Father Mike Schmitz hosts day 29 of the Bible in a Year podcast, reading from Exodus chapters 4-5 and Leviticus chapter 4, using The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension Press. The podcast follows The Great Adventure Bible timeline, taking listeners through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation while exploring how salvation history unfolds.

This episode covers Moses receiving miraculous signs from God, his continued reluctance to lead despite divine confirmation, and the initial confrontation with Pharaoh that results in increased oppression for the Hebrew slaves. The Leviticus reading details the intricate sin offering procedures for different social classes, while Psalm 46 provides the contemplative foundation with its call to "be still and know that I am God."

God Equips Moses with Three Miraculous Signs

God provides Moses with three signs to convince the Israelites: his rod transforms into a serpent and back, his hand becomes leprous then heals, and Nile water will turn to blood on dry ground.

Despite witnessing these miracles, Moses continues to resist his calling, claiming "I am not eloquent... I am slow of speech and of tongue."

God's anger kindles against Moses' persistent refusal, leading to Aaron being appointed as Moses' spokesman while Moses acts "as God" to Aaron.

The Personal Name of God Reveals Intimate Relationship

Father Mike explains that "LORD" in capital letters represents God's personal name revealed to Moses, indicating intimate relationship rather than distant deity.

"In the ancient world, to know someone's name was understood as being in a relationship with them... there's a certain vulnerability in knowing another person's name."

God repeatedly identifies as "the God of your fathers" because "the Lord God would be largely unknown to Moses" after generations of slavery.

Pharaoh Responds to Liberation Request with Increased Oppression

Pharaoh declares "I do not know the Lord" and increases the Hebrews' workload, removing straw while maintaining the same brick production quotas.

The Hebrew foremen are beaten when they cannot meet impossible demands, leading them to confront Moses and Aaron for making their situation worse.

Moses questions God directly: "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?"

Leviticus Establishes Hierarchical Sin Offering System

Different sin offerings are prescribed based on social status: anointed priests offer young bulls, congregations offer bulls, rulers offer male goats, and common people offer female goats or lambs.

The ritual involves laying hands on the animal's head, killing it, sprinkling blood seven times before the Lord, and burning specific fat portions on the altar.

All offerings conclude with "the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven," emphasizing God's provision for restoration.

Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Slavery to Busyness

Father Mike warns that "many of us, we are pharaohs to ourselves" by creating unsustainable schedules that eliminate time for worship and contemplation.

"We've set up a pace of life for myself that is unmanageable if I even take a break... so we don't have time in our lives for worship."

Psalm 46's command to "be still and know that I am God" offers the antidote to self-imposed slavery through contemplative pause.

True freedom's purpose is worship - being liberated not just from external oppression but from internal compulsions that prevent relationship with God.