Day 212: God's Instrument (2026)

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Ascension

This episode explores Isaiah 45-46, Ezekiel 6-7, and Proverbs 12:9-12, focusing on God's use of Cyrus as His instrument to restore Israel, t

Key takeaways

God prophesied about Cyrus, a king who did not know Him, and used him to restore Israel and rebuild Jerusalem.
Idolatry is foolish because it involves worshipping the same wood used for daily needs, showing the absurdity of false gods.
God is not an idol to be questioned or criticized; He is the Creator who has ultimate authority.

Main topics

God's use of Cyrus as His instrument for restoration
The folly of idolatry and its absurdity
Judgment on Israel for their sins and idolatry

Notable quotes

'Woe to him who strives with his maker, an earthen vessel with the potter.'

Conclusion

This episode highlights God's sovereignty, the consequences of idolatry, and the

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:03) Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfold and how we fit into that story today. It is day 212. We're reading from Isaiah chapter 45 and 46, also Ezekiel, chapter 6 and 7, and Proverbs chapter 12, verses 9 through 12. The Bible translation that I'm reading from, as always, is the revised. standard version, second Catholic edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on and subscribe and receiving daily episodes and updates and all those kinds of things that we do. It is day 212. As I said, we are now in Isaiah 45, 45 and 46, Ezekiel chapter 6 and 7 and Proverbs chapter 12 verses 9 through 12 the book of the prophet isaiah chapter 45 Cyrus, God's instrument. Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and and uncover the loins of kings, to open doors before him, that gates may not be closed i will go before you and I will go before you and level the mountains. I will break in pieces the doors of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron i will give you the treasures of darkness and and the secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant, Jacob, and Israel, my chosen, I call you by your name. I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. Besides me, there is no God. I clothe you, though you do not know me, that men may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness. I make well-being and create woe. I am the Lord who do all these things. Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness, let the earth open that salvation may sprout forth, and let it cause righteousness to spring up also. I, the Lord, have created it. Woe to him who strives with his maker, an earthen vessel with the potter. Does the clay say to him who fashions it, what are you making, or your work has no handles? O to him who says to a father, what are you begetting or to a woman what are you suffering labor pains? Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and his maker, will you question me about my children or command me concerning the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their hosts. I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward, says the Lord of hosts. Thus says the Lord, the wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours. They shall follow you. They shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying, God is with you alone, and there is no other—no god besides Him. Truly, you are a God who hide yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior. All of them are put to shame and confounded, the makers of idols go in confusion together. But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation. You shall not be put to shame or confounded forever For thus, says the Lord, who created the heavens, he is God, who formed the earth and made it, he established it, He did not create it to be empty, he formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness, I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, seek Me in chaos. I am the Lord; I speak the truth. I declare what is right. Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you survivors of the nations. They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols and keep on praying to a God that cannot save. Declare and present your case. Let them take counsel together. Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides me. A righteous God and a Savior, there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn. From My mouth has gone forth in righteousness—a word that shall not return. To me, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Only in the Lord it shall be said of me our righteousness and strength. To him shall come and be ashamed, all who are incensed against him. In the Lord, all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory. Chapter 46. Idols cannot save. Bell bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are on beasts and cattle. These things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary beasts. They stoop, they bow down together. They cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. Listen to me, O House of Jacob, all the remnant of the House of Israel, who have been born by me from your birth, carried from the womb, even to your old age, I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made and I will bear. I will carry and will save. To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god, then they fall down in worship, they lift it upon their shoulders, they carry it, they