Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2026)

Summary of Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (2026)

by Ascension

18m•March 26, 2026
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Overview of Bible in a Year — Day 85: Fighting for Each Other (Ascension)

Father Mike Schmitz leads Day 85 of the Bible in a Year podcast (2026), reading Joshua 12–14 and Psalm 129 (RSV-2CE) and reflecting on the conquest narratives. He summarizes the biblical material (lists of defeated kings, land allotments east and west of the Jordan, Caleb’s claim on Hebron) and addresses how to understand the violence in Joshua, arguing the conquest is both a judgment for moral corruption and a divinely restrained, hyperbolic account within God’s larger plan of reconciliation.

Key Scripture readings (Day 85)

  • Joshua 12: Summary list of kings defeated by Moses and Joshua (31 kings named).
  • Joshua 13: God tells an aging Joshua there remains land to be possessed; descriptions of unconquered regions and peoples; allotments given east of the Jordan to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; Levites receive no territorial inheritance.
  • Joshua 14: Distribution of the land west of the Jordan; Caleb recalls his faithfulness and receives Hebron.
  • Psalm 129: A song of ascent recounting affliction from youth, God’s deliverance, and a plea for the downfall/shaming of Zion’s enemies; ends with a blessing.

Episode summary

  • Father Mike reads the passages (using the Great Adventure Bible timeline for context) and reflects on the moral, historical, and theological dimensions of Israel’s conquest of Canaan.
  • He stresses three helpful lenses for understanding the conquest:
    1. Moral corruption of the Canaanites (sexual immorality, child sacrifice cited from Leviticus and Deuteronomy) made divine judgment a response to entrenched evil.
    2. Biblical language about total destruction is often hyperbolic—statements like “leave no survivors” should be read alongside other texts (e.g., later chapters of Joshua, Deuteronomy 7 and 20) that show restraint and continued presence of peoples.
    3. The conquest is a limited, purposeful engagement, not God’s final or universal will; God’s ultimate plan is reconciliation and unity among the nations.
  • He encourages listeners to see God’s original intent—peace and harmony restored (with God, within persons, and among peoples)—and not to read the conquest as endorsing perpetual violence toward the “other.”
  • Concludes with pastoral encouragement: keep praying, fighting for one another, and persevering in the daily Bible-in-a-Year journey.

Major theological points & clarifications

  • God’s original plan = peace and harmony; conquest narratives are a response to human brokenness.
  • The conquest is framed as divine judgment aimed at specific, morally corrupt practices in Canaan (e.g., ritualized sexual immorality, child sacrifice).
  • Scriptural hyperbole and legal/ritual language: commands about destroying nations should be read in their ancient literary and theological context; later texts and practical outcomes show restraint and ongoing mingling of peoples.
  • The ultimate prophetic vision in Scripture is for the nations to come together in blessing, not perpetual separation or annihilation.

Notable quotes / lines to remember

  • “God’s original plan was peace.”
  • “If they are going to live as God’s holy people, God knows that they won’t be able to live among a people that they be so tempted to live as the people around them.” (explaining why separation/judgment was enacted)
  • “This is a limited engagement… God’s will is that Israel has peace with all nations.”
  • Pastoral close: “Let us keep fighting for each other. Let’s keep praying for each other. Let’s keep pulling each other up.”

Practical takeaways / action items

  • Read Joshua 12–14 and Psalm 129 in context (use RSV-2CE or your preferred translation).
  • Use a study aid (Father Mike recommends the Great Adventure Bible timeline) to orient yourself in difficult historical periods.
  • When encountering difficult biblical texts:
    • Consider historical, literary, and theological context.
    • Note possible hyperbole and the broader scriptural witness to God’s desire for reconciliation.
  • Spiritual practice: continue daily Scripture reading, pray for fellow listeners, and “fight for each other” through prayer and support.

Context & production notes

  • Host: Father Mike Schmitz (Ascension).
  • Translation read: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE).
  • Resource recommended: Great Adventure Bible (Ascension) and Ascension’s Bible in a Year reading plan (ascensionpress.com/bible-in-a-year).
  • Episode tone: pastoral teaching—aims to clarify tensions in the conquest narratives while encouraging spiritual perseverance.

If you want deeper study: compare Joshua’s conquest descriptions with Deuteronomy 7 and 20, and read commentaries on ancient Near Eastern hyperbole and Israelite warfare ethics to see how scholars and theologians reconcile these texts with the broader biblical vision of peace.