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

Day 31: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies

Date: January 31, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Episode Overview

On Day 31 of The Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Exodus 8 (the second, third, and fourth plagues: frogs, gnats, and flies), Leviticus 6 (focusing on laws for offerings), and Psalm 48 (a psalm of praise about God’s defense of Zion). The episode explores the unfolding of God’s liberation for the Israelites, regulations for His worship, and the consequences of putting off change—highlighting how these ancient stories mirror contemporary spiritual challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Exodus 8: The Plagues of Frogs, Gnats, and Flies

• God’s Continued Warnings and Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart

  • The Lord instructs Moses to demand Pharaoh release the Israelites under threat of plague, beginning with an infestation of frogs (00:35–04:40).
    • Frogs swarm everywhere—"in your house and into your bedchamber and on your bed"—illustrating inescapable consequences when resisting God’s will (reading, 01:00).
  • Pharaoh asks Moses to entreat God to remove the frogs. When asked when, Pharaoh says, "Tomorrow" (reading, 02:50; see Reflection below).
  • After Moses prays, the frogs die, but "when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart" (reading, 04:10).

• Escalation: Gnats and Flies

  • Aaron, at God's command, stretches out his rod and the dust turns to gnats—unlike with the frogs, “the magicians tried by their secret arts…but they could not” (reading, 05:05).
    • Magicians admit, “This is the finger of God,” but Pharaoh remains unmoved (reading, 05:20).
  • Flies follow, but God spares Goshen, “that you may know I am the Lord in the midst of the earth…Thus I will put a division between my people and your people” (reading, 05:50).
  • Pharaoh again negotiates but does not follow through; his heart remains hardened (reading, 07:20).

2. Leviticus 6: Laws of Restitution and Worship

• Compensation for Wrongdoing

  • God instructs that if someone deceives or wrongs another (robbery, oppression, lost property, false swearing), they must restore all taken plus an additional fifth, and bring a guilt offering (reading, 09:00).
  • "And the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven" (reading, 10:05).

• Instructions for Burnt, Cereal, and Sin Offerings

  • Detailed regulations about sacrifices, emphasizing the need for continual fire ("It shall not go out” – repeated thrice, reading, 11:10).
  • Priestly rituals maintain the “holiness” of offerings and underscore God’s requirements for approach and worship.

3. Psalm 48: The Glory of Zion

• Celebration of God’s strength and protection over Jerusalem:
  • “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, his holy mountain.” (reading, 14:00)
  • The psalm celebrates God as a lasting defense and urges future generations to rejoice in His protection and justice.

Reflection & Application by Fr. Mike Schmitz

4. Scripture as Flashlight, Mirror, and Sandpaper

• “Sometimes the Bible is a flashlight…and sometimes it is a mirror…and sometimes it’s a sandpaper where it kind of roughs off some rough edges or convicts us.” (16:00)
  • Fr. Mike relates how reading about Pharaoh’s stubbornness is a mirror for our own procrastination and resistance to change.

5. The "Tomorrow" Procrastination: Pharaoh’s Heart in Us

• Memorable Quote:

  “Isn’t that just like us?... The Lord God maybe at times can say, ‘Hey, I’d like to deliver you... get rid of the thing… When do you want to do it?’ And we say, ‘How about tomorrow?’”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (16:50)

• Fr. Mike draws a parallel: Just as Pharaoh delays his deliverance ("Tomorrow"), we too delay positive change or letting go of destructive habits—preferring to put it off rather than act now.

• This challenge appears not just in quitting sins but also in beginning good habits—like consistent prayer or Scripture reading.

6. Encouragement and Community

• Fr. Mike commends listeners for not putting off their journey: “What a gift that you didn’t put it off. What a gift that you are being consistent here.” (18:00)
• He recognizes the danger of slipping into delay and highlights the importance of community support in maintaining momentum.

7. Spiritual Encouragement and Prayer

• “If I see in myself that tendency to put things off...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 a heart like the Lord.” (18:45)
• Emphasizes that change is impossible without God’s grace and the Holy Spirit: “We can’t change without God’s grace… without His presence living inside of us, without His Holy Spirit.” (19:10)
• Prays for the Holy Spirit—the “advocate, that helper, the comforter, the convictor, the one who sustains and strengthens us” (19:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On procrastination in spiritual life:

  “That’s the mirror of the scripture today, where it’s just like, oh my goodness, that is me... Okay, when should we get rid of it? Well, right now is not the right time. How about later?”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (17:05)

• On community and commitment:

  “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.”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (18:20)

• On the need for the Holy Spirit:

  “Without His Holy Spirit, we cannot be the people that we ought to be.”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (19:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35–07:50 — Exodus 8: The Plagues continue; Pharaoh’s wavering and hardening
• 09:00–13:40 — Leviticus 6: Laws about restitution and worship
• 14:00–15:30 — Psalm 48: Prayer of praise for God’s defense of Israel
• 16:00–19:45 — Fr. Mike’s reflection: Scripture as flashlight, mirror, sandpaper; The danger of “tomorrow”; Encouragement in the journey; Prayer for the Holy Spirit

Episode Tone

Fr. Mike balances serious spiritual challenges with warmth, encouragement, and practical advice. His tone is personal, inviting, and relatable, often employing vivid metaphors and gentle humor to connect ancient stories to present-day spiritual life.

Summary:
This episode uses the drama of the plagues in Exodus to invite listeners to examine their own hearts. Fr. Mike draws a pointed analogy between Pharaoh’s procrastination and the struggles we all share in acting immediately on God’s promptings. Through Scripture, reflection, and prayer, the episode both challenges and encourages listeners to embrace Holy Spirit-led transformation—today, not tomorrow.