Father Mike Schmitz hosts the Bible in a Year podcast, a daily Scripture reading program using The Great Adventure Bible timeline from Ascension Press. Reading from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition, Father Mike guides listeners through the entire Bible systematically over 365 days.

Day 72 covers Numbers chapters 24-25, Deuteronomy chapter 26, and Psalm 107. The readings reveal the dramatic contrast between God's persistent blessing of Israel through Balaam's oracles and the Israelites' simultaneous unfaithfulness through idolatry and sexual immorality on the plains of Moab.

The episode explores themes of divine blessing versus human rebellion, the violent response to sacrilege in the tabernacle, and the biblical mandate for caring for society's most vulnerable through systematic tithing and first fruits offerings.

Balaam's Four Oracles: Forced Blessings Over Israel

King Balak of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel, but God forced Balaam to speak only blessings four times instead of curses.

Balaam's fourth oracle contains the Messianic prophecy: "A star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel" - pointing to future divine kingship.

"What the Lord speaks, that will I speak" - Balaam acknowledges he cannot go beyond God's word regardless of Balak's offered riches.

Israel's Apostasy: Adultery and Idolatry at Shittim

While God was blessing Israel through Balaam, the Israelites "began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab" and worshipped Baal of Peor.

Zimri brought the Midianite woman Cozbi into the tent of meeting where they engaged in sexual relations in God's holy presence.

Phineas, grandson of Aaron, killed both Zimri and Cozbi with a spear, stopping a plague that had already killed 24,000 Israelites.

God praised Phineas's zealous action, granting him "a covenant of perpetual priesthood" for making atonement for Israel's sin.

First Fruits and Care for the Vulnerable

Deuteronomy 26 establishes the ritual declaration: "A wandering Aramean was my father" - recounting God's deliverance from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Every third year, tithes must go not just to God but to "the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow" for their sustenance.

Father Mike challenges: "What if all of us actually gave 10% of our yield, not only for the worship of God, but for the service of those who could not care for themselves?"

The biblical model prioritizes personal and community responsibility for the poor rather than relying on government systems alone.

Divine Goodness Versus Human Darkness

The juxtaposition of Numbers 24-25 reveals "the goodness of God" blessing unfaithful people alongside "the darkness of our hearts" in rebellion.

Psalm 107 reinforces the theme: "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress" - repeated four times for different situations.

Father Mike invites listeners to pray: "God, if you need to convict me...you have my permission. And if...you just want to console me...you have my permission."