Father Mike Schmitz hosts day 18 of The Bible in a Year podcast, a program designed to read through The Bible from Genesis to Revelation using The Great Adventure Bible timeline. He reads from the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, specifically The Great Adventure Bible published by Ascension Press.

Today's reading covers Genesis chapters 35-36, continuing Jacob's story as his family grows more complex. The session also includes Job chapters 25-26, where Bildad questions human righteousness before God, and Proverbs 3:19-24 on wisdom's role in creation and daily life.

Father Mike emphasizes that God's work in people's lives isn't like a predictable 'Hallmark story' but involves real brokenness, difficult choices, and God's faithfulness through messy circumstances.

Jacob Returns to Bethel and Becomes Israel

God commands Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar, prompting Jacob to tell his household to 'Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves'

At Bethel, God officially confirms Jacob's name change: 'No longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name'

God reaffirms the covenant promises to Israel: 'Be fruitful and multiply, a nation and a company of nations shall come from you'

Rachel's Death and Family Scandal

Rachel dies in childbirth giving birth to Benjamin, calling him 'Ben Oni' (son of my sorrow) while Jacob names him Benjamin

The twelve sons of Jacob are listed, representing the future twelve tribes of Israel born from four women: Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah

Reuben commits adultery with Bilhah, his father's concubine, demonstrating the continued moral failures within Jacob's family

Isaac dies at 180 years old and is buried by both Jacob and Esau, showing reconciliation between the brothers

Esau's Descendants and God's Faithfulness

Genesis 36 provides extensive genealogies of Esau's descendants, showing how they became the nation of Edom with their own kings and chiefs

Father Mike explains that God includes Esau's lineage because 'even though Esau did not receive the blessing, Esau is a son of his father' and God promised Abraham descendants 'like the stars of the sky'

The separation of Jacob and Esau occurs because 'their possessions were too great for them to dwell together' - a peaceful division of territory

Job's Dialogue on Human Righteousness

Bildad the Shuhite argues that humans cannot be righteous before God: 'How then can man be righteous before God? How much less man, who is a maggot, the son of man, who is a worm?'

Job responds sarcastically to Bildad's unhelpful counsel: 'How have you helped him who has no power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength?'

Job acknowledges God's cosmic power while noting human limitations: 'Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. And how small a whisper do we hear of him?'

God's Grace Through Messy Circumstances

Father Mike contrasts biblical narratives with 'Hallmark stories,' noting that 'actual grace doesn't work that way' - God works through brokenness and difficult choices

He emphasizes God's faithfulness despite human failure: 'There's nothing that God can't use when we give it to him'

The key message is that God 'is faithful and he is steadfast' even when circumstances make us question His promises