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

Day 33: Locusts, Darkness, and Death of the Firstborn (February 2, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz leads listeners through Exodus chapters 10 and 11, Leviticus chapter 8, and Psalm 50. The focus centers on the intensifying showdown between God and Pharaoh through the final, devastating plagues that befall Egypt: locusts, darkness, and the warning of the death of the firstborn. Fr. Mike also delves into the deeper meaning of these plagues, especially their symbolism against Egypt’s false gods, and reflects on the ordination rites of the Levitical priesthood. The episode closes with a meditation on authentic worship and the importance of giving God what He asks for, not just what we choose to offer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Plagues: Judgment Against the False Gods of Egypt

• Purpose of the Plagues

  • Fr. Mike dispels the notion that the plagues are merely random punishments or displays of divine power.
  • “What is up with all of the ten plagues? Like, what is going on? … Is this just God saying, hey, I'm very powerful? It is. … But it's also what God is doing—the Lord God is doing—is he is demonstrating that he is the Lord God above the false gods of the Egyptians.” (17:20)
  • Each plague correlates with an Egyptian deity, showing God’s supremacy:
    • Water to blood: Hapi (God of the Nile)
    • Frogs: Heket (Goddess of fertility, depicted as a frog)
    • Lice: Geb (God of the earth)
    • Flies: Khepri (God of creation and rebirth, associated with flies)
    • Darkness: Ra (Sun god)

• Idolatry and the Israelites

  • Not only is Egypt judged; God is purging idolatry from His own people. Because of their long enslavement, Egypt—and its gods—had seeped into Israel’s collective heart.
  • “Egypt has gotten into their hearts. … Some of these Egyptian gods made it into their hearts. … We know it happens because … the people are going to make a false god for themselves, and they're going to worship the golden calf.” (19:15)

2. The Heart of True Worship

• Moses’ insistence on worshiping as God demands

  • When Pharaoh tries compromising by letting only the men (and later, the children) go, Moses insists that all must go—including flocks and herds—because they do not yet know how or with what God wants to be worshiped.
  • “We don’t know how God wants us to worship him. … We're not going to just get our freedom and then give him whatever we want. We will receive freedom from his hand so that we can worship him how he wants.” (21:50)
  • Fr. Mike points out that true freedom is for right worship—worship on God’s terms, not our preferences.
  • Memorable insight:
    • “The point of worship is not giving God what we want, but giving God what He asks for.” (22:40)

• Connection to Christian worship

  • Jesus, at the Last Supper, is definitive about how he wishes to be worshiped, illustrating the continuity from Exodus to the New Covenant:
    • “Do this in memory of me. This is how I want you to worship me.” (23:10)

3. Leviticus 8: The Rite of Ordination

• Priesthood Origins and the Tribe of Levi

  • The episode explains why Leviticus is named so and the emergence of the Levitical priesthood.
  • “Before the issue of the golden calf, all the people of Israel, they’re all kingdom priests. … If you are the father of your family, you are the priest of your family.” (24:50)
  • The shift to Levitical priesthood occurs after the sin of the golden calf, when the Levites answer Moses’ call and are set apart.
  • Only those born into the tribe of Levi can become priests from this point.

• Rite of Ordination and its Significance

  • Detailed descriptions of the ordination ceremony are found in Leviticus 8.
  • Fr. Mike draws a parallel between Old Testament sacrifices and Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
  • “All these sacrifices … prefigure the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” (26:30)
  • Highlights the connection between Hebrews and Leviticus for deeper understanding.

4. Psalm 50: The Acceptable Sacrifice

• The reading emphasizes God’s desire for genuine worship over rote sacrifices.
• “He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me. To him who orders his way aright, I will show the salvation of God.” (28:25)

5. Reflection & Challenge

• Idolatry and Our Own Hearts
  • God desires to free us from anything that has us in bondage—especially forms of idolatry.
  • “God wants to dominate those things that dominate us. He wants to give us the freedom so we can give Him the worship that he deserves.” (29:15)
• Practical Examination
  • Fr. Mike invites listeners to reflect:
  • Do I worship the God I want, or the God who reveals Himself to me? Do I give God what I want to give Him, or what He asks for? (29:30)
• Encouragement for the Journey
  • “It’s day 33 and you guys are cruising right along. … Please keep me in your prayers. I am keeping you in my prayers every single day.” (30:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Plagues’ Purpose:
  "Every one of the ten plagues is associated with one of the ten false gods of Egypt...here is the Lord God who shows his dominance over this false God..." — Fr. Mike (17:40)

• On Worship:
  "The point of worship is not giving God what we want, but giving God what he asks for." — Fr. Mike (22:40)

• On the Priesthood:
  "From then on, only priests would come from the tribe of Levi. You wouldn't discern that call. You wouldn't choose that call. ... you were born into the tribe of Levi or you weren’t." — Fr. Mike (25:50)

• On Sacrifice:
  "All these sacrifices ... prefigure the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. ... If you read the letter to the Hebrews in context with the book of Leviticus, it's so illuminating." — Fr. Mike (26:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:00 – Introduction, readings for the day
• 05:00-15:30 – Reading of Exodus 10-11: The Locusts, Darkness, and Death of the Firstborn
• 15:30-18:00 – Reading of Leviticus 8: The Rite of Ordination
• 18:00-19:00 – Reading of Psalm 50
• 19:00-27:00 – Reflection on the plagues, their symbolism, and true worship
• 27:00-29:00 – Commentary on Leviticus 8, priesthood, and sacrificial prefigurations
• 29:00-end – Application: idolatry, authentic worship, encouragement

Summary

Day 33 immerses listeners in some of the most pivotal and dramatic events of the Exodus story—plagues that devastate Egypt, culminating with the imminent threat to the firstborn, and preparations for both deliverance and worship. Fr. Mike unpacks how these plagues are not arbitrary acts, but profound confrontations with Egypt’s most deeply held idols, and revelations to Israel as well. The readings from Leviticus illuminate the history and significance of the priesthood, linking the rituals of sacrifice to the future ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Psalm 50 distills the divine call for true, thankful worship from the heart.

The episode's message is clear and searching: Are we prepared to let God uproot our idols and shape our worship according to His will, not just our own inclinations? The challenge is to seek and offer the kind of worship that God truly desires and deserves, as Fr. Mike encourages with characteristic warmth, directness, and spiritual clarity.