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

Episode: Day 30: Nile Turned to Blood (2026)

Date: January 30, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz continues leading listeners through the journey of salvation history as portrayed in the Bible, focusing today on pivotal moments in Exodus (chapters 6-7), the rituals of atonement and mercy outlined in Leviticus 5, and the exaltation of God in Psalm 47. The main theme centers on God’s faithfulness, the unfolding of His promises, the importance of remembering His deeds, and the approachable mercy He offers His people—even when resources or faith are lacking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Exodus 6-7: God’s Covenant, Promise, and First Plague

• God Repeats Promises to Moses:

  • God reminds Moses of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, asserting, “I am the Lord” and declaring His intent to redeem Israel with "an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment."
  • “I will bring you out… I will redeem you… I will take you for my people, and I will be your God.” [02:30]

• Moses’ Doubts and God’s Assurance:

  • Despite Moses’ reluctance ("I am of uncircumcised lips"), God insists that Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out.
  • God’s name (YHWH, Yahweh) given to Moses as a sign of a new, deeper revelation compared to previous generations.
  • “He’s saying to Moses, ‘Listen, you heard all these stories of your ancestors, but I’m doing something even newer with you.’” (Fr. Mike, [13:45])

• Miracles, Stubbornness of Pharaoh, and the First Plague:

  • Aaron’s rod becomes a serpent, outmatching Egyptian magicians but Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.
  • The first plague: the Nile turns to blood—fish die, the Nile becomes undrinkable, but Pharaoh, unmoved, “did not lay even this to heart.”
  • “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen… as the Lord had said.” [07:40]

2. Leviticus 5: The Accessibility of God’s Mercy

• Tiers of Guilt & Sacrifice:

  • Various scenarios requiring a sin offering: failing to testify, touching unclean things, uttering rash oaths, unknowingly sinning.
  • God provides escalating options for sacrifices—lamb/goat, birds, or even fine flour—so no one is excluded from atonement due to poverty.

• Importance of Confession and Restitution:

  • “When a man is guilty… he shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord…” [09:05]
  • Restitution is required in addition to offerings for unintentional sins.

• God’s Graciousness:

  • Fr. Mike underscores God’s willingness to reach down to our level:
    • “If you can’t offer the big thing, then offer the small thing you do have. What do you have to offer? Offer that, and I’ll receive it, because that’s how good He is.” (Fr. Mike, [17:50])

3. Psalm 47: Praise, Kingship, and Exaltation

• Universal Kingship of God:
  • An invitation to shout for joy, sing praises, recognize God as the Supreme King over all nations and peoples.
• Personalizing the Psalm through Prayer:
  • Fr. Mike transitions the psalm into a prayer of surrender and a call for God to reign in our own hearts.
  • “Lord God… You are so humble that You choose to allow us to refuse Your love or to receive Your love… Help us to let ourselves be loved by You.” (Fr. Mike, [12:55])

4. Thematic Reflections and Personal Application

• Remembering God’s Deeds:
  • Fr. Mike emphasizes how short our memory can be regarding God’s past faithfulness, and Scripture serves to remind us of His character and presence now.
  • “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.” (Fr. Mike, [14:34])
• Inclusivity of Mercy and Offerings:
  • God’s system ensures everyone can access His grace—regardless of status or wealth.
  • Relates to our daily life: God wants whatever we have to offer, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
• Community and Intercession:
  • Encourages listeners to pray for one another and rely on God’s mercy daily.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Nature:

  • “He continually reveals to us… But one of the things He reveals in Exodus is how He has to remind Moses who He is… ‘I am the Lord your God, the God Almighty.’” (Fr. Mike, [13:18])

• On God’s Mercy:

  • “What I want for you is to be able to give you My mercy. If there's anything getting in the way… I'm willing to go down in price. Just offer what you can.” (Fr. Mike, [17:15])

• On Offering What We Have:

  • “So many of us have so little… the Lord says, well, just give me the heart you have… Not a lot of us have incredible opportunities to do big, big things for God. So he says, OK, then do small things. I'll take it because I am your God and you're my child.” (Fr. Mike, [18:28])

• On Community:

  • “Please lift each other up in your prayer today. Because, you know, we don't know the battles we're all facing… and I'm praying for you.” (Fr. Mike, [19:15])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:04] – Episode begins; Scripture readings announced
• [02:30] – God’s declaration to Moses; restating of covenant
• [05:34] – Moses and Aaron as God’s representatives; signs and Pharaoh’s stubbornness
• [07:00–08:39] – The Nile turns to blood; effects of the first plague
• [08:39–13:00] – Leviticus 5: Requirements for guilt/sin offerings; God’s flexibility in sacrifice
• [11:12] – Restitution for breach of faith
• [12:35] – Psalm 47: God’s kingship, praise, guided prayer
• [13:18–17:00] – Reflection: remembering God’s deeds and faithfulness, personal revelation
• [17:00–18:35] – Reflections on God’s mercy, offering what we have, relevance to personal and communal faith
• [19:10] – Encouragement for prayer and communal support; conclusion

Summary Table

| Segment | Scripture/Theme | Key Takeaway | |-------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | Exodus 6-7 | God’s Covenant & Plagues | God’s unfailing promise and power; challenges faced by Moses and Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness | | Leviticus 5 | Sacrifices for Sins | God’s mercy is accessible for everyone; restitution and confession are integral | | Psalm 47 | Divine Kingship & Praise | God’s universal sovereignty; invitation to worship and surrender personally | | Reflection | Remembering, Offering, Intercession | God delights in what we are able to offer, no matter how small; importance of remembering His past actions and keeping each other in prayer |

Tone & Application

Fr. Mike maintains a warm, encouraging, and relatable tone, guiding listeners to see their personal stories within the grand narrative of Scripture. He emphasizes practical spirituality—remembering to trust God, offering what we can, and never underestimating the value of little acts of faith and love. The episode is an invitation to deeper memory, gratitude, surrender, and community.