Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2026)

Summary of Day 86: The Real Presence of God (2026)

by Ascension

20m•March 27, 2026
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Overview of Day 86: The Real Presence of God (Bible in a Year)

Father Mike Schmitz (Ascension) reads Joshua 15–18 and prays Psalm 130 (RSV-2CE) as part of the Bible in a Year (Great Adventure Bible Timeline). The episode focuses on land allotments for the tribes of Israel (boundaries, towns, unresolved Canaanite presence), the daughters of Zelophehad receiving an inheritance, and Psalm 130’s cry for mercy. Father Mike emphasizes the concreteness and historicity of Scripture and encourages listeners to follow the reading with maps in the Great Adventure Bible to see that God acts in real places and times — and is present with us now.

What was read (chapter-by-chapter summary)

  • Joshua 15 — Territory of Judah

    • Detailed southern, eastern, northern, and western boundaries of Judah; long list of towns and villages.
    • Caleb receives Hebron (Kiriath Arba); story of his daughter Achsah (Aksha) asking for springs.
    • Many towns enumerated; the Jebusites remain in Jerusalem — Judah could not drive them out.

  • Joshua 16 — Territory of Ephraim

    • Boundaries of Ephraim’s allotment from Jericho to the sea.
    • The Canaanites in Gezer were not driven out and remained in Ephraim’s territory but became forced laborers.

  • Joshua 17 — Territory of Manasseh (west) and Joseph’s complaint

    • Allotments for Manasseh (including names of families).
    • Zelophehad’s daughters (Malah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, Tirzah) successfully claim inheritance rights as Moses had commanded.
    • Some coastal and northern cities remained occupied by Canaanites; Israel put them to forced labor.
    • Joseph’s tribes (Ephraim & Manasseh) complain about limited inheritance; Joshua tells them to clear the forest and take the hill country, despite Canaanites’ iron chariots.

  • Joshua 18 — Remaining tribes and process of allotment

    • Israelites assemble at Shiloh; seven tribes still lack allotment.
    • Joshua sends survey teams (3 men per tribe) to map the land; lots are cast before the Lord at Shiloh.
    • Levites receive no land (priesthood is their heritage); Gad, Reuben, and half-Manasseh already have eastern allotments.
    • Detailed description of Benjamin’s borders and cities.

  • Psalm 130 — A Song of Ascents

    • A penitential cry: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.”
    • Acknowledgement that if God marked iniquities no one could stand, but God’s forgiveness and redemption are abundant.
    • Waiting and hope in the Lord; appeal to Israel to hope in the Lord’s mercy and redemption.

Key themes & pastoral takeaways

  • Historicity of faith

    • Scripture records real places, peoples, and events; Christianity is rooted in concrete history, not abstraction.
    • Maps and geographic context help the text come alive and underscore God’s real, tangible action in human history.

  • God’s presence is now

    • The same God who acted for Israel acts for believers today — “right now and right here.”
    • Faith is lived in ordinary, temporal settings (commuting, chores, work).

  • Persistence of human incompleteness

    • Even after conquest, many Canaanites remained; Israel’s possession was partial and required ongoing effort and faith.
    • Spiritual life can also include incompleteness and “work to be done” rather than instant perfection.

  • Justice and inclusivity

    • Zelophehad’s daughters demonstrate God’s just provision and inclusivity in inheritance law (women’s rights in context).

  • Patience and hope

    • Psalm 130 models penitence, waiting, and trust in God’s mercy — a fitting posture when daily readings feel dry or discouraging.

Notable quotes (Father Mike)

  • “This is a real story. It's a true story with real places and real people in a real time.”
  • “We are not just kind of this esoteric floating in the haze. We are actually called to be here and now.”
  • “God is with you just as he was with the people of Israel, not somewhere in the future, not somewhere in the past, but right now and right here.”

Practical recommendations & action items

  • Follow along with the Great Adventure Bible maps (e.g., Father Mike references page ~1595) while listening to connect names/places visually.
  • Read Psalm 130 slowly as a prayer practice when you’re feeling distant or discouraged.
  • Reflect on Zelophehad’s daughters as a prompt to consider justice and inclusion in your context.
  • When a chapter feels dry or overly detailed, remember the pastoral point: the historical concreteness aims to root faith in the real world — keep reading and praying.

Reflection questions (for personal or group use)

  • How does seeing the geography or map change your experience of the text?
  • What “Canaanites” (obstacles, unfinished tasks, coexisting challenges) do you still face in your spiritual life?
  • Where and how do you experience God’s “real presence” in everyday life?
  • What does Psalm 130 invite you to bring to the Lord today?

Contextual notes

  • The Great Adventure Bible Timeline and maps are tools recommended by the host to make the allotment chapters accessible and meaningful.
  • RSV-2CE used for reading; wording may differ in other translations.
  • The passages include long lists of towns and boundaries — their primary purpose is to show God’s tangible promises to tribes and to locate sacred history in space.

Blessing/closing: Father Mike prays for listeners, encourages perseverance, and invites continued engagement with the Bible reading plan (subscribe to the podcast and use Ascension’s resources).