old or show favor to the young and shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your ground until you are destroyed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
Who also shall not leave you grain, wine, or oil, the increase of your cattle, or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish. They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns, throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
and you shall eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
The man who is the most tender and delicately bred among you will grudge food to his brother, to the wife of his bosom, and to the last of the children who remain to him, so that he will not give to any of them, any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing left him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 74: Joshua Appointed (2025)
in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns the most tender and delicately bred woman among you who would not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground because she is so delicate and tender will grudge to the husband of her bosom to her son and to her daughter her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears because she will eat them secretly
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
We bless crucifixes and crosses. What does it mean to bless those things? It doesn't just mean we've invoked the Holy Spirit upon them, although we definitely have done that. but we're also setting them apart for a certain purpose, for a dedicated purpose. So whenever you've asked for something to be blessed, you've asked for it to be set apart. Now it is no longer for a normal thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It's no longer for an ordinary thing. It is now extraordinary. It is now set apart for a specific purpose. So if you have a cross that was blessed, that means it's no longer jewelry. It is set apart for a purpose and it must be worn that way, right? It must be treated that way. And that's what God is saying here throughout Leviticus and throughout Exodus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
What he's talking about is when something gets set apart, it is no longer to just be used whenever we want to use it. It's no longer just to be used however we want to use it. Even when it comes to the oil, the anointing oil or the incense mixture. If you noted that in the book of Exodus, One of the things that God had said is, okay, this is the incense mixture. Do not copy it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And don't just have it to perfume your homes. This is the oil mixture. Do not copy it. This is a mixture that is set apart. This is a mixture that is dedicated to a specific purpose. And that purpose is anointing. That purpose is ordination. That purpose is to fill the presence of God. with that sweet smelling smoke. And so that's just like that recognition. And I want to read this little quote.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It's a quote from St. Pius X. Pope St. Pius X was a pope back in the day. And one of the things he talked about is when it came to priests and when it comes to anybody, when it comes to sanctity, when it comes to holiness, he says this, sanctity alone makes us what our divine vocation demands, namely men crucified to the world and to whom the world is crucified.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Men walking in the newness of life, who as St. Paul tells us, show themselves to be ministers of God in labors and in sleepless nights, in fastings, in innocence, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unaffected love, in the word of truth. who seek heavenly things alone and strive in every way to lead others to them. Again, that's a quote from Pope St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
So again, Exodus 30 and 31, Leviticus 22, and Psalm 115. The book of Exodus, chapter 30. The altar of incense. You shall make an altar to burn incense upon. Of acacia wood shall you make it. A cubit shall be its length, a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Pius X, and it's about the sanctity that's meant to be exhibited and lived by the priests. to be able to live this sanctity, to live this, oh gosh, you know, there's another long, long quote that I do not have right in front of me, but it's on the uniqueness in that sense of being set apart of the priesthood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It's to live, to be a part of every family, yet belong to none, to be a part of every relationship and yet belong to none. It's to be a friend of all and yet exclusive to none. You know, that sense of being able to say, how can a priest like myself be How can I live in a way that's truly consecrated to the Lord? Just like St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Paul had said in another context where he says, I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So that's what it is to be a ministerial priest. And we see that in Exodus. We see that in Leviticus, but we also, that's what it is to be a kingdom priest. And so if you're listening to this and you're not an ordained ministerial priest, you're
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
You're still, if you're baptized, you are a kingdom priest. I call them kingdom priests because it's part of the priesthood of the faithful, which means that you also are called to live in that way that is set apart, that's consecrated, that we're called to be holy, truly holy. And again, this is the last thing, but keep this in mind, that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And sometimes, I don't know if it's happened recently, but I know in the history of the church, sometimes in the history of the church, there's been a big deal made over the dignity of the priesthood, which is great. But sometimes to the detriment maybe, or to the reducing of how important it is to labor, how important it is to have truly gifted and skilled laborers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And yet in Exodus chapter 31, we hear this description of these two men, Bezalel and Aholiab. And what they do is they're laborers, they're skilled laborers, they're skilled artistic craftsmen. And so what's it say? It says they have ability and intelligence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
They have knowledge and all craftsmanship to devise artistic designs and to work in gold, silver, and bronze, cutting stones and carving wood. That's, that's Bezalel and Aholiab. But it's not just that they were very good at their job. It was in verse three of chapter 31. God says, I have filled him, this is Bezalel, with the spirit of God. What's that mean? What does that mean?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
To be filled with the spirit of God, which means that you can now do your skilled labor well. That is incredible. That you've been filled with the spirit of God. So I'm now Samson and I'm gonna, Samson, I'm gonna, you know, defeat the lion. I'm gonna push down the pillars and kill the Philistines. I'm filled with the Holy Spirit. I'm David and I'm gonna lead the armies of Israel into battle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
I'm the Lord Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit and he goes off to do battle with Satan in the wilderness. Or I'm filled with the Holy Spirit and I'm gonna go off to work. just to my job. I'm going to go off to my work. My work might be ordinary, but since you are consecrated, since you are set apart, since you are holy, your work is therefore extraordinary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And this is so important for us to hear in chapter 31 of Exodus. These ordinary laborers did extraordinary labor because they were filled with the spirit of God. And all of their work then was for God. Yes, in this case, they were making the articles of the tabernacle. They were making the articles that were meant for worship. But we recognize this is true for all those who work.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Whether your work is answering phones, your work is teaching, your work is filling out papers, your work is air traffic control, whatever your work is, that when you do it with the Spirit of God, Even ordinary work becomes extraordinary. Even secular work becomes sacred. Why? Because the one who is doing it has been sanctified, has been consecrated, is sacred.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides round about, and its horns, and you shall make for it a molding of gold round about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And you, my brothers and sisters, you are set apart. You are consecrated. You are sacred as well. filled with the spirit of God. So when you go off into your work, maybe you're listening to this on your way to work. Maybe you're at work right now. Realize this, oh my goodness, what a gift. What a gift. This day, even the most ordinary day can be extraordinary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 46. We keep on rolling. If you have printed out your Bible in a Year reading plan, you have the great honor of being able to flip the page because this is the top of the second page.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Even the most secular work can be sacred because you have the spirit of God. Because of that, your work is transformed. It is now not just the work of man. It is in some ways the work of a son or a daughter of God. Amazing. So incredible. This is just day 46.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
I know that if you've hung with us, you stuck around for this long, you have faced the battle of the challenge of being able to continue to journey with us. Please keep praying for each other because This journey has been good. It's been great. It's been an incredibly huge blessing. But also, we need strength to continue to journey even further. We have come a long way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
We're in the middle of the journey. And my invitation, you guys, after this day, only five more days until the end of Exodus, until the end of Leviticus, and you will have been something, someone. You will then be someone who has read through, gone through the entire book of Exodus, the entire book of Leviticus,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
and on to numbers, on to Deuteronomy, and on to a holy, consecrated, extraordinary life. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
and two rings golden rings shall you make for it under its moulding on two opposite sides of it shall you make them and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it you shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold And you shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn it. And when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations." You shall offer no unholy incense thereon, nor burnt offering, nor cereal offering, and you shall pour no libation thereon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement, he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord. the half shekel for the sanctuary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, when you take the census of the sons of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. Each who is numbered in the census shall give this, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary. The shekel is 20 geras, half a shekel as an offering to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Everyone who is numbered in the census from 20 years old and upward shall give the Lord's offering. The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than the half shekel when you give the Lord's offering to make atonement for yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And you shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall appoint it for the service of the tent of meeting that it may bring the sons of Israel to remembrance before the Lord so as to make atonement for yourselves. the bronze laver. The Lord said to Moses, you shall also make a laver of bronze with its base of bronze for washing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. When they go into the tent of meeting. or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die. They shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout the generations. the anointing oil, and incense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Moreover, the Lord said to Moses, Take the finest spices, of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is two hundred and fifty, and of aromatic cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil, blended as by a perfumer, a holy anointing oil it shall be. And you shall anoint with it the tent of meeting, and the ark of the covenant, and the table, and all its utensils, and the lampstand, and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering, with all its utensils, and the laver, and its base.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy." Whatever touches them will become holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them that they may serve me as priests. And you shall say to the sons of Israel, this shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
of the Great Adventure Bible in a Year reading plan or Bible in a Year podcast. If you want to get that so you can flip the page as well, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year and you can download your free Bible in a Year reading plan. You can follow along with us. Also, if you want to follow along with your eyes, not just with your ears,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It shall not be poured upon the bodies of ordinary men, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Take sweet spices, stacti, and onica, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense, of each there shall be an equal part, and make an incense blended as by the perfumer. seasoned with salt, pure and holy. And you shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting, where I shall meet with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It shall be for you most holy. And the incense, which you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people. Chapter 31 Bezalel and Aholiab The Lord said to Moses, See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood for work in every craft.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And behold, I have appointed with him Aholiab, the son of Ahesamach of the tribe of Dan, and I have given to all able men ability that they may make all that I have commanded you, the tent of meeting, and the ark of the covenant, and the mercy seat that is thereon, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
in the altar of incense and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, in the laver and its base, in the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons for their services priests, in the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do. The Sabbath law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, say to the sons of Israel, you shall keep my Sabbaths for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations that you may know that I, the Lord sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Six days your work shall be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
The Bible translation that I am reading from is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. Also, my invitation to you, if you have not yet subscribed, you can subscribe in your podcast app. And lastly, keep this in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
It is a sign forever between me and the sons of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. The Tables of the Covenant And he gave to Moses, when he had made an end of speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, the two tables of the covenant, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, tell Aaron and his sons to keep away from the holy things of the sons of Israel, which they dedicate to me so that they may not profane my holy name. I am the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Say to them, if anyone of all your descendants throughout your generations approaches the holy things, which the sons of Israel dedicate to the Lord while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence. I am the Lord. None of the line of Aaron who is a leper or suffers a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Whoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission of semen and whoever touches a creeping thing by which he may be made unclean or a man from whom he may take uncleanness, whatever his uncleanness may be, the person who touches any such shall be unclean until the evening and shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
when the sun is down he shall be clean and afterward he may eat of the holy things because such are his food that which dies of itself or is torn by beasts he shall not eat defiling himself by it i am the lord they shall therefore keep my charge lest they bear sin for it and die thereby when they profane it I am the Lord who sanctify them. An outsider shall not eat of a holy thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
A sojourner of the priests or a hired servant shall not eat of a holy thing. But if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may eat of it. And those that are born in his house may eat of his food. If a priest's daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the offering of the holy things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
If you have the Bible reading plan in front of you, downloaded or whatever, maybe it's on your computer, maybe it's printed out, you can see that we only have six more days left in this period, this period of Egypt and the Exodus. We only have six more days left to get through Leviticus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
But if a priest's daughter is a widow or divorced and has no child and returns to her father's house as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food, yet no outsider shall eat of it. And if a man eats of a holy thing unwittingly, he shall add the fifth of its value to it and give the holy thing to the priest. Acceptable Offerings
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel, when anyone of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents his offering, whether in payments of a vow or as a freewill offering, which is to be offered to the Lord as a burnt offering. to be accepted, you shall offer a male without blemish of the bulls or of the sheep or the goats.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
You shall not offer anything that has a blemish for it will not be acceptable for you. And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, To fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted, it must be perfect. There shall be no blemish in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord or make of them an offering by fire upon the altar to the Lord. A bull or a lamb, which has a part too long or too short, you may present for a freewill offering, but for a votive offering, It cannot be accepted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Any animal which has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut, you shall not offer to the Lord or sacrifice within your land. Neither shall you offer as the bread of your God any such animals gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, When a bull or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as an offering by fire to the Lord. And whether the mother is a cow or a ewe, you shall not kill both her and her young in one day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten on the same day. You shall leave none of it until the morning. I am the Lord. Psalm 115 The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your mercy and your faithfulness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
And so if Leviticus has ever given you a problem in the past, or you've gotten hung up in this section of Exodus, where there's a lot of details when it comes to the tabernacle, a lot of details when it comes to the priest's garments or when it comes to the laver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Why should the nations say, where is their God? Our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak, eyes, but they do not see. They have ears, but do not hear, noses, but do not smell. They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk, and they do not make a sound in their throat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
Those who make them are like them. So are all who trust in them. O Israel, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, put your trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. The Lord has been mindful of us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the sons of men. The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any that go down into silence, but we will bless the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
From this time forth and forevermore, praise the Lord. Father in heaven, we do give you praise right now and forevermore as you continue to reveal your heart to us, as you continue to recall us, to give you our hearts and you make those hearts holy because you are the Lord and you are the one who makes us holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
You are the one who is the source of all goodness and every time we come into contact with you, we come into contact with true goodness. Help us, Lord, today to hear your word and to allow that word to transform our minds, to transform our hearts, and transform the way that we see this world. We make this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
You are in for a treat because in six days you will have completed, maybe for the first time ever, the entire book of Leviticus, and maybe for the first time ever, the entire book of Exodus. So speaking of, today we are reading two chapters from Exodus, Exodus chapter 30 and chapter 31, also Leviticus chapter 22, and then our psalm today is Psalm 115.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So the last couple days, we've been talking about the priesthood. We've been talking about the reality that the Levitical priesthood, which we're going to see in just a second, why it was given to the tribe of Levi and not to everybody. When I say just a second, I mean the next couple days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
But what we're going to find is that holiness, and this is Leviticus, is the holiness code, right? This is the whole idea behind the book of Leviticus. It's not just here are some rules. Yes, obviously, the book of Leviticus is about rules. But truly what it is really about is holiness. It is about being separate, being set apart. Because that's what it is to be holy, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 46: Set Apart for God (2025)
To be consecrated to the Lord is meant to consecrate it, right? Made sacred for the Lord. To be made sacred for the Lord is to be holy. To be made holy is to be set apart. And so... One of the things that we recognize, right? As Catholics, we have this tradition of this practice of blessing stuff. We bless ourselves before meals. We bless our vehicles. We bless medals.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Here is Isaac, the son, walking up with the wood of the sacrifice on his back of Mount Moriah, which is right outside of Jerusalem. You have Jesus, the son, walking up with the wood of the cross on his back up on Mount Moriah, right outside of Jerusalem. Calvary and Moriah are part of the same mountain range right outside of the city of Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
What you have here is this deep and profound cooperation. And this is what we cannot miss. This is why this story of Abraham and Isaac is about us. Not because God is going to ask you to sacrifice everyone and everything you love. That's not the point. The point is trust. That is the number one word. Abraham is the father in faith. Why? Because when it came down to it, he was willing to trust God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
But it wasn't just him alone. It was the father and the son, Isaac, trusting each other. And this is why this is so important for us to get this into our hearts. God is not your enemy. This is what Job was wrestling with. Is God my enemy? Does God care?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
But the deep and profound expression of our faith as Christians, we realize, we know that this is true, that even the only begotten son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord, on the night before he was to be crucified, He had said, Father, let this cup pass for me, yet not my will, but yours be done. He was able to call out to his father and say, I don't want this to happen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And at the same time, in the same breath, he was able to say, but I trust you and I will be done. And that's what we're called to do. Man, today, gosh, you guys, we're just started. We just started this journey through the Bible and it has been a trip so far. Oh my gosh, I hope that this is a blessing to you. I know it has been a blessing to me walking with you these days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And also I want you to know that I have been praying for you these days and please keep me in your prayers. Keep each other in your prayers. This is a large community of people who are walking through the scriptures with each other. So please keep each other with your prayers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
If you have any prayer intentions, just lift those up and know that the people who are listening with you also have prayer intentions. We struggle to trust the Lord. We struggle to walk with him. We struggle when we're in the position of our friend Job
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And we also struggle when we're being asked to cooperate and trust the father in the midst of what looks like the end, but we know cannot be the end because he is too good to let the end be simply destruction. He's too good. That's why this is not the end of the book. This is the beginning of the book.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And he said, here am I. He said, take your son, your only begotten son, Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. So Abraham rose early in the morning, settled his donkey and took two of his young men with him and his son, Isaac.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
My name is Father Mike Schmitz, and I am so honored to be able to walk with you through the scriptures. And I cannot wait to walk with you some more. I'll keep praying for you today, and we'll walk further into scripture tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. Then Abraham said to his young men, stay here with the donkey. I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac, his son, and took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father, Abraham, my father. And he said, here am I, my son. He said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son. So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, here am I. He said, do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only begotten son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place the Lord will provide. As it is said to this day, on the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And the angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "'By myself I have sworn,' says the Lord, "'because you have done this, "'and have not withheld your son, your only begotten son. "'I will indeed bless you, "'and I will multiply your descendants "'as the stars of heaven "'and as the sand which is on the seashore.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
This is day 11. So let's get started. Let's keep on moving. We're not started. We're cruising right now. Day 11. We're going to be reading from Genesis chapter 22 and 23. Very famous story, but so, so powerful and so important for us as Christians. Genesis 22 and 23. We're also going to continue our walk with our friend Job chapter 11 and 12.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
and your descendants shall possess the gates of their enemies. And by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice. So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. Now, after these things, it was told Abraham, behold, Milcah also has born children to your brother Nahor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Uz, the firstborn, Buz, his brother, Kemuel, the father of Aram, Kesed, Hadzo, Pildash, Jidlaf, and Bethuel. Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Rima, bore Teba, Gaham, Tahash, Sarah lived 127 years. These were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died, that is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And Abraham went into the mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, I am a stranger and a sojourner among you. Give me property among you for a burying place that I may bury my dead out of my sight. The Hittites answered Abraham, "'Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our sepulchres.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
None of us will withhold from you this sepulchre or hinder you from burying your dead.' Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. And he said to them, "'If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron, the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns, which is at the end of his field.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
For the full price, let him give it to me in your presence as a possession for a burying place. Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites of all who went in at the gate of his city. No, my Lord, hear me. I give you the field and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people, I give it to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Bury your dead. Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people in the land, but if you will, hear me. I will give the price of the field. Accept it from me that I may bury my dead there. Ephron answered Abraham, my Lord, listen to me. A piece of land worth 400 shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
abraham agreed with ephron and abraham weighed out for ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the hittites four hundred shekels of silver according to the weights current among the merchants so in the field of ephron in machpelah which is to the east of mamre
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's Word and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
The field with a cave, which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field throughout its whole area was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites before all who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah, his wife, in the cave of the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre, that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And we'll also be reading from Proverbs chapter two, verses nine and 15. As always, I am reading from the revised standard version, Catholic edition of the Bible. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. And the reading plan that we're using is accessible to you. If you want, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Again, that's ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as a possession for a burying place by the Hittites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Job chapter 11 and 12.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Then Zophar the Namathite answered, Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be vindicated? Should your babble silence men, and when you mock shall no one shame you? For you say, my doctrine is pure and I am clean in God's eyes. But oh, that God would speak and open his lip to you and that he would tell you of the secrets of wisdom. For he is manifold in understanding.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven. What can you do? Deeper than Sheol. What can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. If he passes through and imprisons and calls to judgment, who can hinder him? For he knows worthless men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
When he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man. If you set your heart aright, you will stretch out your hands towards him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish. You will be secure and will not fear.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
You will forget your misery. You'll remember it is as waters that have passed away and your life will be brighter than noonday. Its darkness will be like the morning and you will have confidence because there is hope. You will be protected and take your rest in safety. You will lie down and none will make you afraid. Many will entreat your favor, but the eyes of the wicked will fail.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
All way of escape will be lost to them and their hope is to breathe their last. Then Job answered, no doubt you are the people and wisdom will die with you. But I have understanding as well as you. I'm not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? I'm a laughingstock to my friends. I who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
In the thought of one who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for those whose feet slip. The tents of the robbers are at peace. Those who provoke God are secure, who bring their God in their hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
But ask the beasts, and they will teach you, the birds of the air, and they will tell you, or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare to you, who among all does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear try words as the palate tastes food?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Wisdom is with the aged and understanding in length of days. With God are wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding. If he tears down, none can rebuild. If he shuts a man in, none can open. If he withholds the waters, they dry up. If he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With him are strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
He leads counselors away stripped and judges he makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds the waistcloth on their loins. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. He pours contempt on princes and looses the belt of the strong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking subscribe, and you can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777. Again, that's Catholic Bible to 33777, as I said. Today, we're kicking off by looking at this and journeying with Abraham in his greatest test of his life. He's been tested so many times in his life, called by God to be faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He makes nations great and he destroys them. He enlarges nations and he leads them away. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a pathless waste. They grope in the darkness without light and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Proverbs chapter two, verses nine through 15.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. For wisdom will come into your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will watch over you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil. Men whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. Father in heaven, we glorify you and we praise your name. We thank you so much for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
We ask that you please enlighten our minds with your truth and enliven our hearts with your love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay, wow. So, that reading from Genesis is... Pretty phenomenal. But in so many ways, we can hear this reading and like so many other readings of scripture where we might not get it on the surface.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
We don't get like, what is God trying to reveal to us? We think that this is just crazy. I hope God never asks me of that. I hope God never asks me to give him the thing I love the most. Because sometimes we look at this as it's some arbitrary story. Remember this, Abraham is over well over a hundred years old at this point. So Abraham has been walking with the Lord for so, so long.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
This is not God springs on Abraham, this offering of a sacrifice. In fact, at the heart of everything in this reading is the fact that we talked about this yesterday, that Abraham is the father of faith. And here is the moment where he not just demonstrates, I would say he reveals the depth of his faith. It is a profound trust in God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Abraham is not under the impression that God is going to take away his son, Isaac, that this story will end with Isaac's destruction. How do we know this? We know this in so many ways. One is the very text itself. What happens is They have the two young men who accompany Abraham and Isaac.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And Abraham says to the two young men, we're going to go up to that mountain and we're going to both come back to you. I mean, he says it. He says, we're both coming back to you. Abraham says in the letter to the Hebrews, he knew that even if he were to sacrifice his son, that God had the power, God who has the power of life and death to bring back even from the grave, his own son.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
This is Abraham's deep and profound trust. And yet we ask the question, why would God do this though? What's the whole point of this story? Because this point of the story is not, I don't think, it's just simply for Abraham and for Isaac. I think that point of the story is it sets up the context for everything about the spiritual life. That's how deep and profound this story is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
It sets up the context for virtually everything in the spiritual life. Because this is not merely a story about the father who's willing to sacrifice his son. This is the story of a father and a son team. This is so important for us. You know, art will sometimes depict this image, you know, the image of the sacrifice of Isaac or the binding of Isaac.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And it has Abraham, the old man who has bound up his son, Isaac, who is like struggling and who is like a child. And yet. This is Abraham and Isaac working together. How do we know this? Because we know that Isaac is not a child. We know he's a child compared to the hundred plus year old Abraham, but Isaac is not a child who was overpowered by his father. In fact, if anything,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And today, we have one of the greatest tests and one of the most iconic tests that is going to echo not just in his life, but is going to echo down the generations, even to our lives today. So we begin Genesis chapter 22 and 23. After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
Isaac is the one who's stronger in this story. Why? Well, they go up the mountain, they go up the hill, right? Amariah. And it says that Abraham laid the wood for the altar, the wood for the sacrifice on the back of his son. Now, if his son is like a seven-year-old kid, he could not possibly carry enough firewood that would actually be able to be a Holocaust, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
A burnt offering of an entire human being up the mountain. In fact, the tradition is that Isaac is in his 30s, maybe even 33 years old. Think about that for a second. Isaac is stronger than his father Abraham in this time in their lives. And so Isaac carrying up the wood demonstrates that he could overpower his father. that he submitted to his father, binding him, and he laid down willingly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
And this is, what is this teaching us? This is setting the stage for the eternal father with his only beloved, only begotten son, whom he loves. and that sacrifice of the Son and of the Father on Calvary. This is unmistakably a preparation for Christ's sacrifice. I mean, even think, what do the words say? Take your only Son, your only begotten Son, whom you love.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac (2025)
was John 3, verse 16 say, for God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son. This story of Abraham and Isaac is not just about Abraham and Isaac. It is a revelation of how the father in heaven and the son of God to cooperate with each other in bringing about salvation. This deep and profound trust all the way to the point of death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
The fact that the other tribes of Israel are going to be worshiping the God of Israel and therefore supplying them with their needs. At the same time, it's very, very clear that to the Levites, they have to give a tithe of their tithe, meaning that they give a tenth of everything that they've been given.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So even though they're receiving the gift of the tithe of the people of God, the people of Israel, they also have to offer a tithe, which is so beautiful and so important. Just fair and just. And that leads us into the next book we are reading from Deuteronomy. And in Deuteronomy, it talks about justice. In fact, there are these things called cities of refuge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
We just heard about them in chapter 19. The cities of refuge, three of them at first. And then God says, but when you come into the land, if you get the whole of the property of the land that I want to give you, you're going to have six of these cities of refuge. And they are for what? Because in God's justice, if someone murders another person, by God's justice, they have to die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
But if they murder accidentally, what happens is they get to, I mean, what's going to happen is someone's going to, in their heat of their anger, like you killed my father, prepare to die. Even if accidentally, there's cities of refuge that you can run to. And the Avenger, the person who wants to kill you, cannot enter and kill you. Places of, again, as I said, places of refuge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
At the same time, it specifically states that if you, though, are someone who has killed someone on purpose and you're onto a city of refuge and the accuser comes, again, not just one accuser, but two or three, then the elders of that city of refuge will hand you over to trial. And that's the important piece here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
they shall join you and attend to the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent and no one else shall come near you and you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar that there be wrath no more upon the sons of israel and behold i have taken your brethren the levites from among the sons of israel they are a gift to you given to the lord to do the service of the tent of meeting
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
It's trying to avoid crimes of passion or revenge, but saying, no, we're going to only exact this justice when it's been expressly proven or demonstrated that this was murder, not simply manslaughter. And I think, again, here is the people of God who are being brought from a place of just kind of, you know, the Wild West to a place of, no, this is order. We're a people of law now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
We're people of justice now, not just vengeance. which goes on to the last chapter we read today, which is Deuteronomy chapter 20, having to do with war. Always giving a people that they attack the option to surrender. Always giving the people the option to have peace, unless it was the people of the tribes where they are going to enter in the land of Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And those people, they would not give an opportunity to surrender. Why? And this is really difficult for us. Why is this the case? This is a very unusual kind of warfare. This is a very unusual kind of situation because it strikes us as being so, so backwards and so, not just backwards, but so violent and over, not justice anymore, right? It seems unfair. It seems cruel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
These are what you might call Wars of judgment. These are not simple battles, but in this context, and we have to understand this, these are wars of judgment. The people of Canaan were living violent, destructive, and wicked lives.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
In fact, a number of times we've already heard that the Lord God has expressly noted that in the place you're about to enter, in the land of Canaan, in the promised land, One of the practices that they have is they will sacrifice their own children, their sons and their daughters, to this false god, Molech. And they will literally kill their own children. And God's judgment comes at some point.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And this is the reality for all of us. It's really hard for us to understand this because we think like, we have questions about this. But when we understand this in the context that here is God who's saying, you know, judgment is coming for every one of us. And the people of Canaan were under God's judgment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And God was using the people of Israel to exact or deliver his judgment upon the people of Canaan. Now, of course, for us, if we took that position and we said, that's what I'm going to do then. I think we should do that as whatever your country is. We should take justice or judgment of God on whoever. we would be taking the law into our own hands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
That is not what God has commanded us to do, but this is what God had commanded the people of Israel to do. I know that this is as a last note, I'm gonna have to say this many, many times in the future, but I say it right now, maybe for the first time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
If we approach this and we are cynical, if we approach this and we are skeptical, if we approach this and we have this like, I still don't like it and I actually don't, I wanna stop reading. I don't like this and I want to start distrusting the word of God. And I just look at the distrust part because we can have questions. Of course we have questions. We wrestle with stuff.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Jacob wrestled with the angel. That's not a bad thing to wrestle with the Lord and to say, God, what is your word trying to teach me? But one of the things we have to increase in our own hearts is our trust and our confidence in him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Then when he led his people, the people of Israel, that he made a covenant with into the promised land, into the land of Canaan, and there was this devastating kind of warfare, it wasn't because God was being unjust. In fact, it was, as we said, these wars of judgment on those people, but also, also there were wars because of the fact that God knew. God knows everything, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil, and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and anyone else who comes near shall be put to death. the priest's portion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
He knew that here's a people that if they live in the midst of these broken people of Canaan, they're going to change their hearts. They're going to give their hearts to these false gods. And these aren't just kind of like false gods like we would have in our modern pluralistic society. Right now we have a pluralistic society that we coexist with other religions, which is good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
but God knew the people of Israel had an incredible role. And that was, you need to be faithful because it's through you that I'm going to bless the world. And so I know if you commingle with these other groups, you will not be faithful. What we're going to see is that they will not do what God asked. And surprise, they will not be faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
This is going to be Moses' last words in the book of Deuteronomy where he tells them, after all, giving you all these commandments, I know you're not going to do it. So I know that it upsets a lot of us, but keep this in mind. This is not out of context.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
The context is these are wars of judgment on a people that had hardened their hearts to the true God had sacrificed their own children to their false gods. And God needed to preserve the people of Israel and their faith so that you and I right now, this day could be blessed. You know, last little note, I'll say this again in the future. At the same time, God knew that they wouldn't be faithful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 67. We are reading from chapter 18 of Numbers, Numbers 18. We're also reading two chapters in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 19 and chapter 20. We're also praying Psalm 99 today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
He knew that they wouldn't do this. And so this commandment in some ways we could just see as a warning, maybe, maybe rather than an instruction, if that gives you some peace, I just invite you to like, take that little bite. Maybe this is God giving a commandment, knowing they wouldn't do it because he's revealing something to their hearts by the commandment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
giving them a prediction rather than instruction. Now, at the same time, it's clearly instruction, but if that would give your heart some peace today, then a little peace is better than nothing, but it can't be a false peace. It has to be true peace. I don't know if that makes any sense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Anyways, we're gonna continue walking through this, and whenever it gives us pause, whenever it gives us trouble, it's okay. It is okay because the Lord is faithful. He is just. He never, ever commands us to do anything unjust. because he cares for every person. He makes the sun shine on the good and the bad. He makes the rain shine on the evil and the good. And he loves you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And he, even in our brokenness, he still chooses us. So we come before him knowing that his judgment is just and that he obviously has the right to judge us. And so we ask for his mercy today. And I'm praying to God today for his mercy upon you. I ask that you please pray to God for his mercy upon me as we continue to pray for each other. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Then the Lord said to Aaron, and behold, I have given you whatever is kept of the offerings made to me, all the consecrated things of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual debt. This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved from the fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Every offering of theirs, every serial offering of theirs and every sin offering of theirs and every guilt offering of theirs, which they rendered to me shall be most holy to you and to your sons. In a most holy place shall you eat of it. Every male may eat of it. It is holy to you. This also is yours. The offering of their gift, all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual debt. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat of it. All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the first fruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you. the first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord shall be yours.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Everyone who is clean in your house may eat of it. Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours. Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord shall be yours.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall redeem and the firstling of unclean beasts you shall redeem and their redemption price at a month old you shall redeem them you shall fix at five shekels in silver according to the shekel of the sanctuary which is twenty But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, you shall not redeem, they are holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
You shall sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shall burn their fat as an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord. But their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved, and as the right thigh are yours. All the holy offerings which the sons of Israel present to the Lord I give to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual debt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you. And the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion, and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, their service in the tent of meeting. And henceforth the sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel they shall have no inheritance. For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they present as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Moreover, you shall say to the Levites, When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. And your offering shall be reckoned to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor and as the fullness of the winepress.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So shall you also present an offering to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the sons of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord's offering to Aaron the priest. Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every offering due to the Lord from all the best of them, giving the hallowed part from them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, as far as my Bible translation, as well as the fact that I'm reading from specifically the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you're interested, you can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast. I don't know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Therefore, you shall say to them, when you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Levites as produce of the threshing floor and as produce of the wine press. And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have offered the best of it. And you shall not profane the holy things of the sons of Israel, lest you die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
When the Lord your God cuts off the nations whose land the Lord your God gives you and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, you shall set apart three cities for you in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
You shall prepare the roads and divide into three parts the area of the land which the Lord your God gives you as a possession so that any manslayer can flee to them. This is the provision for the manslayer who by fleeing there may save his life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having been at enmity with him in time past, as when a man goes into a forest with his neighbor to cut wood and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies, he may flee to one of these cities and save his life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him. Because the way is long and wound him mortally, though the man did not deserve to die since he was not at enmity with his neighbor in time past. Therefore I command you, you shall set apart three cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And if the Lord your God enlarges your border as he has sworn to your fathers and gives you all the land which he promised to give to your fathers, provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command you this day by loving the Lord your God and by walking ever in his ways, then you shall add three other cities to these three.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
lest innocent blood be shed in your land, which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
But if any man hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and wounds him mortally so that he dies and the man flees into one of these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him from there and hand him over to the avenger of blood so that he may die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel so that it may be well with you. Concerning landmarks. Concerning witnesses. A single witness shall not prevail against the man for any crime or for any wrong in connection with the offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be sustained.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
If a malicious witness rises against any man to accuse him of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently." And if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Again, I keep saying this because it's in the 60s for crying out loud. If you have not yet subscribed, you can do that right now. Why not? Go ahead and do that. Nonetheless, it is day 67. We are reading from Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 19 and 20, praying Psalm 99. The book of Numbers chapter 18, duties of priests and Levites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you and the rest shall hear and fear and never again shall commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Chapter 20, Concerning Warfare
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
When you go forth to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them. For the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
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Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Let not your heart faint. Do not fear or tremble or be in dread of them. For the Lord your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. And what man is there that has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And what man is there that has betrothed a wife and not taken her? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her. And the officers shall speak further to the people and say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go back to his house, lest the heart of his fellows melt as his heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And when the officers have made an end of speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people. When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. And if its answer to you is peace and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. And when the Lord your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword. But the women and the little ones, the cattle and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God has given you. Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices which they have done in the service of their gods, and so to sin against the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them, for you may eat of them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field men that they should be besieged by you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut them down, that you may build siege works against the city that makes war with you until it falls.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Praise to God for his holiness. The Lord reigns. Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned upon the cherubim. Let the earth quake. The Lord is great in Zion. He is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he, mighty king, lover of justice. You have established equity. You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Extol the Lord our God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So the Lord said to Aaron, you and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear iniquity in connection with the sanctuary. And you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity in connection with your priesthood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Worship at his footstool. Holy is he. Moses and Aaron were among his priests. Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord and he answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies and the statutes that he gave them. O Lord our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
Extol the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
We thank you. We give you glory. You are the God of glory and the God of justice. Lord God, you care for the people. You care for justice. You care for us. And so we ask you today, as we ask you every day, every day, gosh, Lord, make our hearts like yours. Make our hearts the kind of hearts that desire justice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
that run away from vengeance, but pursue after what is true and what is good and what is beautiful. Fill our minds with what is true. Fill our hearts with what is good and fill our lives with what is beautiful. We give you praise, Lord God, and thank you. Be with us today and every day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So quick couple of things, a couple of things about Deuteronomy, but before that, a couple of things about the book of Numbers. So as we have already heard in the book of Numbers chapter 18, it was the duties of the priests and Levites. One of the things that we had heard before is the fact that while all of the tribes of Israel are going to be given land, right? They're going to be given property.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
And with you bring your brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the covenant. They shall attend you and attend to all the duties of the tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they and you die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
They're going to be given flocks and work for themselves to do. Those of the tribe of Levi are not given land. They're not given an inheritance. That's the word that keeps being used. And why? Because God says, I'll be your inheritance. Your job is to be serving me. Your job is to be leading worship. of me. And the price is that that means you have to, so I guess the price is you don't get land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
You don't get to have another occupation in some ways. You don't get to have an inheritance among the people of Israel. But the goodness is, A, you get to worship and you get to be at the tabernacle or the tent of meeting, be in the temple ultimately. But you also receive the tithe.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So with every sacrifice that's offered, not every sacrifice, but many of the sacrifices, that would be what would support the livelihood of the tribe of Levi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So you'd go in and offer a guilt offering or a sin offering, and part of it would be burnt up, but the rest of it would be not only offered to the Lord, but then given to the tribe of Levi in order for them to have food for their families and have food for their lives. And they'd be able to... basically have a living that way.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge (2025)
So the supporting of the priests, the supporting of the tribe of Levi would come through the people of Israel. And the great way in which this would have to cooperate is really remarkable for us because again, tribe of Levi doesn't have an inheritance. They don't get to have their own property. They rely upon
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Hey everyone, before we get started today, I want to let you know the Bible in a Year has brought the Word of God to so many people. As you know, you're part of this community, changing lives in so many incredible ways. We're humbled to play this role in God's plan and consider it our ongoing mission to keep bringing the Word of God to as many people as possible.
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Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Yet we cannot give them wives of our daughters. For the sons of Israel had sworn, Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin. So they said, Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel on the east of the highway that goes from Bethel to Shechem and south of Labona. And they commanded the Benjaminites, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, and watch.
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Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and seize each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty. And the Benjaminites did so. and took their wives according to their number from the dancers whom they carried off.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Then they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and dwelt in them. And the sons of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family. And they went out from there, every man to his inheritance. In those days, there was no king in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the heights. Praise him all his angels. Praise him all his host. Praise him sun and moon. Praise him all you shining stars. Praise him you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created and he established them forever and ever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
He fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the Lord from the earth. You see monsters and all the deeps fire and hail snow and frost stormy wind fulfilling his command mountains and all hills fruit trees and all cedars beasts and all cattle creeping things and flying birds and He has raised up a horn for his people. Praise for all his saints.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
For the people of Israel who are near to him, praise the Lord. Father, it is right that we give you praise and it's right that we give you glory in the midst of horror, in the midst of true horror, in the midst of true evil. We thank you for your word. We thank you for being our king.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
It's part of our story. The Bible translation we're reading today is from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. As always, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. To download your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. And if you did and printed it out, you'd be on the third page.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
We thank you for guiding us in not only the depths of our conscience, not only with your spirit, but also with your truth and with your life, with your law, with your word, and by your grace that gives us power to accomplish your will and accomplish your word and accomplish your law. Thank you, Father. Give your praise today. Help us to keep moving forward. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Oh, brother. Okay, there we go. I told you, I told you that this is some of the darkest stuff in the Bible is here in the end of the book of Judges, chapter 19, 20, and 21. So you've already caught the story, right? Here's this Levite. He's a priest, and he takes a wife. No, it's not even a wife. It's a half-wife, essentially.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
He has called her husband a couple times in scripture here, but she's not his full wife. She's a concubine, which already goes to show, you know, there are people in the Old Testament, we've already seen them, who had concubines. It never ends well. It never ends well because God made it very, very clear. I mean, from the very second chapter of the book of Genesis.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
That this is the reason why a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. They should become one flesh. This is so, so key. So whenever we see these breaks in God's law, breaks in what is clear that God has said, especially when it comes to family, this is so incredibly important, especially when it comes to sexual relationships.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Whenever we see a break in that, what happens is catastrophe, catastrophe. And that's exactly what happens today. where she runs off, goes back to her father's home. The Levite comes and gets her for whatever reason. It eludes me, escapes me why the woman's father wants her husband, I guess, for lack of a better term, to stay extra days. But finally they leave in the twilight of the evening.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And so because of that, they go to, I mean, think about this even, they don't go into Jebus where the Jebusites are, Jerusalem. They go to the land of Benjaminites in Gibeah, thinking these are our brethren, right? These are our family. This is a tribe of the house of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And yet here they are and just disaster happens where the men of Gibeah want to essentially molest the Levite, but instead they throw out his concubine. And it's just the most tragic, tragic, tragic thing. It is not the right thing. Again, remember this, remember this so, so clearly. not only is her death the wrong thing, not only was the Levite pushing her out the door.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
You'd be starting a whole new leaf, whole new chapter, I guess. You know, and tomorrow we're starting a whole new book for crying out loud. It's amazing. If you haven't yet subscribed to this app, I do not know you, man, but just subscribe, please. If you want to rate it, you can. If you don't, that's completely fine too. Because why? Because it's day 95 and we're trucking right along.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
I mean, just the horror of that. Also her taking him, taking her body, cutting it up into 12 pieces and sending it to the 12 tribes of Israel. Also horror, right? I mean, this is like a form of literally from a horror movie. Um, But then here are the other tribes saying, who did this, Benjamin? We're going to go kill them. And so then they do, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
They go against Benjamin and they kill them and they kill everybody, including all the women. So then they're stuck thinking, oh, wait, what have we just done? We've just now cut off essentially Benjamin from the 12 tribes of Israel, which are needed. And so, and we also, and they also, you probably got this. They made a vow that none of our daughters will become wives of the Benjaminites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
So what are you going to do? They then, gosh, it's just so awful. They go to Jabesh Gilead and they kill everybody. Um, and they basically kidnapped 400 women who had not been married before 400 virgins. It's okay. Here's 400 wives still wasn't enough. So then gave permission to the Benjaminites to kidnap women who were worshiping the Lord at Shiloh and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
saying that this is a way out of our vow because we didn't give them permission. If you took your daughter, that's okay because they just took her. You didn't break your vow by giving her to these men as their wives. And again, if that sounds messed up to you, good. Good, because everything, everything gets summed up by the last line in the book of Judges 21-25.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Judges 21-25 sums everything up so darn perfectly, where it says, in those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man did what was right in his own eyes. And this sums up just so much. And that's one of the reasons why I love the book of Judges. This book of Judges sums up where we are right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
completely where we are in our culture, where we are in our country, where we are in the world right now, where we have given ourselves over to relativism to such a degree that we just do what's right in our own. You know what it is to do what's right in your own eyes? That's called relativism. That is who knows what truth is. You have your truth. I have my truth. You have what you think is right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
I have what I think is right. One of the reasons why the book of Judges is so appropriate for us today is because it's so broken and we live in such a broken place. But brokenness has been chosen because truth had been revealed to the people of Israel. They chose to not pay attention to it. And truth has been revealed to us and we choose to not pay attention to it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And that's one of the reasons why this book of Judges is so critical to us to never, ever forget. not only this process of turning away from God, doing what was right in our own eyes, and then suffering the consequences for that, but also the redemption part. And the redemption part is, then we call out to the Lord. We recognize what we've done. We call out to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
He hears our prayers, just like he heard the prayers of the Israelites. And he comes to our aid. And that's what we're going to see in the next three days in the first book of Samuel. The next three days, we're going to get through the first eight chapters of the book of Samuel, but then we're going to take a break. You probably have seen this coming.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
If you have already downloaded the reading plan, recognize we're taking a break and we're taking a seven day journey through the book of the gospel of John, which is coming up soon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Judges 19, 20 and 21, praying Psalm 148. The book of Judges chapter 19, the Levites concubine. Then her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys, and he came to her father's house, and when the girl's father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
oh man but three at first three quick days in first samuel one and two all the way to first samuel six through eight that's coming up tomorrow and the days after i am praying for you please pray for me my name is brother mike i cannot wait to see you tomorrow god bless
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
So what I'm saying is the end of this year is not going to be the end of Bible in a Year. So far, Ascension has been able to add the podcast to YouTube. You might have found it that way. Maybe you're watching right now on YouTube. And also, we're working on translating it into different languages so you could have the Bible in a year in other languages than English.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and remained there with him for three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there. And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go. So the two men sat and ate and drank together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the girl's father said to the man, Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
and when the man rose up to go his father-in-law urged him till he lodged there again and on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart and the girl's father said strengthen your heart and tarry until the day declines so they ate both of them and when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
His father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please tarry all night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here, and let your heart be merry. And tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home. But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus, that is, Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him. When they were near Jebus, the day was far spent, and the servant said to his master, Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it. And his master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners who do not belong to the sons of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And he said to his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night at Gibeah or at Ramah. So they passed on, and went their way, and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. And they turned aside there to go in and spend the night at Gibeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no man took them into his house to spend the night. And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. The men of the place were Benjaminites. And he lifted up his eyes and saw the wayfarer in the open square of the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the old man said, Where are you going? And from where do you come? And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to my home, and nobody takes me into his house."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
We have straw and food for our donkeys with bread and wine for me and your maidservant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything. And the old man said, Peace be to you. I will care for all your wants. Only do not spend the night in the square. So he brought him into his house and fed the donkeys and they washed their feet and ate and drank.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
But, of course, this takes a significant investment to bring projects like these free of cost to our listening communities. And we want to keep them free of cost to all those people who participate because we want to get the Word of God out there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
the crimes of the Benjaminites of Gibeah. As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, base fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door, and they said to the old man, the master of the house, bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, no, my brethren, do not act so wickedly, seeing that this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now, ravish them and do with them what seems good to you. But against this man, do not do so vile a thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and put her out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was till it was light.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold. He said to her, get up, let us be going. But there was no answer. Then he put her upon the donkey and the man rose up and went away to his home.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And when he entered his house, he took a knife and laying hold of his concubine, he divided her limb by limb into 12 pieces. Chapter 20 The Tribes of Israel Attack the Benjaminites Then all the sons of Israel came out from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And because of that, we have to rely on generous contributions from listeners like you to help defray these costs and to enable us to continually provide new audiences with this life-changing content. So if you would like to help support the Bible in a year mission, you can go to ascensionpress.com support. That's ascensionpress.com support.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword. Now the Benjaminites heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah and the sons of Israel said, tell us. How was this wickedness brought to pass?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. And the men of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house by night. They meant to kill me, and they ravished my concubine, and she is dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And I took my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and wantonness in Israel. Behold, you sons of Israel, all of you give your advice and counsel here. And all the people arose as one man saying, none of us will go to his tent and none of us will return to his house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
But now this is what we will do to Gibeah. We will go up against it by lot and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel and a hundred of a thousand and a thousand of ten thousand to bring provisions for the people that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the wanton crime which they have committed in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
So all the men of Israel gathered against the city united as one man. And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the tribe of Benjamin saying, What wickedness is this that has taken place among you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
now therefore give up the men the base fellows in gibeah that we may put them to death and put away evil from israel but the benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brethren the sons of israel and the benjaminites came together out of the cities of gibeah to go out to battle against the sons of israel
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
and the benjaminites mustered out of their cities on that day twenty-six thousand men that drew the sword besides the inhabitants of gibeah who mustered seven hundred picked men among all these were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed every one could sling a stone at a hare and not miss And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men that drew the sword.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
All these were men of war. The sons of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, which of us shall go up first to battle against the Benjaminites? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first. Then the sons of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and struck down on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. But the people, the men of Israel, took courage and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, Shall we again draw near to battle against our brethren, the Benjaminites? And the Lord said, Go up against them. So the sons of Israel came near against the Benjaminites the second day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day and struck down 18,000 men of the sons of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword. Then all the sons of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days. And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days. saying, Shall we yet again go out to battle against our brethren, the Benjaminites, or shall we cease? And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
So Israel set men in ambush round about Gibeah. And the sons of Israel went up against the Benjaminites on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah as at other times. And the Benjaminites went out against the people and were drawn away from the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country about thirty men of Israel. And the Benjaminites said, They are routed before us, as at the first. But the men of Israel said, Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. And the men of Israel, who were in ambush, rushed out of their places west of Geba. And there came up against Gibeah 10,000 picked men out of all Israel. And the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them. And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the men of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword. So the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they trusted to the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. And the men in ambush made haste and rushed upon Gibeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
The men in ambush moved out and struck the whole city with the edge of the sword. Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city, the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now, Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about 30 men of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 95, and we're reading from Judges chapter 19, 20, and 21. We're finishing up the book of Judges, as I mentioned yesterday, the last couple of days. We are, gosh, it gets worse and worse.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
They said, surely they are struck down before us as in the first battle. But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to heaven. Then the men of Israel turned and the men of Benjamin were dismayed for they saw that disaster was close upon them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
but the battle overtook them and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them cutting down the benjaminites they pursued them and trod them down from nohah as far as opposite gibeah on the east eighteen thousand men of benjamin fell all of them men of valor and they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of ramon
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways, and they were pursued hard to Gidom, and two thousand men of them were slain. So all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that drew the sword, all of them men of valor. But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Ramon, the abode at the rock of Ramon four months.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the men of Israel turned back against the Benjaminites and struck them with the edge of the sword, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns which they found, they set on fire. Chapter 21 The Benjaminites Saved from Extinction Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, none of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God. And they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel? And the next day the people arose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the sons of Israel said, Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in assembly to the Lord? For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord, to Mizpah, saying, He shall be put to death. And the sons of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother, and said, One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives? And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord at Mizpah? And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead to the assembly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead was there. So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, also the women and the little ones. This is what you shall do. Every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall utterly destroy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead 400 young virgins who had not known man by lying with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
and they brought them to the camp at shiloh which is in the land of canaan then the whole congregation sent word to the benjaminites who were at the rock of ramon and proclaimed peace to them and benjamin returned at that time and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of jabesh-gilead but they did not suffice for them
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
The whole story gets so much worse and so much worse. So keep that in mind. We're also praying Psalm 148 because we definitely need some prayers on a day like today with the awful stories that we're about to expose ourselves to. Wow, am I building this up enough? Hopefully not too much, not overselling the horror, the terrible things that are about to happen. But it's part of the story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2025)
And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. Then the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin? And they said, There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
He's giving that speech in the wilderness, the plains of Moab, as they look out over the Jordan River, across the Jordan River, into the promised land. And one of the things that we hear in today's reading from Deuteronomy, now again, Numbers is the beginning of their journey, Deuteronomy is at the end of their journey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
What we hear is through Moses, God is saying, I know that you are going to fail. Here through Moses, God is saying, this is your story. Part of your story is immediately when I set you free from slavery in Egypt and brought you to this place, immediately you turned away. And I know that's what your hearts are like.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And so Moses recounts a number of places where this happened, where it was the golden calf at Sinai. And he talks about Taborah. At Taborah, we're going to read about that in Numbers chapter 11, which is coming tomorrow. It's the place where the people of Israel immediately complained against God's providing for them. Then he talks about a place called Massah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And we already heard about that in Exodus chapter 17, where they were tempted. Then we talked about Kibroth Hathavah, which means the graves of craving. And this is also in Numbers chapter 11. It's where we're going to hear about tomorrow that they craved for all those treats they had back in Egypt. And so here is these places of failure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Here's these places where God had brought his people to provide for them, and they failed to trust in him. And also Moses goes on to communicate that I interceded on your behalf, that it took a mediator between God and man to give you his mercy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
It's one of the reasons why we realize that Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses, that Jesus is the new Moses, not only because he gives us a new law, right, in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, but also because Moses is that, or so Jesus is like Moses in the sense that he stands in the gap, just like Abraham stood in the breach before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Here is Moses, who multiple times when we read through the book of Numbers, will stand between the Lord and the people interceding on their behalf and calling upon the Lord's mercy. And the Lord hears the prayers of Moses, just like here is Jesus Christ on the cross saying, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And we realize that not only does Moses and Abraham and the whole Bible, but ultimately Jesus reveals that the depth of the heart of God is the heart of mercy. That even when we are unfaithful, God gives us his mercy. That when we fall away, that God remains steadfast. And so he gave Moses the opportunity to stand in the gap. Jesus Christ was sent as the one mediator between God and man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And we are also called. We are called to pray for each other. We're called to stand in that gap and be like Moses, to stand in that gap and be like Jesus and to be able to say, I'm lifting up my brothers and sisters right now. Because here we are on day 60. And I got to tell you, those of us who are walking this journey, We need each other. I know that I need your prayers so much.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And I know that so many of you are going through so much right now that it's just this weight of life, this burden of feeling crushed, that just knowing that you have brothers and sisters who are praying these words with you, who are listening to these words with you, are going through this Bible in the air with you, and they're also praying for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
They're also mediating and interceding on your behalf. So let's keep praying for each other. Because we need each other. We have our Lord Jesus. And he intercedes. He lives to intercede at the right hand of the Father. We have each other. So we keep praying for each other. We give God praise and let Judah go up first. And we keep showing up. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And I cannot wait to see you tomorrow when you show up again. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 60, as I said yesterday. That is two months, not three, it's two months of being able to be formed, being formed by God's word. Congratulations. This is, it is an accomplishment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
On the day of your gladness also and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall serve you for remembrance before your God. I am the Lord, your God. Departure from Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
In the second year, in the second month, on the 20th day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the covenant and the sons of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses, the standard of the camp of the men of Judah set out first by their companies. And over their host was Nashon, the son of Amminadab. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Issachar was Nethanel, the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Halon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out. And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies. And over their host was Eleazar, the son of Shadur. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Simeon was Shalumiel, the son of Zerushadai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And over the host of the tribe of the men of Gad was Eliasaph, the son of Deul. Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. And the standard of the camp of the men of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over their host was Elishema, the son of Amichud.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And over the host of the tribe of the men of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Petazur. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Benjamin was Abedan, the son of Gideonai. Then the standard of the camp of the men of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies. And over their host was Ahiezar, the son of Amishadai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And over the host of the tribe of the men of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Okron. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Naphtali was Ahira, the son of Inan." This was the order of march of the sons of Israel, according to their hosts when they set out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reul, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you. Come with us, and we will do you good. For the Lord has promised good to Israel. But he said to him, I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred. And he said, do not leave us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
I beg you for, you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness and you will serve as eyes for us. And if you go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you. So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey to seek out a resting place for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day whenever they set out from the camp. And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let them who hate you flee before you. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Consequences of rebelling against God. Moses continued. Hear, O Israel, you are to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, who can stand before the sons of Anak?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
No, therefore, this day that he who goes over before you as a devouring fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly as the Lord has promised you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
They say it takes 30 days to make a habit. And if you've made it here to day 60, you have a double habit. Today on day 60, we're reading Numbers chapter 10 and Deuteronomy chapter 9. We'll also be praying from Psalm 10. Psalm 10 is what we're praying with today. As always, the Bible translation that I am using is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Do not say in your heart after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, it is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land. Whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God is driving them out before you. And that he may confirm the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Remember, and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. Even at Horeb, you provoked the Lord to wrath. And the Lord was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
When I went up the mountain to receive the tables of stone, the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. And the Lord God gave me two tables of stone written with the finger of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And on them were all the words which the Lord had spoken with you on the mountain, out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, the tables of the covenant. Then the Lord said to me, Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten image. Furthermore, the Lord said to me, I have seen this people and behold, it is a stubborn people. Let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
So I turned and came down from the mountain and the mountain was burning with fire and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. And I looked and behold, you had sinned against the Lord, your God. You had made yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
So I took hold of the two tables and cast them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes. Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before. Forty days and forty nights I neither ate bread nor drank water because of all the sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also." And the Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Then I took the sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that descended out of the mountain. At Taborah also, and at Massah, the Kibroth Hatavah, you provoked the Lord to wrath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. And also, if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, I invite you to take a little moment and click on subscribe, and then you'll be subscribed and your job will be done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And when the Lord sent you up from Kadesh Barnea, saying, Go up and take possession of the land which I have given you, then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God and did not believe him or obey his voice. You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
So I lay prostrate before the Lord for these 40 days and 40 nights, because the Lord had said he would destroy you. And I prayed to the Lord, O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness. whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Do not regard the stubbornness of this people or their wickedness or their sin, lest the land from which you brought us say, because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them. And because he hated them, he has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Why do you stand afar off, O Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble, in arrogance? The wicked hotly pursue the poor. Let them be caught in the schemes which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, and the man greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his countenance, the wicked does not seek him. All his thoughts are, there is no God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
His ways prosper at all times. Your judgments are on high, out of his sight. As for all his foes, he puffs at them. He thinks in his heart, I shall not be moved. Throughout all generations, I shall not meet adversity. His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression. Under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages. In hiding places, he murders the innocent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless. He lurks in secret like a lion in his den. He lurks that he may seize the poor. He seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The hapless is crushed, sinks down, and falls by his might. And he thinks in his heart, God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it. Arise, O Lord. O God, lift up your hand. Forget not the poor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, you will not call to account? You see, yes, you note trouble and vexation, that you may take it into your hands. The hapless commits himself to you. You have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer. Seek out his wickedness till you find none. The Lord is king forever and ever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
As we read from Numbers chapter 10, Deuteronomy chapter 9 in Psalm 10. The book of Numbers, chapter 10. The silver trumpets. The Lord said to Moses, Make two silver trumpets of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
The nations shall perish from his land. O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek. You will strengthen their heart. You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of earth may strike terror no more. Father in heaven, we thank you and we give you praise just like the psalmist praying this Psalm 10.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Lord God, it seems like so often those who do not listen to you and those who do whatever they want, those who hurt other people among us. seem to be the most blessed sometimes. The ones who say, who cares about God? Where's God? Seem to have even happiness. They seem to even have joy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
They seem to have maybe even sometimes more love than those who are listening to your word and those who look for you in everything, Lord. Those who follow you sometimes seem to have more problems than those who forget about you, those who ignore you, even those who outright reject you. Lord God, this is such a mystery to us It's just like the psalmist. We recognize the truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
The truth is that there are some people who want nothing to do with you, God, that seem to have everything going right for them. And some people who love you with their whole heart and seem to be forgotten. We know the truth, Lord God. that you are just and you do not forget the cry of the poor. You do not neglect those whom you love. And so we continue to cry out to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
We continue to listen to your word. We continue to place our trust, our hope, and our entire lives in you alone. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So as we said, we are going through Numbers chapter 10 and Deuteronomy chapter nine. A couple of things just to kind of keep in mind. Numbers, they're going into the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And so this is the move. This is where they first start moving. This is the narrative book. Remember, Numbers is along the line of the books that are the narrative books of the Bible. This story in Numbers is when you hear the people, they're consecrated, they're divided into their tribes, right, divided into their families.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And now the Lord God has said, just like he said in yesterday's readings, when the column of fire, the column of cloud lifts up, you're going to follow it. And that's what happens. And the standard of the children of Judah set out first. Remember we said this before, Judah, his name means praise. And so Judah leads the way, because we always lead with praise, lead with praising of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
But they begin their journey, and something is important to note. Remember when the people of Israel, the camping in the wilderness, how that was described. At the center of everything was the tent of meeting, or the tabernacle. And that's where the Levites were. And then around them in those four directions, north, south, east, and west, were the remaining families, remaining tribes of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And so now as they're being led, it goes forth, half the tribes of Israel lead, and then comes the tabernacle, tent of meeting with the Gershonites and the Kohathites and the Merorites, and then the remaining tribes following. So in the center, even as they're traveling, is the presence of the Lord and the sacred objects in the tent of meeting or in the tabernacle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
And that's something so powerful. Once again, just to remember, they set out on a journey of three days and they went to the wilderness of Paran. One thing to note is that there are three kind of main locations in the book of Numbers. The first is where we've been for the last, ultimately now about two years. And that is the wilderness of Sinai. They're at the Mount Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
Now they're headed to the wilderness of Paran. They're going to spend most of their time in the wilderness of Paran. And the third place is the wilderness of Moab, right? Moab is right across the Jordan River. And from Moab, you can see Jericho. You can see the promised land. And that's where they're going to cross the Jordan River. I don't want to spoil our alert.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 60: Intercessory Prayer (2025)
They're going to cross the Jordan River and go into the wilderness, or sorry, go into the promised land. But keeping this in mind, that the children of Israel, the three deserts, or three wildernesses, the wilderness or the desert of Sinai, the wilderness of Paran, that's where they're headed today, and the wilderness of Moab, that's where Moses is giving his speech.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Maybe in his presence, I harden my heart, or maybe even in his silence, I harden my heart. The challenge is to never let our hearts become hardened to the Lord. The challenge would be that I'd always have a heart that is soft when it comes to the Lord's presence and his power and his will for my life. That's why we need each other. We need prayers with each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
We need to be able to lift each other up because of the fact that this is difficult. In fact, without God's action of grace, it is impossible. So let's pray for each other as we continue. Now we're fully into the second month of a journey through the Bible, this Bible in a year podcast. My name is Father Mike. So let's keep praying for each other. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And Pharaoh sent and behold, not one of the cattle of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he did not let the people go. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, take handfuls of ashes from the kiln. And it says, And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then the Lord said to Moses, rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go that they may serve me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
For this time, I will send all my plagues upon your heart and upon your servants and your people that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put forth my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose, have I let you live to show you my power.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
so that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Now therefore, send, get your cattle and all that you have in the field into safe shelter for the hail shall come down upon every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home and they shall die. Then he who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his slaves and his cattle flee into the houses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
and how we fit into that story today. This is day 32. Let's keep on rolling through this. Day 32, we're going to be reading from Exodus chapter 9, from Leviticus chapter 7, easy for me to say, Leviticus chapter 7, and Psalm 49. As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Catholic edition. In fact, I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his slaves and his cattle in the field. And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch forth your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man and beast in every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Then Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very much hail, such as has never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail. Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, I have sinned this time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
The Lord is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong. Entreat the Lord, for there has been enough of this thunder and hail. I will let you go and you shall stay no longer. Moses said to him, As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God. The flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in the bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they are late in coming up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the Lord and the thunder and the hail ceased and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he did not let the sons of Israel go as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
In the place where they kill the burnt offering, they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown on the altar round about, and all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which he shall take away with the kidneys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
The priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering by fire to the Lord. It is a guilt offering. Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering. There is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And the priest who offers any man's burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered. And every cereal offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it. And every cereal offering mixed with oil or dry shall be for all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
If you want to have your own Bible reading plan, you can download that for free from ascensionpress.com slash ascension. Bible in a Year. So ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. Today, as I said, we're going through Exodus chapter 9. We're going to continue reading more of the plagues. We have not got through all of them yet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one may offer to the Lord. For if he offers it for a Thanksgiving, then he shall offer it with the thank offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour well mixed with oil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for Thanksgiving, he shall bring his offering with cakes of leavened bread. And of such, he shall offer one cake from each offering as an offering to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings, and the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
He shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering is a votive offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and the next day what remains of it shall be eaten." But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It shall be an abomination, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity. Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
All who are clean may eat flesh, but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offerings, while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether the uncleanness of man or an unclean beast or an unclean abomination, and then eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people. The Lord said to Moses, Say to the people of Israel, You shall eat no fat of ox or sheep or goat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
The fat of an animal that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn to beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it. For every person who eats of the fat of an animal, of which an offering by fire is made to the Lord, shall be cut off from his people. Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwellings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people." The Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, He that offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord. From his sacrifice of his peace offerings, he shall bring with his own hands the offerings by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as an offering from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion. For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered, I have taken from the sons of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a perpetual debt from the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
We're kind of right smack dab in the middle of them with Exodus chapter 9.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the offerings made by fire to the Lord consecrated to them on the day that they were presented to serve as priests of the Lord. The Lord commanded this to be given them by the sons of Israel on the day that they were anointed. It is a perpetual debt throughout their generations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the serial offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the consecration, and of the peace offerings, which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai on the day that he commanded the sons of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Psalm 49 The Folly of Trust in Riches To the Choir Master A Psalm of the Sons of Korah Hear this, all peoples. Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom. The meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, men who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches? Truly, no man can ransom himself or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of his life is costly and can never suffice, that he should continue to live on forever and never see the pit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Yes, he shall see that even the wise die. The fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands for their own. Man cannot abide in this pomp. He is like the beasts that perish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their portion. Like sheep, they are appointed for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away. Sheol shall be their home. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Then the Lord said to Moses, Go into Pharaoh and say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your cattle, which are in your field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases, for when he dies, he will carry nothing away. His glory will not go down after him. Though while he lives, he counts himself happy, as though a man gets praised when he does well for himself, he will go to the generations of his father, who will never more see the light. Man cannot abide in his pomp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
He is like the beasts that perish. Father in heaven, we give you praise and we thank you for your word. We thank you for speaking to us today and for sharing your heart with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
We continue to thank you for your willingness to fight, your willingness to wrestle, not just against us, Lord, and not just with us, but to wrestle for us, to enter into our lives with your grace, with your goodness, and with your power. Lord, we ask that you please conquer us by your love, conquer us by your grace. Help us to surrender and to submit our minds and our hearts, our entire lives to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
to your reign. You are the king. You are the God of everything. And we give you praise in Jesus' name, in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen. So one of the questions that comes up a lot when we read the book of Exodus and we get to the 10 plagues of Israel, One of the questions is, so why is God hardening Pharaoh's heart?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
What does it mean that it says that God hardens Pharaoh's heart? Because there's two different expressions that are used. There's times when scripture says that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and there's other times when it says Pharaoh hardened his own heart. So what does that mean? Well, one of the things that it doesn't mean is that God took away Pharaoh's free will.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
It does not mean that God overwhelmed Pharaoh, like Pharaoh was going to let the people of Israel go, but God said, nope, I want to teach a lesson or something like this. That's not what's going on here. What's going on is, I've heard it explained this way, that God is always good, right? So God is goodness itself. God is truth itself. God is life itself. God is mercy itself, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And the only thing he emits essentially are those things, truth and goodness and mercy and life and love and joy. It's kind of like the sun. So here's the sun. The sun emits light and heat. And so in the presence of the sun, in the presence of the sun's heat, wax emits Wax becomes soft in the presence of the sun, but clay hardens in the presence of the sun.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
It's in many ways about the disposition of the heart. If my heart is open to the Lord, if my heart is, even if it's slightly hard, but it is made of wax, like I've said, no, I actually want to do your will, Lord. If my heart is wax, it becomes melted in the presence of the Lord. It becomes softened in the presence of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
But if my heart is clay, it becomes hardened in the presence of the Lord. And so here is God who's revealing himself, right? He's revealing his power to the people of Israel and to the people of Egypt. He's revealing himself to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh is getting to know that this is a God who is beyond all other gods. We'll talk about that tomorrow. He's a God who conquers other gods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And yet Pharaoh obstinately and stubbornly refuses to acknowledge him. God is obviously demonstrating his reality. He's obviously demonstrating his power. He's obviously demonstrating the fact that he is on the side of the people of Israel. And Pharaoh, in the sight of that, Pharaoh hardens his heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
But the Lord will make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel. And the Lord set a time, saying, Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land. And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the cattle of the Egyptians died. But of the cattle of the sons of Israel, not one died.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
And in the sight of that, in presence of that, Pharaoh allows his heart to become hardened by God's presence and by God's power and by God's goodness fighting for his own people. And that's the question we have to ask. See, it's easy if we say, well, God hardened Pharaoh's heart and we think of it in the terms we probably would think of it on the face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
But when we realize that, no, God never overwhelms someone's free will. He always works with our free will in a mystery of grace. I don't know how that works, but it works. But God always retains our free will and he works with it. Then we have to realize, oh, does this happen in my life where I...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail (2025)
I find my heart becoming hardened in God's presence, that God has revealed himself to me at other times. But right now, when maybe I don't get the blessing that I'm looking for right now, when I'm going through dark times right now, when I'm struggling, maybe that's when I begin to harden my own heart to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Before we get started, I just wanted to offer a quick thank you to all those who have supported the Catechism in a Year or the Bible in a Year podcast. We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives, and because of your prayers and financial gifts, you are a significant part of that. You might ask a question, though.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And yet she kept walking in faithfulness with Naomi, just knowing, okay, this is all I know. All I know is Naomi is a good mother-in-law and I will be faithful to her. Where she goes, I will go. Where she dies, I will die. And her God will be my God. Her people will be my people. And in the midst of that, you have this one day. It's one day that she goes out and she works really hard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And for whatever reason, Boaz notices her. And he protects her and guards her. This is the first time she's been protected and guarded, man, maybe since her husband was alive. And so let's not jump to the idea that here is this easy life for Ruth. This is maybe the first day where there's been hope in Ruth's life in a really long time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And the first day where there's been hope in Naomi's life in a really long time. You might be in a place right now where you're wondering, like, where is the hope for me? Because I've been walking around. I'm trying to do my best to be faithful and it's been a really long time since I've had hope. But remember that it takes sometimes a long time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
We're going to hear that to God a thousand years are like a single day and a single day are like a thousand years. But there are glimmers of hope in every one of our lives if we're willing to look for it. Think about one of the darkest days in the history of humanity. The darkest day that we've read so far has been Genesis chapter three, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Genesis chapter three, where Adam and Eve are first parents, where they rebel against the Lord. They disobey against God. And what happens is they experience the consequences of their disobedience. But what happens also is God promises a redeemer. In Genesis chapter three, verse 15, God says to the serpent, I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. That's just so good. Why? What am I talking about? Well, hope and God's promises. Because here in this story of Deborah and Barak and Sisera and Jael, what we have is a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of what God had promised. I know that might sound strange, but it's a foreshadowing of a fulfillment of what God has promised.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Where in Judges chapter four, there is this woman, Jael. And what does she do? She crushes the head of the enemy, Sisera. And I know for us, it is very violent. For her, it was very violent. And yet it is a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of Genesis chapter three, verse 15, that the head of the enemy will be crushed. And we know that the head of the enemy is crushed by the offspring of the woman.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Ultimately, that crushing is done by Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate redeemer, the ultimate judge, the ultimate warrior who's fighting for his people. And he's the one to whom we belong. And he's the one in whom we place all of our trust. Even when we walk in darkness, we can also walk in hope, knowing that in the course of a single instant, in the course of one day, everything can change.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
They do fight for the people and they do make decisions that are their best judgment. But sometimes their best judgment, we would say, could be better. Ruth's story is going to continue as she and Naomi have gone back to Bethlehem. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to her mother-in-law's homeland. And here is Ruth and Naomi destitute and hoping that the Lord will care for them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
I'm praying for that for you, that not only that you walk in faithfulness and I walk in faithfulness, but also if you were walking in darkness, I'm praying that that day of the glimmer of light shines upon you very, very soon because you're not alone. We do not walk alone. We continue to pray for each other and God is with you. So I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
But today, once again, starting with Judges chapter 4 and chapter 5. The book of Judges chapter four, Deborah and Barak. And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Herosheth-hakoim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
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The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Then the sons of Israel cried to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron, and they oppressed the sons of Israel cruelly for 20 years. Now, Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at the time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
She sent and summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam from Kadesh in Naphtali and said to him, the Lord, the God of Israel commands you, go gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. and I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jebin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
The rock said to her, If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
and she said i will surely go with you nevertheless the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory for the lord will sell sisera into the hand of a woman then deborah arose and went with barak to kadesh and barak summoned zebulun and naphtali to kadesh and ten thousand men went up at his heels and deborah went up with him
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
now heber the kenite had separated from the kenites the descendants of hochab the father-in-law of moses and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in zananim which is near kadesh when cicero is told that barak the son of abinoam had gone up to mount tabor
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Sisera called out all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth Kagoim to the river Kishon. And Deborah said to Barak, Up, for this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak at the edge of the sword. And Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth Hagawim. And all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. Not a man was left. Jael kills Sisera.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
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The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jebian the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. When Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me, have no fear. So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And he said to her, Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty. So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. And he said to her, Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, Is anyone here? say, No.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
But Jael, the wife of Heber, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and drove the peg into his temple, till it went down into the ground, as he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking. So he went into her tent, and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple. So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. And the hand of the sons of Israel bore harder and harder on Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. Chapter 5. The Song of Deborah
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Then sang Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, on that day, that the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, blessed the Lord. Hear, O kings, give ear, O princes, to the Lord I will sing. I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Lord, when you went forth from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water. The mountains quaked before the Lord, the one of Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel. In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways. The peasantry ceased in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
They ceased until you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
when new gods were chosen then war was in the gates was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in israel my heart goes out to the commanders of israel who offered themselves willingly among the people bless the lord tell of it you who ride on tawny donkeys who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way to the sound of musicians at the watering places
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
There they repeat the triumphs of the Lord, the triumphs of his peasantry in Israel. Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord. Awake, awake Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song. Arise Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. Then down marched the remnant of the noble. The people of the Lord marched down for him against the mighty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
From Ephraim they set out there into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen. From Machir march down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the marshal's staff. The princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak. Into the valley they rushed forth at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds to hear the piping for the flocks?" Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, and Dan, why did he abide with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, settling down by his landings. Zebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives to the death, Naphtali too, on the heights of the field.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
The kings came. They fought. Then fought the kings of Canaan at Tanakh by the waters of Megiddo. They got no spoils of silver. From heaven fought the stars. From their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away. The onrushing torrent, the torrent of Kishon. March on, my soul, with might.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
then loud beat the horses hoofs with the galloping galloping of his steeds curse miraz says the angel of the lord curse bitterly its inhabitants because they came not to the help of the lord to the help of the lord against the mighty Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Canite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. He asked for water, and she gave him milk.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
She brought him curds in lordly bowl. She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workman's mallet. she struck sisera a blow she crushed his head she shattered and pierced his temple he sank he fell he lay still at her feet at her feet he sank he fell and where he sank there he fell dead out of the window she peered the mother of sisera gazed through the lattice
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry? Her wisest ladies make answer. No, she gives answer to herself. Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? A maiden or two for every man? Spoil of dyed stuffs for Sisera? Spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered? Two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck as spoil. So perish all your enemies, O Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 90. Oh my gosh, you guys, what a phenomenal day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
The Book of Ruth Chapter 2 Ruth Meets Boaz Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him, in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her, Go, my daughter. So she set forth, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered, The Lord bless you. Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, Whose maiden is this?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, It is the Moabite maiden, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
she said please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers so she came and she has continued from early morning until now without resting even for a moment then boaz said to ruth now listen my daughter do not go to glean in another field or leave this one but keep close to my maidens
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
let your eyes be upon the field which they are reaping and go after them have i not charged the young men not to molest you and when you are thirsty go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn then she fell on her face bowing to the ground and said to him Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me when I am a foreigner?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
But Boaz answered her, All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Then she said, You are most gracious to me, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not one of your maidservants. And at mealtime Boaz said to her, Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine. So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her parched grain, and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
milestone that is three months if every month had 30 days and day 90 we're reading judges chapters four and five ruth chapter two following her story for just a short story but a powerful important story and we're praying today from psalm 134 as always i'm reading from the revised standard version second catholic edition i'm always using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to get your own
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
when she rose to glean boaz instructed his young men saying let her glean even among the sheaves and do not reproach her and also pull out from among the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean and do not rebuke her so she gleaned in the field until evening and she beat out what she had gleaned and it was an ephah of barley And she took it up and went into the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
She showed her mother-in-law what she had gleaned. And she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you. So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, the name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "'Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead.' Naomi also said to her, "'The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.' And Ruth the Moabitess said, "'Besides,' he said to me, "'you shall keep close by my servants till they have finished all my harvest.'
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, It is well, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, lest in another field you be molested. So she kept close to the maidens of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests, and she lived with her mother-in-law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Wow, just even, Lord God, hearing the story of the faithfulness of this woman who did not know you, this woman, Ruth, who did not know you, and yet she was faithful to what she did know. She was faithful to her mother-in-law. And Lord, you're blessing her in this story. You're blessing not only Ruth, but also Naomi, also Boaz, this man who will be blessed, and also the people of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
who will receive a king through this incredible woman, this woman of faithfulness. Lord God, help us to be the faithful like Ruth. Help us to be faithful to not only our relationships, our families, but also faithful to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Lord God, when things are difficult and things are dark and it seems like our faithfulness is only met with trouble and where it would seem like it would be so much easier to be unfaithful, Help us to hold on and cling to you in the darkness. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
And that is something I want to just highlight. Just gosh, oh man, Ruth. We're going to get back to Deborah, or Sisera, JL, all those folks. But just a second, let's highlight Ruth for one second. Because it's kind of easy to read Ruth chapter two today and think, what a massively blessed person. I mean, how, you know, kind of look at them and say, oh, man, lucky.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
When it comes to Ruth, we have to remember that this is one day in Ruth's life. It is maybe the first day of blessing in Ruth's life. Recall her life back in Moab. She married this man, this son of Naomi and Elimelech. And I imagine she had plans for a full life with this man of a family with this man. And what happens?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You also can subscribe in your podcast app to receive daily episodes. Once again, this is day 90. Judges 4 and 5, I already gave the disclaimer yesterday, but it is a violent book and it is... All the things the judges do are not always great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Not only does her father-in-law die, which puts the family in trouble, but then her brother-in-law dies, which puts the family in trouble. And then her husband dies, which puts the family in trouble. And for the entire time of this last past recent history of her life, she's been in trouble with no guarantees. with no promises, with no certainty that things will ever get better.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And there's just this playfulness there. with among the saints, because they got so used to, I'm firmly ensconced in the teachings of the church. I'm not going to step out of the teachings of the church. That means this whole scripture is a playground. Again, I say that in the best possible way. It's a playground because I am, there are clear boundaries.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
I'm not going to step outside of them by interpreting it on my own. Okay. So number one, know what you're reading. Number two, these principles of interpretation. Number three, the senses of scripture. We have two more to go. One is this. Read like the Bible has something to teach you. Here's what I mean. So often, there are people who will read the Bible with skepticism or criticism.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
They read the Bible not only with questions, because questions are great, but we read the Bible with these questions of, like, I'm standing over the Bible rather than humbling myself in front of the Bible. And when I read the Bible like it has something to teach me, that means I'm reading the Bible, the words of God in the words of men,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
with trust and if there's a better a better way to like short circuit and your ability to understand scripture short circuit your ability to even get anything out of scripture it's to read the bible with a spirit of skepticism or spiritual criticism to read the bible as like someone who's trying to prove it wrong um there are so many things in the bible that we will not understand automatically
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
not just because we're limited or not just because God's ways are beyond our ways. That's true. But like I said at the beginning, one of the reasons why we don't understand so much of scripture is because this was written at a different time in a different culture from ours.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And so one of the things we need to do is read like it has something to teach us, to put aside skepticism, to put aside criticism, to keep our questions, but our questions get to be based off of a God, you're revealing yourself to me. I trust you even when I don't understand because I know that there is an answer to this. There is an answer to the question I have about what I just read.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And so that's when I'm gonna invite you to read like the Bible has something to teach you. And lastly, lastly, Last tip to hear God's voice in scripture is keep on going.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
When you run up against something that's difficult, when you run up something against something that is confusing, when you run up against like, oh my gosh, I'm getting bogged down in, people will often use like the names, like you're getting bogged down in the names and getting bogged down in the details.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
I'm going through Leviticus and I don't know, you seem like you repeated yourself 12 times in the last 12 minutes. keep on going. It's one of the reasons why I like audiobooks so much. One of the reasons why we're doing this podcast is because I know for myself, if I'm reading something and I'm not entirely getting every single word, I'm kind of like a little bit lost.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
we follow the narratives but also there's some books that are legal they're from the legal book like leviticus there are stories that are retelling the same story like for example genesis chapter one and genesis chapter two tell the same story but in two different perspectives we also have things like um exodus and then uh numbers that will tell a lot of the same stories
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
If I just keep on reading, it usually resolves itself. And same thing, that's again, I just keep on listening and it usually resolves itself. It's one of those where like, oh, Now that makes sense because I went to the next paragraph, went to the next section, and it brings clarity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So keep on going when you run up against something that causes you a question, causes you problems, or even just something like I don't even get what they were saying right there. Keep on moving. Keep on moving forward because I guarantee you that when you keep moving forward like this, like that, those questions get resolved. The questions are good, right? Your questions are good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
It's great to have an inquisitive mind. But one of the things we want to do is not let that, those questions get in the way. We want to let those questions be fuel for moving forward. but not let them be the reason why we stopped. So number one, raise to hear God's voice by reading scripture. Know what you're reading. Pay attention to the genre.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Know that it's the words of God and the words of men. To be familiar with the four principles of interpretation. Be familiar with the senses of scripture. To read like the Bible has something to teach you without skepticism, without criticism, and to keep on going. As I said, my name is Father Mike. We are going to be doing this podcast, this Bible in a Year podcast. It is going to be so good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
I cannot wait. I cannot wait to take this journey with you. Or if you've already started on this journey, I cannot wait to continue this journey with you. We're going to keep praying for each other, praying with each other. And no, I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So sometimes we have that happening when we're reading the Bible. We have to understand, okay, that's that. Also, there's things like Proverbs, which are wise sayings that belong to the wisdom books or Psalms, same kind of thing that belongs to the wisdom books. And it has like these collection of prayers. Then we have the gospels. And not only do we have the gospels that are,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
like basically a history, but kind of like a biography, but kind of not like a biography of Jesus, a unique kind of biography. But even in the gospels, there are genres like parables where Jesus tells a parable, which is not meant necessarily to be taken literally or not necessarily meant to be taken as, how would you say it, universally applicable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
What are the ways in which any person can actually pick up the Bible and not just get the story, not just understand the stories, but really hear God's voice, like really know what it is we're listening to, who it is that we're listening to. Because the Bible is not only a document, the Bible is a living, a living thing. And it's God's living voice continuing to speak to us now. Here's some tips.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
We've talked about this before in other contexts, but here's the story of like the 10 virgins, five wise virgins and five foolish virgins. And And in that scripture, what happens? They all fall asleep. And when the bridegroom is there, they wake up and the foolish ones have not enough oil in their lamps. And so they ask the wise ones, give us some of your oil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And the wise ones say, no, get your own oil. And if that were to be a universally applicable kind of a parable, you'd say, well, I guess we aren't supposed to share. But that's not what that parable is about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. This is not a day in which we are going to be reading from Scripture, but it's a day we're going to be talking about Scripture. In fact, we're going to be looking at how do I hear God's voice in Scripture?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
so we have a lot of different genres one of the first tips to hearing god's voice is know what you're reading pay attention to the genre um another thing to be able to do is recognize that when we're reading the bible we are reading the word of god expressed in the words of human beings this is very very important for us the catechism reveals this to us that um throughout all the words of sacred scripture god speaks only one single word his one utterance in whom he expresses himself completely that's a quote from script from a
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
the Catechism, paragraph 102. But right before that, right before that, we have Catechism 101, because that's how numbers work. And it says that in order to reveal himself to men in the condescension of his goodness, God speaks to them in human words. So in order to reveal himself, he can condescends to us and he speaks to us in human words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
In fact, the quote is indeed the words of God expressed in the words of men are in every way like human language, just as the word of the eternal father, when he took on himself, the flesh of human weakness became like men. One of the, one of the things that means is that, um,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
The Lord God used the human authors of sacred scripture as true authors, making use of their time, their place, making use of their minds and their ways of seeing things in order to communicate the truth that he wanted to communicate. And so one of the things we have to understand is when it comes to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
listening to the word of God or reading the word of God is that this is going to be the word of God, God's words, um, through the words of human beings. And we, when we realize that we can understand how we're going to continue to read, which means, um, the interpretation of scripture. How do we enter this number two to have a grasp on interpreting scripture, um,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So the Catechism, again, so good, gives us the fact that the Holy Spirit is the interpreter of Scripture. But there are four kind of ways in which to interpret Scripture correctly, we have to be attentive to these four things. Number one. we have to be attentive to the sacred author's intention.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
We have to be attentive to the sacred author's intention, which means we must take into account the conditions of the time, culture, literary genres and use, modes of feeling or speaking, narrating that was current then. So one of the, one of the realities is if you were to visit another culture, another country, or, you know, another language, he visited a language.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
If you were to do that, one of the things we would need to do is we would need to take into account like, okay, we are in different contexts. I remember I lived for one summer down in a Caribbean Island known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And it was great. It was hard.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
It was hard down there because for many reasons, but one of the reasons I did not realize right away is because, well, they all spoke English at St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That was the national language. And so I just kind of assumed that, well, we understand each other because we're all speaking English. I'm a native English speaker. You're a native English speaker.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And so we know what we're saying to each other. I did not realize though that It actually took me until I got back to the United States and someone was expressing, they were conveying their experience. They spent the summer in France, living with a religious community in France, another seminarian.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And he said, yeah, you know, something about living in another culture that strips you of your personality. Something about, he said, something about speaking another language that strips you of your personality because you miss out on all the jokes. You miss on the subtle, you know, kind of references.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And I thought, oh my gosh, that is exactly what happened to me because here I thought we were all speaking English. We were, but...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
We read five little tips, five tips on how to hear God's voice. And I want to start out with the first one. The first one is know what you're reading. What I mean by know what you're reading is a couple of things. First thing is know that the Bible is not necessarily, sometimes we approach the Bible like it's a magic eight ball, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
all the things that i guess the references that would make me kind of funny um or the references that i would get their humor i didn't we were different cultures and so i was regularly told almost every day when i was down in saint vincent you're so dumb um it was but it was by teenagers so you give them a break but they're like you're so dumb like what i guess i mean i get it but why
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And the reason why is because I didn't get their jokes. And I probably came across as kind of being really boring because I didn't make a lot of jokes because we had a different cultural context. Okay, how does this apply right now?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
It applies right now because we have to discover the sacred author's intention, which means that we have to do some scripture study or some study of the culture and study of like, okay, here's what it means to me right now to read these words. but what did Matthew actually mean when he wrote these words?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Or this is what it means to me as a 21st century American, but what did this mean to Moses as he wrote the first books of Moses like 4,000 years ago? So it's important to understand, number one, to try to discover the sacred author's intention. Number two, and when it comes to interpreting scripture, we need to, Goya Catechism says, to be especially attentive to the content and unity of scripture.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
What that means is There are 73 books, they're all different. They're all different genres, but they will not contradict each other, but they rather inform each other. And so if in one portion of the Bible, it seems like, wow, God is really unjust. For example, one of the first books we're gonna look at in this Bible In A Year podcast is the book of Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And you can look at this and say, wow, did God just like visit all this destruction upon Job for no reason? Is God evil? Is God cruel? And because there's not really an answer to that question, in the book of Job. But there is an answer to that question in the rest of the Bible where God is like, absolutely not. I am not cruel. I am not vindictive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
I do not visit punishment needlessly upon anybody. He is a God of justice and goodness and love and life. And that's all he gives or the things that lead to justice and goodness and love and life. We only know that if we look at the scripture as a whole.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Again, even though there are 73 different books by many, many different authors, we read every text in context and in light of the rest of the Bible. Number three. So number one, sacred author's intention. Number two,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
uh especially attentive to the content unity of scripture number three we read scripture within the living tradition of the whole church which means to say that we um pay attention to what the uh the church has said about certain topics certain scriptures um we are attentive to the fact that not only is there sacred scripture there's also sacred tradition
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Kind of like just look for an answer or we approach the Bible like it's a book of inspiring quotes. So we just look for inspiration. We look for like some up being uplifted and then we read some stories and that we're going to get into the stories as we go through this Bible in a Year plan. And you're like, wait, that was not inspirational.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Part of God's revelation is the written word, but part of God's revelation is also the sacred tradition that he has handed on from the apostles through the bishops and through the teaching office of the church and the magisterium. We recognize that divine revelation is not limited to sacred scripture, but is expanded into sacred tradition and in the magisterium of the church.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And so we read scripture within the living tradition of the whole church. Number four. We are especially attentive to the analogy of faith. What's that mean? Analogy of faith, the catechism says, it means the coherence of truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of revelation. So if you're reading something and you're interpreting it, that goes against any truths of the faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
It goes against the whole plan of revelation. That goes against what many saints have said. It goes against the church. We realize, okay, I have not been attentive to the analogy of faith. Okay, those are the first two tips to being able to hear God's voice. Number one, know what you're reading. Pay attention to the genre. These are the words of God and the words of men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Number two is knowing what the interpretive principles are, like discovering the author's original intention. It's not, it doesn't mean what I think it means. It means what the author originally intended and the other things as well. Number three, it's so important to understand that there are different ways to read scripture. There's different what you call senses of scripture.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So once again, we're turning to the catechism to find out what are the different senses of scripture. In fact, there are two, the literal and the spiritual. It makes so much sense because we said, what is the original intention of the author? Okay, what is the literal interpretation of the text? So the literal sense is the basis. It's basically every other kind of interpretation of scripture.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Every other sense of scripture is based off of the literal. Like, what does it actually mean? That is the number one principle when it comes to interpreting scripture. Looking at the literal sense, what is this saying? For example...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
If the Bible says something along the lines of David entered the city of Jerusalem, leaping and dancing before the ark, the literal interpretation of that is David entered the city of Jerusalem, leaping and dancing before the ark. That's like the literal sense. That is the number one thing, the first thing, the basis for the other senses. So we pay attention to that one first.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Everything builds off of the literal because the spiritual sense is divided into three different categories, right? So the spiritual sense has the allegorical, the moral and the anagogical. I know all these words. You're like, what the heck father? Why are you telling me all this?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And that does not provide me with a lot of direction for my life. So you need to know what you're reading. What I mean by that is we need to know that there are many genres. There are 73 books in the Old Testament and New Testament, 73 books in the canon of Scripture. And they are a mix of literary genres. And so I need to approach them like, okay, this is not all inspiration.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Well, I'm telling you this because there are many times when scripture in the literal sense is like, wow, I don't get that really. And I don't, I don't, I'm not necessarily able to apply it to my life right now. But there is these spiritual senses that unpack scripture in a way and apply scripture in a way that we can benefit from.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So number one, in the spiritual sense, this allegorical sense, what's that mean? It means that there are types throughout scripture. So the example that the catechism uses is we understand the allegory or the type of the Red Sea, the journey through the people of Israel through the Red Sea. It's a type of Christ's victory. It's also a type of Christian baptism. What do I mean?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
Well, you have the people of Israel who are on one side of the Red Sea and they on that side of the Red Sea are certain slaves and certain face certain death. And then they pass through the waters of the Red Sea. And what does God give them by passing them through the waters of the sea? He gives them freedom and he gives them life. And this is what God gives to us in baptism.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So that's the allegorical sense, you could say. Another way to say it is the first example I used, which I think was, I think Jeff Cavins had used this years ago. I don't know how long ago, but I heard it. David entering Jerusalem, leaping and dancing before the ark. The allegorical sense could be like, okay, how does this apply to maybe even something like...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
the allegory of here is um john the baptist leaping in elizabeth's womb before mary who is the new ark of the new covenant right so here is the child jesus in the womb of mary the virgin mary and so mary there is is like a the fulfillment of the ark of the covenant to the allegory right there and then you have john the baptist leaping for joy in front of um Our Lady and Jesus in her womb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
And that would be, so David is an allegory, right? And the fulfillment of that is in the New Testament in Luke's gospel chapter one. So that'd be allegorical sense. The moral sense is the events reported in scripture ought to lead us to act justly. So how can I apply this to my moral life? That makes a ton of sense. For example, David leaping and dancing before the ark.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
He's like, okay, that's my call to worship God. My call to go before the Lord and with joy, to go before the Lord and point to him, to go before the Lord and again. be joyful in worship. So the allegorical, the moral sense in the last one, the anagogical sense, this means that we can review realities in terms of their eternal significance. So let's go back to David.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
David leaping and dancing before the ark on his way into Jerusalem. Okay, what could that be an anagogical sense of, of like the end? What that might be would be here we're called. to, in heaven, be constantly before the presence of the Lord and united in heaven, in God's presence. We're called to give him eternal worship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
So these are these three spiritual senses, the allegorical, the moral, and the anagogical sense. And if we can do those things, again, we can read all sorts of different scripture That could immediately be relatively confusing with much more clarity because we not only have this, the interpretation principles, we also have these senses of scripture principles. We can apply them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
The great thing about having both of those back to back, the interpretation and the senses of scripture is that if you remain in the teaching of the church, right? If you remain saying like, no, I'm going to completely assent to not only sacred tradition, sorry, not only sacred scripture, but also sacred tradition and the magisterium of the church, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
then you realize that, oh my gosh, you get to actually play around. And I say play around in the most cautious way of saying this. You get to rejoice in the multiple ways that scripture can be applied. If you look at the writings of the early church as well as the Middle Ages church, one of the things you find is great joy
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
This is not all edifying. This is not all uplifting. This is not all those things that we like to think of when we hear Bible stories. The Bible, though, is a mix. Yep, some of the books are historical. Some of the books have a narrative that we follow. That's one of the things we're going to do by following the Great Adventure Bible Timeline.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
BONUS: How to Hear God's Voice in Scripture
in looking for new analogical senses or allegorical senses or anagogical senses, looking for new ways that the literal sense could be applied in these spiritual senses. And they just like, even to the point of like, they mentioned this particular kind of tree in the Psalms and that kind of tree would reference this and this and this, like it would mean something deep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
They don't like have any preamble. It's just like, hey, when you come to the altar of the Lord, here's what you need to do. A couple of things that are really important about this. One is there are a couple parts of worship here, and this is going to be really important because this actually relates to our worship now in the Christian dispensation, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
In the new covenant, the new covenant is the covenant in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so there is an old covenant that we're seeing unfold in Leviticus. And the first thing that happens is here is the man who brings you the father of the family. We'd be the priest of the family, right? That the, here's the man. Well, actually let's clarify.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Originally, we're going to see an Exodus that the father of the family is the priest of the family. What happens in the midst of the middle of Exodus, when the people of Israel turned to the worship, the golden calf is, is that we have this new order of priests, essentially, coming from the tribe of Levi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And so there's a certain sense where the fathers of families kinda sorta abdicate, in some ways, their priesthood. Now, that never is completely done with. It's never completely taken away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
but it is mitigated and in some ways related to the tribe of levi and those priests because you see this one-two punch essentially where here is the father who brings the the burnt offering whether that be the bull the sheep the goat the bird um and there is an element where he participates by bringing his sacrifice and the animal is killed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
You can get that for free by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Again, ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Also feel free to subscribe to this podcast by just clicking subscribe. Again, we are beginning today with Egypt and the Exodus by reading Exodus chapter one and chapter two. Exodus chapter 1.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And then what happens is, so when the animal is killed, that sacrifice is not completed. What happens is the animal is killed, but then the blood of the animal And we're gonna hear this later on in a second. I mean, not today, but in the upcoming weeks and days, the life is in the blood. The scripture says life is in the blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And so as the blood is drained, the Levitical priests, what do they do? They take the blood and put it on the altar And that's a sign of like, we're offering up now. This is the moment, not just the death of the animal, but we're offering the sacrifice, the life is in the blood, the sacrifice of the animal to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
When it gets to the altar, when it's poured out on the altar, this is kind of almost the consummation of the sacrifice. And then ultimately.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
in this particular kind of sacrifice in the next few days we're going to hear about different kinds of sacrifices but this is the sacrifice of burnt offering then the remains of the animal again are placed on the wood which is on fire on the altar and it's burnt up but we can see this connection here when it comes to um the mass and here is one of the pieces of connection is that when we have the presentation right when we have the behold the lamb of god
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
not just then but before this when we have the in the mass the priest says this is my body and it elevates the eucharist and this is my blood and it elevates jesus in the precious blood that is like very similar to this moment of presentation in leviticus 1 where the animal is killed but when the blood is poured out on the altar is when the sacrifice is offered to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And so that's very similar to the moment in the mass where here's the presentation, right? This is my body elevated. This is my blood elevated. That's the presentation part. But then we have the moment, the moment in the mass where the priest takes our Lord Jesus Christ and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
and says, through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, forever and ever. And we all say amen. That's like, in some ways, the moment where we're offering the sacrifice to the Father. This is when the blood is being poured out onto the altar for the glory of God. for the salvation of the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And that's what the heart of the Mass is. It's the point of the Mass is for the glory of God, for the salvation of the people. And we participate in that every time we go to Mass. That's one of the reasons why we need to become familiar with this book we're reading, not only Exodus, but also Leviticus, because It is going to be so important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
There are a bunch of connections with how God is asked to be worshiped in the Old Testament and how God asks to be worshiped right now in the New Dispensation, in the New Testament, in the New Covenant, where we are right now. This is so cool.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And I cannot wait to be walking with you through Exodus and through the wilderness with the people of Israel, as well as walking with you through Leviticus and continuing to pray with Psalms and Proverbs in our days to come. Once again,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
If you're interested in getting ahead and maybe kind of seeing like where we're going to be headed for the course of the next number of days, you can download the reading plan by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. And we're going to keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
You guys, man, this is such a gift, such a gift to be able to be with you, such a gift to be able to walk through scripture with you. You are not walking alone. We are walking together because we're praying for each other as we let God's word wash over us and give us a new way of seeing the world. Give us a new way of seeing our Lord and give us a new way of seeing each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin. Dan and Naphtali. Gad and Asher. All the offspring of Jacob were 70 persons. Joseph was already in Egypt. Then Joseph died and all his brothers and all that generation. But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
That's why we have to keep praying for each other. I am praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to be with you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
They multiplied and grew exceedingly strong so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, behold, the sons of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
come let us deal shrewdly with them lest they multiply and if war befall us that they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens and they built for pharaoh store cities pithom and rameses but the more they were oppressed the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And the Egyptians were in dread of the sons of Israel, so they made the sons of Israel serve with rigor, and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they made them serve with rigor. Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shipra, and the other Pua,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him. But if it is a daughter, she shall live. But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, why have you done this and let the male children live?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
This is day 27. Let's get started. We are continuing. We've left the patriarchs. That was yesterday. That was the last, gosh, 20 days we were at the patriarchs. And now we're entering into Egypt and Exodus. And so in order to get through that story, We're beginning it with obviously Exodus chapter one and chapter two. We're also reading Leviticus chapter one and Psalm 44.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
The midwives said to Pharaoh, because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them. So God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, every son that is born to the Hebrews, you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live. Now a man from the house of Levi went and took to a wife, a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And when she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. And she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds at the river's bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, and her maidens walked beside the river.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And she saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her maid to fetch it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women who can nurse the child for you? And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
So the girl went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages. So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son, and she named him Moses, for she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together, and he said to the man that did the wrong, Why do you strike your fellow?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
He answered, Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? Then Moses was afraid and thought, Surely the thing is known. When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and filled their troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. When they came to their father, Reuel, he said, how is it that you have come so soon today?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And they said, an Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock. He said to his daughters, and where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with a man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She bore a son, and he called his name Gershom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
For he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land. In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the sons of Israel groaned under their bondage and cried out for help, And their cry under bondage came up to God. And God heard their groaning. And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And God knew their condition. The third book of Moses, commonly called Leviticus, chapter 1.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, When any man of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of cattle from the herd or from the flock. If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting that he may be accepted before the lord he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him then he shall kill the bull before the lord and aaron's sons the priests shall present the blood and throw the blood round and against the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting and he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces and the sons of aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and they would in order upon the fire
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
One of the reasons why we're reading Leviticus chapter one is because God gave that particular law, the law of Leviticus around the same time. And so the narrative story, the narrative book is in Exodus and the second reading, essentially the supplementary, not that it's any less the word of God, but the supplementary book being Leviticus chapter
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And Aaron's sons, the priest, shall lay the pieces, the head and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar, but its entrails and its legs shall be washed with water. And the priest shall burn the hole on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish. And he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord. And Aaron's sons, the priests, shall throw its blood against the altar round about. And he shall cut it into pieces with its head and its fat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And the priest shall lay them in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar. But the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer the whole and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, he shall bring his offering of turtle doves or of young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it to the altar and ring off its head and burn it on the altar. And its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. And he shall take away its crop with feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east side in the place for ashes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
He shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it asunder. And the priest shall burn it on the altar upon the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing order to the Lord. Psalm 44, national lament and a prayer for help to the choir master, a mascal of the sons of Korah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old. With your own hand you drove out the nations, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you set them free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory, but your right hand and your arm and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them. You are my King and my God, who ordained victories for Jacob. Through you we push down our foes. Through your name we tread down our assailants. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Yet you have cast us off and abased us and have not gone out with our armies. You have made us turn back from the foe and our enemies have gotten spoil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
You have made us like sheep for the slaughter and have scattered us among the nations. You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them. You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those about us. You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughing stock among the peoples.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face at the words of the taunters and the revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. All this has come upon us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
to um say okay now how it is what are the what are the rules what are the laws um for living in this community that's going to be set free sorry spoiler and and worshiping in this community that's going to be set free and so that's what we're going to go into today i'm always reading from the revised standard version the catholic edition as well as using specifically the great adventure bible from ascension when you get the great adventure bible one of the things you also get is you get the bible timeline
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way, that you should have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with deep darkness. If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread forth our hands to a strange God, would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
No, for your sake we are slain all the day long and accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rouse yourself. Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever. Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the ground. Rise up, come to our help.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Deliver us for the sake of your merciful love. Father in heaven, we give you thanks.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
We praise your name and give you thanks for bringing us to a new day. We give you thanks for bringing us a new day of your word where we can hear you speak to our hearts and to our minds that when we are living,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
in a place of confusion a place of darkness where it feels like for no reason you have cast us off we know that you will never abandon us because your word declares it lord your word declares that you will never abandon us even when we are in darkness and even when we walk in the midst of pain you are always there with us and so we trust in you and today we declare our faith in you in jesus name we pray amen in the name of the father and of the son and the holy spirit amen
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
man oh man my friends here we are on the first day well it's the 27th day but the first day of reading the book of exodus the book of leviticus and it just begins a new chapter literally a new book in our story as we follow the people of israel and follow the people of god these are our ancestors and one of the things that reading the old testament reveals to us is how deeply invested god is in his people how deeply he loves them
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Even though, even though, gosh, here we are. We're talking the space between the end of the book of Genesis and the beginning of the book of Exodus is hundreds of years. It's not just turn the page and here we are the next week or the next month. This is roughly 300 years later, possibly 400. I need to check on that. I need my dates, my goodness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
But this is basically 1900 BC is when we pick up our story right here with the story of Moses. And what is the story? The story is here is God's people that he had rescued from a starvation, rescued from famine through Joseph and through Joseph's brother's evil actions. But then as Exodus says, a new Pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph. And the people of Israel were blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
This is really interesting because we say like, oh my gosh, did God abandon the people of Israel in Egypt? Because here they are, slaves, here they are, having to serve with rigor, as our translation says. And at the same time, the word of God reveals to us, no, God did not abandon them. In fact, He blessed them. He made them exceedingly strong.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
He made them exceedingly fruitful that they became a vast people, even in the midst of the people of Egypt. It's an evidence that even while they were being worked with rigor, even though they were being worked as slaves, that God was with them, just like he was with Joseph when Joseph was in prison, when Joseph was rejected.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And we know this because here is the people of Israel who are growing in their families. They're being blessed with children. And one of the things that is kind of the underscore of this whole thing is that children are a blessing. Children being one of the greatest blessings that God can give to any couple. The blessing that God can give to any family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And today I just want to take a moment just to pray for all moms who are pregnant, as well as for all moms who have been having a difficult time with pregnancy and not been able to get pregnant. All couples who have been unable to conceive because we hear the word of God and we know, gosh, Lord, the blessing of children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
In the sense that you get all of the periods kind of broken down by color. So we've left when it came to the patriarchs, which is purple, leading right into Exodus, which is red. Egypt and Exodus, which is red for the Red Sea. Let's see how it's clever. It works that way. If you want to get your own Bible in a year reading plan,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
You are with your people, even when they are enslaved and you gave them the blessing of family. You gave them the blessing of life and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
And now I just wanna ask you, Lord God, in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, to all those couples who are listening to this and praying with us in the course of this Bible in a Year podcast, those couples that are longing to get pregnant, those couples that are longing for a healthy pregnancy, we just ask, Lord, in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, to bless these couples.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
In your name, Jesus, we ask you to send your Holy Spirit to bless these couples, to be with them in their desire for children, to be with them in their waiting, to be with them God willing, if it's your will, Lord, in their conceiving and bringing to this world new life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
We also, Father, in the name of your son Jesus, ask for your blessings upon all those who have had the heartbreak of losing children, who have the heartbreak of miscarrying, have the heartbreak of having children who are stillborn. Lord God, we ask you to ease the heartache of those couples who are listening to this and praying with us who have lost their own children. Please be with them now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
Console their heart. They are our family. They are our friends. And they are known to you, God, because you do. You continue to give us blessings even when things are dark, even when things are confusing, even when we do not know where you are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 27: The Birth of Moses (2025)
you may be hidden but you are not absent lord god you may be unseen but you are not inactive so lord god right now in this moment in the name of your son jesus console the hearts of those couples console the hearts of those families they either long for children or have lost children Yeah, Lord God, we pray. Leviticus, man, the first chapter here is on burnt offerings. We dive right into it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It's there's first God establishing the relationship, right? He establishes that covenant. And now here is the law, meaning here's how you live out this relationship. And that living out is because I know your hearts and we have a law because I know your heart. I know your heart is going to want to not be like me. I know you're going to want to be like the people around you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And that's so good to be able to hear that because that's our hearts too. And that's why I think I'm so glad that you pointed out that Leviticus is not just about distant rules that have nothing to do with us right now. A, they're fulfilled in so many ways in the new and eternal covenant or new and eternal sacrifice that of Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
But also because, like you said, this is a key for discipleship that God called his people. He set them out. Here's how we worship. And it's not like he just said, and I'll worship however you want. It's how he's laying the groundwork for that worship in spirit and in truth that Jesus ushers in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Please no. The hardest day to pray is the day after the day you don't. And the hardest day to read the Bible is the day after the day you don't. but simply pick it up and start again. It's no problem. If you don't finish by December 31st, 2021, that is okay because it means you are still allowing the Lord to speak to your heart. God is not asking for perfection in this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, that's so, so important. Jeff, I thank you for introducing this next time period for us. Before I just offer a prayer, are there any last words? I know that was really inspiring about recognizing that call that I can't just say, oh, this is the broken people of Israel. They're unfaithful. I need to see myself that the scripture in those ways can be a mirror to me. Right. It reveals myself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I can see myself in there. It can be a flashlight where it searches out the dark parts of my heart. And it can be that that sandpaper that like, oh, this is where I'm being. I'm being the Lord's doing some work on me to kind of smooth some things out in my life. Are there any last thoughts as people are journeying through Exodus and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
That's awesome. And I thank God for all three, but also for you and for the timeline and for this ability to journey with the people that we've been going with for these last number of days and through the rest of this year. It's been such a gift. And so I just want to take a moment and just thank the Lord and ask his continued blessing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
We pray in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit, Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, we ask you to please receive our thanksgiving, receive our praise because you are good and you have revealed your heart to us. I ask that you please continue to reveal your heart to us as we take this next step. Reveal your heart in the holiness code of Leviticus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Reveal your heart in the story of your faithfulness in the midst of our unfaithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. But you are steadfast in your steadfast love. Remind us this day of your steadfast love for each one of us personally and individually as well. Lord God, we give you praise. We thank you. And we ask.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
If you'd give us the help, the help to keep taking those next steps forward as we journey through this Bible in a year. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen. Jeff, thank you so much. And I cannot express how deeply grateful I am for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And for all those who are listening, I am so grateful that we're on this journey together. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
He is just asking for faithfulness. And so just be faithful. And when you drop it, pick it back up. That's all I just wanted to encourage you. But as I said, I'm joined today by Jeff Cavins. Jeff, as I said, is the inventor of the Great Adventure Bible and the Great Adventure Bible timeline. And he's joining us today as we launch into this next time period, Egypt and Exodus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today, I am joined by Jeff Cavins to introduce the third time period of the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. This third time period after the patriarchs is called Egypt and the Exodus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And Jeff, thank you so much for being willing to help all those who are listening to this podcast know where we are and give us some bearings about this next step that the people of Israel, our family tree, is taking.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, and that sense of like, I think up to now is a lot of the stories that people are familiar with. They're the stories that people are like, okay, yeah, these are the stories of Adam and Eve and Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. And now we're going into that story of what they do know it from the Prince of Egypt or from the Ten Commandments movies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
But there's so much more that happens that, aren't in those movies, that aren't in the stories that we necessarily read to kids. And the detail of that can be a place where this episode of Talking With You can be so helpful for people where they know, okay, here is where we are now. They get some kind of context.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, and that's so good, especially because you turn one page and you go fast forward 400 years. And as you said, the last pages of Genesis are the people of Israel on top of the world. They've been given some incredible land. They've been given blessing by the Lord and also by Pharaoh. And then you turn a page and it's like, wow, 400 years later, and they have not been blessed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Now, you had mentioned before that there are some problems that arise when people encounter Exodus. And that kind of can trip them up. What are some of those things that become obstacles for folks?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And before we begin, a couple of things. One, stuff you probably already know by this point. The Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to be able to follow along, you can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by simply visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
They walk like Egyptians. Sorry, were you gonna say that?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It's that sense of like, here is God who brings them from that place of slavery, that house of bondage, sets them free in this miraculous way. As you said, those plagues, oftentimes we can just hear them, read them as plagues. One bad thing upon the next that it seems like God is simply punishing the Egyptians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It seems like, in fact, the 10th plague being the death of the firstborn can be really troubling. I think we have really sensitive consciences and really sensitive hearts these days, which is a good thing that that can be disturbing for us. But at the same time, what you're pointing out is. God is setting these people who are addicted, he's setting them free.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And I mean, think about, if this isn't too much of a stretch, I did some reading about the early stages in research when it came to chemotherapy and how there were people who...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
If you haven't done that yet... No problem, no worries, no pressure. But also, if you have not yet subscribed, you can click that subscribe button in your podcast app. I don't know why you would have gotten this far without subscribing, but it's possible and you are free to do whatever you want to do. Speaking of being free to do whatever you want to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
really desired to save the lives of these patients who, like even children who had leukemia, these people who had cancer, but no one was willing to give the dose of chemotherapy, those drugs that could kill the cancer or kill the leukemia because of the pain it caused these children, the pain it caused these people until there were a couple doctors who said, we have to do this because
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
to set them free from this thing that is killing them requires some pretty serious actions. And it seems like in some ways, that's kind of what God is doing with these 10 plagues, even leading to that 10th plague being the death of the firstborn. And from there, yeah, go ahead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
One thing that has been just placed on my heart, I just want to encourage people, is I know the hardest day to read the Bible or the hardest day to pray is the day after the day you don't. It's that I had a busy weekend and I just, I fell off the wagon. How do I get back on? I need to catch up. I'm falling behind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Right. He is the word made flesh and the great high priest and the worship of him. That's so good. I'm so glad you pointed out, especially because those three elements that come to the surface towards the end of Exodus are They become handles that you can hold on to.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
You can see this, that here's the priestly nation, that nope, now all of a sudden it's just this one tribe or this one family in the midst of the people of Israel. And then the worship and the law is so important because that's, as you noted, Leviticus comes up at that time.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And one of the things I'd like to ask you about is we're going to be going through, I mean, starting as soon as people are listening to Exodus, we're also going to be concurrently reading Leviticus. And something about Leviticus that can be, you know, that's the place that people stop reading a lot of times because it just seems so foreign, seems so confusing, seems so, maybe even at this point,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And our lives like unnecessary. We don't have temple worship anymore. We don't have worship like this anymore. So why would it be important? And what should people be, if you don't mind me asking this, what should people be paying attention to on that non-narrative book, Leviticus, as we're going through the story of Exodus?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
There is truly no such thing as falling behind when it comes to this Bible in a year. What it is, is You probably have noticed it, but up until this day, I have not said, oh, today is January 21st or today is March 2nd. I've just said this is the day 23 or this is day 34. That's on purpose. And that's so that you don't feel bound to listen every single day and being perfect. No, please no.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Right. And that's so powerful that you're saying this because the natural temptation that so many of us have is the same temptation that the people of Israel had, which is, I want to be just like everyone else. I want to be just like the people, whether that be Egypt or in Canaan, that sense of saying, wherever I am, I... that God knows their hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And that's in so many ways why he's just like, he's healing this by calling them again and again, or at least calling them out of this, like you said, discipleship of saying, no, actually, if you belong to me, and that's the thing is you had mentioned this too, when it comes to the law, these aren't like, again, parental laws of someone who's trying to ground someone or trying to keep you under my thumb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
But the more and more we get to know his heart, the more and more we get to know who he is, the more and more we're drawn to be living as full members of his family, knowing that there is a father in heaven who loves us, that there is our Lord Jesus who is our brother as well, and that we are brothers and sisters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And that's one of the reasons why we can live in joy and we can continue to pray for each other because as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the father, we are part of this family. And whether we came into this family unwillingly or whether we came into this family because we and wanted to avoid other things, like, you know, as I said, like hell, the fact is we're family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And so we need each other and we need to pray for each other. So please keep praying for each other. Pray for me. I'm praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us as before, we shall flee before them. And they will come out after us till we have drawn them away from the city for they will say they are fleeing from us as before. So we will flee from them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
For the Lord your God will give it into your hand. And when you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire, doing as the Lord has bidden. See, I have commanded you. So Joshua sent them forth, and they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night among the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 83, and we're reading today from Joshua chapters 8 and 9. We're also praying Psalm 126. As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai. And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai with a ravine between them and Ai. And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai to the west of the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
So they stationed the forces, the main encampment, which was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley. And when the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city made haste and went out early to the descent toward the Ereba to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
So Joshua and all Israel made a pretense of being beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them. And as they pursued Joshua, they were drawn away from the city. There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Then the Lord said to Joshua, Stretch out your javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city, and the ambush rose quickly out of their place. And as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and took it, and they made haste to set the city on fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city went up, Then they turned back and struck the men of Ai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And the others came forth from the city against them. So they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And Israel struck them until there was left none that survived or escaped. But the king of Ai they took alive and brought him to Joshua. When Israel had finished slaughtering all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. And all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand, all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took as their booty according to the word of the Lord, which he commanded Joshua." So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins as it is to this day. And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And at the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
The Bible I'm using is actually the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You also can subscribe in your podcast app and receive daily episodes. If you're wondering, do I record this and re-record this introduction every single time? The answer is yes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of unhewn stones upon which no man has lifted an iron tool. And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the sons of Israel...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
he wrote upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses which he had written.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And all Israel, sojourner as well as home-born, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded at the first, that they should bless the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them. Chapter 9. The Gibeonites' Stratagem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the great sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites heard of this, they gathered together with one accord to fight Joshua and Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn out sacks upon their donkeys and wineskins, worn out and torn and mended with worn out patched sandals on their feet and worn out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and moldy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And they went to Joshua in the camp of Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, we have come from a far country. So now make a covenant with us. But the men of Israel said to the Hivites,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashteroth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, come now, make a covenant with us. Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey. On the day we set forth to come to you, but now behold, it is dry and moldy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And if you skip over it every single time, then you don't know that. But now people listen to it. Now you do. So there you go. That's the truth. Okay. Once again, we're reading it's day 83. Gosh, our third day in the conquest in judges time period, Joshua chapter eight and chapter nine. Once again, Psalm 126 is our Psalm of prayer and praise today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
These wineskins were new when we filled them and behold, they are burst. And these garments and shoes of ours are worn out from the very long journey. So the men partook of their provisions and did not ask direction from the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live. And the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
At the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they dwelt among them. And the sons of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Jephira, Beiroth, and Kiriath-Jerim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
But the sons of Israel did not kill them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. But all the leaders said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
This we will do to them and let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them. And the leaders said to them, Let them live. So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had said of them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
joshua summoned them and he said to them why did you deceive us saying we are very far from you when you dwell among us now therefore you are cursed and some of you shall always be slaves hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my god they answered joshua
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. And now, behold, we are in your hand. Do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
So he did to them and delivered them out of the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them. But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord to continue to this day in the place which he should choose.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us. We are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negev. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
We thank you. We just give you thanks, Lord God, because you are good and your deeds are good. And that's what we need to be reminded of again and again. Lord God, in the course of our daily lives, we seek out your counsel and desire to only do those things that are in your will, only those things that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
you are calling us to do, and we also desire to live in the freedom of that obedience, live in that freedom of belonging to you and choosing to say yes to you with everything we have. Help us to do that with your grace, with your salvation, with your mercy and your power. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay, so we have
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
uh joshua chapters eight and nine and of course we have the redemption of the battle of ai and that's great kind of a interesting chapter where we just kind of get this strategy that joshua has of having an ambush you know leading the people drawing the people out of the city of ai while the larger troop of israel sneaks in not sneaks in but goes in the open door after all the citizens of ai go out so it's kind of this basically this military strategy that gets revealed to us in chapter
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
The book of Joshua chapter eight, the capture and destruction of Ai. And the Lord said to Joshua, do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you and arise. Go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai and his people, his city and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And then chapter nine, we have the little sneaky, sneaky sneaks of the Gibeonites. Whereas you can note that all of the other kings beyond the Jordan Hill country, you have the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites. They all are, they're getting together because they're realizing that here are the Israelites who are powerful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And here's the Lord God who's fighting with them against all these people. So they're, they kind of banded together, but there's this one group of people, the Gibeonites. who are saying, you know, we get it. Rather than be destroyed, we are going to trick the Israelites into making a covenant with us. And exactly that's what they do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
You know, they dress up as if they've come from a long, long journey, even though they only live a couple days away. And as Israel, it says so clearly, it says so interestingly, it says that the men partook of their provisions and did not ask direction from the Lord. That's chapter 9, verse 14. So they partook of their provisions and did not ask direction from the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And so they didn't ask the Lord, hey, is this the right thing to do? They just believed the people, believed the Gibeonites who were tricking them and entered into covenant with them. And there's something really powerful about that when it comes to us and it comes to our big decisions in life. Because remember, covenant is establishing a family bond. You're saying, I am yours and you are mine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
It's not just kind of a, oh, sure, here's a contract. It is a deep, deep relationship that is unbreakable. And so without even asking the Lord, is this a good idea or is this a foolish idea? They just do it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Now they find out that it was a trick and even better, they say, okay, well, we're going to honor even a bad covenant, even a covenant that we were kind of tricked into, not kind of, even a covenant that we were tricked into. We're going to honor it and we are not going to destroy you and we're not going to treat you as essentially foreigners, but we're
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
And in this culture, you are going to, in our midst, what happens is there's going to be, because you tricked us, there's going to be some consequences. And those consequences are hewers of wood and drawers of water and stuff. And yet what's really remarkable is it's a lot like Rahab. I remember reading a commentary that talks about this. Here's Rahab, who is living in Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
She's the harlot, but she houses the spies. And she and her family get preserved, and they actually become a part of the people of Israel. So that even Rahab is noted in the New Testament as being a part of that family line when it comes to Jesus. But very similarly, the Gibeonites, they're brought into that, the family story. They're brought into the story of salvation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Later on, we have Gibeon becomes a priestly city. It's where the Ark of the Covenant stayed often in the days of David and the days of Solomon. We can read that in 1 Chronicles. At least one of David's mighty men at the middle of 1 Chronicles is a Gibeonite. God spoke to Solomon at Gibeon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
So Gibeonites, they're brought into the covenant, even if they came into the covenant kind of backwards, kind of sideways. The fact that Joshua and the people of God honor the fact that they made a covenant, even deceptively entered into it. is actually a word of hope for the Gibeonites. There's a price, and that price at first is kind of a second-class citizenship, essentially, in the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
But even the Gibeonites are saying, we'll do that. Whatever you think is right, we're gonna take that, because that's better than being killed. And so often, that's us, is the last word. So often, that's us. When it comes to entering into a relationship with God,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
So often, the reason we're saying yes to Jesus, this might not be you, but too often, the reason we say yes to Jesus is because like, well, it's better than going to hell, I guess. And yet what God wants from us, wants for us is not simply, I want to be able to spare you from eternal separation from me in hell. But God is saying, what I want from you is I want you to live as my sons and daughters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. lay an ambush against the city behind it. So Joshua arose and all the fighting men to go up to Ai, and Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them forth by night. And he commanded them, behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but hold yourselves all in readiness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
I want you to live as family during this life and live forever as family in eternity. And so often we just say yes, not because we want to be part of God's family, but because we just want to escape pain. We want to escape destruction. We want to escape hell. And so in that ways, maybe we're kind of like the Gibeonites who were brought in because they just didn't want to be destroyed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 83: The Gibeonite Trickery (2025)
But as time passed, many of those Gibeonites, even there's prophets who came from Gibeon, and there's examples of great things that God did. does with the people of Gibeon as they become more deeply and deeply a part of his family, the same thing is true for us. That we might have said yes to the Lord out of a mercenary heart, right? Out of a desire to spare ourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
I am a man who has no strength. like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. You have caused my companions to shun me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
You have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape. My eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord, I spread out my hands to you. Do you work your wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Is your mercy declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry to you. In the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth, I suffer your terrors. I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me. Your dread assaults destroy me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
They surround me like a flood all day long. They close in upon me together. You have caused loved one and friend to shun me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Father, we hear this prayer, we make this prayer of Psalm 88, and we know that you are near us in darkness. You are near us when we are alone and lonely and isolated. And this is your prayer that you have placed into our mouths. This psalm, this prayer that was prayed, tradition says, by Jesus himself when he was abandoned by his friends in Jerusalem. in the custody of Caiaphas, the high priest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Before he was handed over to be condemned falsely by Pilate, he spent that night in that prison. And Lord God, we have this tradition that the Son of God, that Jesus himself prayed this prayer. My one companion is darkness. And so we know that when we're in darkness, that you, the darkness is not dark for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
The book of Numbers chapter four, the Kohathites. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi by their families and their father's house. from 30 years old up to 50 years old, all who can enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, the most holy things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And when we are in darkness, we are not alone because you have made the darkness your home. In the abandonment and in the rejection of your son, Jesus. Lord God, help us in darkness to see your face. Help us in darkness when we can't see to know that you're present. Help us to always have confidence in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And we make this prayer in the name of the Jesus, the one Jesus who entered into darkness for our sake. We love you. We ask this of you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You know, Psalm 88, the one Psalm ends in darkness. Every other Psalm has a line of hope, even in the midst of pain, even in the midst of discouragement and distraction and defeat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Every other Psalm ends with a note of promise, except for Psalm 88, where he says, my one companion is darkness. So just a couple of quick notes, just to be relatively brief. In the book of Numbers, right, we have not only, here's the family of Levi, right, the tribe of Levi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And so in the tribe of Levi, we not only have the sons of Aaron, we also have the Merorites, the Kohathites, and the Gershonites. And they all have their different tasks. And what we heard in chapter four, was here is how you're going to carry the articles of the tabernacle. Here's how you're going to carry the sacred objects. And there's two things to keep in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Well, there's many things to keep in mind, but here's two things I'd like to direct your attention to. One is that these objects were so holy that it's very important. The Kohathites, the Gershonites, the Merorites, they were called not to touch them. They are called to carry them. They're called to carry them with poles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
So there's that sense of, okay, only the tribes or the family of Aaron, sons of Aaron, those who were ordained priests could approach these holy things. And yet the other families had work to do and they had jobs to do. And this is very important because it says very clearly that God appointed each to his task of serving and carrying.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses, they were appointed each to his task of serving or carrying. And that's so important for us to understand that even St. Paul talks about this. He says, you know, there are many parts, but one body and the eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you. And the foot cannot say to the ear, I do not need you. the whole body is necessary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
So yes, the tribe of Levi is necessary. It's now the firstborn of the people of Israel in so many ways. And of that, there are the four families. And even though only the family of Aaron, the sons of Aaron were allowed to be priests, those other families had a role that was vitally important. And that's so important for us because according to the Lord, they were appointed each to his task.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
God knows your life. He knows you. And he's appointed you to some definite task. In fact, there's this fantastic prayer from St. John Henry Newman, where one of the lines is, Lord, you have created me for some definitive task. And I might not know what that is, but I do know that you have made me on purpose. And because of that, I can lift up my head. Because of that, I direct my attention to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Because of that, I can live with purpose because your life matters. This is so important for every one of us who's praying this scriptures. Your life matters. And that is what's communicated to us. One of the things communicated to us, relatively boring and not necessarily relevant, chapter four of the book of Numbers. You note that we're about to hear Moses give the law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it. Then they shall put on it a covering of goat skin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
He's going to give the 10 commandments in chapter five and then go on for greater commandments going on into the future. But the first thing he had to do was say what? He said, the Lord God prohibits you from making any graven image because that's what your ancestors did. That's what they did at Mount Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
That's what they did at the Baal of Peor, which is a whole nother story we're going to get to in the book of Numbers. But God... through Moses is communicating, saying, I know what you want to do. You're going to want to turn your heart to other to idols, essentially. And you must not do this. This has to be the first thing you remember.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 55, and we'll be reading from Numbers chapter 4, Deuteronomy chapter 4. We'll be praying Psalm 88.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Root out idols from your heart because your heart is an idol making factory. So all of us today are just reminded of the fact that God's word, what it does in so many ways is it purifies us. It reminds us of the truth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
It reminds us of the truth that God is faithful, that he does know our name, that he has assigned a specific task, that we do matter, and that he then also has to be God in our lives, that we may not and cannot turn to any false gods. We'll keep praying for each other because you guys, you've made it through day 55, which is so, so incredible. So good. But we have to keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
I know that the discussion groups are continuing to roll along and people are supporting each other, not just with their prayers, but also with their words. I just want to encourage that so much. If you haven't discovered one of those discussion groups yet. We'll probably try to help you connect to one of those things. And if we can't help you, then I know that God's going to make it happen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Because, you know, the Bible, even though you're listening to it maybe by yourselves, it's not meant to be a private book. It is meant to be publicly proclaimed. And that's why we have this podcast. And that's why you get to listen. So you're part of a community. And my invitation is keep praying for the community. And I'm praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
and spread over that a cloth all of blue and shall put in its poles and over the table of the bread of the presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put upon it the plates the dishes for incense the bowls and the flagons for the drink offerings the continual bread also shall be on it
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet and cover the same with a covering of goatskin and shall put in its poles. And they shall take a cloth of blue and cover the lampstand for the light with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it upon the carrying frame.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
and over the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue and cover it with a covering of goatskin and shall put in its poles and they shall take all the vessels of the service which are used in the sanctuary and put them in a cloth of blue and cover them with a covering of goatskin and put them on the carrying frame
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. And they shall put on it all the vessels of the altar which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar. And they shall spread upon it a covering of goatskin and shall put in its poles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these." But they must not touch the holy things lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the continual cereal offering, and the anointing oil with the oversight of all the tabernacle and all that is in it of the sanctuary and its vessels.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Let not the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things. Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, but they shall not go in to look upon the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
the Gershonites and the Merorites. The Lord said to Moses, take a census of the sons of Gershon also by their families and their father's houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old. You shall number them all who can enter for service to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites in serving and bearing burdens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Just a quick reminder, the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can use and follow along with whatever Bible translation you find most helpful. To download your Bible in a Year reading plan, So you can know what day 54 was and what day 56 is going to be.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of goatskin that is on top of it and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting and the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court, which is around the tabernacle and the altar and their cords and all the equipment for their service.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting, and their work is to be under the oversight of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families and their fathers' houses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
From thirty years old up to fifty years old you shall number them. Every one that can enter the service to do the work of the tent of meeting, and this is what they are charged to carry as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting. The frames of the tabernacles, with its bars, pillars, and bases, and the pillars of the court round about with their bases, pegs, and cords.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
with all their equipment and all their accessories and you shall assign by name the objects which they are required to carry this is the service of the families of the sons of merari the whole of their service in the tent of meeting under the hand of ithamar the son of aaron the priest census of the Levites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and their fathers' houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old, every one that could enter the service for work in the tent of meeting. And their number by families was 2,750.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you are listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
This was the number of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses. The number of the sons of Gershon
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
By their families and their fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone that could enter the service for work in the tent of meeting, their number by their families and their fathers' houses was two thousand six hundred and thirty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
This was the number of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
The number of the families of the sons of Merari by their families and their father's houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old, everyone that could enter the service for work in the tent of meeting, their number by families was 3,200. These are those who are numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered by their families and their fathers' houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old, everyone that could enter to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, those who were numbered of them were 8,580.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
You can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year and download that for free. You also can subscribe in your podcast app to receive daily episodes. Now let's get a context for the book of Numbers and for Deuteronomy. Remember, Numbers is taking place at the very beginning of the desert wanderings. They have not yet begun the desert wandering yet because they have not yet
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
According to the commandment of the Lord, through Moses they were appointed, each to his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Moses continued, And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them, that you may live. And go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, gives you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor. For the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are entering to take possession of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who when they hear all these statutes will say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what great nation is there? that has a God so near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call upon him?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And what great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and to your children's children.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Oh, on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children so.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form. There was only a voice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land which you are going over to possess. Therefore, take good heed to yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
lest you act corruptly by making a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And beware, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and worship them and serve them, things which the Lord your God has allotted. to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
But the Lord has taken you and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own possession, as at this day. Furthermore, the Lord was angry with me on your account, and he swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land which the Lord, your God, gives you for an inheritance, for I must die in this land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
been challenged to go up to take the promised land yet. So this is only 13 months. This is only the second year after the people of Israel have been set free from slavery. So that's the beginning of the desert wanderings while the book of Deuteronomy happens 38 years later after all of the desert wanderings. And so Moses is giving his final speech before he goes off to be with the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and take possession of that good land. Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make graven image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed. And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of men's hands, that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation and all these things come upon you in the later days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not fail you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which he swore to them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you since the day that God created man upon the earth and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as you have heard and still live?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Or has God ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation by trials, by signs, by wonders and by war? by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes. To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord is God. There is no other besides him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
And because he loved your fathers and chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence by his great power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than yourselves to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as at this day, know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
There is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God gives you forever. cities of refuge east of the Jordan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
and he dies. So keep that in mind as we hear from Numbers and the story of more issues about census with the Levites, as well as Deuteronomy, where we hear about the rules that Moses is giving the people of Israel after all of their trials and their unfaithfulness and God's faithfulness to them. Today, Numbers chapter 4, Deuteronomy chapter 4, Psalm 88.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan, that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past, and that by fleeing to one of these cities he might save his life. Bezer in the wilderness on the table land for the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manasites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Moses sets forth the law. This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
These are the decrees, the statutes, and the ordinances which Moses spoke to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt, beyond the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt, and they took possession of his land, in the land of Og, the king of Bashan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the Jordan, from Eroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, as far as Mount Sirion, that is Hermon, together with all the Ereba on the east side of the Jordan, as far as the sea of the Ereba, under the slopes of Pisgah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 55: Obedience to God (2025)
Prayer for help in despondency. A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. To the choir master according to Mahalath Leonath. A mascal of Hemam the Ezraite. O Lord my God, I call for help by day. I cry out in the night before you. Let my prayer come to you. Incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Towards the end of this entire speech, the second law that Moses is giving the people, you have this incredible word of just, I said before you, life and death. Choose life that you and your descendants may live because when you come back to me, I will love you and I will bless you and I will prosper you. So you have this, we can never read scripture isolated.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
We can never just take a moment out, a text out of context. We have to read scripture in its entirety. And what God reveals is that, no, I'm the God of the living. I'm the God who loves everyone. And when we get to the book of wisdom, what we're gonna hear the Lord God say is, I do not rejoice in the destruction of the living. He will say this, I did not make death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And he does not rejoice in the destruction of the living, regardless of who they are, regardless of how unfaithful they are. It is only because of the weakness of the people of Israel that Moses commands that all of the people of Midian be destroyed. It's a hard word for us. It's not necessarily a good word, but it is the word that is needed. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Because the people of Israel for the last time, they are weak. And that's us. This is us. I mean, again, it's not like the Jewish people 3,000, 3,500 years ago were any weaker than you and I are. We are exactly the same. We have the same hearts in us as they have. And so what we need to know is recognize, we need to recognize, okay, what are those things in my life that I tolerate?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
No, it's not going to be people like this. We have to destroy people in our lives. But there are things in my life that steal my heart away from the Lord and I tolerate their presence. I say, well, not right now. Right now, they're not going to take my heart away from the Lord. But ultimately, if I pay attention to this, they will sap my love for Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
They will sap my attention towards him and direct it other places. And I tolerate it. In this lesson, if there's a spiritual lesson of Numbers chapter 31, And in the ensuing battles, because when we get to Joshua and Judges, we're going to have a number of battles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And those ensuing battles is if I allow these things that I know rob my heart from the Lord, then I have to be willing to end them, willing to get rid of them. Because our hearts are just like the hearts of the people of Israel. So this is the lesson to take away. It's not that complete destruction of another people is good. That is not good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
But it was commanded out of concern for the people of Israel's weakness. For us who share the same weakness, what do we need to do? What do I need to do to get rid of those things in my life that are taking me away from the true worship of God? Last little note here. Speaking of true worship of God, I do want to highlight Psalm 116. Just one quick moment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
This is a Psalm 116 that every priest prays on a regular basis, at least once a week. And when it says, for what shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the chalice of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary, and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. They warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and slew every male.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
This is one of the things that we recognize we do at every single mass, is every single mass we lift up the chalice of salvation, the blood of the new and eternal covenant of Jesus Christ our Lord. And not only it says that, it says, it goes on to say, I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
you might not know this maybe you do know this but the greek word for thanksgiving is the word eucharistia and so here's what we do we offer up the sacrifice of eucharistia we offer up the eucharist at every mass and call on the name of the lord so psalm 116 is precious in the heart of every priest and since you are baptized if you're baptized you are a kingdom priest i'm a ministerial priest if you're baptized you're a kingdom priest
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And so when you go to the Mass, you also offer up the Eucharistic sacrifice, the Thanksgiving sacrifice, and we call on the name of the Lord together. We continue to call on the name of the Lord with each other and support each other and intercede on behalf of each other, especially when we hit difficult moments, not only in Scripture, but difficult moments in life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
My encouragement is don't let this stop you. Don't let this slow you down. We trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, knowing that. Even if we don't understand all of God's words in this moment, if we keep on moving, he reveals his heart more deeply and more deeply every day. My name is Father Mike. I am praying for you and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
They slew the kings of Midian, with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rechem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian, and they also slew Balaam, the son of Baor, with the sword. And the sons of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones. And they took as booty all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 76, and we are reading today from Numbers chapter 31, Deuteronomy chapter 30, and we are praying today from Psalm 116. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
All their cities and the places where they dwelt and all their encampments they burned with fire. And they took all the spoil and all the booty, both of man and of beast. Then they brought the captives and the booty and the spoil to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the congregation of the sons of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. return from the war.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Moses and Eliezer the priest and all the leaders of the congregation went forth to meet them outside the camp. And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds who had come from service in the war. Moses said to them, Have you let all the women live?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Behold, these caused the sons of Israel by the counsel of Balaam to act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor. And so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And camp outside the camp seven days. Whoever of you has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day. You shall purify every garment, every article of skin, all work of goat's hair, and every article of wood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to battle, This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded Moses. Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water of impurity,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
and whatever cannot stand the fire you shall pass through the water. You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean, and afterward you shall come into the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Division of the Booty The Lord said to Moses, Take the count of the booty that was taken, both of man and of beast, you and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the congregation, and divide the booty into two parts, between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And levy for the Lord a tribute from the men of war who went out to battle, one out of 500, of the persons and of the oxen and of the donkeys and of the flocks. Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And from the sons of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn out of every 50 of the persons, of the oxen, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the cattle, and give them to the Levites who have charge of the tabernacle of the Lord. And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Now the booty remaining of the spoil that the men of war took was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 persons in all, women who had not known man by lying with him. And the half, the portion of those who had gone out to war, was in number 337,500 sheep. and the Lord's tribute of the sheep was 675. The cattle were 36,000, of which the Lord's tribute was 72.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
The donkeys were 30,500, of which the Lord's tribute was 61. The persons were 16,000, of which the Lord's tribute was 32 persons. And Moses gave the tribute, which was the offering for the Lord to Eliezer the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
You can get your own Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is what I'm using, to follow along and read. If you also want to follow along, you can get your own Bible in a Year reading plan by downloading that from ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. And if you haven't, it's day 76 for Crying Out Loud. If you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, I don't know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
From the sons of Israel's half, which Moses separated from that of the men who had gone to war, now the congregation's half was 337,500 sheep, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000 persons. From the sons of Israel's half Moses took one of every fifty, both of persons and of beasts, and gave them to the Levites who had charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Then the officers, who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses and said to Moses, Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And we have brought the Lord's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold, all wrought articles, and all the gold of the offering that they offered to the Lord from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds was 16,750 shekels. The men of war had taken booty every man for himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the sons of Israel before the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Moses continued, And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you this day with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will fetch you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, that you may possess it, and he will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul that you may live.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And the Lord your God will put all these curses upon your foes and enemies who persecuted you. And you shall again obey the voice of the Lord and keep all his commandments which I command you this day. The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the works of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
I don't know what I can do. What more can I do? You should be subscribing because then you get the alerts every single day. You don't have to go hunt for it every single day. It'll just appear to you. We have realized, including today, we have five days left in the desert wanderings. We have five days left of numbers in Deuteronomy until we get to conquest and judges, until the people of Israel...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers. If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Exhortation to Choose Life For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven that you should say, Who will go up for us to heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
But the word is very near to you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it. See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
But if your heart turns away and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you this day that you shall perish. You shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and clinging to him. For that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my supplications, because he has inclined his ear to me. Therefore, I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me. The pangs of Sheol laid hold on me. I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord. O Lord, I beg you, save my life. Gracious is the Lord and righteous. Our God is merciful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
The Lord preserves the simple. When I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I kept my faith, even when I said I am greatly afflicted. I said in my consternation, men are all a vain hope.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the chalice of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. You have loosed my bonds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
enter into the promised land, and we have those incredible, incredible stories of the conquest and of the judges. But today, we are still with Numbers 31, Deuteronomy chapter 30 in Psalm 116. Numbers chapter 31, war against Midian. The Lord said to Moses, Avenge the sons of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward, you shall be gathered to your people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
We thank you for giving us the gift of faith. And even in the midst of complex and troubling and confrontational readings, Lord God, you give us your truth and you give us a sign of your heart that you do set before us life and good, death and destruction. And you want us to choose life. This is your will for us that we choose life. And yet, Lord God, we are so fickle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
We are so quick to turn away from you. We are so quick to forget that you love us with the love of a father. We turn to other things. We turn to other people and we ultimately end up betraying You, the one who's loved us like no one has ever loved us. And so, God, help us. Help us. Please help us this day, not only to be faithful, but when we have been unfaithful, help us to turn to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
Know that we can trust you in your goodness, in your love, and your mercy. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So, again, more troubling readings. In Numbers chapter 31, what does the Lord command? Through Moses, what does Moses command? Moses commands,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
that the men of Israel from all of the tribes, they pick 12,000 people, 1,000 men from each tribe to go to battle against the Midianites. Why would this happen? We might miss it because for the last couple of days, we have gone back to the gifts of sacrifice and the feast of booths and keeping of vows and the feast of trumpets.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
We forgot that way back in chapter 25, the people of Israel had been false, right? They had worshipped the Baal of Peor. Remember, what happened was it said that the Israel dwelt in Shittim. The people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. Now, this is horrible because it goes on to say they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And the people ate and bowed down to their gods. And remember, there was even that couple, Zimri, son of Salu, and the woman, the Midianite woman, was named Cosby. And they were killed by Phineas in the very threshold of the holiest place on the planet because they were engaged in, we'll call it fertility rituals in the presence of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
So this is how deeply idolatry has infected the people of Israel. Now, they're about to cross the Jordan River and go into the land of the Canaanites. And what's going to happen there? Because here they are in the plains of Moab, and they are giving their hearts over to the Midianites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
This is one of the reasons why Moses is saying, okay, before you go into battle, before you go across the Jordan River and go to that battle, You have to go to battle against the people who have already corrupted you. This has already corrupted you. You've already been corrupted. And so you have to put an end to this. That's one of the reasons why the warfare there is like kill everybody.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
I mean, which is really hard for us. And it's not because God wanted everyone to die. That is not the case. In fact, that kind of warfare would not have existed. This is important for us to understand. That kind of warfare would not have existed if the people of Israel had been faithful. This is so critical for us to note that that is not the plan of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
The plan of God is not people's destruction. It's not their death. It's not to go to war and kill everybody. But the plan of God is that the people of Israel would be faithful to him and that they would ultimately, right, through people of Israel, they would be a worldwide blessing. God would give his worldwide blessing through these people. And yet in their weakness,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
In their weakness, when they are surrounded by people who idolize other gods, who worship other gods, they are so weak that they worship other gods as well. It's because of the people's weakness that Moses has to command. And I say has to command because it's just like, There is no other way around their weakness than the kind of total destruction of the Midianites here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
And Moses said to the people, Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord's vengeance on Midian. You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war. So they were provided. Out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 76: War Against Midian (2025)
We're going to see this warfare again and again. It can be troubling for us, and that's okay that it's troubling for us because it's not good, right? It's not good. It's not what God would ultimately want. We know that's not what God ultimately wants because of what God reveals in Deuteronomy chapter 30, which is one of the most beautiful chapters in all of the book of Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Here's the big thing. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Just give me what's ever needful for me. Feed me with the food that's needful for me. Lest I be full and deny you and say, who is the Lord? And that happens to us, right? We get so full, we're confident in ourselves. Like, oh no, I don't need God because I'm taken care of. Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Basically, here's the author here of wisdom. Saying, I know myself, I can't be trusted. I cannot be trusted. You give me excessive wealth and I will do something foolish with it, like denying the Lord. You give me a dire situation or circumstance and I will steal and I will not be a just person. And that's something, man, so much wisdom there, isn't that?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Isn't that so much wisdom, not only for ourselves, but also we look around and look at people that we might be quick to judge. Maybe celebrities or famous people or wealthy people and say, I can't believe that they're living such shallow lives. Well, that would be me if I was that wealthy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Or we see people who are committing crimes and stealing or turning to a life of crime and say, God, if you didn't protect me from that, I would probably do the same thing. It doesn't make those things right, but it does make them understandable. Again, that doesn't make wrong right understandable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
but it does hopefully make it so that our hearts and our minds, our understanding can be patient, right? Can offer grace because we know that there but for the grace of God, go I. Go we, I go. Here we are in James chapter four and five. So incredible. Again, once again, the wisdom of James. I love a couple pieces here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, a reptile and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no human being can tame the tongue, a restless evil full of deadly poison.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
One is this in chapter four, verse seven, submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. That is such incredible advice and counsel for all of us because we have to, we have to submit ourselves to God. We surrender to God and resist the devil. The recognition is we're going to hear St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Peter talk about this in a couple of days, that he'll say the devil's prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him solid in your faith, that this is the battle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And every Christian realizes, as we heard the other day, that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, with the rulers, elemental forces of this world, with demons, with the evil one. And so we resist the devil and draw near to God. He goes on to say, cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your heart, you men of double mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Basically, he says you backsliders in another translation. That sense that, remember when Elijah asked the people on Mount Carmel during the battle with the prophets of the priests of Baal, he said, how long will you be of two minds? Like how long will you straddle the fence? If the Lord God is God, then serve him. And if Baal is God, then serve him. But just stop being of two minds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And here is James saying the exact same thing because this is the human condition. He says, cleanse your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Stop being a person of two minds. Goes on. And one thing I want to highlight is I love the fact that I had this priest when I was a missionary right after college on the border of Belize and Guatemala.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
His name was Father John McHugh. And Father John McHugh is one of the co-founders of a religious community called the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. And Father John was this, by the time I met him, he was an old priest, a wise priest, such a holy man. And he had just given, he poured his life out for the Lord and for the people of the village in which I was living. And
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
and father john was from oklahoma so he had a little bit of an oklahoma accent and man this man he incredible he was a prisoner of war in world war ii uh his plane was shot down and it's just incredible story but he would always say lord willing that's what they always say you know god will lord you need to say god willing he said lord willing lord willing he never said father john i'll see you tomorrow lord willing father john are we gonna go into town tomorrow
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Lord willing, that was it. And he just took exactly what James said. Don't say, tomorrow I'm going to go do such and such. He says, no, no, no. Always say, if the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that. Because we have no idea what tomorrow holds. And so Father John always reminds me, when I think of this, when I think of plans, I'm always reminded of Father John.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And then because of Father John, the letter of James here. One thing also James is warning people, James is warning those who are rich, not only warning to those who have wealth. And again, if you're living in the United States of America, you are worldwide most likely top 1% when it comes to those who are wealth holders, even if by American standards, you might not have a lot.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Just the fact is the standard of living in America is so high that we worldwide are wealthy. And so we just have to always allow God's words when he speaks about wealth to convict us. Also to use let God's words when he speaks about wealth that's built off of oppression to convict us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
I think of this every time I have products that are made in another country where I am not sure about the practices they have in assembling these products or of stitching together these shirts or making these shoes. I always wonder and I realize that I need to figure this out because St. James, the Lord's word does convict those who, he says, you've lived on earth in luxury and in pleasure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so." Does a spring put forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. Two kinds of wisdom.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
You've fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. You've condemned, you've killed the righteous man. Have I inadvertently, by buying certain products, have I withheld the wages of those who made those products? And I don't know, I have to find that out because if I don't, I'm liable for not finding that out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
The last thing I wanna highlight is the fact that we have seven sacraments in the Catholic Church and in the Orthodox Church, and one of those sacraments is a sacrament of healing, and that's the sacrament of anointing of the sick. I'm also of confession and of the sacrament of healing. And where do you get that? Well, we get that here from the letter of James. He says, is anyone among you sick?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Let him call for the elders. The word there is presbyteroi, for as we get priests from, call the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up. If he's committed any sins, he'll be forgiven. So that's the kind of the origin of the sacrament of anointing of the sick.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
But also it's also connected to the sacrament of confession. Because it says that the priests will pray over them and they will be forgiven of all their sins. And then the next line is, therefore, confess your sins to one another. Now, some Christians would say that, oh, yeah, we just confess your sins to each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
You know, brother Christian, brother Christian, sister Christian, sister Christian. But we also see that there is a word at the beginning of verse 16.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Therefore, and so as James is writing about calling the presbytery, calling the priests of the church to anoint this man with oil and that his sin is going to be forgiven and says, therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. So this is all in the context.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
That confession is in the context of the anointing or in the context of healing through the hands of the priests or the elders of the church. Now, again, not making a point, just making a point. Lastly, here's St. Paul's letter to the Colossians. And there is a piece in St. Paul's letter to the Colossians that is just incredible. I mean, obviously, St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Paul is manifestly pointing out the fact that Jesus Christ is preeminent, that he is the one through whom and for whom everything is made. And it's just so powerful. And we can't dwell on that too much because it's just, it's the key. Jesus is the one through whom and for whom all things are made. But in his letter to the Colossians chapter one, verse 24, St.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Paul says these words that are very intriguing, mysterious. He says, now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. And in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ's affliction for the sake of his body, that is the church. We have to ask the question, okay, what is lacking in Christ's suffering? What's lacking in Christ's afflictions? And the answer is nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
They are sufficient for our redemption. John Paul II, he talked about this and he said, no, no, there's nothing lacking in the sufferings of Christ, but that you and I might be able to participate in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ in this world. Christ extends to us a particle of his cross that we might bear it with him. And that's what Paul is writing about here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is the church. And that's one of the points of suffering that has been redeemed. It's been transformed that when we suffer in Christ, we participate in the redemption of the world. Again, not because his suffering was insufficient. It was completely sufficient.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Jesus Christ suffered once for all. but that you and I might have the honor, the dignity, the privilege of participating in his redeeming work. Jesus Christ offers us, he gives us a share, a particle of his cross that we might participate in his work of redemption, which is just incredible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And that's the truth that we just need to recognize, especially for those of us who suffer, for those of us who find ourselves in places of deep and profound suffering. We might not know why this is happening, but we do know what to do with it. to unite it to Christ's suffering and say, Lord God, use this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Jesus, use this for the salvation of the world, for the Father's glory, and that this world may be transformed into the kingdom of God among us. That's what we're praying for. And I know that so many of you right now are in a place of suffering. And so I am praying for you. Please, please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Who is wise in understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Chapter 4 Friendship with the World What causes wars and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
It is day 351, and we are reading the conclusion of James, which is actually three chapters. James 3, 4, and 5. We're also reading the beginning of St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapters 1 and 2, and the book of Proverbs, chapter 30, verses 7 through 9. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
You desire and do not have, so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, he yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us. But he gives more grace, therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. Warning against judging another. Do not speak evil against one another, brethren.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor? Boasting About Tomorrow
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow, we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain. Whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that. As it is, you boast in your arrogance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
All such boasting is evil. Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Chapter 5 Warning to Rich Oppressors Come now, you rich. Weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned. You have killed the righteous man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in-ear reading plan, as I said, I think yesterday, to tick off those last few days, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in-ear. You can also subscribe to this podcast, or you can stick to your guns and stay unsubscribed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
He does not resist you. patience in suffering. Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Behold, the judge is standing at the doors. As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who are steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the graded intro Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation. The Prayer of Faith Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up. and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
My brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy, our brother, to the saints and the faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae, grace to you and peace from God our Father. Gratitude for the Colossians faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
and say i made it through the entire year and didn't subscribe once i don't care what father mike asked me to do i don't care a bit just kidding it is day 351 and we're reading james chapters 3 4 and 5 colossians letter of saint paul to colossians chapters 1 and 2 as well as the book of proverbs chapter 30 verses 7 through 9 The letter of James chapter three, taming the tongue.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel which has come to you as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
So among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, he is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
May you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Supremacy of Christ
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Paul's sufferings and ministry Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office, which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now made manifest to his saints.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man mature in Christ. For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
chapter two for i want you to know how greatly i strive for you and for those at laodicea and for all who have not seen my face that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of god's mystery of christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge FULNESS OF LIFE IN CHRIST
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
"'Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. For we all make many mistakes, and if anyone makes no mistakes in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.' Look at the ships also.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Warnings against false teachers. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in him who is the head of all rule and authority.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ. And you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
And you, who were dead in trespass and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
let no one disqualify you insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels taking a stand on visions puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind and not holding fast to the head from whom the whole body nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments grows with a growth that is from god
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, referring to things which all perish as they are used, according to human precepts and doctrines?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die. Remove far from me falsehood and lying. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Oh, Lord God. Oh, just what a gift of a day. What a gift it is to not only hear the letter of James and not only to hear the beginning of Colossians, but also this wisdom that you impart to us in the book of Proverbs. Thank you for journeying with us all of these. Our entire life, Lord God, you never abandon us. You're always with us. You're always completely present to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
In this moment, Lord God, we trust you. And in this moment, we recognize your presence. Wherever we are listening to these words, Lord God, you are with us. You are nearer to us than we are to ourselves and our thoughts are to ourselves. You're nearer to us than our very heart is in our chest. And we thank you. Thank you for being near to us. Thank you for being with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Lord God, even when we do not recognize you, you're there. You're here. You're active. Help us to never lose sight of the fact that you're present with us right now. For with you, every moment is right now. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. This reading from Proverbs chapter 30, it always gets me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
Though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire. And the tongue is a fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
I just, I don't know how many times I've said this is my favorite. This is one of my favorites because it's just so wise. It has a knowledge. You know, one of the things when we come to know Jesus, I remember someone telling me this, that first two movements of conversion are a distrust of self and a trust in the Lord. And I think that's so wise. A distrust of self meaning, no, I know I'm broken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
I know that I, man, gosh, Lord, you give me a chance and I will turn on you. In fact, there was a man named St. Philip Neary. I think he's the patron saint of Rome, but he's also, he was a joyful saint. And he's one of those situations where he did a lot of goofy things just to either to get people's attention, to get a laugh, to kind of humble himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 351: Draw Near to God (2024)
But at one point, I remember hearing that every morning he would wake up and he'd pray and he'd say something along the lines of, watch out for Philip today, Lord, because if you give him the chance, he will betray you. And there's something about that that's so clear here in Proverbs chapter 30. Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die. Remove far from me falsehood and lying.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
all these were the children of keturah abraham gave all he had to isaac but to the sons of his concubines abraham gave gifts and while he was still living he sent them away from his son isaac eastward to the east country these are the days of the years of abraham's life a hundred and seventy five years abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age an old man and full of years and was gathered to his people
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And Esau is willing to trade away his birthright and his inheritance that as the eldest son, he would get the lion's share of all of his father's property and his father's inheritance. And he trades it in for a bowl of beans. I mean, think about this. And we think, how dumb is this? But have you ever been in that place where you're so hungry?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
You're like, I don't, can't think of anything other than what's right in front of me. How many times have you been in the midst of temptation? We've been in the midst of temptation. We can't think of anything except what's right in front of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And we know, like, no, God, in saying yes to anything other than you, in saying no to you and yes to anything other than you, I am trading in the inheritance that you've given to me. You set me apart for heaven itself for something less than you, something less than heaven. But I want to think about that. Because I'm looking at the thing right in front of me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
This is the mystery of the broken human heart, the mystery of the broken human condition, whether that be generational, Abraham and Isaac, or whether that be in someone like Esau and in ourselves. Let's not also forget as a last thing, the deception in some ways, the manipulation we'll say, not deception yet, that's tomorrow. The manipulation of Isaac. Sorry, of Jacob. My goodness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
We have the desperation of Esau, right? He's willing to trade in his birthright for a bowl of beans, lentil soup, some red stuff. But also you have Jacob, who is the grasper, right? He's the one who's reaching above himself, beyond himself, who's willing to trade beans for a birthright. When he knows that Esau is just doing this because he's being impetuous. There's some manipulation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
There's brokenness in all of us, both on the receiving end and on the giving end. And so, once again, we come back to this need we have for God's grace. This need we have. Man, it's like, it's so easy. It's so easy to... Be outside of temptation and say, that's dumb. I can't believe anyone would ever do this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And it's another thing to be faced with temptation and be in that place that is just like, man, I'm desperate right now. I'm willing to trade in the most important thing in my life, my deepest identity, my inheritance, my sonship or daughterhood with the Father for anything other than this. That's why we need God's grace so much. We need to be reminded of our ancestors as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And when we see their weakness, they're like a mirror and they reveal to us our own brokenness and our own weakness so that we can be more prepared to rise up in God's grace and face a new day. Speaking of facing a new day, I am praying for you this new day and hoping that you're praying for me. Please keep praying for each other because that is going to make this journey so much better.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field which Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with Sarah, his wife. After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son, and Isaac dwelt at Bir Lahairoi.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar, the Egyptian, Sarah's maid, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth. Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar, and Abdeel, Mibsem, Mishma, Duma, Masa, Hadad, Tima, Jetur, Nafish, and Kedema.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their villages and by their encampments, 12 princes according to their tribes. These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years. He breathed his last and died and was gathered to his kindred. They dwelt from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was 40 years old when he took to wife Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, a Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren, and the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah, his wife, conceived.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
The children struggled together within her, and she said, If it is thus, why do I live? So she went to inquire of the Lord, and the Lord said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided. The one shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger. When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in the womb.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
The first came forth red, all his body like a hairy mantle, so they called his name Esau. Afterward, his brother came forth and his hand had taken hold of Esau's heel. So his name was called Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man dwelling in tents.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
This is day 13. We'll be reading from Genesis chapter 25 and 26, from Job 15 and 16, and also from the book of Proverbs chapter 2, verses 20 through 22. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. As always, we're reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition of the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was boiling pottage, Esau came in from the field and he was famished. And Esau said to Jacob, let me eat some of that red pottage for I am famished. Therefore his name was called Edom. Jacob said, first sell me your birthright. Esau said, I'm about to die. Of what use is a birthright to me?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Jacob said, swear to me first. So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech, king of the Philistines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And the Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt. Dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands. And I will fulfill the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and will give to your descendants all these lands. And by your descendants, all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves. Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, She is my sister.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
For he feared to say my wife, thinking, lest the men of the place should kill me for the sake of Rebekah, because she was fair to look upon. When he had been there a long time, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out of a window and saw Isaac fondling Rebekah, his wife. So Abimelech called Isaac and said, Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say she is my sister?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Isaac said to him, because I thought lest I die because of her. Abimelech said, what is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife and you would have brought guilt upon us. So Abimelech warned all the people saying, whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death. And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
The Lord blessed him and the man became rich and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household so that the Philistines envied him. Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we will read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we. So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names which his father had given them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Please subscribe to this podcast by clicking subscribe. You can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to 33777. That's all one word, Catholic Bible to 33777. You probably know this by now. You've been listening to this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of springing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, This water is ours. So he called the name of the well Isaac, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitna.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
And he moved from there and dug another well, and over that they did not quarrel. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. From there he went up to Beersheba, and the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
For I am with you and will bless you and multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake. So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well. Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzath, his advisor, and Phicol, the commander of his army. Isaac said to him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and sent me away from you? They said, We see plainly that the Lord is with you. So we say, Let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have set you away in peace. You are now blessed of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they arose early and took oath with one another, and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which had been dug, and said to him, We have found water. He called it Sheba. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
when Esau was 40 years old, he took to wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge and fill himself with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk or in words which he can do no good? But you are doing away with the fear of God and are hindering meditation before God, for your iniquity teaches your mouth and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Your own mouth condemns you and not I. Your own lips testify against you. Are you the first man that was born or were you brought forth before the hills? Have you listened in the counsel of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself? What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? Both the gray haired and the aged are among us older than your father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Are the consolations of God too small for you or the word that deals gently with you? Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash that you turn your spirit against God and let such words go out of your mouth? What is man that he can be clean? Or he who is born of woman that he can be righteous?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
You've been reading along with us for two weeks almost by this point. You probably could recite that to me. If you wanted to, but we are reading today, Genesis chapter five, chapter five, Genesis chapter 25 and 26.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones and the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water. I will show you, hear me. And what I have seen, I will declare. What wise men have told and their fathers have not hidden to whom alone the land was given and no stranger passed among them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
The wicked man writhes in pain all his days through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless. Terrifying sounds are in his ears. In prosperity, the destroyer will come upon him. He does not believe that he will return out of darkness and he is destined for the sword. He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Distress and anguish terrify him. They prevail against him like a king prepared for battle, because he has stretched forth his hand against God and bids defiance to the Almighty, running stubbornly against him with a thick, bossed shield. because he has covered his face with his fat and gathered fat upon his loins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
He has lived in desolate cities and houses which no man should inhabit, which were destined to become heaps of ruins. He will not be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will he strike root in the earth. He will not escape from darkness. The flame will dry up his shoots and his blossom will be swept away by the wind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his recompense. Then Job answered, I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are you all. Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak as you do if I were in your place. I also could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
I could strengthen you with my mouth and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. If I speak, my pain is not assuaged. And if I forbear, how much of it leaves for me? Surely now God has worn me out. He has made desolate all my company, and he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me. And my leanness has risen up against me. It testifies to my face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
He has torn me in his wrath and hated me. He has gnashed his teeth at me. My adversary sharpens his eyes against me. Men have gaped at me with their mouth. They have struck me insolently upon the cheek. They mass themselves together against me. God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease and he broke me asunder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
He seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target. His archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground. He breaks me with a breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a warrior. I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin. I have laid my strength in the dust. My face is red with weeping and on my eyelids is deep darkness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Madan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shua. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asherim, Letushim, and Leomun. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Ephur, Hanak, Abida, and Eldaa.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure. O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place. Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He that vouches for me is on high. My friends scorn me. My eye pours out tears to God, that he would maintain the right of a man with God like that of a man with his neighbor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land and men of integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you again for your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
We thank you for bringing us into this two complete weeks that we've been listening to your word, that we've been allowing it to shape our minds and our hearts, that we can have a worldview that is shaped by you, that we can look at this world in a way that is formed by you, not formed by the brokenness around us, but is formed by brokenness that's been touched by your grace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
Father, we ask that you please touch us in our brokenness with your grace. Make us whole, make us new, make us yours. In Jesus' name we pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
As we follow this story of this family, man, oh man, like father, like son, isn't that just the craziest thing where we have Abraham and Sarah twice say she is my sister to the king of Egypt and to Abimelech. And now here we have the story of Isaac and Rebecca doing literally the exact same thing to the exact same guy, Abimelech. you think, what is it?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
What is it that leads us to do things like this? What is it that leads us to fall into the same trap again and again? It's one of the mysteries of the human heart is that, man, oh man, it doesn't even have to be father and son or mother and daughter or generations. It can just even simply be us in our own lives, how often is it that we fall into the exact same trap again and again?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
We do the exact same thing, like we follow the same script again and again. When we trade in what we know is true, we trade in what we know is good for something that we actually know is less good, is less true. In fact, we see this with the story of Jacob and Esau, right? So Esau is the man of the field. He goes out and he gets a lot of venison. His dad loves him because he brings home game.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright (2025)
and Jacob is the quieter one, the kind of the more homebody, and his mom loves him. Rebecca had also received that word that the younger Jacob would be the greater. But here's this classic scene, classic scene where Esau's coming in from the field, and Jacob is making some porridge. Basically, it's a bowl of beans. This is lentil soup, essentially, red stuff, red porridge, lentil porridge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Remember Father De Pavanca once said that and stuck with me and I want to pass it on to you today. When we're reading from the book of Deuteronomy, as it says, miscellaneous laws. One thing is noted about these miscellaneous laws is they have to do, remember we talked about this yesterday, so important for us to understand. These people are living in a violent and brutal world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And God is giving us his word so it's a little less violent, a little less brutal. And so the command is you have your brother and any citizen of Israel. And if his ox or sheep goes astray, if he needs help, basically you're gonna help him. That's it. That's it. If your brother needs help, you're going to help him. And then other things like you should not wear anything that belongs to men.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Men wear men's clothes. Women wear women's clothes. That's a key thing here. But also this command to show kindness to animals, which is so interesting, right? Because back in the day, once again, a violent and vicious and brutal world would say, no, these animals are just animals. You come across and think of how the kindness of God here, a bird's nest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
whether it has eggs or it has fledglings or whatever you call like newly hatched birds, if the mother is there, you cannot kill both the mother and her young. Why? Because they'll be cruel. You can take the eggs or you can take the young, but let the mother go. There's something about that that's just like, wow, here's God who just has even these small acts of kindness
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Or listen, what strikes me as being so interesting, when you build a new house, make a parapet for your roof, basically make a guardrail that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your house if anyone falls from your house. It's just so remarkable. But the last one is gonna be really interesting. And the last one has to do with the laws of sexual morality.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Keeping this in mind, that up until this moment, up until Israel, up until the Jewish people, up until God reveals himself, Women were considered second class. Women were considered being lesser than, just like children were considered to be less than.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
But ever since the very, very first chapter of God's book, right, of Genesis, it says God made them male and female in his own image and likeness, both of them male and female in God's image and likeness, which has an equality and dignity, even if there's an inequality when it comes to circumstances. Even in this situation, right, this is God leading a brutal and vicious people in a world where no,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food. Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people so that many sons of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
men and women were not considered to be equal, to say, let's take those steps, just like we heard the other day, that if in the context of a conquest of another kingdom or another city, the soldiers find a beautiful woman in the city and they take her, quote unquote, take her, they won't take her as a slave or don't take her as a prostitute.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
They take her as a wife because you might be tempted to take her and use her, but you may not take her and use her. You can take her and care for her and let her be your wife.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Similarly here, again, we might be bothered by that, but this is God moving a brutal and vicious people to be less brutal and less vicious from great inequality to a place of greater equality, which is one of the reasons why this man here in Deuteronomy,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
might accuse this woman that he has just married of not being a virgin and he has to prove it or else he's falsely bringing shame upon this woman. And that may not be allowed. And again, remember from Genesis chapter three, it says that men and women from now on are going to be broken. They're going to try to dominate the other. They're trying to manipulate the other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And here is the Lord God through Moses in Deuteronomy saying, that is the case. You're going to want, he's like, listen, he's lived with these people for the last 40 years in the wilderness. He knows their hearts and he knows that, yeah, I've seen this happen where a man marries a woman and then he detests her. He marries a woman and then he wants to put her away. You may not do that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
without really good cause, because there could be a cause, right? The woman might do something wrong. The man might do something wrong, but he's making it very clear that it's not, she's not disposable. That's what the upshot of this whole thing is. In a world in which women could be considered disposable, God's law here in Deuteronomy is saying, she is not, women are not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Remember this, Genesis chapter one, Genesis chapter two. Male and female, God created them. In his image, he created them. Both equal in dignity, both equal in goodness, both equal in being made in God's image. and likeness. And so again, in this brutal and vicious world, here is God's law that says, we're going to make this a bit less brutal, a bit less vicious, a lot more just.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
She is not disposable and you are not disposable either. Some of these laws are challenging to us, but one of the things they're trying to affirm is this fact that you matter. You who may be a single man or single woman, you may be a married man, a married woman, you might be a widow or a widower, you might be a child. You matter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And you think later on, Jesus is going to say, consider the sparrows that you are worth more than many sparrows. Not one of them falls to the ground without your father knowing it and caring about it. I'm adding the caring about it, but that's the reality. And you're worth more than that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
All of these laws are being given to a people in a very difficult situation to make it just that more just, to remind them that they matter and therefore how they treat each other matters because they belong to God, male and female, young and old, adult and child. And so we're reminded of that too. And so we try to move forward knowing that if my life matters, I need to live it like it matters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Pray to the Lord that he may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent and set it up as a sign, and everyone who is bitten when he sees it shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it up as a sign. And if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. the journey to Moab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And if other people around me, if their lives matter, then I need to treat them like they matter. And so that's what we do today. Okay, one last thought when it comes to Deuteronomy chapter 22. Gosh, there are so many sensitive topics that the Bible deals with. And it doesn't necessarily always give us a warning that, hey, by the way, here comes a sensitive topic.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
In Deuteronomy chapter 22, beginning with verse 23, it talks about here's a woman, a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her. Both of them are stoned, right? So they're committing this infidelity with each other, committing fornication essentially with each other that they are both guilty of.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
But it makes this amendment says, because if she's being attacked in the city, she should cry out for help. Now, this is why this is so sensitive because we know the reality of rape. And we know that the reality of rape is not always this clear, not always as cut and dry. There's not always someone to cry out and call to for help. Remember the context that Deuteronomy is written in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
These are people who have been living in tents. They've been living amongst each other. There is no privacy virtually unless someone wants privacy. Now, at the same time, right? Is this perfect? Absolutely not. It's not perfect. What it is, is trying to say that if this was not agreed upon by her in the sense of he forced himself upon her, then I hate to say it like this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
She should have cried out for help, right? And again, so many people listening to this, you'd say my experience was I didn't cry out for help or I tried crying out for help and nothing, no help came. Or I didn't even know. I was so scared. I didn't cry out for help. Maybe I know so many people have been in this situation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
I know so many of my students have been in this situation where it was like, I was so afraid and I couldn't even cry out for help. What the Bible is trying to do here is make a distinction between this being fornication agreed upon, right? Versus someone who's being sexually assaulted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
That's one of the reasons why it goes on to say, but if they're out of the city, it says in verse 25, but if in the open country, a man meets a young woman who's betrothed, the man seizes her and lies with her, only the man. shall be killed. Only he shall die, but the young woman shall not. Why? Because she most likely would have cried out for help and someone would have come to her aid.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
So it's trying to make a distinction between promiscuity, fornication, and sexual assault. Is it perfect? No, but is it an attempt to have justice? Yes. Is it an attempt to defend women who are being wrongfully attacked, assaulted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Yes, that is what is at the heart of this law in Deuteronomy today, is the good of the woman and the justice, of course, of when people agree and fall into sin, not when they're attacked. I hope that makes sense today, but I know, gosh, it is such a sensitive topic. And I'll say this, if that's you and that's been your experience, please know that you are worth so much.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
You're worth the death of the Lord. You are worthy in his eyes. He loves you so much. You are not disqualified from his love. You are not used up. You are worthy. You are beautiful. And the Lord takes our ashes and he replaces our ashes with jewels. The Lord Jesus can restore everything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And if you've been assaulted or if something horrible has happened, or even when we fall into sin on our own, hand it over to the Lord. He can make us new. Know that he loves you. Know that he believes and declares that you are worthy of love, real love, and that what happened to you should never have happened to you or to anyone. That's part of the message of the readings today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Pray for each other and I ask you to pray for me. I am praying for you that as we continue on this journey, we lift each other up. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And the sons of Israel set out and encamped at Oboth. And they set out from Oboth and encamped at Ai Abarim in the wilderness, which is opposite Moab toward the sunrise. From there, they set out and encamped in the valley of Zered.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
From there they set out and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the boundary of Moab between Moab and the Amorites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord, Waheb in Sufa, in the valleys of the Arnon, and the slope of the valleys that extends to the seat of Ar, and leans to the border of Moab. And from there they continued to beer, that is, the well of which the Lord said to Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 69, and we are reading from Numbers chapter 21, Deuteronomy chapter 22, and we're praying Psalm 102. As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well, sing to it, the well which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people delved with the scepter and with their staves. And from the wilderness they went on to Matanah, and from Matanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth. and from Baymoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah, which looks down upon the desert.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Sihon, the king of the Amorites, defeated. Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the king's highway until we have passed through your territory. But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
He gathered all his men together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jehaz and fought against Israel. And Israel slew him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for Jazzer was the boundary of the Ammonites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And Israel took all these cities and Israel settled in all these cities of the Amorites in Heshbon and in all its villages. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand as far as the Arnon. Therefore, the ballad singers say, come to Heshbon, let it be built. Let the city of Sihon be established.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
For fire went forth from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, the lords of the heights of the Arnon. Woe to you, O Moab. You are undone, O people of Shamash. He has made his sons fugitives and his daughters captives to an Amorite king, Sihon. So their posterity perished from Heshbon as far as Debon. And we laid waste until fire spread to Medeba.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Og the king of Bashan defeated. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they took its villages and dispossessed the Amorites that were there. Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og, the king of Bashan, came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
But the Lord said to Moses, Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon. So they slew him and his sons and all his people, until there was not one survivor left to him, and they possessed his land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
If you want to get this Bible, you can go to ascensionpress.com or to any of the places where Bibles are sold. If you also would like to download your Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, and you can download that for free for now, at least. And you can also subscribe to the podcast, this podcast in your app to receive daily episodes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Moses continued, you shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep go astray and withhold your help from them. You shall take them back to your brother. And if he is not near you, or if you do not know him, You shall bring it home to your house and it shall be with you until your brother seeks it. Then you shall restore it to him. And so shall you do with his donkey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
So you shall do with his garment. So you shall do with any lost thing of your brothers, which he loses and you find. You may not withhold your help. You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and withhold your help from them. You shall help him to lift them up again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God. If you chance to come upon a bird's nest, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting upon the young or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young, you shall let the mother go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
But the young you may take to yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long. When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house if anyone fall from it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited to the sanctuary, the crop which you have sown, and the yield of the vineyard. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together. You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your cloak with which you cover yourself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Concerning sexual relations. Let's read it. And the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, I gave my daughter to this man to wife, and he spurns her. And behold, he has made shameful charges against her, saying, I did not find in your daughter the tokens of virginity. And yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city. And the elders of that city shall take the man and whip him. And they shall find him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman because he has brought an evil name upon a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife. He may not put her away all his days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
But if the thing is true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the young woman, Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house. And the men of the city shall stone her to death with stones because she has wrought folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
They are posted when it sometime overnight and you get to listen to them. You probably figured that out already since it is almost day 70. It is day 69. Once again, we're reading from Numbers chapter 21, Deuteronomy chapter 22 and Psalm 102. The book of Numbers chapter 21, the bronze serpent.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
If there is a betrothed virgin and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
but if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed and the man seizes her and lies with her then only the man who lie with her shall die but to the young woman you shall do nothing in the young woman there is no offense punishable by death for this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor because he came upon her in the open country and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not put her away all the days of his life. A man shall not take his father's wife, nor shall he uncover her who is his father's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
A prayer of one afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord. Let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me. Answer me speedily in the day when I call. For my days pass away like smoke and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is struck down like grass and withered.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
I forget to eat my bread. Because of my loud groaning, my bones cling to my flesh. I'm like a vulture of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places. I lie awake. I'm like a lonely bird on the housetop. All the day my enemies taunt me. Those who deride me use my name for a curse. For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Because of your indignation and anger, for you have taken me up and thrown me away. My days are like an evening shadow. I wither away like grass. But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever. Your name endures to all generations. You will arise and have pity on Zion. It is the time to favor her. The appointed time has come. For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
The nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth your glory. For the Lord will build up Zion. He will appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their supplication. Let this be recorded for a generation to come so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord, that he looked down from his holy height from heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
The Lord looked at the earth to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who are doomed to die. that the men may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together and kingdoms to worship the Lord. He has broken my strength in midcourse. He has shortened my days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, if you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
O my God, I say, do not take me from here in the midst of my days, you whose years endure throughout all generations. Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you endure. They will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing and they pass away. But you are the same and your years have no end.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
The children of your servants shall dwell secure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
We thank you for your word. We thank you for loving us. We thank you for choosing us. We thank you for showing us your heart, the heart of a father who loves his children. In the midst of this day, Lord, we call out to your name. We call upon your name and we ask you, Father, to send us your Holy Spirit in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
As you receive our thanks and as you receive our praise in Jesus' name, we ask you also to send your spirit upon us in Jesus' name. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So a couple of quick things. What we want to do is I want to focus on the fact that in the book of Numbers chapter 21, a couple of major things have happened.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Some of those things we already heard about. Remember at the beginning of Deuteronomy, this is how many days ago, maybe, I think, I don't know, almost 20 days ago in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses was giving a recap of all the things that happened. And in that recap, he mentions that we heard yesterday, uh, they were not allowed to go through the land of Edom, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Remember the descendants of Esau, but they were led into battle against Sihon, the king of the Amorites and Og, the king of Bashan. And today in numbers 21, we get to hear that story of how the people of Israel were led by the Lord into battle against the Amorites and against the king of Bashan, Og the king of Bashan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
But even more important, well, I don't know, even more importantly, but it seems pretty important. The beginning of Numbers chapter 21, once again, The people complain and they say that God has only led us here into the wilderness to kill us. And so the Lord God sent seraph serpents to bite people and they died. And then what happens? Moses intercedes once again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Even though Moses, he's already heard, he heard yesterday, you will not enter the promised land. He continues to intercede. He continues to be a shepherd of the people. He continues to be a father for these people. Even though he knows he will not be allowed to enter the promised land, he continues to
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
to go before god on behalf of the people and to bring the lord back to the people so he intercedes on behalf of the people and god says you make a fiery serpent or a bronze serpent and as often as people look upon it they will be healed later on jesus will say just as moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so must the son of man be lifted up that all who look upon him will be saved right their eyes when they looked upon the bronze serpent they were saved and when we cast our eyes upon jesus christ crucified
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah. From Mount Hor, they set out by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom and the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Our salvation is given to us in this unique and powerful way. One of the things I remember hearing said was why would God ask Moses to make a bronze serpent? Well, the serpent was the cause of their pain. The serpent was the cause of their dying. And so they looked upon an image of what caused them to die in order to have healing, in order to have a life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
Jesus on the cross, remember we heard this yesterday, curses anyone who hangs on a tree from Book of Deuteronomy. Jesus took the curse upon himself. And so what happens is the sign of our death, the sign of our sin becomes the symbol of his victory. So on the cross, Jesus is carrying our sin. That's the symbol. It's a symbol of my sin when Jesus is on the cross.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 69: The Bronze Serpent (2025)
When we look upon Christ, and this is kind of metaphorically, but also truly, truly, we look upon Christ on the cross, we see the sign of my shame, the sign of my sin, that's become the symbol of our hope. And that's what's happened in Numbers 21, what happens in Christianity is the sign of our shame becomes the symbol of our hope. The sign of our sin becomes the symbol of our hope.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
We have the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost or Harvest, which is very familiar to us as well because of the fact that we celebrate Pentecost as Catholic Christians and the third festival of Ingathering or the Festival of Tabernacles. And that might be the one that we are least familiar with.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
But it's interesting because here are the three times where all Jewish males would be required to go up to Jerusalem and to worship God in the way that we hear described in Genesis. The book of Leviticus, which is going to be really remarkable. And just, I mean, just because here we are doing this together, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
So in the book of Leviticus and the book of Exodus, we see this context that is so good for us to be able to take in pretty soon. We're going to get to Leviticus chapter 23. We're going to hear some more about the details of those festivals. But today we actually heard about a fourth festival today. in Leviticus chapter 16.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it. You shall help him to lift it up. You shall not pervert the justice due to the poor in his suit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
In Leviticus chapter 16, we heard about the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. Now, Yom Kippur is not one of those three major feasts, but it is definitely, definitely a solemn festival, happens at the end of September, and it's a time that you can see how it plays out
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
it's time for not only remembering past sins but also for making amends becoming before the lord and asking for his forgiveness it is the only day of fasting that actually is decreed in the bible the day of yom kippur and so how did this happen well that we just heard the description we have the high priest in this case was aaron and he would bring a number of animals in this particular moment he would take the goat known as the scapegoat right and over the head of this goat he would lay his hands and he would declare the sins of the people of israel
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
and then someone would be designated to lead that goat into the wilderness where it would die, basically kind of carrying away the sins of the people. Now, two things. One is, it says, delivered that goat to Azazel. And we're like, what's Azazel? Who is Azazel? And the answer is kind of,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
a mystery in the sense that there are some extra biblical writings that describe this Azazel as a demon, essentially as the leader of the fallen angels in some ways. Is it the same character as Lucifer? I'm not sure. Why would this demon have any part at all to play in this goat being delivered to this demon? And the answer to that is, I do not know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
We're going to continue to study scripture and try to figure this out. When I say I don't know, it's I know theories, but I don't know the actual answer. And so I have to apologize. That's my ignorance. I do know some theories about this, about why Azazel, what role that would be, that this demon would have in when it comes to this day of atonement.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
But since those theories are just theories and they're not necessarily established in dogma, I am not going to weigh in on it because I know enough not to weigh in on stuff I don't necessarily know about. The second thing about this beyond Azazel is this is the goat, the scapegoat that carries the sins of the people. And this is one of the things that we see in Leviticus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
This is something so important because I think when we're reading Leviticus or as we continue to read Exodus and getting to Numbers and Deuteronomy, We're going to find in all of these books a gap between us and them. We're going to find what feels like this gap between, oh, that's how they lived back then. That's how they worshiped back then.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Keep far from a false charge and do not slay the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. The sabbatical year and the sabbath. For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat, and what they leave the wild beasts may eat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
That's how they were in relationship with God back then. But now we don't have anything like that anymore. And the truth is we absolutely do. All of this is a foreshadowing. It's a preparation for what you and I are doing on a daily basis, especially on a weekly basis when it comes to the sacrifice of the mass. Because who is Jesus? Well, he is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
What is the priest doing when he offers up The Eucharist, he's offering up the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God to the glory of the Father, to the Father on behalf of the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And so, please, my invitation is as we continue to journey through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, these are the critical books, critical, critical books that I'm going to invite you, even if I don't make the connection on a daily basis in this kind of guide portion of our reading the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
If you can strive to make that connection for yourself between what the people of Israel were commanded to do back then and what you and I as Catholic Christians are commanded to do right now, it is the preparation of God's people to worship him as he has asked to be worshiped. And that's what we're doing. That was the foreshadowing. That was the preparation. What you and I are doing is...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
it is the fulfillment. And yet at the same time, we know that it's not completely fulfilled because the worship of God through the lamb, through the son of God who was slain, but exists forever is happening right now. And we only can participate in it through a veil, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Through that mystery that we don't get to see the reality of Jesus Christ on the altar being lifted up to the glory of the father. We do see it And substantially, we do participate in it substantially, but it's still covered in mystery. It's still true. It is the actual sacrifice of the Lamb of God to the Father for the people. My goodness, what a gift. And that's my invitation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Again, as we read through these four books, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, Every time it gets weird, every time it seems so strange and so foreign, realize, no, no, no, no. This is not strange. This is not foreign.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
This is a preparation for what you and I do, whether that be confession, right, where our sins are placed on the Lord God himself, that one sacrifice once for all that he made for the forgiveness of sins, or when it comes to the mass and we offer up the great lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. All of this is a preparation for our hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And so please, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, these are not ancient, not merely ancient books. They are a number of books where the Lord God revealed his heart, prepared a people for the day when God himself will become one of us and offer himself for the sake of the entire world and for the glory of the Father. Gosh, you guys, let's keep praying. Let's keep praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Also recognizing that this journey through the Bible is only one dimensional as long as we stay away from the sacraments. If we stay away from worshiping God, we stay away from prayer, then our experience of the Bible will be so thin. It will be so.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
um black and white as opposed to in full vibrant color and instead of being completely deep so please let's keep praying for each other both in our private prayer as well as when we go to mass when we go to confession we experience the sacraments and when we encounter the true and living god let's lift each other up in prayer my name is father mike i cannot wait to see you again tomorrow god bless
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
You shall do likewise with your vineyard and with your olive orchard. Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your maidservant and the alien may be refreshed." Take heed to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let such be heard out of your mouth. ANNUAL FEASTS
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
None shall appear before me empty-handed. You shall keep the feast of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the feast of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
We fit into that story today. This is day 41. So let's keep on going. Today we're going to be reading from Exodus chapter 23, Leviticus chapter 16 and Psalm 77. So if you want to get your own printed out list or even just download it to your computer, you can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You get your own Bible in a year reading plan so you can follow along with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread, or let the fat of my feast remain until the morning." The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. The conquest of Canaan promised.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and listen to his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. But if you listen attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
When my angel goes before you and brings you into the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them nor do according to their works, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
You shall serve the Lord your God, and I will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from the midst of you. None shall cast her young or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days. I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you, and I will send hornets before you. which shall drive out Hivite, Canaanite, and Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you are increased and possess the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died. And the Lord said to Moses, tell Aaron your brother not to come at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark, lest he die. For I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
But thus shall Aaron come into the holy place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen britches on his body, be girded with the linen sash and wear the linen turban. These are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and then put them on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats, and set them before the Lord at the door of the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Hopefully by this point, you know, day 41, you're probably already squared away when it comes to subscribing to the podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, you probably know this already, but the Bible translation that I am reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And he shall bring it within the veil and put the incense on the fire before the Lord that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat, which is upon the covenant lest he die. And he shall take some of the blood of the bull And sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, and bring the blood within the veil, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the holy place. because of the uncleanness of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which abides with them in the midst of their uncleanness. There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he enters to make atonement in the holy place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
then he shall go out to the altar which is before the lord and make atonement for it and shall take some of the blood of the bull and the blood of the goat and put it on the horns of the altar round about and he shall sprinkle some of the blood upon it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to hallow it from the uncleannesses of the sons of israel
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over him all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions, all their sins, and he shall put them upon the head of the goat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
and send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness the goat shall bear all their iniquities upon him to a solitary land and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness then aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall put off the linen garments which he had put on when he went into the holy place and he shall leave them there
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come forth and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people. And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn upon the altar. And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And afterwards he may come into the camp. and the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place shall be carried forth outside the camp their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned with fire and he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and afterwards he may come into the camp
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is just a phenomenal Bible and is definitely worth waiting for it or ordering it or whatever you need to do when it comes to getting that Great Adventure Bible ready. But as I said, today we are going to go deeper into Exodus, Leviticus, and further along when it comes to the book of Psalms.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the 10th day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you from all your sins. You shall be clean before the Lord. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you and you shall afflict yourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
It is a statute forever. And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. He shall make atonement for the sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar. And he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And this shall be an everlasting statute for you, that atonement may be made for the sons of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Psalm 77, God's mighty deeds recalled to the choir master, according to Jeduthun, a Psalm of Asaph. I cry aloud to God, aloud to God that he may hear me. In the day of my trouble, I seek the Lord. In the night, my hand is stretched out without wearying. My soul refuses to be comforted. I think of God and I moan. I meditate and my spirit faints. You keep my eyelids from closing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old. I remember the years long ago. I commune with my heart in the night. I meditate and search my spirit. Will the Lord spurn forever and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And I say, it is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed. I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord. Yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your work and muse on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What God is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders, who have manifested your might among the peoples.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
With your arm, you redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid. Yes, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water. The skies gave forth thunder. Your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind. Your lightnings lighted up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Your way was through the sea, your path through the mighty waters, yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Today is Exodus chapter 23, Leviticus 16, and Psalm 77. Exodus chapter 23, laws concerning justice. You shall not utter a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow a multitude to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a suit turning aside after a multitude so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his suit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
We thank you for your word. We thank you for calling us your own. Thank you for making us your own. And thank you for giving yourself to us that we can not only know who you are, infinite in your might and infinite in your goodness and your love, but also so that we can know who we are, so that we can know not only your rule, but also can be in the depth of relationship with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
And so today we call upon the name of your son, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. And we just, in his name, Father in heaven, we thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, we praise you. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you to continue to be with us now and always. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Wow, so today, again, there's so much beauty in God's word for us today. In Exodus chapter 23 today, not only did we hear about the laws concerning justice, again, this extension of yesterday and how we talked about laws of restitution and social and religious laws that is like harmonious living, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
So not only laws concerning justice, one thing to note about this, we'll see this again and again when it comes to the Old Testament and when it comes to its fulfillment in the New Testament, is not only are the people of Israel commanded to be just, they're commanded to be fair, they're also commanded to be just and fair in dealing with those who are poor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
There's this temptation I think a lot of us may have. One is a double temptation possibly, or maybe even a dichotomy. One is to do injustice to those who are poor because they're poor, because they're helpless, because they're weak, and because they can't fight back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
The other is to forsake justice for the sake of the poor, because they're poor, because they're weak, and because they can't fight back. And scripture points out both of those are incorrect. To do injustice for the sake of the poor is condemned. And also to do injustice against the poor is condemned. And that's such an incredible, beautiful balance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Because you'd imagine here are the people of Israel. They're getting the law for the first time. This is a new law. They've never experienced this ever before in their lives. That you can imagine those who would see like, oh gosh, here is the Lord God. He's a God of justice. In that case, he must have a preferential option for those who are poor.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
In fact, there is a thing called the preferential option for the poor that we as Catholic Christians do have, but not to the point where we do injustice for the sake of the poor. And that is remarkable that here we are right as soon as the people of Israel are set free from their being poor, from their bondage, from their slavery.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
God is saying both, I know the hardness of your heart and I know the softness of your heart, right? I know the hardness of your heart that you might want to Get away with whatever you can against the poor. But I also know the softness of your heart and the compassion that might lead you to do evil for the sake of those who are oppressed. And just that balance is so, so incredibly wise, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
It's almost as if God himself knows human nature. Wow. Who would have imagined? But if we keep going on, what we see is also in Exodus 23, we see the first hint at the three major feasts, three major festivals of worshiping God that arise in Israel's life. So in Exodus chapter 23, verse 14, we talk about Passover. You should keep the feast of unleavened bread. That's Passover.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Then in Exodus chapter 16, we have the feast of the harvest, which is also known as the feast of Passover.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
pentecost it is the 50 days after the feast of unleavened bread so as we know as catholic christians that 50 days after easter 50 days after the resurrection we have the feast of pentecost as well and the third feast is the feast of in gathering or the feast where it says you shall keep the feast of in gathering at the end of the year when you gather in the field from the field the fruit of your labor
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 41: The Day of Atonement (2025)
Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God. And that third feast is the festival of Tabernacles. So you have the first festival of Passover, which we're very familiar with because it's completely very associated with Good Friday and with Holy Thursday and with all of Easter, the Triduum.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
The next day it falls on its face again and the head's cut off, hands are cut off. And not only that, but there's a lot of uncomfortable situations going on around Ashdod and people are dying and boils and all these kind of things. So they go from Ashdod and say, we'll send the Ark of the Covenant to Gath and the same thing happens in Gath and they go to Ekron, same thing happens in Ekron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And what it reveals to us is God can fight his own battles. It turns out that God is pretty tough and that God has the ability
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
to fight his own battles and yet and yet the battle that god fights today is he fights for you and for me the battle that god fights today is he continues to say come into my presence like samuel did come into my presence and park yourself there come into my presence and don't run away come to my presence and abide there and let me fight for you
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
The Lord God has revealed that he hears the cries of the poor. And so if your heart is wounded or hurt, if you are poor or have a poverty of spirit, know that the Lord fights for you. If you've been wounded by life, wounded by others, the Lord God fights for you. He reveals that he loves you. And he also calls us to repentance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
If Eli would have changed and corrected his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, the story could have been different. And same is true for us. Same is true for the church. We have priests who have abused like Hophni and Phinehas. We have bishops who didn't pay attention like Eli. And what happens there is there are consequences to that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And so we need to, as a church, whether that's just the Catholic church or as Christians throughout the world, we need to be very, very aware of this, is that those who minister among us are called to a high standard and those who oversee them are called to an even higher standard. And because of that, we need prayers. Every one of us needs prayers. My gosh, we're all so broken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
that we need God's grace. He wants to fight for us, but we have to also be willing to be fought for. He wants to fight for us, but we have to be willing to be won and to let the Lord have victory over us. And so that's why we pray for each other. And that's why I'm praying for you. Please, that's why you should be praying for me because we need each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
At that time, Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
then the lord called samuel samuel and he said here i am and ran to eli and said here i am for you called me but he said i did not call lie down again so he went and lay down and the lord called again samuel and samuel arose and went to eli and said here i am for you called me but he said i did not call my son lie down again
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 97. We're so close to day 100. You guys, this is phenomenal. If this is your day 97, well done. Congratulations. We're getting closer and closer. We're
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again a third time, and he arose and went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said, Speak, for your servant hears. Then the Lord said to Samuel, behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone that hears it will tingle.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
On that day, I will fulfill against Eli all that I have commanded concerning his house from beginning to end. And I tell him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity, which he knew because his sons were blaspheming God and he did not restrain them. Therefore, I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Samuel lay until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, here I am. And Eli said, what was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him. Samuel's prophecy and the capture of the ark of God. And Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. Chapter 4 and the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about 4,000 men on the field of battle. And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has the Lord put us to rout today before the Philistines?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who was enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
closer and closer not only to the messianic checkpoint in like three days from now but also closer and closer to day 100 which is four days from now as i said this day 97 we're reading from first samuel chapters three four and five we're also praying psalm 150 which is the last psalm in the book of psalms we're gonna take a little break from the psalms after tomorrow and go to the proverbs once again and then we'll return back to the psalms because those those prayers so so important i
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean? And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid for they said, a God has come into the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And they said, woe to us for nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods. These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. Take courage and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you. Acquit yourselves like men and fight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated. And they fled every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. And the ark of God was captured. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. the death of Eli.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and with earth upon his head. When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out, When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, what is this uproar?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Then the man hastened and came and told Eli. Now Eli was 98 years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. And the man said to Eli, I am he who has come from the battle. I fled from the battle today. And he said, how did it go, my son? He who brought the tidings answered and said, Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter among the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured. when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, about to give birth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death, the women attending her said to her, fear not for you have born a son. But she did not answer or give heed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured. Chapter five, the Philistines and the Ark. When the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they carried it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Then the Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors both Ashdod and its territory. And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
We are praying and reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. That's the version of the Bible translation that we're using right now. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath. So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out upon them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to slay us and our people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
They sent, therefore, and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel. and let it return to its own place, that it may not slay us and our people. For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. The men who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Psalm 150, praise for God's surpassing greatness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in his mighty firmament. Praise him for his mighty deeds. Praise him according to his exceeding greatness. Praise him with trumpet sound. Praise him with lute and harp. Praise him with timbrel and dance. Praise him with strings and pipe. Praise him with sounding cymbals. Praise him with loud crashing cymbals.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Praise the Lord. Lord God, we do give you praise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Father in heaven, we thank you so much for your word. We thank you for revealing yourself to us. We thank you for calling us to be part of this community that prays for each other, that walks together, that listens to your word and lets it shape our minds and our hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
We ask that you please help us to allow your word to do exactly that, to be a lens shaper for us, to be the heart shaper for us, that your word changes us, that not just we learn new things or hear new stories or are reminded of old stories, but that your word actually makes a difference.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Also, you're invited to subscribe to this podcast and your podcast app to receive daily episodes. If you've not yet done that after 96 days, I don't know what to tell you. I don't think there's anything I can do to convince you. You've probably already done it. And you're like, Father, why do you have to say this every single time? And the answer is because I was told to. And that is the answer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
We know, Lord God, that your word does not go forth from you and return to you empty, but it always accomplishes the purpose for which you sent it. And so we give you permission, whatever it is, Lord God. Whatever mission you have for your word in our lives today, we give you permission to accomplish your will.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
We give you permission in our lives, not that we need to, but you are so good that you are very humble and you will not force yourself, but you are patient with us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
thank you god please receive our thanks and praise this day in jesus name we pray amen in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen man gosh here we go today we not only have the story of at the end right of the ark of the lord falling into the hands of the philistines which is just absolutely tragic but there's a reason for that we also have the beginning this this chapter three and chapter four but chapter three when god calls samuel now this is a if you've
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
read the bible at all of you or if you know the story of samuel at all one of the things you probably know is this exact call where samuel is sleeping now a couple things to point out about this one is it said in those days the voice of the lord was very rare that people rarely heard from god but where is samuel where is samuel sleeping he is sleeping before the ark of the lord
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
What's one of the things that reveals to us is that while others were going about their business, while others were just kind of hanging out wherever we're spending their lives, wherever Samuel had parked himself at camped himself in the very presence of God, which is one of the things that we're doing here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
When we're listening to the Bible in a year, one of the things we're doing is we're saying, okay, God speak your servants listening. What we're saying is we're placing ourselves in, I guess the, uh, under the waterfall of God's grace. We're placing ourselves under the waterfall of his word and we're giving him permission to speak to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
But we're not just kind of going along our lives and saying, yeah, whenever God, you can speak to me. We're putting ourselves in a position where we can hear him. This is what Samuel had done. Even as a young man, here is Samuel in the presence of the Lord saying, this is where I'm going to park myself. because if God is going to speak, I'm going to make it as easy for him to speak.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
If God is going to speak and I want to hear, I'm going to make it as easy for me to hear as possible. And that's one of the reasons why, again, we're doing this Bible in here, but also we're purifying some of the areas of our lives, right? So many of our lives have so much noise and we go wherever we want to go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And yet, if we eliminated some of the excess noise and placed ourselves where we knew we were called to be, then what would change? What would transform? What would transform is we'd be able to hear the Lord better. And that's what Samuel had done. But also, here's Eli who says, Samuel, the next time you hear the voice of God, say, speak, Lord, your servant hears.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And the thing that he hears is a prophecy, the word of God basically saying everything that that anonymous prophet from yesterday had said, yesterday for us, had said is going to be true now. That the light is going to be taken from your family. The glory is going to be taken from your family. Hophni and Phinehas will die in one day. And then you, Eli, will also die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And that's exactly what we see happen as the Ark of God is captured. Why is the Ark of God captured? Because the people of Israel, at least at this point, the people of Israel were treating it like a weapon, basically treating the Ark not as it truly is, which is the presence of God himself, but as a toy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Once again, we are reading today on day 97 from 1 Samuel chapters 3, 4, and 5 and praying Psalm 150. The first book of Samuel, chapter three. The Lord calls Samuel. Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli, and the word of the Lord was rare in those days. There was no frequent vision.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Basically, one of the things that we typically are tempted to do when it comes to God is we're tempted to use God. And God reveals to us that he's beyond use. He's beyond our manipulation. And yet here are the Israelites having been defeated by the Philistines saying, you know, the story was that when the ark of God went into battle, the Israelites always would win.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
Like, for example, the story of Jericho, walking around the city of Jericho and the walls came a tumbling down. Let's just do that. Basically willing to say, let's use God and we'll win. And yet that is, Not how God is treated, right? God is not our toy. He's not our trinket. He's not our weapon. He's not our idol. God is God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy (2025)
And the people of Israel, these people, in treating God like this, they lost the very arc of the covenant. Now, it's fascinating that then the Philistines placed the Ark of God, the Ark of the Covenant, in the same temple as their God. And one of the things that's revealed is that God doesn't need any defending because that night the statue of Dagon falls on its face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
As we continue this journey through the Bible, this Bible in a Year podcast, my invitation is for all of us today to be able to say, okay, Lord, make my heart more and more like Job's, that when I experience suffering, I worship. Make my heart like Abram's, that when I don't know which way to go and I need to be corrected, that I allow myself to be corrected by you and trust in you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Because that's going to be our call for the next 360 plus days. We are just beginning this story and we are going to journey through this Bible, all 73 books together for the remainder of this year. I want to remind you that if you want to get the Bible in a Year reading plan, you can just text the word Catholic Bible to 33777 or you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Once again, my name is Father Mike. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse. And by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves. So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions which they had gathered, and the persons that they had gotten in Haran, and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Morah. At that time, the Canaanites were in the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, to your descendants, I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him. Thence he removed to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negev.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Now there was a famine in that land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai, his wife, I know that you are a woman beautiful to behold. And when the Egyptians see you, they will say, this is his wife, and then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account. When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful, and when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And for her sake he dealt well with Abram, and he had sheep, oxen, he donkeys, men servants, maid servants, she donkeys, and camels. But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Why did you say she is my sister so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and be gone. And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they set him on the way with his wife and all that he had. So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and lot with them into the Negev.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
This is day six. Let's get started. We are reading today Genesis chapter 12 and chapter 13. We're also jumping into a different book, not just the Psalms, actually two different books, not just the Psalms. We're also jumping into the world of Job, the world of Job, the righteous man who suffered, and also into the book of Proverbs, one of the wisdom books. in scripture.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Now Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold, and he journeyed on from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites dwelt in the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Then Abram said to Lot, let there be no strife between you and me and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, while Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "'Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward and southward and eastward and westward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted.' Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
So Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
The Book of Job Chapters 1 and 2
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 she-donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
His sons used to go and hold the feast in the house of each on his day, and he would and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord, From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has on every side?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Again, Genesis chapter 12 and 13, Job chapter 1 and 2, and Proverbs verses 1 through 7. The Bible translation I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, the Catholic edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to read along and not just listen along, you can download the Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only upon himself do not put forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them. And the Sabaeans fell upon them and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword. And I alone have escaped to tell you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans formed three companies and made a raid upon the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and it struck the four corners of the house and it fell upon the young people and they are dead. And I alone have escaped to tell you. Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell upon the ground and worshipped. And he said, naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord, From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him to destroy him without cause. Then Satan answered the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has he will give for his life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
But put forth your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face. And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself and sat among the ashes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Then his wife said to him, Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die. But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Even if you just want to see where we're headed each day, you can download your Bible in your reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com. You can also subscribe in your podcast app. You can also sign up for our email list and get updates and notifications by texting Catholic Bible to 33777. That's Catholic Bible, all one word, to the number 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Namathite. They made an appointment together to come to condole with him and comfort him. And when they saw him from afar, they did not recognize him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Proverbs chapter 1 verses 1 through 7
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Father in heaven, we thank you and give you praise.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Thank you for your word. Thank you for the gift of revealing yourself to us and revealing your heart to us, even in broken situations. We ask that you please send your Holy Spirit that when we're broken, when we fail, when we fall, and when we're suffering, that we turn more deeply to you, that we refuse to curse you, that we refuse to run away from you, that we refuse to hide from you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
But instead, come to you in our brokenness and come to you in our need. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So, today's readings, wow. Gosh, Genesis chapter 12 and 13 and then Job chapters 1 and 2. Such an incredible opportunity for us to see what we're going to see throughout the course of these narrative books and the narrative books of Scripture today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
will again and again show what the great giants of our faith, like here's Abram, whose name is going to be Abraham soon, and Sarai, whose name is going to be Sarah soon, that even they, as they're following the Lord, making that act of faith, even as Abram hears the words of God, his promise that through Abram, God is going to bless the world, that when Abram and Sarai, in their need, they go into Egypt, there still is this brokenness of Abraham
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Abram passing off Sarai as his sister so that she can become the wife of Pharaoh, which is one of those things we think like, wait, why would in the world would anyone even consider doing this? Much less the patriarch, right? The original, like essentially father of our faith, who's actually the church describes as the father of faith, Abraham. Why would he do this?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Or even we have the book of Job, where it's even confusing because here is the righteous Job and the sons of God are traveling throughout the earth, right? Which is a kind of a way of saying the angels of the Lord are traveling throughout the earth. And here's Satan, who seems to have access to God himself, even though we're accustomed to Satan being Lucifer, the one who had fallen from grace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
Without anything further, we begin by reading, proclaiming, and hearing and receiving Genesis chapter 12 and chapter 13. Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you, and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
In this case, Satan is that Hebrew word in Hasatan, which would mean the accuser or the one who, yeah, the one who accuses. And what does he want to do? He wants to accuse Job, even accuses God of saying, well, the only reason that Job loves you, the only reason that Job serves you, the only reason he's righteous is because you bless him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And the moment you take away your blessing, the moment you let him encounter suffering, he is going to be faithless. So what we see is these two men in particular, and Sarai, of course, these two men at the beginning of our journey, and neither of them are perfect. Both of them are called perfect. but neither of them are perfect.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
At the same time, both of them demonstrate faith today, especially in our readings today. You have Abram who says, yeah, I will divvy up the property between myself and you, my nephew Lot. And he doesn't have any compunction to say, I claim this better land. He doesn't have any kind of jockeying for position. He just says, whatever you choose, if you choose the left, I'll go right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
If you go right, I'll go left. because I don't want there to be any disunity between us, no strife between us. And that's a great sign of Abram's faithfulness. That's a great sign of Abram's being willing to say, I know that the Lord will continue to take care of me. Same with Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
As soon as Job was afflicted, meaning all of his properties is stolen or it's destroyed, even when his children are killed, Job's response is in all of this, Job did not curse God, but instead he worshiped. Of course, things are going to get worse for Job as time goes on. But Job's initial response was to worship, was to say, naked I came forth from my mother's womb, naked I shall return again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
The Lord gives and he takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And this is our call, right? This is the call of every single one of us. Not that life is always going to make sense, but we know that the Lord is always going to be present.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
That when he allows us to experience these incredible trials, and Job is going to endure incredible trials, Job once again has to battle that voice inside and outside of him, his friends and his wife, who are saying, just turn away from the Lord. Even that voice inside that wants to accuse God. Remember, Satan, Hasatan, is the one that accuses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 6: Trust in the Lord (2025)
And there's something that gets inside Job that he wants to accuse. And yet, here is God who is so faithful that even when we are not faithful, he is steadfast. And he steadfastly calls us, Abram, Sarai, and Job to belong to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
these time periods and how the other books fit into the context, it changed everything for me because I went from knowing the stories to knowing the story. And I'm so grateful. That's one of the reasons why every time we hit these new time periods, what we're gonna do, we're gonna have Jeff back as he gives us some context and tells us what to look out for as we journey through the time period.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
This is so good. And I'm so grateful for you highlighting, well, everything you've highlighted. But here's the promises to Abraham. And they don't die with him. They don't die with his son. They don't die with his grandson. But as you said, they're fulfilled in a remarkable way that actually has something to do with you and with me right now. And to see like this was where...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
God promised our great, great, great, great, great, you know, ancestor in, because we're, you know, spiritually, we're grafted onto the tree that be able to say like, that's remarkable. And we get to be brought into this. Actually, that fulfillment of the worldwide blessing is one of the reasons why you and I have access to the scripture right now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I have access to the gift of faith and what a gift, what an incredible gift. Jeff, is there any one last thing that you would say, okay, for context, as you walk through the age of the patriarchs, period of the patriarchs, keep this in mind?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, that's so good. Thank you for that. And especially, we get to see Abram's faith grow, Abram's faith get tested. And so at that sense of like, so when we look at our own lives and realize, okay, so that when it comes to faith, like it gets it gets to grow, it doesn't just have to be static. And so with a Wow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I'm so grateful, Jeff, once again, not only for the Great Adventure Bible timeline as a gift from the Lord through you, I really believe, to us, but also for your time to be able to give us a context as we march through these next number of days, 20 or so days of going through the age of the patriarchs, keeping in mind that God is working with real people. It's got a mirror.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Scripture gets to be a mirror in this way. And we get to see through the lens of faith. Mm-hmm.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Right now, we are in the time period of the patriarchs. And once again, that means we're welcoming back Jeff Cavins. Jeff, thank you so much again to being here and giving us this direction.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Thank you so much. Awesome. So if you all want to continue following us, following this podcast, following this journey, and you want to see it in front of you, sometimes they have the reading plan in front of you is like having a map. You can kind of see like, here's where we've been, here's where we are, and here's where we're going. That can be really, really helpful.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
So if you want that, you can download that Bible in a Year reading plan by going to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You also can sign up for the email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777. And finally, please subscribe. If you haven't yet subscribed to the podcast, you can at any given moment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
But when you do, one of the things that you're doing is you are giving yourself an opportunity to every time that one of these episodes drops, it drops into your phone or wherever you get your podcasts. So please do that. Once again, we are always praying for you as you're journeying through this scripture, journeying through the Bible. I'm praying for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
My invitation is that you pray for each other because I have the sense that as we journey through the early world already and we're going into the patriarchs and beyond. That just like during Egypt and the Exodus and desert wanderings, they had each other. Just like in the early church, they had each other. Right now, I think to be able to sustain this journey, we need to have each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
So please keep praying for our fellow travelers as we are brought through the age of the early world, through the patriarchs and beyond to the ultimately to the messianic fulfillment of all of God's promises. Once again, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and I cannot wait to continue to join you on this journey, and God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is Ascension. at the next page of the next stage, next time period in the Bible.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, because it changes now, right? It changes from that Hebrew poetry, from that prehistory into, like, these are characters that we know their names, we know their stories, their families, and it's God interacting with them in a really new way, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
We had talked with Jeff Cavins earlier about the early world, and he gave us an incredible opportunity to see the context in which Genesis 1 through Genesis 11 were placed in Scripture, how that was Hebrew poetry. But in Genesis 12 through 50, we have what's called the patriarchs. It's the second time period in the Scripture when it comes to following the Great Adventure Bible timeline.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
It's our favorite part. As you mentioned, it's the most marked up part of most people's Bibles.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Pretty quick, yeah. Yeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
You know, Jeff, one of the things you mentioned here is like, I'm so grateful for that, like the overview. Again, we have Abraham and Sarah. We have Isaac and Rebecca. We have Esau, you know, on the side there, and Jacob. And then the four, two wives, two handmaids.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And it introduces us to a number of incredible characters. This is where we meet Abram and Sarai, whose names change. We meet Isaac. We meet Jacob. We meet their wives. We meet their kids. And we get to know, basically, the patriarchs, our father in faith, Abraham, as well as his kids, the beginning of the people of Israel we get to encounter. And so in order for us to get an opportunity—
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And you also have some kind of, I remember I was talking with my sister about this because she's been studying the Great Adventure Bible timeline. She started a little while back, not too long back. And she's like, oh my gosh, I'm going through Genesis still. She got to the end and she said, I didn't realize.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
how like messed up some stuff is or like, you know, how much there's family members, you know, whether hurting each other, murdering each other or incest. And like some of the things she's like, I didn't realize how much there was, how much brokenness, you know, to use one word to kind of sum up all this stuff.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Some of the people who will be journeying with us, this will be maybe one of the first times that they've actually heard They've heard the story, maybe the names, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, maybe the names of Sarah and Rebecca and Rachel and Leah. I don't know if they've all heard about kind of the weakness or the sins of these people. How do we navigate that?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Also the birthright, yeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
They show you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, and it's so interesting that you're, I remember when you had revealed that to me, that yes, there's brokenness in all these stories because there's brokenness in our lives. Like that when it comes to Bible stories, again, sometimes our first introduction to the Bible is Bible stories for children. And so we don't necessarily get the like, wow, this is more about my life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
You mentioned at the very beginning of this, like you can get the Bible, like you can understand this. And I think we can really understand it when we realize This is not a book of tales. This is not a Hallmark movie. This is real life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And also what you had revealed to me that just pay attention because more often scriptures will show you the consequences of an action or the right or wrongness of an action more quickly than they'll tell you specifically when it comes to some of these early narrative books where they're talking about the patriarchs and talking about some of the actions of those who are our fathers and mothers in the faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
to have some context for the patriarchs this time period. Once again, we are honored to have Jeff Cavins back.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Am I the deceiver?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Jeff Cavins is the individual who created the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, as well as the Great Adventure Bible Study, which again, as I've said many times, but I will not stop saying it because it was so important to me, so influential for me, that when I finally heard Jeff teaching about the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, so we have all these narrative books, these 14 narrative books, and understanding
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, I do. It's St. Ephraim the Syrian, I think it was. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can finish it. It's great. Drinking from a fountain where you shouldn't be discouraged by the fact that you can't drain the spring, you can't drain the fountain, but be encouraged by the fact that every time you return to it, there's more and more and more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Exactly. I drank it all. And to recognize that I'll take in a little bit, whatever I can take in. And that's the thing that I've learned over the course of these years too, is I take in what I can, and then I'm not going to be overly bothered with what I can't take in. That's one of the reasons why actually, kind of confession, why I really like the audio versions of books.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And actually one of the reasons we're doing the podcast is is that sometimes I know for myself that when I'm reading with my eyes, I can get stuck. I'm like, wait, what does this mean? What exactly is this? And if I just kept on reading, I would get a bigger picture of it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I would start understanding because the text itself would tell me things, as well as the fact that just because, again, I can't mine all of the gold out of the scriptures in one reading doesn't mean I can't go back. And I can always keep coming back. And that's what it sounds like you're saying when it comes to the whole Bible, but especially here, we're getting these stories of the patriarchs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And so they have this punishment. The punishment's only given to Miriam. Why is this? Well, one is because there's consequences for our actions. That's just, there's that. The second is... You see what happens when Miriam gets leprosy, immediately that unites Aaron and Moses. Both Aaron and Moses, Aaron goes to Moses and says, please pray on her behalf. Moses prays on her behalf.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And it's one of those things, right, where how often has this happened? When here is a division in a family and then we have maybe someone gets sick, maybe they And that unites people because it's like, okay, we have to be together. We realize that the differences we have are smaller than and less important than our relationship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And that's what happens is that here at Miriam, she gets leprosy and the three of them are united in prayer once again, which is remarkable. And then after that, we have the story of the spies sent it to Canaan. And this becomes a critical moment. This is chapter 13 of Book of Numbers. Critical moment because those 12 spies are sent into Canaan to scout it out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And they're promised it's going to be a land of milk and honey. It's going to be an incredible land. And I want to know, Moses says, how are the people? Are they strong? Are they weak? Are their cities fortified? Or are they kind of open? Meaning if they're fortified, they have walls. And hard to attack, really easy to defend.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the door of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both came forward. And he said, Hear my words.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
If they are not fortified, they're just camps, then there'll be really easy to attack and really hard to defend. I want to know this and what happens. The people go up and remember this people has not, they're not a warring people. They have spent their entire lives as slaves. they don't know how to fight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
They don't know how to leave and live in the wilderness, but they've spent their lives as slaves. And they go up and they see these people who are strong. They see these cities that are fortified. And even in spite of the fact that God had just two years before this, a year and two years before this, God had just set them free from the most powerful nation in the world, the Egyptians.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
They still said, no, we can't do it. And we're going to see what happens, what happens as a consequence of the people saying, we can't, we can't go up into the land of Canaan. We can't defeat these people. Now, God has already made it clear. You're right. You can't. I can. But at this point, they do not have the confidence in the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
They do not have the trust in the Lord that they needed in order to enter into the land and take possession of it. So something has to happen. And we're going to hear about that in the next couple of days. And then just a last note for Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy chapter 11 today, Moses again reminds the people, here is what's going to happen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
You are going into the land and it's going to be awesome. It's going to be great. But there are people around there and you're going to want to be like the people. You're going to want to forget who you are. You're going to want to forget whose you are. And so I need you to remember that. My word, remember what I've done for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And so, again, the leather cases, the leather small boxes, which scripture is written and they tie that around their foreheads, the Jewish people, and they tie it around their arms. The mesuzah, that is the scriptures that are put in those containers that are mounted on the doors of people inside, have scripture that remind us of, remind them of what God has done for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
if there is a prophet among you i the lord make myself known to him in a vision i speak with him in a dream not so with my servant moses he is entrusted with all my house with him i speak mouth to mouth clearly and not in dark speech and he beholds the form of the lord Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
This is necessary for all of us as well. But we are also called to keep the Lord's action, his presence before us always. That's one of the reasons why as Catholic Christians, we have a crucifix because it's here's a reminder of God's love for you. Here's a reminder of the price of sin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Here's a reminder of the greatest miracle that's ever happened is the incarnation and redemption, salvation of the world. That's why we have crosses or wear crosses. That's right. We have icons. So I've got all these reminders that It's also why we are going through the Bible in a year, because we do not want to forget what God has done for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And so remember, remember what the Lord has done and do not forget it in times of distress and do not forget it in times of abundance. Do not forget to pray for each other. I always say this, but we need it. We need to pray for each other. I need your prayers and please know that you have mine. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. And when the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, O my Lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 62, and we will be reading from Numbers chapter 12 and chapter 13, as well as Deuteronomy chapter 11. We're also praying today, Psalm 94.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried to the Lord, Heal her, O God, I beg you. But the Lord said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
So Miriam was shut up outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on March till Miriam was brought in again. After that, the people set out from Hazeroth and encamped in the wilderness of Paran. Chapter 13, Spies Sent Into Canaan. The Lord said to Moses, Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
From each tribe of their father shall you send a man, every one a leader among them. So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord, all the men who were heads of the sons of Israel. And these were their names. From the tribe of Reuben, Shemua, the son of Zakur. From the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat, the son of Hori. From the tribe of Judah,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. From the tribe of Issachar, Egal, the son of Joseph. From the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea, the son of Nun. From the tribe of Benjamin, Palti, the son of Raphu. From the tribe of Zebulun, Gadiel, son of Sodi. From the tribe of Joseph, that is from the tribe of Manasseh, Gadi, the son of Susi. From the tribe of Dan, Amiel, the son of Gamali.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
From the tribe of Asher, Sether, the son of Michael. From the tribe of Naphtali, Nabi, the son of Vopsi. From the tribe of Gad, Giel, the son of Maki. These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, and Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, go up into the Negev yonder and go up into the hill country and see what the land is and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there is wood in it or not, be of good courage, and bring some of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes, so they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. They went up into the Negev and came to Hebron and Nachiman, Shishai and Talmai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
As always, the translation that I'm using of the Bible is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. But whatever translation you're using, as long as you're able to follow along, that is phenomenal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
The descendants of Anak were there. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. And they came to the Valley of Eshol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes and they carried it on a pole between two of them. They brought also some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshol because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down from there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
At the end of 40 days, they returned from spying out the land and they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
we came to the land which you sent us it flows with milk and honey and this is its fruit yet the people who dwell in the land are strong and the cities are fortified and very large and besides we saw the descendants of anak there the amalekites dwelt in the land of the negev the hittites the jebusites and the amorites dwell in the hill country and the canaanites dwell by the sea and along the jordan
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Then the men who had gone up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
So they brought to the sons of Israel an evil report of the land which they had spied out, saying, The land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim. And we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Moses continued, you shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his ordinances, and his commandments always. And consider this day, since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And even if you're just using your ears to follow along, then that means you're using the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, to download your Bible in a Year reading plan. If you want to follow along and check off every day with me, as I check off every day, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year and download that Bible in a Year reading plan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Consider the discipline of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm, his signs and his deeds which he did in Egypt to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to all his land, and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea overflow them as they pursued after you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And how the Lord has destroyed them to this day. And what he did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place. And what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben. How the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them. In the midst of all Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord which he did. You shall therefore keep all the commandment which I command you this day, that you may be strong and go in and take possession of the land which you are going to possess. And that you may live long in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
For the land which you are entering to take possession of is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your feet like a garden of vegetables. But the land which you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land which the Lord your God cares for.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. And if you will obey my commandments, which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you shall eat and be full. Take heed, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, and the anger of the Lord be kindled against you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And he shut up the heavens, so that there be no rain, and the land yield no fruit, and you perish quickly off the good land which the Lord gives you."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
you shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul and you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes and you shall teach them to your children talking of them when you are sitting in your house and when you are walking by the way and when you lie down and when you rise and you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. For if you will be careful to do all this commandment which I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and clinging to him,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness and Lebanon and from the river, the river Euphrates to the Western Sea. No man shall be able to stand against you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And if you have not yet subscribed in your podcast app, please, I invite you to subscribe. Once again, it is day 62, and we are reading from Numbers chapter 12 and 13, Deuteronomy chapter 11, and Psalm 94. Numbers chapter 12, Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married. For he had married a Cushite woman.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
The Lord, your God, will lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that you shall tread as he promised you. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
The blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandment of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which you have not known.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And when the Lord your God brings you into the land which you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the road toward the going down of the sun in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, over against Gilgal beside the oak of Morah?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
For you are to pass over the Jordan to go in, to take possession of the land which the Lord your God gives you. And when you possess it and live in it, you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the ordinances which I set before you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
O Lord, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth. Rise up, O judge of the earth, render to the proud their desserts. O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words. They boast all the evildoers. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They slay the widow and the sojourner and murder the fatherless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And they say, the Lord does not see. The God of Jacob does not perceive. Understand, O dullest of the people, fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who chastens the nations, does he not chastise? He who teaches men knowledge, the Lord, knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law to give him respite from days of trouble until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people, he will not abandon his heritage. For justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence. When I thought, my foot slips, your mercy, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Can wicked rulers be allied with you who frame mischief by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
But the Lord has become my stronghold and my God the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
We thank you for speaking to us. We thank you for not only speaking to us your word and letting that word that you have spoken shape our minds and our hearts and teaching us what to love and what to hate, but we also just thank you for choosing us. We thank you for letting us belong to you and we ask that you please give us the grace not only to have our minds and hearts shaped like yours,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
but also to let ourselves be chosen. Give us the grace to give you permission to love us like you want to love us and to call us how you want to call us. Give us the grace to be able to say yes to you in everything this day. We make this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Oh, man. So Numbers chapter 12 and 13, kind of a big deal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also? And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth. And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting. And the three of them came out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Keep this in mind. I know I remind you of this all the time, but Numbers is the, like, this is the real-time story, and Deuteronomy is, remember back when. Okay, so Numbers, this is happening right after they're free from slavery in Egypt. So this is maybe two years out at this point, where they're at the place where Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses and where spies are sent to Canaan.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
So they've only been free between one and two years here. But then in Deuteronomy, this is Moses speaking back and saying, here's what happened back in the day, 40 years before this. What's going on with Moses and Aaron and Miriam? Interestingly, here's Aaron and Miriam and Moses. They're having a sibling fight, more or less. That's kind of it. They're mad because he married a Cushite woman. Now,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
There have been a lot of theories on what it was about her or what it was about that marriage that Aaron and Miriam had an issue with. And there isn't necessarily an answer. There are some theories about that. But the issue is kind of like this in many families, right? We don't like the in-law for whatever reason. We don't like them because of their background, because of how they act.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
We don't like them because they don't. They aren't like us, whatever the thing is. It kind of, in some ways, since scripture doesn't necessarily specifically tell us why they don't like the woman that Moses married, we just be theorizing. The issue though, is that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 62: Spies Sent to Canaan (2025)
Moses had been chosen as a prophet, as the Lord's prophet, as speaking specifically not only with the Lord, but also on behalf of the Lord. And he's been given that role. And even in marrying the Cushite woman, he hasn't done anything wrong or else the Lord God would have said something about him. So here he is innocent, and yet his siblings are essentially bad-mouthing him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And so Lord Jesus, we ask that you send your Holy spirit, send your spirit, uh, the advocate that, that helper, that the comforter, the convictor, the one who sustains and strengthens us, the one who is the presence of God living in our midst. Um, right now. And in every moment we pray for each other, um, Please pray for me. I'm praying for you. And man, my name is Father Mike.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Seven days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile. Then the Lord said to Moses, go into Pharaoh and say to him, thus says the Lord, let my people go that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. And the Lord said to Moses,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and brought frogs upon the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, Entreat the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Moses said to Pharaoh, Be pleased to command me when I am to entreat for you and for your servants and for your people that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses and be left only in the Nile. And he said, Tomorrow. Moses said, Be it as you say, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The frogs shall depart from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be only left in the Nile. So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh and Moses cried to the Lord concerning the frogs as he had agreed with Pharaoh. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The frogs died out of the houses and courtyards and out of the fields and they gathered them together in heaps and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and he would not listen to them as the Lord had said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Today, this is day 31. Let's keep on reading today. We're going to be reading from the book of Exodus chapter eight, the book of Leviticus chapter six and the book of Psalms chapter 48.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Then the Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron, Stretch out your rod and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and there came gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The magicians tried by their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. And the magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God. But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Then the Lord said to Moses, rise up early in the morning and wait for Pharaoh as he goes out to the water and say to him, thus says the Lord, let my people go that they may serve me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people and into your houses and the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day, I will set apart the land of Goshen where my people dwell and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. By tomorrow shall this sign be. And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses, and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the flies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
We're going to continue with the plagues in the land of Egypt to set the Israelites free and also looking at some of the laws the Lord continues to give in the book of Leviticus rules for worship and rules for proper way to approach the Lord, as well as the prayer of Psalm 48. I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, the Catholic edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, Go, sacrifice to your God within the land. But Moses said, It would not be right to do so, for we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God offerings abominable to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
We must go a three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he will command us. So Pharaoh said, I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but only you shall not go very far. Make a treaty for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Then Moses said, behold, I'm going out from you and I will pray to the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh deal falsely again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And the Lord did as Moses asked and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people. Not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, if anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor or has found what was lost and lied about it, swearing falsely,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
In any of all the things which men do and sin therein, when one has sinned and became guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day of his guilt offering. And he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued by you at the price for a guilt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things which one may do, and thereby become guilty.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, command Aaron and his sons saying, this is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until the morning and the fire of the altar shall kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen britches upon his body.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And he shall take up the ashes to the fire that has consumed the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. Then he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually. It shall not go out. And this is the law of the cereal offering. The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord in front of the altar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And one shall take from it a handful of the fine flour of the cereal offering with its oil and all the frankincense which is on the cereal offering and burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a pleasing order to the Lord. and the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my offerings by fire. It is a thing most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations from the Lord's offerings by fire. Whoever touches them shall become holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
In fact, I'm reading the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can get that at ascensionpress.com or wherever fine books are sold. You can also go to ascensionpress.com to get your own Bible in a Year reading plan. If you go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year, you can get that for free. And please, if you like, if you've been following us for the last 30 days, here we are on day 31.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, The priest from among Aaron's sons said, who is anointed to succeed him, shall offer it to the Lord as decreed forever. The whole of it shall be burned. Every serial offering of the priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten. The Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron and his sons, This is the law of the sin offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord. It is most holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
the priest who offers it for sin shall eat it in a holy place it shall be eaten in the court of the tent of meeting whatever touches its flesh shall be holy and when any of its blood is sprinkled on a garment you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place and the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken but if it is boiled in a bronze vessel that shall be scoured and rinsed in water
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It is most holy. But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
The glory and strength of Zion. A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth. Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great king. Within her citadels, God has shown himself a sure defense. For behold, the kings assembled, they came together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
As soon as they saw it, they were astounded. They were in panic, they took to flight. Trembling, took hold of them there. Anguish as of a woman with labor pains. By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
We have thought on your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your mighty hand is filled with victory. Let Mount Zion be glad. Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. Walk about Zion. Go round about her.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever. Father in heaven, we give you praise. We thank you so much. Thank you for your word. Thank you for how you reveal that you fight for your people. You fight for us. Also, Lord, that you want us. You desire us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
You are the God who is just, but you are even more than just. You are merciful. More than mercy, you are love. And so, Lord God, we ask that you please visit us with your mercy, with your justice, and with your love. Help us to receive your justice. Help us to receive your love and receive your mercy. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
then you know that the best way to do that is to subscribe in your podcast app. That way, when we drop an episode, you can pick up this episode so that we can continue our prayers together because this is something we are doing absolutely together. It is day 31 in this journey through the Bible in one year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Oh my gosh, you guys, this is, what a phenomenal opportunity to be able to pray together. and to read from the Bible and to allow the Bible to shape us. And sometimes the Bible is a flashlight and it shines light on certain parts of our lives, kind of unearths some things. Sometimes it is a mirror and it reflects ourselves back to ourselves and we get to see in it ourselves and the way we are.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And sometimes it's a sandpaper where it kind of roughs off some rough edges or convicts us. I heard a friend of mine once say that community is like that too, like really healthy community is like that. It can be a flashlight, a mirror, and sandpaper.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Today, in the story of the plagues in Exodus chapter 8 that we read from today, one of the things that happens right away with the second plague of frogs is the fact that Moses goes to Pharaoh and says, I can take these frogs away if you want. And Pharaoh says, do it. And Moses asks him a question. He says, when do you want? He says, be pleased to command me when I'm into entreat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
When I am to entreat for you and for your servants and for your people that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses and left only in the Nile. Just tell me when. And the remarkable answer of Pharaoh, whose entire, I mean, it says there are frogs in his bed. There are frogs everywhere. Pharaoh's answer when Moses asks him, when would you like me to get rid of the frogs for you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Moses' answer is tomorrow. I just want to ask the question, isn't that just like us? Isn't that, that's the mirror. That's the mirror of the scripture today where it's just like, oh my goodness, that is me. The Lord God maybe at times can say, hey, I'd like to deliver you. I would like to get this pain rid out of your life or whatever the thing is, right? Sometimes the Lord says, okay, it's time.
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Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Get rid of the thing. It's time. End the relationship. It's time. Get rid of what's killing you or killing the people around you. When do you want to do it? And we say, how about tomorrow, God? I mean, this thing I hate. This thing is killing me. This thing is devastating. Okay, when should we get rid of it? Well, right now is not the right time. How about later?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And isn't that in so many ways, our answer for so many things, not just getting rid of bad things, but also starting good things. Now we've been on this journey for 31 days now. And so you've started this, you started this journey 31 days ago. And it's just what a gift that you didn't put it off. What a gift that you are being consistent here.
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Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
What a gift that we have this community of people who are praying. We continue to pray with each other as we continue to allow the Lord's word. But there's still that temptation in every one of us to say, well, maybe not today. Maybe I'll just catch up tomorrow or we decide I'm going to put this podcast on two times speed because I missed a couple of days and now I'm going to catch up that way.
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Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
Well, there's nothing wrong with catching up and there's nothing wrong with listening to scripture at two times speed. But why not what it is today? Make use of today. This is a reminder because scripture can be a flashlight, can be a sandpaper piece, and it can also be a mirror for us. And so if I see in myself that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
that tendency to put things off to tomorrow, to get rid of the bad things or to start the good things. What I see is I see a Pharaoh's heart inside of me, and I don't want to have Pharaoh's heart. I want to have heart like the Lord. And so we pray for each other because we can't change without God's grace. We can't become like God without his presence living inside of us, without his Holy Spirit.
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Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And so that means we're coming up, either we passed one month or today is one month when it comes to where we're reading. And that is a mile marker. That's a milestone. We need to mark that and be able to say, yeah, Lord, I've allowed your word to shape my life for the last 30 days and including today, day 31. As I mentioned, today we're going to be reading from Exodus chapter 8.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (2025)
And so we just pray that, um, the Lord gives us his Holy spirit and fills us with his Holy spirit. He goes without his Holy spirit, we cannot pray as we ought without his Holy spirit. We cannot be the people that we ought to be.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
But here is God's faithfulness that came to pass and not again, just handed to them. They had to cooperate with the Lord. They had to be faithful to him. They had to obey him. They had to fight. And yet not one of all the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed. All came to pass.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And this is something that all of us, I think all of us need to be reminded of right now is that what God has promised, he will, he will fulfill. But it doesn't mean that he fulfills it immediately. It doesn't necessarily mean that he fills it without a fight. But it does mean that he is faithful to his promises. And so we're going to be faithful as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And we're faithful like that Psalm 131, which is one of my favorite Psalms. I know I might say that a couple of times, but it is one of my favorite Psalms. I often give it. as a penance in confession because it's only three verses long. Psalm 131, if you wanna go back and pray that one more time, it's so good because it's just that prayer of humble trust.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon, according to its families, and its inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. And it had for its inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Lada, Hazar-Shual, Bala, Ezim, Eltulad, Bethul, Hormah,
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Like the fact that so much of our lives are spent striving and so much of our lives are spent battling and yep, sometimes that's what we're called to. But oftentimes we strive against the Lord. We battle against the Lord. And Psalm 131 reminds us, no, in silence and in peace, I rest in the Lord's arms as a child in his mother's arms.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And so I just invite us all today to enter into the Lord's rest, enter into his peace. we might be called to battles. We might be called to struggle or striving, but not battle against the Lord, not striving against the Lord, but to be able to be at peace and abide in his love and abide in his presence, to abide in his arms like a child in the arms of his or her mom. We give you praise, Lord God.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And I'm praying for you, everyone. Tomorrow, we're going to finish the book of Joshua, and it's going to be awesome because Joshua has some words for the people of Israel, kind of like Moses did, some kind of like famous last words, just reminding the people of Israel of their dignity, reminding the people of Israel of their high call. And that's what we're getting to tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
So let's keep praying for each other that we do show up tomorrow, that we show up tomorrow, even after rough days or rough seasons, rough weeks in our lives, and just say, Lord, speak. Your servant is listening. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Ziklag, Beth-Makraboth, Hazar-Susa, Beth-Lebaoth, and Shurahan, 13 cities with their villages, En-Ramon, Ether, and Ashan, four cities with their villages, together with all the villages round about these cities as far as Baalath-Beer, Ramah of the Negev. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon according to its families.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 87. We have only this day and tomorrow until we're completed the book of Joshua, moving on to the book of Judges, which is just phenomenal. We're reading today from Joshua 19, 20, and 21.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of Judah because the portion of the tribe of Judah was too large for them. The tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance. the territory of Zebulun. The third lot came up for the tribe of Zebulun, according to its families, and the territory of its inheritance reached as far as Sarid.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Then its boundary goes up westward and on to Marial and touches Debesheth. Then the brook, which is east of Joknaam, from Sarid, it goes in the other direction eastward toward the sunrise to the boundary of Chisloth Tabor. Thence it goes to Debarath, then up to Japhia.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
From there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to Gathhefer, then to Eth-Kassin, and going on to Rimon it bends towards Neah. Then on the north the boundary turns about to Hanathon, and it ends at the valley of Ifthal.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
at kattah nahalal shimron idalah and bethlehem twelve cities with their villages this is the inheritance of the tribe of zebulun according to its families these cities with their villages the territory of issachar The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the tribe of Issachar, according to its families. Its territory included Jezreel, The boundary also touches Tabor.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Shehazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and its boundary ends at the Jordan, 16 cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar according to its families, the cities with their villages. The Territory of Asher The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its families. Its territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaf, Alamelech, Amad, and Mishal.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
On the west, it touches Carmel and Shehor Libnath. Then it turns eastward. It goes to Beth Dagon and touches Zebulun on the valley of Iftahel, northward to Beth Emek, then it continues in the north to kabul ebron rehob hamon cana as far as sidon the great then the boundary runs to ramah reaching to the fortified city of tyre then the boundary turns to hosa and it ends at the sea mahalab
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Umah, Aphek, and Rehob, 22 cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to its families, these cities with their villages. The territory of Naphtali. The sixth lot came out for the tribe of Naphtali, for the tribe of Naphtali, according to its families.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And its boundary ran from Helef, from the oak of Za'ananim, and Adami-Nakeb, and Jabnil, as far as Lachum, and it ended at the Jordan. Then the boundary turns westward to Asnath Tabor and goes from there to Hukuk, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan. The fortified cities are Zidim, Zer, Hamath, Rakath,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
i'll be praying from psalm 131 today as always i am reading from the revised standard version second catholic edition i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension so if you want to pick one of those up they're really great especially as i mentioned yesterday when i'll be reading from joshua 19 20 21 there's a lot of talks about places and the divisions of the tribes and their lands the land that is ascribed by lot to the or portioned by lot
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Chinareth, Adama, Ramah, Hazor, Kadesh, Edrei, and Hazor, Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemeth, 19 cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribes of Naphtali according to its families, the cities with their villages. The Territory of Dan The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its families.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
and the territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Arshamesh, Sha'alabim, Ai-Jalon, Idh-La, Elan, Timna, Akron, Eltaka, Gibethan, Ba'alath, Jehud, Bnei Barak, Gath-Ramon, and Mejarkhon and Rakhon, with the territory over against Joppa. When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up and fought against Leshem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And after capturing it and putting it to the sword, they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem Dan, after the name of Dan, their ancestor. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to their families, these cities with their villages. The inheritance of Joshua.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua, the son of Nun. By command of the Lord, they gave him the city which he asked, Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the sons of Israel, distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land. Chapter 20.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The City of Refuge Then the Lord said to Joshua, Say to the sons of Israel, Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent or unwittingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place and he shall remain with them.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the slayer into his hand because he killed his neighbor unwittingly, having had no enmity against him in times past. And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
until the death of him who was high priest at that time then the slayer may go again to his own town and his own home to the town from which he fled so they set apart kadesh in galilee in the hill country of naphtali and shechem in the hill country of ephraim and kiriath arba that is hebron in the hill country of judah
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the table land from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
These were the cities designated for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood till he stood before the congregation. Chapter 21. The Cities of the Levites.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the sons of Israel. And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, the Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in along with their pasture lands for our cattle.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
So by command of the Lord, the sons of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasture lands out of their inheritance. The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. So those Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received by lot from the tribe of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin thirteen cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
to the tribes of israel and so if you want to be able to have a visual along with that you can find one of those great adventure bibles and the backs they have maps or even just pull up on your phone or on whatever it is if you're not driving somewhere you can look to see what would that map possibly look like that could be really helpful today for the reading today if you want to download your own bible in a year reading plan speaking of maps because that's kind of like a map for how we're walking through the bible you can go to ascensionpress.com
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And the rest of the Kohathites received by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, 10 cities. The Gershonites received by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, 13 cities.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The Merorites, according to their families, received from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun twelve cities. These cities and their pasture lands the sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Out of the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Simeon they gave the following cities mentioned by name, which went to the descendants of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites who belonged to the Levites since the lot fell to them first. They gave them Kiriath Arba. Arba being the father of Anak, that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah along with the pasture lands round about it.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
But the fields of the city and its villages had been given to Caleb the sons of Jephunneh as his possession. And to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the slayer with its pasture lands, Libna with its pasture lands, Jatir with its pasture lands,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Eshtemoa with its pastor lands, Holon with its pastor lands, Debir with its pastor lands, Ain with its pastor lands, Juta with its pastor lands, Beth Shemesh with its pastor lands. Nine cities out of these two tribes, then out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pastor lands, Geba with its pastor lands, Anathoth with its pastor lands, and Almon with its pastor lands, four cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The cities of the descendants of Aaron, the priests, were in all thirteen cities with their pasture lands. And to the rest of the Kohathites, belonging to the Kohathite families of the Levites, the cities allotted to them were out of the tribe of Ephraim. To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
Gizer with its pastor lands, Kibzaim with its pastor lands, Bethhoron with its pastor lands, four cities. And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltiki with its pastor lands, Gibathon with its pastor lands, Aijalon with its pastor lands, Gathramon with its pastor lands, four cities. And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Tanakh with its pastor lands, and Gathramon with its pastor lands, two cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
the cities of the families of the rest of the Kohathites were ten in all with their pasture lands.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And to the Gershonites, one of the families of the Levites were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, and Beshterah with its pasture lands, two cities, and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasture lands, Debarath with its pasture lands, Jarmuth with its pasture lands, and Ganim with its pasture lands, four cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands, four cities. And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kadesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, Hamathador with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands, three cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
the cities of the several families of the Gershonites were in all 13 cities with their pasture lands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And to the rest of the Levites, the Merorite families, were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, Dimnah with its pasture lands, Nahalal with its pasture lands, four cities, and out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands, Jehaz with its pasture lands, Kittimoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaoth with its pasture lands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
four cities, and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth and Gilead with its pastor lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, Manahnim with its pastor lands, Heshbon with its pastor lands, Jezer with its pastor lands, four cities in all. As for the cities of the several Merorite families, that is the remainder of the families of the Levites were allotted to them in all 12 cities.
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Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel were in all 48 cities with their pastor lands. These cities had each its pasture lands round about it, so it was with all these cities. Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers, and having taken possession of it, they settled there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
slash Bible in a year. Lastly, if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, you can by simply clicking that button that says subscribe, and then everything's taken care of. Again, it's day 87. We're reading Joshua 19, 20, and 21 and praying Psalm 131. The book of Joshua chapter 19, the territory of Simeon.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up. My eyes are not raised too high. I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me, but I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child quieted at its mother's breast, like a child that is quieted is my soul. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
We give you glory and honor and every breath we have is from you. Every heartbeat is from you. And so we thank you for every heartbeat. We thank you with every heartbeat. We thank you for every breath and we thank you with every breath. Lord God, you've given them to us for free and we are so blind to them so often.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
So every moment of every day, this day, especially this day, every heartbeat, every breath, let everyone be a prayer of praise, a prayer of thanks to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So again, as I said, kind of one of those days where it's like, man, oh man, we gotta get through this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
All the names, all the places, all the things we mentioned yesterday, that these places are meaningful. They're important to us to note because they're history. At the same time, the last lines of today's readings in Joshua chapter 21 are so powerful because it sums up why we went through all those names. It sums up why we went through all those tribes and all those places.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
The last words is the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their fathers. And that's so, so powerful. It goes on. It says, not one of their enemies had withstood them for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. And bam, here's the last line of chapter 21, verse 45. Not one of all the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 87: God Keeps His Promises (2025)
All came to pass. And there is something so, so good for us to hear that something so good for us to be reminded of this fact that that think about this. This is not after one day. This is not after one week or one month or one year or even one generation. This has happened over multiple generations, couple centuries.
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Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And remember, this is numbers. This is just 13 months after The people of Israel have been set free from slavery. They're being taught how to trust in God. And so while the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud is over the tabernacle, you stay here, whether it's for a day or two days or a longer time. And when it moves, then we move. And there's something so powerful about that knowledge of faith.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
That's what we're called to do as well in our lives is, okay, Lord, I'll move when you call me to move. And if you don't call me to move, I'm going to stay put. There's something so powerful about trusting the Lord. A last note, just because Deuteronomy chapter eight is worth reading again and again. Again, context, numbers, 13 months after, set free from slavery. Deuteronomy, 40 years after.
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Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
It's 38 years, essentially, after numbers. And what does Moses say? He says that remember, you shall remember all the ways which the Lord your God has led you these 40 years in the wilderness. Why? That he might humble you, testing you to know what is in your heart, whether he would keep his commandments or not. Now, God's not testing because he doesn't know.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
He's testing to reveal to the people, okay, this is the truth about me. And this is, oh man, this is training. Realize this. They're about to go into the promised land. They're going to have to fight. And they're also going to be surrounded by people who... don't believe what they believe. And also they're going to be blessed and they're going to have so much abundance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And so here's God saying, okay, you were tested and trained in the wilderness to trust me and to keep my commandments. When you go into the promised land, please embrace those commandments. You're not like them. You've been set apart. You're mine. You're my beloved possession. You're my firstborn. And lastly, I'm going to bless you so exceedingly that you're going to be tempted to forget me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And this is something that's so powerful for all of us to realize is that oftentimes we think that we forget God in the dark and I, and that's possibly true, but I know too often we forget God in the sunny days. We forget God when we're abundantly blessed. We forget God when everything is going well, because then we don't need him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
I can do without him because I did this and I'm safe and I'm secure and I have enough. And that's the temptation that Deuteronomy chapter eight highlights and says, when you have so much, you will be tempted to say, this is what I've done. This is the work of my hands and I do not need to follow the Lord. And Moses says, when you come to that day, please, please know that
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And thus shall you do to them to cleanse them, sprinkle the water of expiation upon them and let them go with a razor over all their body and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a young bull and its cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil. And you shall take another bull for a sin offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Know that it was God's faithfulness. And so that's my invitation and my prayer today too. I will move when God asks me to move and I'll stay when he asks me to stay, but also in times of scarcity and in times of abundance to remember all that the Lord has done. What an incredible gift. You guys, we are rounding out the 50s. Tomorrow is day 60. So what an incredible thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
That's three, sorry, that's two months. I don't even know math and calendars, how they work. But this is remarkable. These last 60 days, 59 days, we've been praying for each other. We've been listening to God's word and we will not stop praying for each other. I will not stop praying for you. We will not stop listening to God's word so he can continue to teach us what is in his heart.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And so our hearts can be like his heart. I'm praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And you shall present the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Israel. When you present the Levites before the Lord, the sons of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the sons of Israel. that it may be theirs to do the service of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 59, and so we will be reading two chapters from Numbers. It's Numbers chapter eight and chapter nine, as well as Deuteronomy chapter eight, just the one in Deuteronomy, We'll be praying through Psalm 93.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Then the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for the Levites. And you shall cause the Levites to attend Aaron and his sons and shall offer them as a wave offering to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Thus shall you separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. And after that, the Levites shall go into due service at the tent of meeting when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. For they are wholly given to me from among the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Instead of all that opened the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel, I have taken them for myself. For all the firstborn among the sons of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them for myself. And I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the sons of Israel to do the service for the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the sons of Israel that there may be no plague among the sons of Israel in case the sons of Israel should come near the sanctuary.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Thus did Moses and Aaron in all the congregation of the sons of Israel to the Levites, according to all that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the sons of Israel did to them. And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes. And Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the Lord. And Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And after that, the Levites went in to do the service in the tent of meeting in attendance upon Aaron and his sons. As the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them. And the Lord said to Moses, this is what pertains to the Levites. From 25 years old and upward, they shall go in to perform the work in the service of the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And from the age of 50 years, they shall withdraw from the work of the service and serve no more, but minister to their brethren in the tent of meeting to keep the charge, and they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties. Chapter nine, the Passover kept at Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt saying, let the sons of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the 14th day of this month in the evening, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its statutes and all its ordinances, you shall keep it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
So Moses told the sons of Israel that they should keep the Passover at its appointed time. And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the wilderness of Sinai, according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And there were certain men who were unclean through touching the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. And those men said to him, we are unclean through touching the dead body of a man. Why are we kept from offering the Lord's offering at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And Moses said to them, Wait, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you. The Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, If any man of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body or is afar off on a journey, he shall still keep the Passover to the Lord. In the second month, on the fourteenth day, in the evening, they shall keep it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
As always, I'm reading from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can get that at ascensionpress.com or wherever Bibles are sold. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break a bone of it, according to all that the statute for the Passover they shall keep it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, yet refrains from keeping the Passover, that person shall be cut off from his people, because he did not offer the Lord's offering at its appointed time. That man shall bear his sin." And if a stranger sojourns among you and will keep the Passover to the Lord according to the statute of the Passover and according to its ordinance, so shall he do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
You shall have one statute both for the sojourner and for the native. the cloud and the fire. On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant. And at evening, it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. So it was continually, the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tent, After that, the sons of Israel set out. And in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel encamped. At the command of the Lord, the sons of Israel set out. And at the command of the Lord, they encamped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the sons of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp. Then according to the command of the Lord they set out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, and when the cloud was taken up in the morning they set out. Or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud was taken up they set out. Whether it was two days or a month or a longer time that the cloud continued over the tabernacle abiding there, the sons of Israel remained in camp and did not set out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
But when it was taken up, they set out. At the command of the Lord they encamped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord at the command of the Lord by Moses. The book of Deuteronomy chapter eight, a warning not to forget God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Moses continued, all the commandment which I command you this day, you shall be careful to do that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And if you haven't, one last thing, if you haven't yet subscribed to this podcast app or rated it or whatever, please do that. If you want to give it a Good review, that's great. If you want to give it a bad review, that's also great because if that is your opinion, then you don't have to keep it to yourself. As I said, today is day 59.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And he humbled you, and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything which proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out upon you and your foot did not swell these 40 years.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs flowing forth in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Take heed, lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his ordinances and his statutes, which I command you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Lest when you have eaten and are full and have built excellent houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do good to you in the end. Beware, lest you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you this day that you shall surely perish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Psalm 93 The Majesty of God's Rule
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
We're reading chapters 8 and 9 of Numbers, chapter 8 of Deuteronomy, praying Psalm 93. Numbers chapter 8, the seven lamps. Now the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron, when you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand. And Aaron did so. He set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
The Lord reigns. He is robed in majesty. The Lord is robed. He is girded with strength. Yes, the world is established. It shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old. You are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord. The floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lifted up their roaring.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty. Your decrees are very sure. Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore. Father in heaven, we thank you and give you praise. Thank you so much for your word and thank you so much for your guidance because Lord, without you, we're lost.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Without your light, you to illumine the way, to light our path, your word, O Lord, is a lamp unto our feet and a light into our path. Help us, Lord, to trust in your light. Help us to trust in the guidance that you give us. Help us to trust in your word because, Lord, we can hear your word and dismiss it. We can hear your word and forget it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
We can even see your great works, Lord, and we can forget them and we can forget you. Help us never, ever to forget. Help us always to see where you are in our lives and always to hear your voice in our lives and help us to always follow you wherever you lead, no matter what. God, let that be our prayer today. Help us to follow you where you lead, no matter what.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And we make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Just a quick reminder, book of Numbers and the book of Deuteronomy, just our context here.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
Remember that the book of Numbers, it reminded us today in chapter nine, that this is now 13 months, a short 13 months after the people of Israel have been set free from slavery in Egypt. So they are new to all of this. They're new to this freedom. They're new to worship in the wilderness. They're new to trusting in the Lord. This is so important for us to understand.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And in Deuteronomy, this is after the 38 years of wandering in the wilderness, right? This is after 40 years now of being free. And they're about, this is Moses' last speech as he's about to die and be taken to the Lord. And then Joshua is going to lead the people of Israel across the Jordan River to and conquer the promised land. And so keep that in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
So when we're reading from Numbers and what we hear in Numbers is about the gold lampstand being made. We hear about the law of the Passover and Levites consecration and service. And we hear about the cloud and the fire. Remember, this is all preparing the people of Israel for this life in the wilderness and life after the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
So Deuteronomy is going to be like, okay, after all of this, here's what we got before you go into the place of freedom. You went to the promised land. So a couple of quick things. One is it's so important. Let's just highlight the chapter nine in book of numbers for one moment. Two things in numbers chapter nine. One is.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
that the Lord God in Exodus, he established the Passover as a perpetual institution. That's what it says. As a perpetual institution, you're going to have this Passover, this ritual where you offer this lamb in sacrifice, you roast its flesh with bitter herbs, and you eat its flesh with loin skirt and unleavened bread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
This is going to happen every single year on the first month in the 14th day of the month. That's when that's going to happen. And the question comes up, well, wait, there's some people here who are unclean. Are they exempt from this? Are there people who are traveling? They're not here with us. Are they exempt from this kind of worship that God is asking?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And Moses says, I'm going to consult the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, no, basically you shall not. Participate. You shall participate fully in the Passover because this is an obligation. This way of worshiping is an obligation that even coming into contact with a dead body, which would make you ritually unclean, or even being on a journey doesn't dispense you from.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And that's something so powerful for us to understand. In fact, it says the person who dispenses themself, right? The person who excuses themself from this kind of worship, from this Passover meal is cut off from the covenant, cut off from the people of God. And this is one of the things we know, right? That we recognize.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
And this was the workmanship of the lampstand. Hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work, according to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses. So he made the lampstand. the Levites consecration and service. And the Lord said to Moses, take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
is that Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper, he says, okay, this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant. Do this in memory of me. And so we recognize that there might be some things that are preventing us from attending Mass, but if we elect to stay away from Mass, then we have essentially cut ourselves off from the people of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
That's one of the depths of the revelation of the New Testament about... how the Passover was a foreshadowing of the true gift of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, which is Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. And just like the Passover, you were not exempt just because you were traveling or something, some other reason.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 59: Obligations to God (2025)
If you exempted yourself, you dispensed yourself, you were cut off. So too, if we dispense ourselves from this true and living worship, worshiping the Lord in spirit and truth in the Eucharist, then we are cutting ourselves off. On one last note in chapter nine, before we jumped in numbers in the one note there too, the cloud and the fire, what an incredible image for trusting in the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Take heed to the path of your feet. Then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left. Turn your foot away from evil. Father in heaven, we thank you and we give you praise. Thank you so much for the gift of this day. Thank you for the gift of your word.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
And then in the message part of it, just type in one word, Catholic Bible to that number three, three, seven, seven, seven Catholic Bible. Once again, as I said, we are reading from Genesis chapter 45 and 46. And the story continues to get deeper to the heart of heart of Israel's family, the heart of Joseph himself, the heart of these brothers. Genesis chapter 45 and 46.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Thank you for the gift of revealing your heart to us because that is what you do in your word. You speak to us and you continue to speak to us. Even Lord, when your word is challenging, even when your word is confusing and we don't understand what's going on, we don't understand what you're trying to say to us, Still, you continue to speak and we continue to listen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Give us hearts that can understand what we're hearing. Give us hearts to understand what you're saying. In Jesus' name we pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay. So man, oh man, the story of Joseph is one of my favorite stories in the book of Genesis.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
I have a lot of favorite stories in the old Testament, which I can't wait to journey with you all through. But the story of Joseph is one of my favorites. One of the scenes that is such a favorite is this, is the moment where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and And in that revelation, he weeps so loudly that even Pharaoh hears about it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
He weeps so loudly that everyone's like, what the heck is going on with Joseph? Something big is happening. And he throws himself upon his brother Benjamin's neck and they weep together. This reunion, they've never met each other at this point, right? And yet all the other brothers are half brothers, which is still family. But Benjamin is his full brother.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
This reunion of two brothers who have never met Is this powerful moment only to be superseded by the moment when Joseph is reunited with his father, Jacob, with his father, Israel. It is just remarkable. What's also remarkable is the tears. Why would you cry? Why would we cry when good things are happening? Joseph is weeping as his brothers and he are reconciled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Joseph is weeping as his father and he are reunited. Why do we weep? Remember someone telling me, someone really wise telling me once, he said, why do we weep when there's joy? Why does a mom weep when she's lost her child and finds the child again? The child is lost in the park or lost somewhere and they're reunited again. Why are Joseph and Israel, this father and son, why are they weeping?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
This is the happy moment. We weep. This person said, he said, we weep because we know it could have been otherwise. We weep because we know it could have been otherwise. That not only are we joyful, but we're also so aware, so aware that Jacob could have gone down to Sheol, not knowing that his son was still alive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Joseph could have continued to serve in Egypt, never again seeing his brothers, never again seeing his father, never ever meeting his brother, Benjamin. And we know this, we know that it could have been otherwise. And so we weep out of joy, but also knowing how fragile we are. And knowing that if the Lord is not with us, that fragility means death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
If the Lord is not with us, that fragility means we're destroyed. But when God is with us, as he was with Joseph, as he was with Israel, and as he is with you right now, when the Lord is with you, There's room. There's room in our life for tears and there's room in our life for joy and there's room in our lives for joyful tears.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
What joy breaks your heart today because you know that it doesn't have to be this way. It could have been otherwise. What sorrow breaks your heart today? Because unlike maybe Jacob and Joseph, you're not reunited with that loved one. Unlike the brothers of Joseph, you haven't been yet forgiven or you haven't offered forgiveness. Where's your heart being broken today?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
This is something definitely worth talking to the Lord about and actually praying for each other about because you guys, as we said, you know, this is a journey, not just individual journey. This is a community of people who are going through the Bible this entire year. We're on day 24. We have so much room to cover, but also we've come so far.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
We're at almost the end, almost the very end of the book of Genesis and almost the very end of the book of Job. So we need to pray for each other because we're not journeying alone. I am praying for you. My name is Father Mike. Cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. And he cried, make everyone go out from me. So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he whooped aloud so that the Egyptians heard it and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
using the great adventure bible timeline we will read all the way from genesis to revelation discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today this is day 24. oh my goodness what a gift let's keep on going we're reading today from genesis chapter 45 and 46 also two more chapters from the book of our friend job job chapter 37 and 38
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, Come here to me, I beg you. And they came near, and he said, I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
For the famine has been in the land these two years, And there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. And he has made me a father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Make haste and go up to my father and say to him, thus says your son Joseph, God has made me Lord of all Egypt. Come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children and your flocks, your herds and all that you have. And there I will provide for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
For there are yet five years of famine to come, lest you and your household and all that you have come to poverty. And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt and of all that you have seen. Make haste and bring my father down here. Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
And Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. And after that, his brothers talked with him. When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, Joseph's brothers have come. It pleased Pharaoh and his servants as well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, say to your brothers, do this, load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan and take your father and your households and come to me and I will give you the best of the land in Egypt and you shall eat the fat of the land. Command them also, do this, take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives and bring your father and come.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Give no thought to your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours. The son of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. To each and all of them he gave festal garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five festal garments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
to his father he sent as follows ten donkeys loaded with the good things of egypt and ten she donkeys loaded with grain bread and provisions for his father on the journey then he sent his brothers away and as they departed he said to them do not quarrel on the way so they went up out of the land of egypt and came to the land of canaan to their father jacob
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
And they told him, Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, It is enough. Joseph, my son, is still alive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
I will go and see him before I die. So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, here am I. Then he said, I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt for I will there make of you a great nation. I
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
We'll also be reading from the book of Proverbs, closing out chapter four, verses 20 through 27. So again, we're starting out with Genesis 45 and 46.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
I will go down with you to Egypt and I will also bring you up again and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes. Then Jacob set out from Beersheba and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones and their wives in the wagons, which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
They also took their cattle and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons and his sons' sons with him, his daughters and his sons' daughters, all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt." Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel who came into Egypt. Jacob and his sons.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and the sons of Reuben, Hanak, Palu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons of Simeon, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanitish woman. The sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, The sons of Judah, Ur, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. But Ur and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
The sons of Issachar, Tola, Puva, Eob, and Shimron. The sons of Zebulun, Sered, Elan, and Jalil. These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, and Paddan Aram, together with his daughter Dinah. Altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. The sons of Gad, Siphion, Haggi, Shunai, Ezbon, Irai, Arodi, and Arali.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
We are reading from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, the Catholic edition, and I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, which is so helpful to have when we're reading this time, we're reading this podcast based off of the Great Adventure Bible timeline, because it all goes together and all fits together really, really well.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
The sons of Asher, Imnah, Ishva, Ishvi, Berea, and Sera, their sister. And the sons of Berea, Heber, and Malkiel. These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, sixteen persons. the sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife, Joseph, and Benjamin.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
And to Joseph, in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Ansanath, the daughter of Potipharah, the priest of On, bore to him. And the sons of Benjamin, Bilah, Becher, Ashbal, Gerah, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Mupim, Hupim, and Ard. These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob fourteen persons in all. The sons of Dan, Hushim. The sons of Naphtali, Jazil, Guni, Jezer, and Shalem.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she born to Jacob, seven persons in all. All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own offspring, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
All the persons of the house of Jacob that came into Egypt were seventy. He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to appear before him in Goshen. And they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. And he presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Israel said to Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, my brothers and my father's household who were in the land of Canaan have come to me and the men are shepherds for they have been keepers of cattle and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have. When Pharaoh calls you and says, what is your occupation?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
You shall say, your servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth, even until now, both we and our fathers, in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place. Listen to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. Under the whole heaven he lets it go and is lightning to the corners of the earth. After it, his voice roars. He thunders with his majestic voice and he does not restrain the bolts of lightning when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously in his voice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
If you wanna get your own Bible in a Year reading plan, It is free. You just have to go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year, and it's right there for you. All you have to do is go there, ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Please subscribe to this podcast. Just click on subscribe, and you'll get whenever we drop an episode, you can pick it up with your favorite podcasting app.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
he does great things which we cannot comprehend for to the snow he says fall on the earth and to the shower and the rain be strong he seals up the hand of every man that all men may know his work then beasts go into their lairs and remain in their dens from its chamber comes the whirlwind and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God, ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
He loads the thick cloud with moisture. The clouds scatter his lightning. They turn round and round by his guidance to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen. Hear this, O Job, stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Do you know how God lay his commands upon them and caused the lightning of his clouds to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? You whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind, can you like him spread out the skies hard as a molten mirror? Teach us what we shall say to him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
We cannot drop our case because of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? And now men cannot look on the light when it's bright in the skies and when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor and God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty, we cannot find him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
He is great in power and justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore, men fear him. He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man. I will question you and you shall declare to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determines its measurements? Surely you know. Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst forth from the womb?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Have you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth and the wicked shall be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal and it is dyed like garment. For the wicked, their light is withheld and their uplifted arm is broken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Have you entered into the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And where is the place of darkness?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Also, lastly, if you want to sign up for our email list, you can simply text the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777 just in the I guess the address button or the address section of your text messages, type in the numbers three, three, then seven, seven, seven.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
You may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home. You know, for you were born then and the number of your days is great. Have you entered the storehouses of the snow? Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble for the day of battle and war?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolts to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground put forth grass? Has the rain a father?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth? And who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazaroth in their season? Or can you guide the bear with its children?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the cloud that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth bolts of lightning that they may go and say to you, here we are? Who has put wisdom in the clouds? Who has given understanding to the mists? Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
Or who can tilt the water skins of the heavens when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling tightly together? Can you hunt the prey for lion or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their hiding places? Who provides for the raven its prey when its young ones cry to God and wander about for lack of food?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 24: Tears of Joy (2025)
My son, be attentive to my words. Incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight. Keep them within your heart, for they are life to him who finds them and healing to all his flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
The women, the daughters, they get to marry whomever they want. They get to marry anyone they want, but from their tribe. And it is, is it perfect? Of course it's not perfect. Is it a really wise and intelligent compromise knowing that here in the ancient world, this is how inheritance is passed on and knowing that land is going to be so, so very important. And it's not just my property. It's
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And knowing, again, we talked about it yesterday, how we looked at the borders of the nation of Israel, the promised land, that this is so important, that this is the land that belongs to the people of Israel. This is the land that belongs to the 12 tribes of Israel. Then what we would say is that land has to have some rules about it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And again, we can look at it and say, well, that doesn't seem fair when it comes to who gets what and how does land transfer from father to daughter, but not from daughter to their daughters or their sons. And yet at the same time, this is a pretty wise compromise and a pretty wise discernment of here's how we can solve this problem. That would be really, really tricky.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And that's problem is both honoring those daughters saying you can marry whomever you want. Like you actually are self-determining in this. At the same time, we have to marry someone within your tribe because of the very fact that the inheritance and the property is so important to the tribe. And I think that's something that teaches us something, not just about our marriages, but about life.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And that thing that it teaches us or reminds us is that we're not meant to live on our own. We're not meant to be simply like individual automatons, or I guess the word is atoms, in the middle of this universe, but we're united to each other and we belong to each other. And there are responsibilities. There's rights that come with these relationships with other people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And I'm so excited about that. But today we are concluding our desert wanderings with Numbers chapter 35 and 36 and Deuteronomy chapter 34. The book of Numbers chapter 35, cities for the Levites. The Lord said to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
There's also responsibilities that come with our relationship with other people. And we've heard that before, but I think it's good to be reminded of this, is that Mother Teresa had said, I may have even quoted this already, but Mother Teresa once said, one of the reasons we don't have peace is that we have forgotten that we belong to each other. And there's something about
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
the goodness and wholeness of saying, no, I'm part of a community, part of a family. And that means that I can't just do whatever I want. I have some obligations and some duties. Now, obviously, that can be corrupted, that can be manipulated, that can be used and that can be misused.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
But for all of us to be able to recognize that I don't just belong to myself, I belong to the Lord and I belong to my family. I belong to my people. And I belong to the community. You know, here we are, this community, the Bible in a Year community. We belong in some ways to each other. And that's why I keep asking us, like I said yesterday and the day before, to pray for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Please pray for me. I am praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And you shall give to the Levites pasture lands round about the cities. The cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their pasture lands shall be for their cattle and for their livestock and for all their beasts. The pasture lands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all round.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 80. It is the last day in Desert Wanderings, and so we are concluding
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And you shall measure outside the city for the east side 2,000 cubits and for the south side 2,000 cubits and for the west side 2,000 cubits and for the north side 2,000 cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall belong to them as pasture land for their cities. The cities which you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge where you shall permit the manslayer to flee.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities which you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight with their pasture lands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And as for the cities which you shall give from the possession of the sons of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few, each in proportion to the inheritance which it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And the cities which you give shall be your six cities of refuge. You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
concerning murder and revenge but if he struck him down with an instrument of iron so that he died he is a murderer the murderer shall be put to death and if he struck him down with a stone in the hand by which a man may die and he died he is a murderer the murderer shall be put to death or if he struck him down with a weapon of wood in the hand by which a man may die and he died
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
our reading of the books of numbers and deuteronomy we are reading today from numbers chapter 35 and 36 as well as deuteronomy chapter 34 just the last few words describing the death of moses we're also praying the second psalm of ascent which is psalm 121. as always i am reading from the revised standard version second catholic edition using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to download your bible into your reading plan you can visit
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
He is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death. And if he stabbed him from hatred or hurled at him, lying in wait so that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
But if he stabbed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait, or used a stone by which a man may die, and without seeing him cast it upon him so that he died, though he was not his enemy, and did not seek his harm, then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood in accordance with these ordinances.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, to which he fled." and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the bounds of his city of refuge to which he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the bounds of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slays the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. For the man must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
But after the death of the high priest, the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. And these things shall be for a statute and ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. You shall not thus pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And no expiation can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell. For I, the Lord, dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel. Chapter 36, concerning married women's inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
The heads of the father's houses of the families of the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the father's houses of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the father's houses of the sons of Israel. They said, the Lord commanded my Lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And my Lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of the Lophahad, our brother, to his daughters. But if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the sons of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong. So it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And when the Jubilee of the sons of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers. And Moses commanded the sons of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph is right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad. Let them marry whom they think best. Only they shall marry within the family of the tribe of their father. The inheritance of the sons of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the sons of Israel shall cling to the inheritance of the tribe of his father's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And every daughter who possesses an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that every one of the sons of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers. So no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another. For each of the tribes of the sons of Israel shall cling to his own inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
The daughters of Zelophehad did as the Lord commanded Moses. For Malah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to the sons of their father's brothers. They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year to get that. You also can subscribe in your podcast app to receive the daily episodes. As I said, we are concluding our books and concluding not only the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, but also concluding the desert wanderings and tomorrow. Gosh, tomorrow we're jumping into the period of conquest and judges. I don't know if you noticed this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
These are the commandments and the ordinances which the Lord commanded by Moses to the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 34, the death of Moses. And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the plain, that is, the valley of Jericho and the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And the Lord said to him, This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to your descendants.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there. So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor. But no man knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 30 days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua, the son of Nun, was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. So the sons of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land. and for all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
We thank you this day and every day for being with us on this journey. We thank you for guiding us on this journey through these desert wanderings. We thank you for your faithfulness because Lord, you meet us in our weakness and you meet us in our unfaithfulness, even in the small call to be faithful to hearing your word every single day. Lord God, when we fail in that, today is our day 80.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Even if we've failed a bunch of times, this is day 80 of this journey through the Bible. And I'm so grateful, Lord, we are all so grateful that you continue to guide us on this journey and you continue to lead us, you continue to speak to us, and you continue to shape our hearts to be more and more like yours, to shape our vision of you and of the world to be more and more like yours.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
If you have downloaded that Bible in a year reading plan, you note that in less than 20 days, we are having our first messianic checkpoint, which I am so excited about. On day 99, we are having basically, I think it's seven days of reading through the gospel of John.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Help us to see like you, help us to live like you, help us to love like you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. This concludes, wow, this concludes Desert Wanderings and this concludes the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. A couple of things just to highlight.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
In Numbers chapter 35 and then in Numbers chapter 36, we have those cities for the Levites. Remember that the Levites don't get any land. And this is, it might be anticlimactic way to conclude on the book of Numbers is looking at land, looking at boundaries, looking at cities for the Levites, looking at murder and revenge and inheritance laws.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
But if we look back to the beginning of Numbers, it was just Numbers. So maybe it's very fitting that we conclude the book of Numbers with just some kind of instructions. If you remember, the tribes of Israel were all given an inheritance, right? Land. Yet the Levites don't get land. And yet they had to live somewhere. And so they're given 48 cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Six of those cities were what they call cities of refuge. And we talked about these in the past, but just a reminder, those cities of refuge were put there because the consequence, essentially, the penalty for murder was the death penalty. Those cities of refuge were there because they were often a case if someone had accidentally killed another person, like manslaughter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
That's why they call them the manslayer, manslaughter. resulted in the accidental death of another person that someone could seek out vengeance. And yet here's God who says, no, no, no, not vengeance, but justice. And so these six cities of refuge, three across the Jordan River in the area of Moab and three in the land of Canaan. Why?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Because so they'd be close enough basically for anyone to be able to flee to one of these cities of refuge so that they could be tried justly instead of having mob justice or family justice or basically vengeance. And then you also have those laws concerning murder and revenge. And it's so practical. It's so practical that it's actually, it's pretty edifying for me to look at this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
How is it practical? Well, it says, how do you prove if someone's murdered with intent or not? If someone's killed someone with intent or not?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And here at the book of Numbers says, well, if you struck them down with iron or a rock or wood, like if one person hits another person with something made of iron or something made of wood or something made of rock, they might've been intending a little bit more than just punching them out. They probably were intending to kill the person.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
You know, if we put off the New Testament and read it in order, we wouldn't be reading anything in the New Testament, I think until November. And we do not want that. We want to be able to encounter and hear the story of our Lord Jesus much, much sooner. So on day 99, coming up so soon, we have our first messianic checkpoint reading all the way through the gospel of John in just seven days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And there's something, again, really practical about that. Is it 100% foolproof? Absolutely not. But is it a beginning? Is it a beginning of being able to learn how to discern between, okay, this was an accident, this was intentional, this was manslaughter, and this was murder? And that's an attempt to do that. Not only that, but we also have the law of justice. For example,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
If this was a crime of passion versus this was we're lying in wait in order to kill the person, there's a difference there as well. Not only that, but you also have the reality of having one or more witnesses. If there's only one witness, the person shall not be found guilty on the testimony of one witness because
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
We all know human nature can desire to manipulate the truth and desire to give false testimony. So we're going to see this as we move forward in the future when it comes to the Bible, that there's a need for more than one person to give testimony when the crime is a capital offense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
And so there's just a lot of wisdom that's being given to the people of Israel and to us at the end of this book of Numbers. One last thing about the book of Numbers is concerning married women's inheritance. If you remember, there was the man named Zelophehad and Zelophehad didn't have any sons, he only had daughters. And the question was, does the property Where does the property go?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
Because usually the property is transferred from father to son, not from father to daughter. So what happens here? Now, that's kind of a pickle because earlier on in the book of Numbers, it says, yes, absolutely, those daughters get the land of their father. But what happens if those daughters marry someone from a different tribe? Then what happens is the husbands would get the inheritance.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
That would now belong to not the tribe of the daughters. It would now belong to the tribe of the husbands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 80: Cities of Refuge (2025)
and that is a messy messy situation if say you're from the tribe of benjamin and you marry someone from the tribe of judah and all of a sudden your land is no longer belonging to benjamin because now it belongs to the man who was of the tribe of judah and so moses through the lord comes up or the lord through moses comes up with this pretty ingenious solution and the ingenious solution is
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And he swore, not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it. And to him and to his children, I will give the land upon which he has trodden because he has wholly followed the Lord. The Lord was angry with me also on your account and said, You also shall not go in there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Joshua, the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover, your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall go in there, and to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
But as for you, turn and journey into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea. Then you answered me, we have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight just as the Lord our God commanded us. And every man of you belted on his weapons of war and thought it easy to go up into the hill country.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
and the lord said to me say to them do not go up or fight for i am not in the midst of you lest you be defeated before your enemies so i spoke to you and you would not listen but you rebelled against the command of the lord and were presumptuous and went up into the hill country
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And he said, thanks, Father. And I said, no problem, bro. So if you want to get your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash slash Bible in a year. Also, you can subscribe in your podcast app. So as I said, today we have some good news and we have some bad news. The good news is we are journeying into the book of Numbers and the book of Deuteronomy. So good.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah. And you returned and wept before the Lord. But the Lord did not listen to your voice or give ear to you. So you remained at Kadesh many days, the days that you remained there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
To the choir master, according to the Gittith, a psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young. At your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God!
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise. Blessed are the men whose strength is in you, and whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs. The early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength. The God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Give ear, O God of Jacob. Behold our shield, O God. Look upon the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and a shield. He bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
We ask you right now to accept our thanksgiving, to accept our praise. Lord God, what we're gonna hear in the next couple days is that when Israel travels, the tribe of Judah leads the way. The tribe of Judah goes up first. Judah, meaning praise, Lord God. So we give you our praise now. We give you praise for scriptures that we don't understand, scripture that we might find uninspiring.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
We give you praise for the mystery that is you and that you reveal yourself to us today. in so many varied ways, so often in hazy ways, but you have revealed your heart to us truly in your son. And it's in his name, Lord God, that I ask you please receive our thanks. Receive our thanks for the ability to continue walking with you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Receive our thanks for our forefathers and foremothers in the faith, the Jewish people, the people of Israel. And your faithfulness to them in spite of their being unfaithful to you. Because your faithfulness to them in the midst of their unfaithfulness gives us the certainty that you will remain faithful even when we are unfaithful. So we thank you, God. We praise you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Incredible. A new period, new time period. The bad news is this, is the beginning of Numbers is kind of all about Numbers. It's where we got the title, the English title for the book of Numbers. The Hebrew title means into the wilderness, which is much more dramatic and a lot more exciting than
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Please receive our thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So what did I tell you? I said that that first chapter of Numbers is going to be a doozy. And it was. It was quite the doozy, as they say. But one important thing to understand, okay, this is the census.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
We're getting a very good sense, giving a good sense of how many people are in the wilderness. There's roughly 1.2 million men that were counted here in that numbering. So we would guess... 1.2, maybe I'm a little exaggerating there. There might be an estimated 2 million people traveling with Moses at this point. So it's important to understand that here they are camped at Mount Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
They're going to be on their way in just a second because in chapter two and in chapter three and in chapter four and moving on, they're going to have to start moving and they're going to have to start setting up the camp. And actually chapter two is the order of encampment.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And this is going to be kind of important, but the important part has already been said, not just the numbers, but at the end of chapter one in the book of Numbers, it says that the Levites were not numbered with their ancestral tribe, right? They weren't censuses, censused. They weren't counted. What happens is... The orientation of the camp is going to be such where the tabernacle, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
The place where God resides, the place where God abides in midst of his people is going to be the center of the camp, be the center of the camp. And around that center of the camp, the tabernacle is that's where the people of Levi are going to live. They're going to live closest to the presence of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And then fanning out in all four directions, north, south, east, and west, are going to be those 12 tribes of Israel. And so this is going to be really important for us to kind of just understand, have an idea. Tomorrow, that's what we're going to be talking about in Numbers chapter 2. But keep this in mind. At the heart of everything is the very presence of God, that tabernacle, his presence.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And in that holy place, right, not only is there a pillar of fire at night and a column of smoke by day, But in the Holy of Holies, there is that candle burning brightly, just like in our church, we have the presence of God in the tabernacle, in the Eucharist. And there's that candle burning brightly to remind us that this is the holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
In fact, there are so many times throughout the building up of Europe in the West where there were monasteries and the heart of the monastery was the sanctuary, right? Was the holy place. And then how many cities in Europe were built up around those monasteries. So at the heart of those cities, even,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
in some way, is an echo of these first couple chapters of Numbers where the Lord's presence is at the very heart of the city and the Levites or the priests are around there and then the city grows up around there where the heart remains the Lord's presence. And as I mentioned, in Deuteronomy, we're We're getting a sermon from Moses. Again, this is 40 years in the future.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
But our translation, our title for the book of Numbers is Numbers because it begins by numbering the people of Israel, numbering the tribes, the different 12 tribes of Israel. Now, that numbering can be discouraging for some people because you might get to the end of this day thinking, like, what the heck? That's all this was?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So here is numbers where they're counting the people. It's been a one year, 13 months roughly, since they've been delivered from slavery in Egypt. Now, the book of Deuteronomy is 40 years after that. And Moses is giving a recap of all the things that happened. And so today, what does he get?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
We get a recap of the first things that happened where God led his people from slavery and into freedom at Mount Sinai. So we're going to be jumping back and forth this entire next number of days while we are with the desert wanderings. Back to Numbers, where it's kind of like real time, and then forward to Deuteronomy, where Moses is going to do a recap for the first couple chapters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story together. Today, it is day 52. We have just left Egypt and the Exodus, and we're entering into the period of the desert wanderings. This is a kind of a big step.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And then he's going to say, okay, here's a reminder of the law, that second law, Deuteronomy, because Moses is going to tell the people, okay, your parents, they were not faithful. He also is going to say this. You are not going to be faithful either, but this is the Lord's law, and I need to give it to you so that you can know when you're not faithful and turn back to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
This is like the mercy of the law. God gives us the law as a mercy. knowing that our hearts are fickle, knowing that our hearts are unfaithful so often, but knowing also that when he gives us the law and we fail, then we can see that I failed against the standard God has set for me. And now I need to come back to him. So that's part of the lesson of Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
But we have got days and days and chapters and chapters and so many stories in which we can dive more and more deeply into that. I'm praying for you. Keep praying for me. I always want to keep these episodes to roughly 20 minutes, but I did want to also give a little overview of Numbers and Deuteronomy before we launched into it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So that was a little extra time before the reading and a little extra time after. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. It is day 52. Done. Check it off the list and let the Lord continue to speak to you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Well, it's not all this was because it's very, very important for us to understand that God knows his people and he numbers his people. Also, at the end of Book of Numbers, he numbers them again. So just know that's coming up. Also, we're starting the Book of Deuteronomy. Now, Deuteronomy means the second law. And if you haven't heard this already, here's kind of what we're doing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
The people of Israel have been in the wilderness where they've been at Mount Sinai for one year now, basically 13 months. They were there for one year and the last month of that 13 month period, the 13th month was the book of Leviticus. That's when God gave through Moses the law for Levitical worship, right? This is after the golden calf incident.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So if we think about where we've been, we had Exodus and we had the journey into the wilderness. We had the journey to Mount Sinai so they could worship God. But then what happens is they build the golden calf while Moses is on Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb, two names for the same mountain, getting the two tables of stone or two tablets of stone. Comes down, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And the people have fallen into idolatry. And so what happens? The tribe of Levi raises up and they exact to God's justice on those who turn to idolatry. And so they become, they ordained themselves this day, says Moses to the tribe of Levi. Now, that last month at Mount Sinai is where we're given the book of Leviticus. Now we're moving on. We begin, of course, in the wilderness of Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And that's where the first couple chapters take place. But we're going to go to two other wildernesses in the course of the book of Numbers. We're going to spend the middle of the book of Numbers in the wilderness of Paran. And then we're going to spend the end of the book of Numbers in the wilderness of Moab. So keep this in mind. We're at the wilderness of Sinai from chapters 1 through 10.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Then from chapters 13 to 19, they're in the wilderness of Paran. And then the last chapters from 22 to 36, they're in the wilderness of Moab. One thing to understand is we're going to begin reading the book of Numbers, chapter 1, with all the numbers. But then when we begin Deuteronomy right after Numbers chapter 1, this comes from Moses' book.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
a sermon, essentially, his instruction to the people of Israel, basically when they're in chapter 36 of Numbers. So it's like we're starting the wilderness journey with Numbers. And Deuteronomy is when Moses is now 40 years later, Moses is speaking to the children of those who began life in the wilderness. And he's giving them Deuteronomy or the second law.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Deutero meaning second and nomos meaning law. Right. So the first chapters of Deuteronomy are going to be kind of fun for us because it's going to be Moses recounting the entire story of Numbers. So it's kind of like this. Numbers is stretched out over 36 chapters. We're going to get a summary of numbers in the first few chapters of the book of Deuteronomy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And actually, today is going to be a little bit, well, I've got some good news for you and some bad news for you. But before that, I just want to remind you that the Bible translation that I'm using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Red Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So good news, bad news, bad news, a lot of numbers in chapter one of numbers. And good news is Deuteronomy is going to be telling us kind of a quick overview, a quick summary of all that happens in the 40 years that entail the journey of people of Israel through the wilderness wanderings or desert wanderings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Wow, with all of that preface being said, let's launch into, today we're reading from Numbers chapter 1, Deuteronomy chapter 1, and Psalm 84. The fourth book of Moses commonly called Numbers. Chapter one, the first census of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai in the tent of meeting on the first day of the second month in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt saying, take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel by families,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
By father's houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head, from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel, who are able to go forth to war, you and Aaron shall number them, company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his father's, And these are the names of the men who shall attend you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
From Reuben, Elizur, the son of Shediur. From Simeon, Shemuliel, the son of Zerushadai. From Judah, Nashon, the son of Amenadab. From Issachar, Nethanal, the son of Zuar. From Zebulun, Eliab, the son of Helon. From the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishema, the son of Amihud. And from Manasseh, Gamaliel, the son of Petazur. From Benjamin,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the leaders of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
moses and aaron took these men who have been named and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation together who registered themselves by families by fathers houses according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward head by head as the lord commanded moses So he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
One of the things that gets asked a lot, and you probably have figured this out already on day 52, is, is that you don't need to be following the exact bible translation that i'm reading from in fact sometimes what i'll do is i'll read multiple translations not out loud here on the recording but multiple translations at times can give me a different layered understanding of what's being said
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, the generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from 20 years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war. The number of the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Simeon, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, those of them that were numbered according to the number of names, head by head, every male from 20 years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, the number of the tribes of Simeon was 59,300.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Gad, the generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names from 20 years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Judah, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Judah was 74,600.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Issachar, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Zebulun, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Joseph, namely the people of Ephraim, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Manasseh, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Benjamin, their generations by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Asher was 41,500. Of the people of Naphtali,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Their generations, by their families, by their father's houses, according to the number of names from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war, the number of the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400. These are those who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered with the help of the leaders of Israel, 12 men, each representing his father's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So the whole number of the sons of Israel by their father's houses from 20 years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war in Israel, their whole number was 603,550. But the Levites were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with them. For the Lord said to Moses, only the tribe of Levi you shall not number.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
You shall not take a census of them among the sons of Israel, but appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the covenant and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings and they shall tend it and they shall encamp around the tabernacle. When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if anyone else comes near, he shall be put to death. The sons of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, every man by his own camp and every man by his own standard. But the Levites shall encamp around the tabernacle of the covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So if you have a New American Bible, if you have a New Jerusalem Bible, if you have one of the other English Standard Version, those are all pretty good translations. Again, you can use whatever. Jeff has always said that the Bible translation that is best to use is the one that you will use. And so that's what we got going for us. So that's nice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
that there may be no wrath upon the congregation of the sons of Israel, and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the covenant. Thus did the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Chapter one, events at Horeb recalled. These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness in the Ereba over against Suf, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dezahab. It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Sinai to Kadesh Barnea.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And in the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the sons of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them. After he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashteroth and in Adri.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to explain this law, saying, The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
in the hill country and in the lowland, and in the Negev, and by the sea coast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. Behold, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
appointment of the heads of the tribes. At that time I said to you, I'm not able alone to bear you. The Lord your God has multiplied you and behold, you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you as he has promised you. How can I bear alone the weight and the burden of you and your strife?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Choose wise, understanding, and experienced men according to your tribes, and I will point them as your heads. And you answered me, This thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers throughout your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien that is with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it. And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do. Israel's refusal to enter the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
But I'm using the Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition. A student just asked me, he said, hey, if I want to follow along with you, it's not too late to start if you're just starting today on day 52. How do I do that? I said, well, at the beginning of every podcast, I encourage people to download the Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites as the Lord our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh Barnea. And I said to you, you have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God gives us. Behold, the Lord your God has set the land before you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Go up, take possession as the Lord, the God of your fathers has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Then all of you came near me and said, let us send men before us that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come. The thing seemed good to me. And I took 12 men of you, one man for each tribe.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And they turned and went up into the hill country and came to the valley of Eshcol and spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us and brought us word again and said, It is a good land which the Lord our God gives us. Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
And you murmured in your tents and said, Because the Lord hated us, he has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 52: Israel Continues to Journey (2025)
Then I said to you, Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes and in the wilderness. Punishment for Israel's rebellion. And the Lord heard your words and was angered.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
So that is really, really key. So that idolatry, I mean, knowing they're going to come into a land of idolatry, of idols, they left the land of idols. And that's, you know, Moses begins with talking about the land of Egypt. They were slaves. You're going into this land of idols, but you have to be, you have to know that the one true God is yours and you serve him alone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Awesome. Yeah, and so they're kind of overlapping a little bit, but in some ways they're really different. Is that safe to say? Yeah. Yeah, it is. It's safe. What else do you want to know? No, I'm kidding. That's all I wanted to note. It's kind of the same, but kind of different. That's all.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, that makes so much sense too. I hear you describing the Shema, the hero Israel, and And then extending that by saying, teach these to your children and have them on your doorposts, on your arms, on your frontlets, between your eyes. And what it seems like is this, be interiorly converted yourself, like belong fully to the Lord yourself and pass it on.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And not just pass it on from a stage and pass it on through a microphone, but pass it on to your children. I mean, to the people who are living in your house with you. And there's that sense of like, it seems that... This is the way in which, in the new covenant, the church has been able to grow, is that you have people who are personally converted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
They know that they've been made into sons and daughters of the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. then they teach that to those who are in their immediate vicinity in passing on the faith that they have.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And so that sense I see here too in Deuteronomy chapter six is that sense of being personally converted so that you can share what you've received, that they'd be personally changed by this so that by that change, others may experience the same thing that's changed you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And just, I don't know, it just seems kind of like such a powerful opportunity for us to, like, as you're saying, we could have missed this, we could have not done this yet, and yet now we can. As you noted, they pray it every day, in every situation, every season. And so we don't have to mourn the fact that maybe we haven't done that. We can mourn it, but then we have to do it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And it's not too late. Right now, we can do that ourselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah. In fact, the downfall in so many ways. That is such a great... I remember reading through this and thinking, exactly, here's Solomon after David and...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Jeff, I would ask you, just because we're coming to a close here, are there any, and as you noted, we also have the bronze serpent and that foreshadowing of Christ, and we have the stories of the reason why Moses was not able to enter into the promised land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And even though he was so faithful for so long, there's an aspect of responsibility and an aspect of kind of weight that is given to those who are leaders of the people that they are called upon, you know, all these, there's a lot of these elements you mentioned, the Nazarite vow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Are there any passages from Numbers or Deuteronomy that you would say passages or, or snippets that you want, uh, people who are listening to this or doing the Bible in a year, like focus on, you already mentioned the Shema, you've mentioned some other pieces like, you know, that being clothed with the commands of God and, but any other snippets that you'd say highlight when, when you know this day is coming, here's something to really, uh,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
set your heart on this or to really open your ears, open your mind, open your heart for? Yeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Yeah, and that sense of, I love the notion of just picturing Moses here giving this final speech, this final sermon, however you want to describe it, as, in a certain sense, one who's carried these people like a father, or who's carried these people like a grandfather, who knows that I know you're going to be unfaithful, and yet I have to, have to remind you and encourage you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
These are the things. At this point, Moses knows the heart of the people. He knows what's happened in the past. He knows where they're going to be led into, and he also knows their weaknesses. He knows where they're going to be most tempted to be unfaithful to God. And so I see this and can hear this through that lens of here is a...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Right. And those 40 years are covered by the narrative book in Numbers, which is interesting because one of the things that we find out, it's like, as you noted, the narrative book being Numbers is typically, I think, for a lot of people, the one where we don't lose the story, we are traveling with the people of Israel and with the covenant people of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
a father who is desperate, a father who desperately loves the people, but also desperately loves the Lord and knows that these people are going to encounter challenges that in the past they failed, in the future they will fail. And yet just remember these things, remember these things and keep them before you always because God will be fulfilling everything he's promised. And I just-
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
That's so good. And leading, as you said, Christocentric, all points to Jesus, even the hidden parts, even the parts that are less less obvious. And so, so grateful, Jeff. I am so grateful for these introductions to these different time periods, because I think it adds so much more that most of us would never know on our own. And you're such a great and blessed teacher that gifted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And thank you so much for spending your time for all of us who are listening to this, to be able to get keyed up right and in the right posture to go into the desert with the people of Israel. And so thank you so much. Any last words or any last thoughts before we close with a prayer?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Amen. Let's say a prayer to ask the Lord to seal that in our hearts. In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Father in heaven, we thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for this conversation. And thank you for Jeff and his ability to teach his wisdom and knowledge of your word, that he has a heart for you and a heart for people to be able to share this. We thank you for all your good gifts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And we ask that you please As Jeff noted, help us to never forget that you're with us, whether we are in the promised land or whether we are in the wilderness, whether we're in times of plenty or in times of scarcity. Father in heaven, help us to always remember you are faithful to your promises and in our weakness, help us to be faithful to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And so that in some ways we look forward kind of maybe more eagerly to that narrative book, the book of Numbers. But at the same time, as you noted, the book of Deuteronomy has so many powerful words of encouragement, words of law, words of just direction from the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, amen. We are praying and we're praying for you. Thank you for praying for us, for me and for Jeff and for all those who are working on this Bible in a Year podcast. My name is Father Mike and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
That can immediately be applied to our life, as well as the fact that numbers can sometimes, well, even the fact that it's called the book of numbers might mean that some sections might be a little bit hard to get through because they're not going to be so much narrative as much as it's going to be counting or giving off a list of names of people that we might not be familiar with.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
into that story today. Today, I'm joined by Jeff Cavins once again to introduce the fourth biblical period of the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. You know, we've gone through the other timeline periods. We've looked at the early world. We looked at the patriarchs. We just finished Egypt and the Exodus, and now we're in the fourth biblical period called Desert Wanderings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
What do people do with that?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit together.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Before we begin, a couple of reminders. One is the Bible translation that I'm using Always is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to have your own Catholic Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And then what happens after that is how the story then unfolds, right? As they're led into the wilderness, which is, What a lot of us associate with, I don't know, desert wanderings is that sense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And as you noted, God's plan was that they would trust him and go into the, to take the land, not by their own power, but by trusting in him and by God's power that he would fulfill his promises that he had made to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. And yet the people...
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I wonder so often that when it comes to here they are having been slaves for 400 years and maybe even given their hearts to other gods, that here they are not knowing how to trust God, not knowing the identity of God, not knowing the character of God, and not knowing exactly how to trust him. And that sounds like that desert wandering, so those 40 days
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
are testing, and also maybe, would you also say training? Because I like to say that, but I don't want to, it's testing, but also I'm being trained in trust. Is that accurate, or is that kind of me just putting that in there?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And lastly, if you have not yet subscribed, you can subscribe in your podcast app. So not only do you get that downloaded to your phone or at least alerted on your phone every single day, but also more people can learn about this podcast the more people subscribe. So with all that being said, let's get started.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Right, in that sense of like, even as you noted, the tzitziot, those strings or strands are meant to represent the 613 commandments or commands of the Lord. And as we establish, I think, throughout the course of Exodus, is those commandments aren't given first. They're given after the relationship. Like God's established a covenant, and here's the commandments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
Once again, Jeff, thank you so much for being back with us again and teaching us about this next period of the desert wanderings. The books we're reading from are Numbers and Deuteronomy, and I'm just really excited to launch into this next biblical period.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
And so what they would do is they would be clothing themselves, right, with this reminder of God's commands. but also that would be clothing with a reminder of the extension of the covenant, like that this is the relationship that you have. And I mean, it's kind of like we would have scapulars or we would have a crucifix, you know, I've been claimed by Christ.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
There's something like that, but so powerful to be able to, you know, clothe yourself in that kind of, to literally clothe yourself in that way, that would be a reminder all day of the fact that you've been claimed. Yeah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Introduction to Desert Wanderings (with Jeff Cavins) (2025)
I'm literally on the edge of my seat, as you're saying. What is the key to this? Because if that is applicable to him, that's definitely going to be helpful and useful and necessary for us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Jacob brings a gift in Genesis chapter 33, verse 11. And the gift, and this is what Jeff Cavins points out, the term for gift that Jacob offers his brother, that word for gift, that term for gift is literally the word blessing. That Jacob is returning the blessing to Esau. Remember, it was the blessing that he deceived their father out of. And this is what Jeff says.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
The portion of the blessing that relates to material prosperity is now shared with Esau as an act of restoration. It's an act of restoration. And Jeff goes on to point out for the first time in the story, there is hope that reconciliation and forgiveness can win the day because this is the first time we see reconciliation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
This is the first time in this entire broken story that we see mercy, that we see forgiveness, that we see reconciliation. We also, again, that was the end of chapter 33. We went right into the chapter 34 where we hear and see and encounter this incredible brokenness. This defilement, this abuse of an innocent girl, Dinah. Gosh, isn't this how life works so often?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
That there is blessings, there's unprecedented forgiveness, never happened before. And then there's ugliness again the next day. And we don't know what to do. How do we respond to this ugliness? How do we respond to a blessing? I think part of it is we do what we do today. We keep moving forward. We keep moving forward. We identify what's good, and we praise God for it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
We name what is bad, what is evil, and then we do everything in our power to eradicate it, do everything in our power to get it out of our hearts first, and then out of our relationships, and then out of our civilization, our culture. But we first have to recognize that in my life, like Jacob and Esau, I need reconciliation, I need forgiveness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
We have to realize that in my life, like Shechem and Dinah and these brothers of Dinah's, there are brokennesses, there are angers, there is a desire for vengeance, there's a need for justice. And all those things reside in my heart. And I need to ask the Lord to do something about that. And what we do today, as we said, is we keep moving forward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And so he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids, and he put the maids with the children in the front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
We are on day 17 of this journey through the Bible. And we will not stop now. We don't stop when we encounter these difficult passages. We don't stop when we encounter this pain. We don't stop when we encounter things we don't understand. We keep on moving forward because we We know that God does write straight, but he writes straight with crooked lines.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And God's will is going to triumph, but sometimes it seems like it has to triumph in spite of our brokenness. Not because of any goodness that we bring to the story, but only because of the reality that he can redeem even the worst stories. you and I have broken stories, just like the broken story that we're reading for the next 300 and whatever it is days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Um, you have broken stories, but because we're getting ourselves closer and closer to him, even our broken story can be part of his story. I'm so grateful that you're joining me for this journey. And please know that I'm praying for you. Please be praying for me and please pray for each other because we need it. We are all in the midst of this together. Um,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
with reconciliation, needing reconciliation, with forgiveness and needing forgiveness. So we praise God. I'm praying for you, as I said. And my name is Father Mike. See you tomorrow.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And when Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, Who are these with you? Jacob said, The children whom God has graciously given your servant. Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last, Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Esau said, What do you mean by all this company which I met? Jacob answered, To find favor in the sight of my Lord. But Esau said, I have enough, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself. Jacob said, No, I beg you. If I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand, for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God. With such favor have you received me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Accept, I beg you, my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have enough. Thus he urged him, and he took it. Then Esau said, Let us journey on our way, and I will go before you. But Jacob said to him, My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle which are before me, and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir. So Esau said, Let me leave with you some of the men who are with me. But he said, What need is there?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Let me find favor in the sight of my lord. So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. But Jacob journeyed to Sukkoth and built himself a house and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Sukkoth. And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan Aram. And he camped before the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
This is day 17. Let's keep on going. On day 17, we'll be reading Genesis chapter 33 and 34, Job chapter 23 and 24, and and Proverbs 3, verses 13 through 18. As always, I am reading from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition of the Bible. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible you can get from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. Then he erected an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. Now Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And when Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humbled her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the maiden and spoke tenderly to her. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, Get me this maiden for my wife. Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
But his sons were with his cattle in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had wrought folly in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
But Hamor spoke with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. I beg you, give her to him in marriage. Make marriages with us, give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask of me ever so much as marriage present and gift, and I will give according as you say to me. Only give me the maiden to be my wife. The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
They said to them, We cannot do this thing to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised for that would be a disgrace to us. Only on this condition will we consent to you that you will become as we are and every male of you will be circumcised. then we will give you our daughters and we will take your daughters to ourselves and we will dwell with you and become one people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and we will be gone. Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem. And the young man did not delay to do the thing because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his family.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city saying, these men are friendly with us. Let them dwell in the land and trade in it for we hold the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters and marriage and let us give them our daughters. Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
that every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised will not their cattle their property and all their beasts be ours only let us agree with them and they will dwell with us and all who went out of the gate of his city hearkened to hamor and his son shechem and every male was circumcised all who went out of the gate of his city
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
on the third day when they were sore two of the sons of jacob simeon and levi dinah's brothers took their swords and came upon the city unawares and killed all the males they slew hamor and his son shechem with the sword and took dinah out of shechem's house and went away And the sons of Jacob came upon the land and plundered the city because their sister had been defiled.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Speaking of Ascension, if you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, the reading plan that we're following this entire year, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. Again, that's ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can subscribe in your podcast app. You also can You can sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys and whatever was in the city and in the field, all their wealth, all the little ones, their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and made their prey. Job chapter 23 and 24. Job replies, Then Job answered, Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat. I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, he would give heed to me. There an upright man could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him. On the left I seek him, but I cannot behold him. I turn to the right hand, but I cannot see him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
but he knows the way that i take when he has tried me i shall come forth as gold my foot has held fast to his steps i have kept his way and have not turned aside i have not departed from the commandments of his lips i have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth but he is unchangeable and who can turn him?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
What he desires he does, for he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind. Therefore I am terrified at his presence, when I consider I am in dread of him. God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me, for I am hemmed in by darkness, and thick darkness covers my face.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? Men remove landmarks. They seize flocks and pasture them. They drive away the donkeys of the fatherless. They take the widow's ox for a pledge. They thrust the poor off the road. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And behold, like donkeys in the desert, they go forth to their toil, seeking prey in the wilderness as food for their children. He says, They go about naked, without clothing, hungry, and carry off sheaves. Among the olive rows of the wicked, they make oil. They tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
From out of the city, the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help, yet God pays no attention to their prayer. There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways and do not stay in its paths. The murderer rises in the dark that he may kill the poor and the needy, and in the night he is as a thief.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me, and he disguises his face. In the dark they dig through houses, by day they shut themselves up, for they do not know the light. For deep darkness is mourning to all of them. For they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. You say they are swiftly carried away upon the face of the waters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
That's all one word, all together, all caps or no caps. It doesn't matter. Catholic Bible to 33777. Again, as I said today, we are reading from Genesis chapter 33 and chapter 34. As we heard yesterday, Jacob wrestled with the angel all night. And his name was changed. His name was changed from Jacob to Israel, which marked something unique.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Their portion is cursed on the land. No treader turns toward their vineyards. Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters. So does Sheol, those who have sinned. The squares of the town forget them. Their name is no longer remembered. So wickedness is broken like a tree. They feed on the barren childless woman and do no good to the widow, yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
They rise up when they despair of life. He gives them security and they are supported and his eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted a little while and then they are gone. They wither and fade like the mallow. They are cut off like the heads of the grain. If it is not so, who will prove me the liar and show that there is nothing in what I say? Proverbs 3, verses 13 through 18.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding. For the gain from it is better than gain from silver, and its profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Father in heaven, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for revealing your heart to us. And we thank you also that you have revealed to us that not only are you present when things are good, you are present when things are dark.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
That even as our friend Job complains and complains rightly in the midst of his suffering, You hear his complaint. You will answer, Lord, even though so often you are quiet. You will answer us. And today you answer us by giving us your word, proclaiming to us through this incredible technology. And so we thank you and we praise your name.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
We praise your name that is revealed to us through the words of your Bible, through the words of your church. We thank you this day and every day. Please receive our thanks in Jesus name. Amen. In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Man, gosh, I don't know. We could talk about Job a little bit, but we will because we have a number of days more with Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
But it seems like almost, I don't want to say more of the same with Job, but this is an important kind of lesson. It is the same. Job continues to note that there are good people who die and there are bad people who seem to be rewarded. And the logic would say, no, no, no, no, no. Good people are rewarded and bad people die. But Job points out that life isn't so straightforward.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
It isn't so clear cut. And he's trying to make sense of this. And so he's wrestling with the Lord. Yesterday, we saw Jacob wrestle with the Lord. This is what Job does. Jacob wrestled with the Lord one night. That was good. It was good that he did that. It was good that he engaged with the Lord. But here is Job, our friend Job.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And maybe yourself too, in the midst of your suffering, the midst of your pain, your trial, you continue to wrestle with the Lord saying, it would seem to me that if you were close, that if you cared, that if you are love, then you would deliver me from this pain. And yet we still find ourselves in the midst of suffering. We find ourselves in the midst of a broken world.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
It's one of the reasons why I'm just so moved by this story we heard today in Genesis chapter 33. In fact, in Jeff Kaven's book with Tim Gray, it's called Walking with God, Journey through the Bible. He says, he notes this. He says that, um, that when Jacob goes to meet Esau, right? He doesn't just go on his own. He doesn't just go with his family. He goes with big gifts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And it marks something we have never seen yet in the Bible. And this whole story of salvation, chapter 33, reveals something we have not yet seen. We've seen plenty of brokenness. We've never seen reconciliation. So here we start with Genesis chapter 33 and 34. And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming about 400 men with him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
He goes with a lot of gifts that he gives to his brother Esau. And he points out that Jacob's life had been a life of theft, scheming, and deceit. But it's the love of God that blesses Jacob. And Jacob is different moving forward from this. We notice that in chapter 34, that horrible chapter where Shechem has the rape of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob slash Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
And how the brothers are taking vengeance on the people. And Jacob wants to deal fairly with them. And the sons of Jacob want to deal maybe vengefully, maybe justly. It's hard to tell in a difficult, lawless place like that. And yet at the same time, Jacob doesn't deceive.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
Even if Jacob is ultimately maybe going to capitulate and make a covenant with this, the family of the man who had raped his daughter, he doesn't want to do it by deception. Again, brokenness. Man, all the scripture shows this brokenness. And scripture in this case does say that what happened to Dinah was evil. In fact, the words were, it ought not to be done. That rarely happens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2025)
When describing the stories of the fathers of the church, fathers and mothers of Israel, rarely are a person's actions ever described as evil. Rarely are they ever described as this ought not to be done. Obviously, it was not the actions of the people of Israel, but it was the actions of the people of Shechem. Nonetheless, it was horrible. But it was preceded by something that was remarkable.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
So for a large tribe, they get a large inheritance. For a small tribe, they get a small inheritance. At the same time, this is so, strikes me as so powerful, is that they wouldn't say, okay, well, you're the tribe of Benjamin, therefore you can have like
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
phenomenal land you're the tribe of manasseh you can have terrible land what they did is they did it by lot it's the fairest way you can do this divided up the property and according to the size according to the size of the tribe and then said okay according to the lot that's where your land is going to be lastly of course we have the family of levi and they did not get an inheritance god himself was their inheritance as
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Scripture has already made very, very clear. And so they will live in those towns. They also will lead worship in the place that God will point out. He has not yet done this because they have not gone to the promised land. They will lead worship in the place where the Ark of the Covenant and the temple, essentially, ultimately, the tent of meeting will be set up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
But right now, they do not have any inheritance except for God himself, which is a remarkable thing for us to be reminded of. A number of things. The numbers, we get numbered because why? We're called to go into battle. Number two, we get numbered because we're given land according to their size. Number three, that land is given by Lot. When I say Lot, I don't mean the nephew of Abraham.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
I mean lowercase L, Lot, Lot. Just being a jokester. But here we are today, given that space by God's hand. So again, you can say chance, but also we would say as believers that God is involved in everything by providence. And there are those people, those Levites, whose inheritance is not land and his inheritance is not property, but whose inheritance is God himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And Moses and Eleazar, the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho saying, Take a census of the people from 20 years old and upward as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
We are continuing this journey every single day. We're getting close to the end of the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. We're going to go into the promised land soon with Joshua and then life in the promised land, Judges, Ruth. That's all coming up very, very soon. But we're not in any rush to get through Numbers to get to the end of Deuteronomy because God continues to speak to us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
He continues to shape our minds, our hearts, and how we see him and his word and his world by his scripture. So keep praying for each other. You guys, we've gotten to the end of day 73. Keep on moving forward. Don't give up. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The sons of Israel who came forth out of the land of Egypt were Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, the sons of Reuben, of Hanak, the family of the Hanakites, of Palu, the family of the Paluites, of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites, of Carmi, the family of Carmites. These are the families of the Reubenites and their number was 43,730. And the sons of Palu, Eliab.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 73, and we are reading from Numbers chapter 26, Deuteronomy chapter 27. We are also praying Psalm 111 as always.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The sons of Eliab, Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram chosen from the congregation who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah when they contended against the Lord. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah did not die." The sons of Simeon, according to their families, of Nimuel, the family of the Nimuelites, of Jamin, the family of Jaminites, of Jakin, the family of the Jakinites, of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites, of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. These are the families of the Simeonites, 22,200.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
the sons of Gad, according to their families, of Zephon, the family of the Zephanites, of Haggai, the family of the Haggites, of Shuni, the family of the Shunites, of Osni, the family of the Osnites, of Eri, the family of the Erites, of Arad, the family of the Aradites, of Aureli, the family of the Aurelites. These are the families of the sons of Gad, according to their number, 40,500.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The sons of Judah were Ur and Onan, and Ur and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Judah, according to their families, were of Shelah, the family of the Shalonites, of Perez, the family of the Perizzites, of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. And the sons of Perez were of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites, of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
These are the families of Judah, according to their number, 76,500. The sons of Issachar, according to their families, of Tola, the family of the Tolaites, of Puva, the family of the Poonites, of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites, of Shimran, the family of the Shimranites. These are the families of Issachar, according to their number, 64,300.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The sons of Zebulun, according to their families, of Sered, the family of the Seredites, of Elan, the family of the Elanites, of Jalil, the family of the Jalilites. These are the families of the Zebulunites, according to their number, 60,500. The sons of Joseph, according to their families, Manasseh and Ephraim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The sons of Manasseh, of Machir, the family of the Machirites, and Machir was the father of Gilead. Of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. These are the sons of Gilead. Of Iazar, the family of the Iazarites. Of Helek, the family of the Helekites. And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites. And of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites. And of Shemitah, the family of the Shemitites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The Bible translation that I'm using today and pretty much every day is the Revised Standard Version, the Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You also can subscribe in your podcast app to receive daily episodes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
and of Hefer, the family of the Heferites. Now Zelophehad, the son of Hefer, had no sons but daughters, and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Malah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These are the families of Manasseh, and their number was 52,700. These are the families of Ephraim, according to their families. Of Shuthalah, the family of the Shuthalahites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Of Beqar, the family of the Beqarites. Of Tehan, the family of the Tehanites. And these are the sons of Shuthalah. Of Aran, the family of the Aranites. These are the families of the sons of Ephraim, according to their number, 32,500. These are the sons of Joseph, according to their families. The sons of Benjamin, according to their families. Of Bela, the family of the Belaites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites. Of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites. Of Shephapham, the family of the Shephaphamites. Of Hufam, the family of the Hufamites. and the sons of bella were ard and naaman of ard was the family of ardites of naaman the family of the naamites these are the sons of benjamin according to their families and their number was forty-five thousand six hundred
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
These are the sons of Dan, according to their families, of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan, according to their families, all the families of the Shuhamites, according to their number, were 64,400. The sons of Asher, according to their families. Of Imnah, the family of the Imnites. Of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites. Of Berea, the family of the Bereites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Of the sons of Berea, of Heber, the family of the Heberites. Of Malkiel, the family of the Malkielites. And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. These are the families of the sons of Asher, according to their number, 53,400.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
the sons of Naphtali, according to their families, of Jezeel, the family of the Jezeelites, of Guni, the family of the Gunites, of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites, of Shalem, the family of the Shalemites. These are the families of Naphtali, according to their families, and their number was 45,400. This was the number of the sons of Israel, 601,730. The Lord said to Moses,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
But as I said, today we are reading from Numbers 26, Deuteronomy 27. We are praying Psalm 111. I want to give you fair warning. Numbers 26 has a lot of names. This is another census of Israel. So just get your census caps on, get your names cap on and some numbers because we're gonna go through the family of the house of Israel once again. And this is the census at the end of Numbers, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
But the land shall be divided by Lot, according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. Their inheritance shall be divided according to Lot between the larger and the smaller. These are the Levites as numbered according to their families. Of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites. Of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites. Of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
These are the families of Levi, the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Malites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. And Kohath was the father of Amram. The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt, and she bore to Amram, Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And to Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire before the Lord, and those numbered of them were 23,000. Every male from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the sons of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
These were those numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. But among these, there was not a man of those numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest who had numbered the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, they shall die in the wilderness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
There was not left a man of them except Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, the son of Nun. The book of Deuteronomy, chapter 27. The inscribed stones, an altar on Mount Ebal. Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And on the day you pass over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster, and you shall write upon them all the words of this law. When you pass over to enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And when you have passed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones concerning which I command you this day on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall lift up no iron tool upon them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
You shall build an altar to the Lord your God of unhewn stones, and you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, and you shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, and you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, Keep silence and hear, O Israel. This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And Moses charged the people that same day, saying, When you have passed over the Jordan, these shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And these shall stand upon Mount Ebal for the curse, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Cursed be the man who makes a graven or molten image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman and sets it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he who dishonors his father or his mother. and all the people shall say amen. Cursed be he who removes his labor's landmark, and all the people shall say amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
So we had the census at the very beginning of Numbers. Here we are with the census at the end of Numbers to kind of say, okay, after 40 years, what's going on? Who are the people? Who are the people that are coming into the promised land, who have made it through the wilderness? What are their names and how many are there? That's today in Numbers chapter 26.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Cursed be he who misleads a blind man on the road, and all the people shall say amen. Cursed be he who perverts the justice due the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, and all the people shall say amen. Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife because he has uncovered her who is his father's. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he who lies with any kind of beast.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person, and all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them. And all the people shall say, Amen. Psalm 111 Praise for God's wonderful works. Praise the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who have pleasure in them. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
he is ever mindful of his covenant he has shown his people the power of his works in giving them the heritage of the nations the works of his hands are faithful and just all his precepts are trustworthy They are established forever and ever to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people. He has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures forever. Father in heaven, it is true. Your praise endures forever and we give you thanks. Let us praise you every day. Let us be like Judah. Let praise go up first. In this moment, we offer you our first fruits. In this moment, we offer you our hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
We offer you our everything. In the best way, Lord God, that we know that we can love you. There's these three ways that we know we can love you. We can show you our love by worshiping you. We can show you our love by obeying your commandments. and we can show you our love by loving and caring for our brother and our sister among us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
Help us to do all those three things, Lord God, and help us to be people who love you with everything we have and everything we are. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. So, at the Book of Numbers, as I said, I warned you, there are going to be some names, and the families of the people, the tribes of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
We could lose a little bit of the story here, but keep this in the context of the story. At the very beginning of Numbers, we went through the numbering of the tribes of Israel. And now here at the end of Numbers, they're numbering the tribes of Israel. Why are they doing this? Well, just like in the beginning, because who did God save from slavery in Egypt? Let's number them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
The book of Numbers 26, another census of Israel. After the plague, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel from 20 years old and upward by their father's houses, all in Israel who are able to go forth to war.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
As they're wandering through the wilderness, let's number them. Because God's intention was that they would go up in and take the land, right? Take possession of the land he was going to give to them. But they failed. And so now here, 40 years later, they're numbering once again, who are the fighting men? What's the number of the fighting men in each one of these tribes?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And this is really important because why? Because the next step is going to be battle. The next step is going to be people of Israel, tribes of Israel go to war. Now, interestingly, some of the tribes grew. Some of them did not grow. They got smaller. Overall, though, what we have is we have very little change. Ultimately, there's roughly 603,550 who were in the first census.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 73: Inheritance of Land (2025)
And at the end, we have 601,730 are now with the people of Israel. So it went down by a little less than 2,000 people at the end of numbers versus the beginning of numbers. Moses also makes it very, very clear that here they are, they're going to take the land, but also the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let my soul live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me. I have gone astray, like a lost sheep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Father in heaven, we give you praise and thank you. Thank you so much for your word. Thank you so much for the gift of the priesthood that you've given to not only the people of Israel, but the gift of the new and eternal priest, the priesthood of Jesus Christ, your son, that you've given to your people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Have you given to the church as it exists now and as it exists at its founding when your son offered himself for us at the last supper and said, take this, all of you, and eat of it. This is my body. Take this, all of you, and drink from it. This is the cup of my blood, the cup of the new and eternal covenant. Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you so much.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Thank you that you are the great high priest and we thank you that you have chosen men among us to extend that work, the share in the mission, to share in the identity and to share in the ministry of your priesthood. Help us all to draw near to you as those who are baptized are also made kingdom priests by our baptism.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Help us all to lift up our voices, lift up our hearts, and lift up the great sacrifice to the Father in your name by the power of your Holy Spirit. Make this prayer in the mighty name, your mighty name, Lord Jesus Christ, name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen. So there's so much to say about these first two readings from Exodus and from Leviticus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
But one of the things that needs to be iterated and reiterated is the fact that not only are in the new covenant, not only are the new covenant priests called to belong to the Lord and called to lead the people in worship, to be those intercessors, right, who go from the people to the Lord and go from God back to the people as prophets and priests, but that they're called to be holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And so please, today, on this day, day 45, please pray for our priests as we hear about the Old Testament priesthood and the need for priests to be holy. A little reminder, the Bible translation that I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. You can get that at ascensionpress.com.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
that they're called to live a certain way and that so many of us priests fail to live that way in small ways and in great ways, right? We know of the big ones, we know the big failings and big massive sins and heinous actions of many priests, but also just the small ways that Every Christian fails to honor the Lord. Every Christian fails to live up to the call to be holy as the Lord God is holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And so today on this day, I just invite you on day 45 to let this be a day where we just dedicate our prayer for our priests, right? To say, okay, Lord, not just that we get more priests, not just we have enough to serve the people of God whom God loves so much.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
but also that these priests, including myself, may be actually holy, may truly live up to the call of Jesus Christ because I know my brokenness and I know how much I stand in need of God's mercy every single day in small ways and in incredibly large ways that's like, oh my gosh, Lord, I could not stand for another day without your help, without your mercy, without, gosh, the sacrament of confession that I need so often is
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
that I just say, God, help me to be this kind of priest that you describe here. A priest who actually is a man after your own heart, a man who actually chooses you. And that Psalm 119, as we got to the end here, where it says, the last lines here, let my soul live and I may praise you. And let your ordinances help me. Because I have gone astray like a lost sheep.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
This is the person, the psalmist, right, who wrote and said, like, Lord, I love your law and I love your commandments and I hate the ways of falsehood and all these things, which is true. But he also says, but I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant. And I love that. That's the prayer of all of us, right? Lord, I have gone astray. So seek me out.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Lord, I have gone astray like a sheep, like a lost sheep. I've run away from you. So seek me out. Not just welcome me back, but seek me out. Not just let me come back in the door, but Lord God, race after me. Search for me, find me and bring me home. And that is my prayer for myself. Golly, you guys.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
But it's also my prayer for everyone who's a part of this community, this Bible in your community, that we have gone astray so many ways. And so often for a loss, we don't know the way home.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
i mean even if we kind of technically do know the way it's like but lord i would not i would not choose that way unless you seek me out so just like the psalmist with all 176 verses of psalm 119 that last verse lord i have gone astray like a sheep like a lost sheep so seek me out let that be our prayer today um both two things right pray for our priests lord god help them make them holy but also for ourselves lord god i have gone astray like a lost sheep
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Also, some people ask, when we were 45 days into this, and we're using the same translation the entire 365 days. So people will say, do I need to get the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition? You don't have to. It helps a lot. But, you know, the Bible translation that we use at Mass, is called the New American Bible. And I like that translation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Seek me out. Bring me home. The Lord God, he loves you already. The Lord loves you already. And he knows your name. He calls your name. He seeks you out. Today, once again, let him bring you home. Let's keep praying for each other. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 45. Let's keep on trucking along. If you have the We'll be right back. So day 45, we're reading from Exodus chapter 29, still deep, deep in Exodus, Leviticus chapter 21.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
That's the one that I will use on a daily basis. Well, actually now I use both the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, the Great Adventure Bible, as well as my New American Bible on a daily basis because we're doing this. And there's something really good about having one translation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
There's also something really good about having multiple translations that you're really familiar with. And so whatever translation you like, that's the one to use. That's what Jeff Cavins always will say. I remember him saying the first time I heard him say that, he said, what Babel translation is the best? The one that you are willing to read.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And so hopefully the one you're listening to is one that is speaking to your heart and to your mind and feeding you as well. Please subscribe in your podcast app. Here we are. Let's actually get to God's word as we read from Exodus chapter 29, Leviticus chapter 21, and Psalm 119. Exodus chapter 29, the ordination of priests.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Now, this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Take one young bull and two rams without blemish and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour and you shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket and bring the bull and the two rams.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
you shall bring aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting and wash them with water and you shall take the garments and put on aaron the coat and the robe of the ephod and the ephod and the breastpiece and belt him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod And you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown upon the turban.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Then you shall bring his sons and put coats on them. And you shall belt them with sashes and bind caps on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons. Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bull, and you shall kill the bull before the Lord at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails and the appendage of the liver and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them and burn them upon the altar." But the flesh of the bull and its skin and its dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Then you shall take one of the rams and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram and you shall slaughter the ram and shall take its blood and throw it against the altar round about. Then you shall cut the ram into pieces and wash its entrails and its legs and put them with its pieces and its head and burn the whole ram upon the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
It is a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram, and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and upon the tips of the right ears of his sons and upon the thumbs of their right hands and upon the great toes of their right feet and throw the rest of the blood against the altar round about.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
then you shall take part of the blood that is on the altar and of the anointing oil and sprinkle it upon aaron and his garments and upon his sons and his sons garments with him and he and his garments shall be holy and his sons and his sons garments with them you shall also take the fat of the ram and the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh, for it is a ram of ordination, and one loaf of bread, and one cake of bread with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the Lord. And you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Then you shall take them from their hands and burn them on the altar in addition to the burnt offering as a pleasing odor before the Lord. It is an offering by fire to the Lord. And you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the Lord, and it shall be your portion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the priest's portion, which is waved and which is offered from the ram of ordination, since it is for Aaron and for his sons. It shall be for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual debt from the sons of Israel, for it is the priest's portion to be offered by the sons of Israel from their peace offerings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
It is their offering to the Lord. The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him to be anointed in them and ordained in them. The son who is priest in his place shall wear them seven days when he comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place. You shall take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket at the door of the tent of meeting. They shall eat those things with which atonement was made to ordain and consecrate them. But an outsider shall not eat of them because they are holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And if any of the flesh for the ordination or of the bread remain until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten because it is holy. Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Through seven days shall you ordain them, and every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Also you shall offer a sin offering for the altar when you make atonement for it and shall anoint it to consecrate it. Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy. the daily offerings. Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar. Two lambs a year old, day by day, continually.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening. And with the first lamb, a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a libation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And the other lamb you shall offer in the evening and shall offer with it a cereal offering and its libation as in the morning for a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the Lord. It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you to speak there to you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
There I will meet with the sons of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. And I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and I will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
We're praying today, that last section on Psalm 119. We'll be praying Psalm 119 verses 121 through 176. There is so much in Psalm 119. that the Lord just reveals to us about our own hearts, reveals to us about his heart. But even more, gosh, Exodus 29 and Leviticus 21. There is a deep connection today with both of these readings.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, Speak to the priests, to the sons of Aaron, and say to them that none of them shall defile himself for the dead among his people, except for his nearest kin, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, or his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband. For her he may defile himself.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
He shall not defile himself as a husband among his people and so profane himself. They shall not make tonsures upon their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the offerings by fire to the Lord, the bread of their God. Therefore they shall be holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
They shall not marry a harlot or a woman who has been defiled. Neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord who sanctify you, am holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the harlot, profanes her father, she shall be burned with fire. The priest who is chief among his brethren, among whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, nor tear his clothes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
He shall not go into any dead body, nor defile himself even for his father or for his mother. Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God, nor For the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am the Lord. And he shall take a wife in her virginity, a widow or one divorced or a woman who has been defiled or a harlot.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
These he shall not marry, but he shall take to wife a virgin of his own people that he may not profane his children among his people. For I am the Lord who sanctify him. And the Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron, None of your descendants throughout their generations who has had a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has had a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease, or scabs or crushed testicles,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
No man of his descendants, of Aaron the priest, who has a blemish, shall come near to offer the Lord's offerings by fire, since he has a blemish. He shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things, but he shall not come near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the Lord who sanctify them. So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
I have done what is right and just. Do not leave me to my oppressors. Be surety for your servant for good. Let not the godless oppress me. My eyes fail with watching for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love and teach me your statutes. I am your servant. Give me understanding that I may know your testimonies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken. Therefore, I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore, I direct my steps by all your precepts. I hate every false way. Your testimonies are wonderful. Therefore, my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light. It imparts understanding to the simple.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
One is because, well, the main reason is because they both talk about the priesthood. And in Exodus talks about the ordination of priests. And then in Leviticus talks about the need for priests to be holy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
With open mouth, I pant because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me as you always do toward those who love your name. Keep steady my steps according to your promise and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man's oppression that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
My eyes shed streams of tears because men do not keep your law. You are righteous, O Lord, and right are your judgments. You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness. My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words. Your promise is well tried and your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Your righteousness is righteous forever and your law is true. Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight. Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding that I may live. With my whole heart, I cry, answer me, O Lord. I will keep your statutes. I cry to you, save me, that I may observe your testimonies. Arise before dawn and cry for help.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night that I may meditate upon your promise. Hear my voice in your steadfast love. O Lord, in your justice, preserve my life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose. They are far from your law, but you are near, O Lord, and your commandments are all true.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. Plead my cause and redeem me. Give me life according to your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. Great is your mercy, O Lord. Give me life according to your justice.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
And so I'm just asking for you as we begin this time to pray for me, as well as pray for your pastor, pray for the associate priests, pray for all the priests in your life, because not only are they called to be set apart, but they're called to live in that way that honors the one who set them apart and honors the one that they worship and honors the people that they're called to pray for.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. Consider how I love your precepts. Preserve my life according to your steadfast love. The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances. Great peace have those who love your law. Nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 45: Pray for Priests (2025)
My soul keeps your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. Let my cry come before you, O Lord. Give me understanding according to your word. Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word. My lips will pour forth praise that you teach me your statutes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Jesus Christ is the final, essentially, in some ways, the final prophet that leads into a nation of prophets. We know that those who are baptized are anointed, priest, prophet, and king. We talked about that before. But he's the one, it's his prophecy that we share. It's in his power, his role, his ability that we share.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
We're going to continue in the next couple of days looking at the Levitical priesthood again. And I just want to encourage you to stick with this because it is important for us to understand here is how the Lord desired to be worshiped in the past. And it reveals something even more deeply about how the Lord desires to be worshiped in the present. I'm praying for you every single day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And I ask that you please pray for me, but also pray for each other because, again, as I've said a thousand times now, roughly 66 times because this is day 66, we are not alone. You are not alone on this. We need to encourage each other and walk with each other and lift each other up. My name is Father Mike, and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the tent of the covenant. And the next day, Moses went into the tent of the covenant. And behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms and it bore ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the sons of Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And they looked, and each man took his rod. And the Lord said to Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, lest they die. Thus did Moses, as the Lord commanded him, so he did. And the sons of Israel said to Moses, behold, we perish. We are undone. We are all undone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord shall die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect, whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
If there is found among you, within any of your towns, which the Lord your God gives you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the hosts of heaven which I have forbidden, and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
that such an abominable thing has been done in Israel. Then he shall bring forth to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses, he that is to die shall be put to death. A person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
The hand of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns which is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the Lord your God will choose, and coming to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, you shall consult them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And they shall declare to you the decision. Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place which the Lord will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you, according to the instructions which they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
You shall not turn aside from the verdict which they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
We're also praying Psalm 98. As always, I am reading from the Bible translation of the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. You can also feel free to subscribe to this podcast if you haven't yet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
limitations of royal authority. When you come to the land which the Lord your God gives you and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me, you may indeed set as king over you him whom the Lord your God will choose. Run from among your brethren, you shall set as king over you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
You may not put a foreigner over you who is not your brother. Only he must not multiply horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, you shall never return that way again. And he shall not multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he multiply for himself silver and gold.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law from that which is in the charge of the Levitical priests.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And it shall be with him, and he shall read it in all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brethren.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
and that he may not turn aside from the commandment either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children in Israel. Chapter 18. Privileges of Priests and Levites. The Levitical priests, that is, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings by fire to the Lord and his rightful dues.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
hi my name is father mike schmitz and you're listening to the bible in a year podcast where we encounter god's voice and live life through the lens of scripture the bible in a year podcast is brought to you by ascension using the great adventure bible timeline we'll read all the way from genesis to revelation discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today today is day 66 and we are reading today from numbers chapter 17 as well as from deuteronomy chapter 17 and chapter 18
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
They shall have no inheritance among their brethren. The Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them. And this shall be the priest's due from the people.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
from those offering a sacrifice whether it be ox or sheep they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach the first fruits of your grain of your wine and of your oil and the first of the fleece of your sheep you shall give him For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel where he lives, and he may come when he desires, to the place which the Lord will choose, then he may minister in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord. They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Abominable practice is prohibited. When you come into the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination, a soothsayer, an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominable practices, the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you are about to dispossess give heed to soothsayers and to diviners, But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
It's been 66 days or roughly exactly. And maybe it's time. Maybe it's time to commit and subscribe to this podcast. by clicking subscribe. But as I said, today is day 66. We're reading Numbers chapter 17, very short chapter today, as well as Deuteronomy 17 and 18 and Psalm 98. The book of Numbers chapter 17, the blossoming of Aaron's rod.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren. Him you shall heed. Just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire anymore lest I die. And the Lord said to me, They have rightly said all that they have spoken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not heed to my words, which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How may we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the Lord has not spoken.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
The prophet has spoken it presumptuously.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
A psalm. O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The Lord has made known his victory. He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
All the earth break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody, with trumpets and the sound of the horn. Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the floods clap their hands.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Lord, God, your psalmist sings your praise and praises you better than we could because it is your word. It's your Holy Spirit, Lord, that helps us to pray. And so we ask you, please, today, help us to pray because on our own, we cannot pray as we ought. And so, Lord, help us. Help us give you praise. Help us to see your wisdom in your word and to let it transform our minds and our hearts.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And we give you thanks because you are good and you do good because you are our Father and we are your children. Thank you so much for claiming us as yours. And we claim you as ours, as is our right. We claim our rights in the name of Jesus. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Okay, so we had probably one of our shortest chapters of this entire journey on day 66 in Numbers chapter 17, where there's the story of, again, with rebellion after rebellion, we have the people of Israel being put to the test, essentially, where the Lord says to Moses, okay, take all these rods, mark the names of the fathers of each household, all 12 tribes on them, including Aaron, bring them into the temple of the Lord or tent of meeting, the tabernacle, the holy place, and
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And Aaron's rod is the one that blossoms. And so that means, okay, no, listen, I know you all want to serve in the temple. I know everyone wants to be a priest, but it's only going to be from the family of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. And so that's our shortest chapter in number 17.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Hopefully that will subdue the people and hopefully that they will just accept the authority that God has given them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
He said, ironically, we're going to see what happens in the next couple of days with a quick break tomorrow, of course, to talk about the Levitical priesthood once again, because once again, it's so important for us to understand how vital service is, meaning service in terms of worship. And that is so important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
The Lord said to Moses, speak to the sons of Israel and get from them rods, one for each father's house, from all their leaders, according to their father's houses, 12 rods. Write each man's name upon his rod and write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father's house.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
But today we looked into Deuteronomy chapter 17 and chapter 18, and there were talks about forbidden forms of worship. So things not just like turning to other gods, but also worshiping what kind of thing can we offer to God? And so if there was a defective sheep or ox or cattle, whatever it was, that defective thing is not given to God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And that reminds us so clearly of the fact that we give God our best. And that's what we're called to do. If someone does turn away, as chapter 17 says, if someone does turn away and worship false gods, the sun or moon or whatever, the justice of God is so clear here. Because It's spelled out in the law that if that person is accused by one person that, nope, that's not good enough.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
They have to have two or three witnesses who can testify, I have seen this person commit idolatry. And not only that, it can't just be one person, you know, someone with a grudge against someone falsely accusing, so he said versus he said. It has to be two or three witnesses. But even then, the penalty being capital punishment, the penalty being death, it's so just brilliant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
I mean, it's harsh, but it's brilliant that the person throwing the first stone has to be one of the accusers, has to be one of the witnesses. In terms of, yeah, I can't just pawn this off to someone else. And again, remember, this is a rough time. And these people are being brought from having virtually no law, might makes right, strength makes the winner, to saying, no, this has to be just.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And this is that step. eye for eye, tooth for tooth, and even this saying like, okay, not just he said versus he said, but it has to be two or three witnesses. And even then the witnesses are on the line because sure, I can give false witness and then let me go.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
But to give false witness and then to be the first person to throw the first stone in this person's death, that costs a lot from a human being. And I think that's, again, the part of the wisdom of God. It's a brutal wisdom, but I do believe it is still wisdom. Going on, just one last, two last things. Even in chapter 17, we have the limitations of royal authority. Now, Israel doesn't have a king.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And for a long time, Israel is not going to have a king until King Saul. This is going to happen in a while from now. We're going to go through the period of Joshua. We're going to go through the period of Judges. Then finally, in 1 Samuel, we're going to enter the area of kings. But
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And there's instructions here in Deuteronomy that say, when you come to the land, the people are going to ask for a king. And here's what the king has to do. The king can't collect horses for himself. That would be like amassing an army for himself and that your sons and daughters are now at his disposal. Also, he should not multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
That is such a clear, clear line. Because what happens? We have King Saul in the future. Then we'll have King David. Then we're going to have King Solomon. And Solomon will have 300 wives and 700 concubines. And here is the word of God saying that the king will not multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away. And that is literally exactly right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
what happens to King Solomon, which is 300 wives and 700 concubines. His heart turns to serve other gods. And that's one of the reasons why in this chapter, right in this next section, it says that that king, when he sits on the throne, he will keep that law to himself and read it every single day so that he's reminded of God's law and doesn't turn away from the Lord. But that is what happens.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the covenant where I meet with you. And the rod of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the sons of Israel, which they murmur against you. Moses spoke to the sons of Israel and all their leaders gave him rods, one for each leader according to their father's houses, 12 rods.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
That Solomon turns away from the Lord, his God. Now, the last, very last note. In Deuteronomy chapter 18, we have this. Not only are the abominable practices prohibited, like turning to a sorcerer or a wizard or diviner or necromancer, all these things.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
But God then promises, the Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me, says Moses, from among you, from your brethren, and you shall listen to him. Ultimately, oh my gosh, ultimately, that prophet like Moses is our Lord Jesus. It is incredible. This is a one of the prophecies of Jesus, one of the future foretellings of our Messiah, of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is a prophet like Moses.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 66: Forbidden Forms of Worship (2025)
And it's just remarkable that here we are back way back in Deuteronomy chapter 18. Moses is promising the days are going to come. when the Lord raises up a prophet like me. Now, there are other prophets as well, incredible prophets that were like Moses, but Jesus is the one who ultimately fulfills this prophecy of being the fulfillment of that great role of prophet.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Remember your congregation, which you have gotten of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage. Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins. The enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary. Your foes have roared in the midst of your holy place. They have set up their own signs for signs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes and then all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. They set your sanctuary on fire. To the ground they desecrated the dwelling place of your name. They said to themselves, we will utterly subdue them. They burned all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
There is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long. How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand? Why do you keep your right hand in your bosom? Yet, God, my King, is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by your might.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
You broke the heads of the dragons on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan. You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. You cut open springs and brooks. You dried up ever-flowing streams. Yours is the day, yours also the night. You have established the luminaries and the sun. You have fixed all the bounds of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs and an impious people reviles your name. Do not deliver the souls of your dove to wild beasts. Do not forget the souls of your poor forever. Have regard for your covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. Let not the humble be put to shame. Let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, O God, plead your cause.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Remember how the impious scoff at you all the day. Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of your adversaries, which goes up continually. Father in heaven, we thank you. We give you praise for your word. We thank you so much for revealing yourself to us, revealing your heart to us, and revealing your commandments to us here in the book of Exodus and in the book of Leviticus.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel, you have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples. for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Lord God, we know that you've called us by name, that you know us, that you love us. And we, in response, say that we also desire to know you. And we also desire to love you more and more fully every single day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Well, what a gift. It's always a gift.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
It's always a gift to be able to receive the Lord's word. But today, what we see is here is God who is revealing himself to his people on Mount Sinai. And not only does he reveal himself to his people, he enters into covenant with them in this unique particular way. I mean, this is kind of it's there's there's a lot to the story, obviously. Right.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
But here is God who is establishing his desire and his desire is I will be your God and you will be my people. So there's more that's going to happen, obviously, in the future as they move forward to seal the covenant and whatnot. But the Lord has. revealed his desire. And that desire is covenant. One of the things that we know about covenant is it is incredibly different than a contract.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
You may have heard of this before. A contract is an exchange of goods or services based off of a condition. An exchange of goods or services based off a condition. I'll do this for you if you did that for me. So if you don't do the thing you said, then I don't have to do the thing I said.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
But a covenant is profoundly deeper, profoundly more significant because where a contract is an exchange of goods or services based off of a condition, a covenant is an exchange of persons and there's no condition. And so we have here the Lord God revealing, I will be your God. You will be my people. Basically, I desire to be yours and I desire for you to be mine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And there's that gift of self that's meant to happen when it comes to covenant. We saw this when it came to God's covenant that he made with Abram back in Genesis. And we see it again and again as God deepens his covenant and expands his covenant until we get to the new and eternal covenant. Because what happens there? In the new and eternal covenant, what does Jesus say?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
He says, this is the covenant of my blood, the new and eternal covenant, where he does what? Where he gives himself to us, like truly body, blood, soul, divinity. He is making a gift of himself. And then when we receive Holy Communion, we're making a gift of ourselves back to him. So that's the exchange of the covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
That's what happens in married life, where here's husband and wife, and they give themselves to each other in the covenant, saying, this is my body. This is my heart, my soul, my mind, everything. And so we see this, of course, most clearly fulfilled, as I said, in the Eucharist, in the new covenant. As Jesus says, his own words, this is the new and eternal covenant in my blood.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And then we have this next piece where God then reveals his commandments. And I think this is incredibly important. If we were just to find out that the Lord God had commandments without a covenant, it would be rules without a relationship. Again, if there were commandments without a covenant, it would be rules without a relationship.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Hey, just do these things because if you don't do these things, you're breaking the law. But God is establishing covenant prior to commandment. God is establishing relationship prior to rules. And so often for us, when we first start learning about God, we first learn about the rules. We first learn about the commandments, which is not bad. It's just how sometimes we have to do it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
You have to teach people stuff. But the way God taught his people was first, here's who I am. Here's my identity. Here's my desire. My desire is to have covenant with you. Now come the commandments. Here, God is saying, first, my desire is to have a relationship with you. And then now comes the rules because this is true when it comes to any of our human relationships, isn't it?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. This is day 38. Let's keep on going. We'll be reading today from Exodus chapter 19 and 20 from Leviticus chapter 13 and also Psalm 74 chapter 19 and 20.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. And all the people answered together and said, all that the Lord has spoken, we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
I don't know of anyone you met and the first day they say, okay, if we're going to be friends, here are the rules. Or if you start dating someone in the first date, they say, okay, let's sit down. I hope you enjoy your coffee. Here are the rules about our relationship. That would not go well. And it's not what God does either. He's very wise because he is the Lord and he knows everything.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
He establishes the relationship and says life in the relationship has some rules. These are the rules that will give life to the relationship, that will preserve the relationship, that will grow and deepen the relationship. And that's when he gives us the commandments. So covenant, then commandment, relationship, then rules. And those commandments and those rules serve to strengthen the covenant.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
They serve to strengthen the relationship. That's why we need to know them. That's why we need to do everything we can to say yes to the Lord in the midst of this world. We also say yes to the Lord when we pray for each other. And so we're going to continue to pray for each other. I ask that you pray for me. Just please, I beg you maybe. And I'm praying for you every single day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
This is a community of people journeying through scripture. This Bible in a Year podcast is a community. It's not just an isolated individual, but it is all of us. traveling through scripture, knowing that the Lord has his word for us and has a plan for us and has a will for us. And that is our holiness, our becoming more and more like him every day. And that's why we're praying for each other.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you all again tomorrow. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe you forever. Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their garments and be ready by the third day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
For on the third day, the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set bounds for the people round about saying, take heed that you do not go up into the mountain or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they will come up to the mountain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people and they washed their garments. and he said to the people be ready by the third day do not go near a woman on the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast so that all the people who were in the camp trembled
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. And they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. And the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln. And the whole mountain quaked greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in thunder.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain. And Moses went up and the Lord said to Moses, Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. And also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out upon them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And Moses said to the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself charged us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it. And the Lord said to him, Go down and come up, bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them. So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God. who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of that house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
For the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your manservant or your maidservant or your cattle or the sojourner who is within your gates.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
We're going to continue journeying with the people of Israel, especially as the Lord reveals himself. even more deeply and entering into the covenant with Moses and with the people of Israel. But before that, the Bible translation that I am using is the revised standard version Catholic edition.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his manservant or his maidservant or his ox or his donkey or anything that is your neighbor's.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Now, when all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled and they stood afar off and said to Moses, you speak to us and we will hear, but let not God speak to us lest we die. And Moses said to the people, And the people stood afar off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And the Lord said to Moses, You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
In every place where I cause my name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. And if you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool upon it, you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, when a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests. And the priest shall examine the diseased spot on the skin of his body.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if the hair in the disease spot has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, It is a leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, and you can follow along if you have that Bible or any Bible, really. You can also download the reading plan. You can go to ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. and just simply get it for free and you can follow along every single day. Not only can you follow along, you can also kind of look ahead and see where are we going.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days and the priest shall examine him on the seventh day.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more and the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day. And if the disease spot is dim and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is only an eruption and he shall wash his clothes and be clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest and the priest shall make an examination. But if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
When a man is afflicted with leprosy, he shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall make an examination. And if there is a white swelling in the skin which has turned the hair white, and there is quick raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body. And the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not shut him up for he is unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if the leprosy breaks out in the skin so that the leprosy covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see, then the priest shall make an examination. And if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of his disease. It has turned white and he is clean. But when the raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean for it is leprosy. But if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest and the priest shall examine him. And if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean. He is clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And when there is in the skin of one's body a boil that has healed, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest, and the priest shall make an examination. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the disease of leprosy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
It has broken out in the boil." But if the priest examines it, and the hair on it is not white, and it is not deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall shut him up seven days, and if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
It is diseased, but if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. Or when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish white or white, the priest shall examine it and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is leprosy.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
It has broken out in the burn and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous disease. But if the priest examines it and the hair in the spot is not white, and it is no deeper than the skin, but is dim, the priest shall shut him up seven days, and the priest shall examine him the seventh day. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
It is a leprous disease, but if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but is dim, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burn. When a man or a woman has a disease on the head or the beard, the priest shall examine the disease.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
I think sometimes it's really helpful to look at the map before you get there. And sometimes for me, that Bible reading plan is like a map and I can see, okay, here's where we are. Here's where we've been. Here's where we're going to go. That can be really helpful. We're going to keep on trucking along as we read from Exodus chapter 19 and 20.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if it appears deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprosy of the head or the beard. And if the priest examines the itching disease and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut him up with the itching disease for seven days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease, and if the itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin, then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave. And the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days more.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin, and it appears no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean, and he shall wash his clothes and be clean. But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, then the priest shall examine him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair. He is unclean. But if in his eyes the itch is checked, the black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed, then he is clean. And the priest shall pronounce him clean. When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots, the priest shall make an examination.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is tether that is broken out in the skin. He is clean. If a man's hair has fallen from his head, he is bald, but he is clean. And if a man's hair has fallen from his forehead and temples, he has baldness of the forehead, but he is clean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white disease spot, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body, he is a leprous man. He is unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
The priest must pronounce him unclean. His disease is on his head. The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, unclean, unclean. He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean and he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
When there is a leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or linen garment, in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, if the disease grows greenish or reddish in the garment, whether in warp or woof or in skin or in anything made of skin, it is a leprous disease and shall be shown to the priest."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in warp or woof or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a malignant leprosy. It is unclean.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And he shall burn the garment, whether diseased in warp or woof, woolen or linen, or anything of skin, for it is a malignant leprosy. It shall be burned in the fire.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if the priest examines, and the disease has not spread in the garment, in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up seven days more, and the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
And if the diseased spot has not changed color, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the leprous spot is on the back or on the front. But if the priest examines and the disease is dim after it is washed, he shall tear the spot out of the garment or the skin or the warp or woof.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
Then if it appears again in the garment, in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading, you shall burn with fire that in which is the disease. But the garment, warp or woof, or anything of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall be washed a second time and be clean."
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
On the third new moon, after the sons of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. And when they set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness. And there Israel encamped before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord God called to him out of the mountain, saying,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 38: The Ten Commandments (2025)
This is the law for leprous disease in the garment of wool or linen, either in warp or woof or in anything of skin, to decide whether it is clean or unclean. Psalm 74, plea for help in time of national humiliation, a maskill of Asaph. O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
or the other people have demonstrated that they are not to be trusted. And yet we keep going back to them. Why is that? It doesn't have to just be a romantic relationship. It doesn't have to be an illicit relationship like Samson and Delilah had. It can even be a legitimate relationship. But this person has, or these people have demonstrated that they can't be trusted.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
They kept quiet all night saying, let us wait till the light of the morning, then we will kill him. But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that is before Hebron.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And yet we keep trusting them. Why do we do that? Samson reveals to us that that is a foolish thing to do, to do. Not only that, but Samson also reveals that here is God working through, gosh, go back all the way to Genesis, go back all the way to Exodus, God working through broken people. Remember, these are the people of God.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
This is Samson, who is a judge of Israel, a savior of Israel, and he is a fool in many ways. Not only that, but after he gets his eyes gouged out, after he gets his hair cut off, after he is in prison, even the reason why he wants to kill the Philistines, he wants to have revenge on the Philistines for his eyes. So keep this in mind.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
In the book of Judges, this is why the book of Judges is my favorite, my favorite book to be reading when times are troubled, when times are in distress. to be able to read these stories and realize, wait a second, this is the greatest person that God raised up at that time was this broken human being.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And sometimes we can look to our leaders, whether in the church or outside the church, whether in business or in government, wherever our leaders are, community leaders, we can think, oh my goodness, this is the best we've got. And yet, and yet this is so important. This verse in chapter 16, verse 22, it says, here's Samson. His eyes are out. His head's been shaved. He's bound in bronze fetters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
He's grinding mill at the prison. Verse 22 says, but the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. There is something that's just like this. Kind of like... wait to see what happens. And here's what happens next is Samson is brought in before the Philistines to be mocked. And the spirit of God, once again, comes upon him as Samson calls to the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Again, remember, gosh, God's people aren't perfect. And yet they're still his. And this is so important for all of us to remember that God's people are not perfect. And yet they're still are his people. They're still his. And you and I are not perfect, but we still get to belong to him. This weird story of let's just cover it quick. Micah and the Levite.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
chapter 17 and 18, which we just read what is going on there. Well, the story starts out in case you missed it. Here's Micah who stole from his mother, 1100 pieces of silver. And then he comes back to her and says, yeah, by the way, I stole 1100 pieces of silver. And her mom is so moved by his honesty that they make an idol. Phenomenal. Good job, mom. Good job, Micah. What is this revealing?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
What this is revealing is the key line. The key line at the end of the book of Judges, in those days, there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. This is so, you get your Bible in chapter 17, verse six. In those days, there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes. So you have Micah making an idol. This is now, this is the beginning.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
There's probably some people think this is right after Joshua. They've conquered the people. So here's the Danites. They don't have a land yet. That kind of a situation. But how quickly things fall apart. Micah sets up a shrine.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
So his neighbors, his people in his neighborhood would probably be worshiping this idol that he has made from the 1100 pieces of silver that he stole from his mom, give back to her, I guess, you know, good son. They're worshiping here. He makes his son a priest and then finds a Levite. Now, what's this Levite? Remember, the Levites are supposed to live in those 48 cities for the priestly cities.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
After this he loved a woman in the valley of Sorak, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came to her and said to her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to subdue him. and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
They're supposed to be living there. And yet this Levite has gone out to become basically a mercenary Levite. He is a priest for hire, basically. Comes upon Micah. Micah says, wow, I want a legit priest. You got the pedigree. So come stay with me. Here's the contract. I'm going to pay you this much. You do this for me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And then the Levite leads Micah and his family and the neighbors in false worship. Now, this Levite should know exactly what he's doing and should know exactly that that is the wrong thing to do. And he probably does. Maybe he does. But what was going on in Israel in those days? There was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Ah, this is why it's so important.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Here is the key for true worship and to know the Lord's heart deeply and to not swerve from it to the right or to the left. Later on, here's the Danites, and they want to get a place to live, and so they go up to Elish, and they come upon this Levite, the mercenary Levite, and say, hey, you're the Levite, you're the priest for this one family. Why don't you be the priest for all of us?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the Levite, again, mercenary, says, absolutely, highest bidder, absolutely, I'll go with you all and be your priest. And what does he do? They take away the false idol that Micah had, and he leads the Danites in worship. Gosh, they set up Micah's graven image, which he had made as long as the house of God was at Shiloh. My goodness. Oh, my gosh. Up in Dan there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
He's leading them immediately into false worship. This is not not very long after things have gone down. I mean, there's the theory. There's a theory that it happens pretty much right after Joshua has died. But there's also some theories that it could be later on. Either way, the fact of the matter is, We can be so fickle and we can turn away from what the Lord has asked us to do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And sometimes we can pretend, right? We can pretend to not know because it is unlikely that the Levite didn't know what he was supposed to be doing, that the Levite didn't know that this was false worship. Everyone knew the story of the golden calf. Everyone knew the story when the Israelites made an idol, a false idol, calling it the God who's brought them out of slavery in Egypt.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And everyone knew that story. So I can't imagine that this Levite didn't already know. And yet, what can we claim? We can claim, I don't know what to do. Again, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. That's tendency towards self-deception can be so great in all of us. And so we need to pray for each other, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Because it's not just, wow, I can't believe these broken people and their broken lives and their terrible decisions. This is us. This is a mirror. This is a flashlight. This is sandpaper, as we've already said before. And this is reflecting to us the truth about our own hearts, how quickly all of us can simply say, well, Who knows? And just go with the crowd. Or you know what? Who knows?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 94. If you are following along with the Bible in a Year reading plan sheet and you printed it out, Amen. Amen. Amen. The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And just go against the Lord. We have one last and horrible, one last and horrible day when it comes to the book of Judges. Tomorrow, we're going to read from Judges 19, 20, and 21. Again, this is going to be the PG-13 slash going into the R-rated version of the Bible here. And so just keep that in mind as we tomorrow take that next step. Please pray for me. I'm praying for you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And Delilah said to Samson, Please tell me wherein your great strength lies and how you might be bound that one could subdue you. And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings which have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man. Then the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Now she had men lying in wait in an inner chamber, and she said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. But he snapped the bow strings, as a tow-line snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known. And Delilah said to Samson, Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And he said to her, If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man. So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And the men, lying in wait, were in an inner chamber, but he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And Delilah said to Samson, Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound. And he said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and make it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man. So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And she made them tight with the pin, and she said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. And she said to him, How can you say I love you when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me wherein your great strength lies.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. And he told her all his mind and said to her, A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazarite to God from my mother's womb. If I be shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
When Delilah saw that he had told her all his mind, she sent and called up the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he has told me all his mind. Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep upon her knees, and she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he awoke from his sleep and said, I will go out as at the other times and shake myself free. And he did not know that the Lord had left him.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze fetters and he ground at the mill in the prison. But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. Samson's death.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon, their god, and to rejoice, for they said, Our god has given Samson, our enemy, into our hand. And when the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has slain many of us.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And when their hearts were merry, they said, Call Samson, that he may make sport for us. So they called Samson out of the prison, and he made sport before them. They made him stand between the pillars, and Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Now the house was full of men and women, all the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about three thousand men and women who looked on while Samson made sport. Then Samson called to the Lord and said, O Lord God, remember me, I beg you, and strengthen me, I beg you, only this once, O God, that I may be avenged upon the Philistines for one of my two eyes.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And Samson grasped the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and he leaned his weight upon them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. Then he bowed with all his might, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
So the dead that he slew at his death were more than those whom he had slain during his life. Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtoel in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years. Chapter 17, Micah and the Levite. There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And he said to his mother, the 1100 pieces of silver which were taken from you about which you uttered a curse and also spoke it in my ears. Behold, the silver is with me. I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son by the Lord. And he restored the 1100 pieces of silver to his mother.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And his mother said, I consecrate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son to make a graven image and a molten image. Now, therefore, I will restore it to you. So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith who made it into a graven image and a molten image. And it was in the house of Micah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan so you can check off every day and get to the end of this second sheet of paper, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. Also, if you have not done it yet, please subscribe in your podcast app to receive the daily episodes that we have.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and a teraphim, and installed one of his sons who became his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did what was right in his own eyes. Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to live where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. And Micah said to him, And he said to him, And Micah said to him, Stay with me and be to me a father and a priest and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of apparel and your living.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the Levite was content to dwell with the man and the young man became to him like one of his sons. And Micah installed the Levite and the young man became his priest and was in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as a priest. In those days there was no king in Israel.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. So the Danites sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtoel, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, Go and explore the land.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite, and they turned aside and said to him, Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here? And he said to them, Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
He has hired me, and I have become his priest. And they said to him, Inquire of God, we beg you, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed. And the priest said to them, Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there and how they dwelt in security after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking in nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth. and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And when they came to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtoel, their brethren said to them, what do you report? They said, arise, let us go up against them for we have seen the land and behold, it is very fertile. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go and enter in and possess the land. When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is broad.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Once again, as we're going through the book of Judges, one of the things to keep in mind is how PG-13 slash... rated R content things get, the more and more we're following to the end of the book of Judges. Today, we're concluding the story of Samson and Delilah. We're also going on to Micah and the Levite and some of the other kind of issues with regard to that.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Yes, God has given it into your hands. a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth. And 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set forth from Zorah and Eshtoel and went up and encamped at Kiriath-Jerim in Judah. On this account, that place is called Mahanadan to this day. Behold, it is west of the Kiriath-Jerim.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And they passed on from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah. Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish said to their brethren, Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, teraphim, a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you will do.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and asked him of his welfare.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
now the six hundred men of the danites armed with their weapons of war stood by the entrance of the gate and the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up and entered and took the graven image the ephod the teraphim and the molten image while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And when these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, what are you doing? And they said to him, keep quiet, put your hand upon your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man or to be priest to a tribe and family in Israel?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the teraphim and the graven image and went in the midst of the people. So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the cattle and the goods in front of them. When they were a good way from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out and they overtook the Danites.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And they shouted to the Danites who turned round and said to Micah, What ails you that you come up with such a company? And he said, You take my gods, which I made, and the priest, and go away? And what have I left? How then do you ask me what ails you?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And the Danites said to him, Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household. Then the Danites went their way, and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he returned and went back to his home. The Danites settle in Laish.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And taking what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, the Danites came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned their city with fire. And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley which belongs to Beth Rehob. And they rebuilt the city and dwelt in it.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan, their ancestor, who was born to Israel. But the name of the city was Laish at the first. And the Danites set up the graven image for themselves. And Jonathan, the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up Micah's graven image, which he made.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
So keep that in mind as we strap in and take the next steps. Once again, Judges 16, 17, and 18 and Psalm 147. The book of Judges chapter 16, Samson and Delilah. Samson went to Gaza and there he saw a harlot and he went into her. The Gazites were told Samson has come here and they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God, for he is gracious and a song of praise is seemly. The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars. He gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord and abundant in power. His understanding is beyond measure.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden. He casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving. Make melody to our God upon the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds. He prepares rain for the earth. He makes grass grow upon the hills. He gives to the beasts their food and to the young ravens which cry.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
His delight is not in the strength of the horse nor his pleasure in the legs of a man. But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him. in those whose hope is in his steadfast love. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion. For he strengthens the bars of your gates. He blesses your sons within you. He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of wheat.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
He sends forth his command to the earth. His word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool. He scatters hoarfrost like ashes. He casts forth his ice like morsels. Who can stand before his cold? He sends forth his word and melts them. He makes his wind blow and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with other nations.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
They do not know his ordinances.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
We do give you glory and we do lift up your name because you are the God. You are the God who has not only created all things. You are the source of all being. You're the foundation of all that exists. You are the source of reality and substance. And you also reveal your heart to us, which is phenomenal. We can't even comprehend this God. So we thank you.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
You, the God who is above everything, everything, the source of everything, have chosen to care for us. You've chosen to care about us. And you've chosen to reveal your heart to us. Help us to see your heart and to know your heart and to follow your heart, to find our place in your heart this day and every day of our lives. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay, gosh. Here we go. Samson, what the heck, dude? What is going on? I mean, just let's get to this point. I mean, how ridiculous. Again, we mentioned this yesterday. Samson is ruled by his passions, right? He has his strengths, which is his strength, but he also has his weaknesses, which is his passion.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
He's overwhelmed by his emotions. He's overwhelmed by simply his desires.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 94: Samson and Delilah (2025)
so much so that here's delilah who asks him four times the secret of his strength he tells her a lie three times knowing knowing that this is the woman who he cannot trust her but for whatever reason for whatever reason he keeps going back and finally he ultimately ends up trusting her which again is just a lesson for all of us i mean every many people have been in broken relationships relationships where the other person
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
So today, how are you going to walk with God like Noah walked with God? And how are you going to cling to him so that even amidst the storms of life, the floods that come, he can continue to lift you up? Thank you so much for joining us today. Once again, this Bible in a Year podcast. If you want to get updates, you can text the word Catholic Bible to the number 33777.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
You can subscribe to this podcast. Please do, because we're going to be journeying with you for quite a few days upcoming. But we just live in right now, one day at a time, one day at a time. We'll walk in one day at a time. and we're choosing to live with God and to let his word shape our view of his world. My name is Father Mike. God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Seth lived after the birth of Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus, all the days of Seth were 912 years and he died. When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan 815 years and he had other sons and daughters. Thus, all the days of Enosh were 905 years and he died.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalal. Kenan lived after the birth of Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. Mahalalel lived after the birth of Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. Jared lived after the birth of Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years and he died. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him. When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. Methuselah lived after the birth of Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Thus, all the days of Methuselah were 969 years and he died. When Lamech had lived 182 years, he became the father of a son and called his name Noah, saying, Out of the ground which the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands. Lamech lived after the birth of Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died. After Noah was 500 years old, Noah became the father of Shem, When men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair, and they took to wife such of them as they chose.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
This is day three. Let's get started. Today, we'll be reading Genesis chapter five and chapter six. Still in the early world, that period of prehistory, essentially, we'll also be reading from Psalm 136. The Bible translation that I read every day is the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, the RSVCE And I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Then the Lord said, The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth and behold, it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it. The length of the ark, 300 cubits. Its breadth, 50 cubits. And its height, 30 cubits.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Make a roof for the ark and finish it to a cubit above and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life from under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten and store it up, and it shall serve as food for you and for them. Noah did this.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Hi, I'm Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Psalm 136, God's work in creation and in history. To him who by understanding made the heavens for his mercy endures forever. To him who spread out the earth upon the waters for his mercy endures forever. To him who made the great lights for his mercy endures forever. The sun to rule over the day for his mercy endures forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
The moon and stars to rule over the night for his mercy endures forever. And made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his mercy endures forever. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever. To him who led his people through the wilderness, for his mercy endures forever. To him who struck great kings, for his mercy endures forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
If you want to follow along and not just listen along, but read along, you can download your Bible in a Year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year. That's all one word, Bible in a Year. ascensionpress.com Bible in a Year. And you can subscribe to your podcast app. If you subscribe, we'll keep popping up in your podcast apps every single day for the next 365 days.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
And slew famous kings, for his mercy endures forever. Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his mercy endures forever. And Og, king of Bashan, for his mercy endures forever. and gave their land as a heritage, for his mercy endures forever. A heritage to Israel his servant, for his mercy endures forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his mercy endures forever, and rescued us from our foes, for his mercy endures forever. He who gives food to all flesh, for his mercy endures forever. O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Wow. So again, it's, I mentioned yesterday that, uh, things escalate pretty, pretty quickly here. Once you introduce sin into the world, all of a sudden it just sounds like it gets, it gets remarkably crazy really, really quickly. If you remember in Genesis chapter four, at the very end, it said that Adam knew his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. His name was Seth. And that's
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
of the fact that we have in chapter five, what we just heard is a lot of names that are really easy to read and kind of difficult to read out loud. So part of that though is following the genealogy of Seth. Why is that gonna be important? It's gonna be important because it seems that there are two kind of distinct threads of humanity that come off of this. there's the Cainite line, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Cain, because he's still alive and the Sethite line, Seth, because he is alive. Now, it's not two different kinds of people in the sense of like races or whatnot, but what this is, clearly it's the same family. But what happens is, um, There is a distinction that's made in chapter six that is very, very complicated for us because we think, what does that mean?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
And if we understand that here is Seth born to Adam and Eve after Cain, who's born to Adam and Eve, and that they kind of split. And the Sethite line was referred to, could be referred to as the sons of God. And that the Cainite line, right? Cain, who had killed his brother. would be referred to as the daughters of men, right?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
So that's in chapter six, this very, very complicated thing where like, it says the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair. They took to wife such of them as they chose. And we think that is remarkable. What does that mean? And the answer lies in the genealogy that we had previously read in chapter five. What am I talking about?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
You can also sign up for our email list by texting the word Catholic Bible to 33777. That's all one word, Catholic Bible to the number 33777. Let's get started. Genesis 5 and 6. This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female, he created them and he blessed them and named to them man when they were created.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Well, here's an answer that comes out of Jeff Cavins and Tim Gray's book called Walking with God. It is a book based off of the Great Adventure Bible timeline, and it probably is the best description of what the difference is between who are the sons of God and who are the daughters of men in the book of Genesis today. It says this. It says in the book of Walking with God, describing the Nephilim,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
It says, and is prefaced by a reminder that God made man male and female after his own image and likeness. Okay, so that's going to be, oh, sons of God. That makes sense because Seth being born in Adam's image and likeness, Adam being created in God's image and likeness. That makes sense.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
These important details are recalled not only or only in Genesis chapter five with Seth's line, but not in Genesis four with Cain's line in order to draw a sharp contrast or distinction between the two lines. that Cain's line produces murderers and polygamists like Lamech. The Nephilim may refer to this fallen line as the word Nephilim comes from the Hebrew word nephal, which means to fall.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Whereas Seth's line produces righteous men like Enoch and Noah who worship God and call upon the name of the Lord. Seth's line, the line that worships God, is the one that is singled out as being in the image and likeness of Adam and Eve, who are in turn the image and likeness of God. And as we noted before, Cain's, I just go on, I'll paraphrase now.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
As we noted before, that Cain's line is one who, he has fallen. And so the Nephilim, those who are fallen, would make sense. So what happens then is all of humanity, though, does not stay pure when it comes to, here's this Sethite line. When I say pure, I don't mean, obviously it's not a racial thing because they come from the same two parents. So it can't possibly be a racial thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
What it is, is a way of life thing that Seth walked in the way of the Lord and Cain did not walk in the way of the Lord. And it's that kind of, I guess you might call it intermarrying, right? that brought wickedness on earth. It's not necessarily who you marry, but marrying someone is an incredibly important thing.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
As many of you who are married already know who you choose to be your spouse determines in so many ways, the trajectory of your life. And it determines the trajectory of your family's life. for good and for ill. It's hard to look back on that and recognizing that hindsight is 20-20.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
At the same time, it still is true that who we marry determines in so many ways the trajectory of our lives, both positively and negatively. And in this case, what's being described is those who walked in the way of the Lord, those in the Sethite line, ended up ceasing to walk in the way of the Lord because of the fact that the intermarried people in the Cainite line
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Now, obviously, that's not to say that all of Seth's children were like automatic saints and all of Cain's children were automatic sinners. We are all born into this broken world. So we all would do this. But we do know exactly what happens, right? We know what happens when we surround ourselves with people who have the same worldview.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
And that's one of the reasons why we're doing this Bible in a Year podcast is to give us a biblical worldview, right? And to highlight the decisions that others have made, even ancient decisions others have made that have then brought about kind of great destruction and the decisions that they made that have brought about a great hope.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Because even the destruction that God is preparing Noah for is also meant to be a great hope. Because yes, it is an end to much of humanity. It says that now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and the earth was filled with violence. God saw the earth and behold, it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. So God determined to destroy that corruption.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
When Adam had lived 130 years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness after his image and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were 800 years and he had other sons and daughters. Thus, all the days that Adam lived were 930 years and he died. When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
God determined to root out the cancer. And the reality is when we cling to the cancer, you can't destroy the cancer without destroying everything that's holding onto it. At the same time, it's a promise of hope because God is saying, Noah, make this ark because since you have clinged to me, I will lift you up.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
One of the things that we can recognize in our day and in our age is that even if the people around us are wicked, now, obviously, parenthetically, right? No one is 100% wicked and no one's 100% good. We are good, but we're broken. But even if the culture around us, we'll say it like that, even if the culture around us is more broken than it is whole. We can still choose like Noah,
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
to live as those who are following and pursuing the Lord. We can continue to, as it says about Noah, Noah walked with God. Noah walked with God. And so today, as we move forward from listening to God's word proclaimed, we can ask the question, God, how do you want me to walk with you? How can I walk with you today?
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 3: Noah's Ark (2025)
Regardless of what people are in the culture around me are doing, regardless of what the people in my family are doing, regardless of maybe I'm married and my spouse does not walk with the Lord, I can walk with the Lord today because yes, there are consequences to our actions, but also yes, the Lord always holds out an offering of hope to every one of us, no matter what our situation.