The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Day 33: Locusts, Darkness, and Death of the Firstborn (2022)
11 snips
Feb 2, 2022 They trace plagues like locusts, darkness, and the looming final strike that show divine power over Egyptian gods. They recount the consecration rites for Aaron and his sons and the role of Levites in worship. They unpack Psalm 50’s call for true thanksgiving rather than empty ritual. The discussion highlights freedom from idolatry and the importance of proper worship.
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Plagues Show God's Supremacy Over Egyptian Gods
- The ten plagues demonstrate Yahweh's supremacy over Egyptian gods rather than being random disasters.
- Fr. Mike maps specific plagues to deities like Hapi for the Nile, Hekht for frogs, Geb for the earth, and Ra for the sun to show targeted divine dominance.
Freedom Is Given So Israel Can Worship Properly
- Liberation's purpose is worship: Israel is freed so they can serve (worship) God as he desires, not offer Him whatever they want.
- Moses insists all cattle must go because Israel doesn't yet know the proper offerings and must bring what God will ask for.
Childhood Misread Of Moses Reframed By Pope Benedict
- Fr. Mike recalls his childhood reaction thinking Moses was being 'sly' when asking to take all cattle from Pharaoh.
- He then cites Pope Benedict to reframe Moses' honesty: Israelites needed their animals to worship God properly.