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

Episode: Introduction to Egypt & Exodus (with Jeff Cavins)

Release Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Guest: Jeff Cavins (creator of The Great Adventure Bible Timeline)

Episode Overview

This special episode marks the transition from the Patriarchs to the Egypt and Exodus period in the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. Fr. Mike Schmitz is joined by Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins to provide essential context for readers as the podcast moves from the close of Genesis into the dramatic narrative of Exodus. Together, they illuminate how the liberation from Egypt, the giving of the Law, and the journey through the wilderness form a crucial moment in salvation history—one that sets the foundation for understanding both the Old and New Testaments, and the life of discipleship for listeners today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Encouragement for Listeners Falling Behind

• Fr. Mike (00:44):
  Fr. Mike reassures those struggling to keep pace or who have missed days.

  “The hardest day to read the Bible or the hardest day to pray is the day after the day you don’t... There is truly no such thing as falling behind when it comes to this Bible in a year. God is not asking for perfection in this. He is just asking for faithfulness.”

Takeaway: Just pick up where you left off—faithfulness, not perfection, is the goal.

2. Setting the Stage: From Genesis to Exodus

• Jeff Cavins (03:43):
  Jeff highlights the abrupt 400-year time skip between Genesis and Exodus.

  “When we pick up with Exodus, it’s after 400 years of being down in Egypt... Israel [is] in bondage in Egypt, and they are tired of it.”

• Fr. Mike (05:00):
  Contrasts the prosperity at the end of Genesis with the oppression at the start of Exodus.

  “The last pages of Genesis are the people of Israel on top of the world... Then you turn a page and it’s like, wow, 400 years later and they have not been blessed.”

Takeaway: Understanding the historical and narrative leap is critical for grasping the Israelites’ situation at the start of Exodus.

3. Obstacles and Themes in Exodus

• Jeff Cavins (05:36):
  Explains Israel’s assimilation into Egyptian culture—idolatry, food, dress—and how deep their bondage was:

  “They are eating like the Egyptians, they’re worshiping like the Egyptians, they even dress like the Egyptians... They were addicted to idolatry. And so God had to do something amazing to draw them out and turn them to himself.”

• Humorous Exchange (06:17-06:23):
  Fr. Mike jokes about the “Walk Like an Egyptian” reference, lightening the tone:

  Fr. Mike: “They walk like Egyptians. Sorry, were you gonna say that?”
  Jeff Cavins: “I said I was going to avoid that. But you got it in there, and that’s good.”

4. God’s Painful Mercy: The Plagues and Liberation

• Fr. Mike (07:43):
  Expounds on the severity of the plagues and draws a parallel to painful but necessary healing in medicine:

  “To set them free from this thing that is killing them requires some pretty serious actions. And it seems like in some ways that’s kind of what God is doing with these 10 plagues... Even leading to that 10th plague being the death of the firstborn.”

• Jeff Cavins (09:13):
  On freedom’s cost:

  “For sure this is going to be a painful freedom... Isn’t it always?”
  Describes Israel’s temptation to return to their “addiction” because of difficulty in the wilderness.

5. The Sinai Encounter: The Covenant, Priesthood, Tabernacle, and Law

• Jeff Cavins (09:35-11:52):
  Details three transformative events at Mt. Sinai:

  • The priesthood of the Levites:

    “There’s going to be one tribe that rises up as the priests, and those are the Levites... This takes place in chapter 32. This is where Leviticus belongs...”

  • The Tabernacle:

    “Moses being up on the mountain and seeing a heavenly vision of what it looks like to worship... and you’ll see it at your local Catholic church, I might add.”

  • The Law (Torah):

    “That law is not meant to put them down... The law is to get you to focus on your relationship with God.”

  Key Point: These elements are foundational for understanding worship, priesthood, and covenant in both Old and New Testament contexts.

6. Why Read Leviticus? – The Importance of Holiness and Discipleship

• Jeff Cavins (13:59):
  Shares why Leviticus, though challenging, is essential:

  “In Jesus’ day, all the children who started their biblical studies in Israel started with Leviticus... Talks about holiness. To be totally distinct, to be totally separate, to be holy... God brought Israel out into the desert to do something.”

  “He said in Leviticus, six different times, be holy as I am holy... And then he went on to say, you need to learn to discern between the good and the bad, that which is clean, that which is not unclean... We see the foundation of discipleship…”

• Practical Advice:

  “Maybe you won’t understand everything about it, but listen carefully for how God is forming a nation... God is discipling a nation who has come out of bondage, come out of addiction. If you want to be my people and truly live free, you’ve got to imitate me.”

7. Application to Listeners’ Lives: Discipleship, Reflection, and Challenge

• Fr. Mike (16:15):
  Connects Israel’s mistakes to our own:

  “The natural temptation that so many of us have is the same temptation that the people of Israel had, which is, I want to be just like everyone else... We have a law because God knows your heart, I know your heart is going to want to not be like me.”

• Jeff Cavins (17:49):
  Encourages self-examination:

  “To look into the mirror and ask, what is it in my life that God is trying to bring me out of?... Are there addictions? Are there ways of thinking?... As you read, take these principles and apply them to yourself.”

8. Concluding Encouragements and Three Key Elements To Watch For

• Jeff Cavins (19:21):

  “Pay attention to those three major changes during this reading period: the priesthood, the Tabernacle, and the Word of God... Recognize them at church, recognize them in your life, embrace them, and thank God for all three.”

• Fr. Mike (20:02):
  Expresses gratitude and offers a closing prayer for God’s continued revelation and faithfulness to listeners as they move into Exodus.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Fr. Mike (00:44):

  “The hardest day to read the Bible is the day after the day you don’t. But simply pick it up and start again.”

• Jeff Cavins (06:27):

  “They were addicted to idolatry. And so God had to do something amazing to draw them out and turn them to himself.”

• Fr. Mike (07:43):

  “It seems like in some ways that’s kind of what God is doing with these 10 plagues... To set them free... requires some pretty serious actions.”

• Jeff Cavins (13:59):

  “In Jesus’ day, all of the children who started their biblical studies in Israel started with Leviticus... It talks about holiness... Imitation is the foundation of discipleship.”

• Fr. Mike (16:15):

  “There’s first God establishing the relationship... And now here is the law, meaning here’s how you live out this relationship.”

Suggested Timestamps for Key Segments

• Encouragement to Stay Faithful, Not Perfect: 00:44 – 02:46
• Historical Context: Leap from Genesis to Exodus: 02:46 – 05:36
• Egyptian Assimilation & Slavery’s Depths: 05:36 – 06:27
• Plagues as Painful Liberation (Analogy to Medicine): 07:43 – 09:13
• Sinai—Priesthood, Tabernacle, and Law (Covenant): 09:35 – 11:52
• Why Leviticus Matters, Foundations of Discipleship: 13:59 – 16:15
• Personal Application & Self-Examination: 16:15 – 18:43
• Summary: The Three Pillars for the Period: 19:21 – 20:02

Final Thoughts

This episode provides both a roadmap for navigating the pivotal Exodus narrative and practical spiritual encouragement for listeners. By focusing on the three major developments from this period—the priesthood, the Tabernacle, and the Law—Fr. Mike and Jeff Cavins help listeners see not only the cohesion of the biblical story, but also its ongoing relevance to daily Christian discipleship. The tone is conversational, engaging, and often humorous, making even challenging topics accessible and encouraging for all.