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

Episode: Day 18: The Heart of Israel (2026)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Date: January 18, 2026

Main Theme Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through pivotal passages from Genesis (chapters 35-36), Job (chapters 25-26), and Proverbs (3:19-24). The main focus is on the transition of Jacob to Israel, the significance of brokenness and faithfulness in the biblical narrative, and God’s steadfast fulfillment of His promises—even through imperfect people and complicated family stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jacob’s Journey and God’s Faithfulness (Genesis 35-36)

• Purification and New Beginning:
  Jacob is called by God to go to Bethel, purify his household, and build an altar. This marks a return to faithfulness and a physical and spiritual journey for Jacob and his family.

• The Renaming of Jacob to Israel:
  God reaffirms His covenant, changes Jacob’s name to Israel, and restates the promises given to Abraham and Isaac, assuring Jacob of descendants and a land (07:35).

  “Your name is Jacob. No longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name … 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.” (Genesis narrative, 07:35–08:13)

• Personal Loss and Family Complications:
  Rachel’s death in childbirth, the listing of Jacob's sons from different mothers, and the story of Reuben laying with his father’s concubine—demonstrate the messiness of Jacob’s family life.

• Isaac’s Death and Esau’s Descendants:
  Isaac dies, marking the end of a patriarchal era. A lengthy account of Esau’s descendants follows, emphasizing God’s faithfulness even to those not in the line of blessing.

2. Reflections on God’s Ways with Human Brokenness

• God’s Plan Amidst Complexity: Fr. Mike emphasizes that God’s story isn’t like a Hallmark movie—clean and predictable—but is full of brokenness and imperfection. Despite this, God continues to work through people’s flaws and choices.

  “Sometimes I think that I expect the Bible to be a Hallmark story … but we recognize that actual grace doesn’t work that way.” (Reflection, 19:48)

• God Uses What Is Surrendered: The message of hope is that anything surrendered to God—no matter how broken—can be used for God’s purpose.

  “There’s nothing that God can’t use when we give it to Him.” (Reflection, 21:26)

• Faithfulness to All Descendants: The detailed generational list of Esau shows God fulfilling His promise to make Abraham’s descendants numerous—even outside the chosen line.

3. Perspectives from Job and Proverbs

• Job: Human Smallness Before God Job and Bildad reflect on God’s majesty and how human beings, in their brokenness, compare to God’s purity and power.

  “How then can man be righteous before God? … How much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm?” (Bildad, 17:15) “He stretches out the north over the void, and hangs the earth upon nothing … Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways.” (Job, 18:10, 18:42)

• Proverbs: The Value of Wisdom Proverbs underscores that wisdom and discretion lead to security and peace.

  “Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble … When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs, 19:25)

4. Memorable Quotes & Fr. Mike’s Reflections

• On God’s Faithfulness:

  “What God is revealing to us in chapter 36 is … even though Esau did not receive the blessing, Esau is a son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. God is faithful to His promises.” (Fr. Mike, 22:35)

• On Facing Brokenness:

  “We can question, we can wonder if God is faithful because of the brokenness around us, the brokenness inside of us. And yet, even though there is such brokenness, we recognize that He is faithful. He is steadfast.” (Fr. Mike, 23:24)

• Summary Principle:

  “His Word does not return empty, but always accomplishes the mission, the plan, the purpose for which it was sent.” (Fr. Mike, 24:40)

Notable Timestamps

• 00:40–08:13: Genesis 35—God’s call to Jacob, purification, altar at Bethel, Rachel’s death, renaming to Israel.
• 08:14–13:20: Genesis 36—Genealogy of Esau, the Edomites, fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham’s descendants.
• 13:21–15:45: Job 25–26—Bildad’s lament and Job’s response on God’s majesty and human frailty.
• 15:46–17:10: Proverbs 3:19–24—Wisdom, security, and peace from God.
• 17:11–19:12: Fr. Mike’s prayer: asking for the Holy Spirit, for transformation and surrender to God.
• 19:13–24:55: Reflection—“The heart of Israel,” family struggles, God’s faithfulness in brokenness, the reason for chronicling Esau’s line, enduring faith amid the messiness of life.

Conclusion & Takeaways

• God’s promises are steadfast, unfailing even across generations and through imperfect people.
• The biblical narrative is honest about human faltering; grace and transformation come not through perfection, but through openness and surrender to God.
• The stories of Jacob/Israel and Esau underscore the reach of God’s covenant love—even when the path is full of human flaws.
• Listeners are reminded to pray for one another, stay in community, and trust in the ongoing, transforming power of God’s Word.

Listener Guidance:
This episode is ideal for anyone seeking to understand how the Bible portrays God’s fidelity within real, complicated human history—and how that applies to every listener’s personal faith journey.