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

Episode Summary: Day 14—Isaac Blesses Jacob

Release Date: January 14, 2026
Readings: Genesis 27–28, Job 17–18, Proverbs 3:1–4
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode marks the 14th day of the Bible in a Year journey, focusing on pivotal moments in Genesis: Jacob’s deception to receive Isaac’s blessing, Esau’s resulting anguish, and Jacob’s vision at Bethel. Fr. Mike guides listeners through these stories, drawing parallels between the Old Testament blessings and the permanent effects of Christian sacraments. He also offers pastoral reflection on family dynamics and the damaging effects of favoritism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis 27: Jacob’s Deception and Isaac’s Blessing

• Narrative Recap:

  • Isaac, now old and blind, intends to bless Esau, his eldest son.
  • Rebekah overhears and orchestrates for Jacob to deceive Isaac, ensuring Jacob receives the blessing intended for Esau.
  • Jacob dons Esau’s clothes and uses goatskin to mimic Esau’s hairy arms, fooling Isaac.
  • Isaac bestows the blessing, making Jacob lord over his brother and promising abundance.
  • Esau arrives too late; Isaac cannot revoke the blessing already given.

• Notable Moments:

  • Isaac’s unwavering commitment:

    “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.” (20:46)

  • Esau’s heartache:

    “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!’” (09:36)

• Reflection:

  • The blessing, once given—even through deception—is permanent and irrevocable, much like Christian sacraments are indelible.

2. Genesis 28: Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

• Narrative Recap:

  • To escape Esau’s wrath, Jacob flees to his uncle Laban.
  • At Bethel, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching heaven, with angels ascending and descending.
  • God personally reaffirms to Jacob the promises given to Abraham and Isaac: land, descendants, and blessing for all the earth.
  • Jacob awakens, awed by God’s presence, and marks the spot as “Bethel” (House of God).

• Notable Quotes:

  • Jacob’s realization:

    “Surely the Lord was in this place, and I did not know it. How awesome is this place. This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (16:20)

3. Job 17–18: Endurance Amid Affliction

• Narrative Recap:

  • Job laments his suffering, feeling abandoned and misunderstood by both God and friends.
  • His friend Bildad accuses Job of anger and implies that wickedness leads to ruin and darkness.
  • Job, however, clings to his integrity despite the pain and lack of comfort.

• Core Insight:

  • Perseverance in faith is possible even in the face of unrelenting hardship and unjust accusations.

4. Proverbs 3:1–4: Faithfulness and Favor

• Teaching:
  • An exhortation to remember God’s teaching and to keep loyalty and faithfulness close:

    “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments... so you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” (19:53)

Memorable Quotes & Reflections by Fr. Mike

• On Permanent Blessing and Sacraments:

  “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...and you can’t undo that. And so here is…Isaac, I imagine, pretty, pretty upset...But at the same time, it was a true blessing. He can’t undo this blessing—similar [to] how we can’t undo our baptism.” (20:46)

• On Family Dynamics and Favoritism:

  “The brokenness of Jacob and Esau—they were competitive in the womb of Rebecca. 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 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.” (22:40)

• On Christian Inclusion in the Story of Israel:

  “Christianity is the fruit of Judaism…That’s one of the reasons why we believe that this story—the story of Abraham and Isaac and now Jacob—is our story…We’ve been grafted onto that tree.” (19:41)

Timestamps by Key Segment

• 00:04 — Opening and overview; reading plan instructions
• 01:47 — Genesis 27: Isaac’s blessing, Jacob’s deception
• 10:48 — Esau’s anguish; aftermath of the blessing
• 13:15 — Genesis 28: Jacob’s departure, the dream at Bethel
• 17:39 — Job 17–18: Job’s continued suffering; Bildad’s reply
• 19:53 — Proverbs 3:1–4: Admonition to remember and keep God’s teaching
• 20:46 — Reflection: Permanence of blessing and the sacraments
• 22:40 — Reflection: The pain of favoritism and parental love
• 24:00 — Closing prayer and invitation to continue praying for each other

Recap & Takeaways

• The episode deepens the connection between the ancient stories of Genesis and Christian sacramental theology, emphasizing the irrevocable nature of both Old Testament blessings and New Testament sacraments.
• Fr. Mike’s reflection uses the story of Jacob and Esau to highlight how family favoritism and brokenness create enduring wounds, suggesting that striving for equal love and unity can nurture harmony.
• The readings serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and presence, even working through human frailty, deception, pain, and longing.

“We are 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.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz (24:00)