The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 10: Hagar and Ishmael (2026)
Date: January 10, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Episode Overview

In Day 10 of the Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on Genesis chapters 20–21 (the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael), Job chapters 9–10, and a proverb about wisdom and integrity. This episode explores themes of faith, failure, mercy, and the mystery of God’s ways—both in the lives of the Biblical figures and in our own lives today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Abraham’s Faltering and God’s Mercy

• Genesis 20–21 recounts Abraham sojourning in Gerar, once again passing off Sarah as his sister, leading to an encounter with King Abimelech.
• God intervenes to protect Sarah, preventing Abimelech from sinning unknowingly.
• Isaac’s birth fulfills God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah, even in their old age.
• Sarah demands Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. God reassures Abraham of His care for both Isaac and Ishmael.

Insight:
Fr. Mike underscores Abraham’s mix of faith and fear:

• “We do see him walking in faith, but we also see him faltering in faith... he passes off Sarah as his sister… out of fear.” (21:14)
• Fr. Mike highlights that failure does not disqualify us from God’s covenant:

  “Your failure doesn’t disqualify you… the Lord continues to call us back to himself, even if the road is hard to understand.” (23:20)

Memorable Moment:

• “How many times does God preserve us from that fall? We don’t even know it. Until heaven, we may not see all the times the Lord held us back from falling.” (22:19)

2. Hagar and Ishmael: Compassion Amid Rejection

• Upon Sarah’s insistence, Abraham sends Hagar and her son Ishmael away into the wilderness.
• When their water runs out, Hagar despairs, but God hears Ishmael’s cry and provides a well, promising to make him a great nation too.

Insight:

• God’s faithfulness extends even when human relationships break down.
• The story symbolizes God’s provision in the bleakest, most hopeless moments—He hears and responds to suffering.

3. Job’s Lament: Wrestling with Suffering and God’s Justice

• Job 9–10 present Job’s anguished dialogue with God, questioning divine justice and feeling forsaken despite his innocence.
• Job cannot see how to argue with God or find an ‘umpire’ to bridge the gap between his suffering and God’s transcendence.

Notable Quotes:

• “How can a man be just before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.” (Reading, Job 9:2-3, paraphrased)
• “God, do you not care that I’m hurting so much? … I thought that by living righteously before you, that mattered to you, and now it seems it doesn’t.” (24:33)

Memorable Moment:

• “Job is your friend. He can say words, he can pray words that you long to pray, and you can let Job’s prayer be your prayer.” (26:37)

4. Wisdom and Assurance (Proverbs 2:6–8)

• “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding... He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” (Reading)

Insight:

• While Proverbs suggests that righteousness brings blessing, Fr. Mike highlights the mystery that God’s ways are not transactional—He “causes the rain to fall on the just and unjust.” (25:48)
• There’s a “deeper wisdom” in recognizing that suffering is sometimes a mystery and not a direct consequence of sin.

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On Abraham’s humanity and God’s mercy:

  “It’s one thing to be perfect… It is another thing to be imperfect, to fail, and to learn what it is to be loved in your failure.” (22:54)

• On the mystery of suffering:

  “There is so much we do not understand about this life. But the closer we stay to God, the more wisdom that we grow in, the clearer we see things, even in the midst of pain.” (25:58)

• On community and prayer:

  “This is a community of people who are reading the Bible, going through this all together right now… let’s lift each other up, especially for those who are united closer than anyone else, maybe, to our friend Job.” (27:10)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:20–03:50 Reading Genesis 20–21: Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael
• 03:51–11:59 Reading Job 9–10: Job’s dialogue on justice and suffering
• 12:00–13:22 Reading Proverbs 2:6–8; transition to reflection and prayer
• 13:23–15:55 Fr. Mike’s opening reflections: Abraham as Father of Faith/Faltering
• 15:56–22:25 Mercy, failure, God’s protection, and the limits of human understanding
• 22:26–24:30 Walking with Job through pain; the challenge of feeling abandoned by God
• 24:31–27:24 Wisdom in suffering, community, and encouragement to listeners

Tone and Language

Fr. Mike’s tone is warm, empathetic, and honest, encouraging listeners to embrace their journey with faith, even when faltering or in pain—mirroring the very figures encountered in today’s readings.

Summary Takeaways

• God’s promises withstand human weakness; failure doesn’t disqualify us.
• God provides and cares in moments of both blessing (Isaac’s birth) and suffering (Hagar’s despair, Job’s lament).
• The mystery of suffering is part of the spiritual journey—sometimes wisdom is simply staying close to God, even when the reasons aren’t clear.
• Listeners are invited to join in prayer and community, leaning on Job’s honest prayers during seasons of pain.

Closing Message:
Fr. Mike reminds listeners: “Know that I am praying for you today. Please pray for me, and let’s pray for each other.” (27:32)