The Daily Blade - Episode #266: Kyle Thompson // To Him Who Led His People Through the Wilderness

Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Date: January 7, 2026

Main Theme Overview

This episode explores the theme of God’s steadfast love and mercy as expressed in Psalm 136:10–16. The hosts focus on the biblical account of God delivering Israel from Egypt, leading them through miraculous and challenging circumstances, and what this enduring love means for Christians today. The discussion centers on God’s actions during the Exodus—particularly the plagues and the journey through the wilderness—and addresses the difficulty and hope found in these stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Psalm 136:10–16 (00:20)

• Kyle reads and emphasizes the structure of the verses:
  • Each act of God ends with “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
• The acts:
  • Striking down Egypt’s firstborn
  • Bringing Israel out from Egypt
  • Parting the Red Sea and defeating Pharaoh’s army
  • Leading the people through the wilderness

2. Facing the Difficulties of Exodus (00:55)

• The passage recounts God's judgmental acts, which can be hard to process.
• “All of us have to reckon with what God did as described in the book of Exodus. And if we're being honest, I mean, you really might struggle with what you read there because it can be kind of rough, right?”
  — Kyle Thompson [01:12]

3. The Plagues as Targeted Acts (01:30)

• A summary of the ten plagues in Exodus:
  • Water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock death, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of the firstborn.
• The plagues were not random; they “were targeted strikes against Egypt,” aimed at their “little g gods and little l lords,” shaking their entire societal foundation (01:50).
• The plagues attacked Egypt’s economy, land, and Pharaoh’s divinity claim.

4. The Most Severe Plague and Deliverance (02:10)

• The tenth plague culminates in Exodus 12:29–32.
  • God strikes down all the firstborn.
  • Pharaoh finally relents and lets Israel go.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “Can you imagine? I mean, this is certainly a rough section of scripture to try and wrap your mind around, but when you do, you can actually really start to see the beauty in it. Because you see, God's ultimate purpose was the salvation and deliverance of Israel.”
    — Kyle Thompson [02:41]

5. God’s Purpose: Salvation & Judgment (03:00)

• Egypt’s refusal to acknowledge God and hold Israel in bondage necessitated judgment.
• God’s acts—harsh as they may seem—were ultimately for Israel’s deliverance.

6. Red Sea Miracle & Wilderness Leadership (03:20)

• After deliverance, God parts the Red Sea—Israel passes through; the Egyptians are destroyed.
  • “He separated the Red Sea to provide safe passage... His love was certainly steadfast.” — [03:37]
• God “led his people through the wilderness”—not briefly, but faithfully for 40 years.

7. Wandering with a Purpose (03:47)

• The long journey wasn’t due to God’s confusion but because of Israel’s unbelief:
  • “He was waiting for their unbelief to die because they were stiff necked people. They lacked the faith in God's provision and direction.”
    — [03:54]

8. Persistent Love & Sovereign Purpose (04:10)

• Despite uncertainty, God’s love and guidance endure.
• “His steadfast love endures forever. Not for a little while, not over a short distance, for forever.”
• Even when God’s ways are mysterious, the hosts encourage faith in “the destination [being] good and it is for our salvation and his glory.” (04:18)

Notable Quotes

• Kyle Thompson:
  “All of us have to reckon with what God did as described in the book of Exodus. And if we're being honest, I mean, you really might struggle with what you read there because it can be kind of rough, right?” [01:12]

• Kyle Thompson:
  “Can you imagine? ...when you do, you can actually really start to see the beauty in it. Because you see, God's ultimate purpose was the salvation and deliverance of Israel.” [02:41]

• Kyle Thompson:
  “He was waiting for their unbelief to die because they were stiff necked people. They lacked the faith in God's provision and direction.” [03:54]

• Kyle Thompson:
  “His steadfast love endures forever. Not for a little while, not over a short distance, for forever.” [04:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Reading of Psalm 136:10–16 and main theme introduced
• 01:30 — Overview of the ten plagues
• 02:10 — The Passover and death of the firstborn
• 03:00 — God’s judgment and Israel’s deliverance
• 03:20 — Red Sea parted, Israel saved, Egyptians defeated
• 03:47 — Wilderness wanderings and the purpose behind them
• 04:10 — The enduring nature of God’s steadfast love

Tone and Style

The conversation is earnest and pastoral, offering empathy for those who struggle with difficult Biblical passages. Kyle’s teaching leans toward practical application, reassurance, and reflection:

• Acknowledgement of the difficulty in understanding God’s actions
• Repeated reminders of God’s steadfastness and bigger purpose
• Calls to trust God’s plan, even amidst confusion

Summary Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Blade encourages listeners to grapple honestly with the hard realities of God’s judgment in Exodus while ultimately focusing on God’s enduring and deliverance-oriented love. Drawing from Psalm 136, Joby and Kyle emphasize that even in seasons of wandering and uncertainty, God’s love and guidance are persistent, and He is always working toward the salvation and good of His people.