The Faith Explained with Cale Clarke - Learning the Catholic Faith

A direct route to the promised land would have only taken 10 days, not 40 years. Why send the people through the wilderness, then? God wanted to both A) humble, and B) test his people. Would they be loyal to him or not? He does the same with us today.

As the people of God are on the road to the Promised Land, Yahweh demands the consecration of the Israelites’ firstborn and first fruits. Why? It’s a reminder that God must be first in every area of our lives, and it’s no less true today.

Moses, unbelievably, gives Pharaoh the choice of when the plague of frogs will end. It’s up to him! We also have a choice to be for—or against— God. St Augustine says, “The God who created you without you will not save you without you”.

The terrifying, final plague descends on the Egyptians: the death of the firstborn. Was God unjust, unfair, and unnecessarily cruel in doing this? PLUS: In our Q&A mailbag segment, Cale answers a question about the darkness that descended on the land when Jesus died. Did this really happen?

As Catholics, we treasure the Catechism of the Catholic Church and beloved older versions like the famous Baltimore Catechism. Did you know that Moses basically created the very first Catechism in the book of Exodus? Plus: a listener question about whether or not Mary experienced labor pains when Jesus was born.

Saint Paul was the ultimate evangelist. Although he wasn’t a pope, it’s fitting that many popes took his name as part of their title. Paul was the ultimate “pontifex”, or “bridge-builder” between people and God, just as God built a “bridge” to reach Paul: the Cross of Christ. St Paul teaches us how to bring others to Jesus, just as he did.

On today’s episode of The Exodus Series on The Faith Explained, Cale answers the question of why God institutes two separate feasts: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The answer? One concerns initial salvation, and the other concerns sanctification: holiness, becoming like God. “Be holy, as I am holy”, says the Lord in the Old Covenant. Jesus says, “Be perfect, as...

The Israelites must slaughter and consume an unblemished lamb, foreshadowing the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. We are likewise commanded to consume his flesh and blood sacramentally in the Eucharist.

The death of the Egyptian firstborn at the stroke of midnight means the tide has turned, and the “gods” of Egypt are decimated. Yahweh has won, and the dawn of his salvation is close at hand.

“Lights Out!” The 9th plague (darkness) is a direct attack on Ra, the Egyptian “sun god”.  Only the homes of God’s people have light. We, too, must shine like stars amidst the moral and spiritual darkness of the age, reflecting Christ, the Light of the World.

God doesn’t send the plague of locusts just to “bug” the Egyptians. Moses is reminded to teach the next generations about Yahweh’s deeds of power. In the same way, we must pass on the Catholic faith to the next generation. But, how?

Just for the “hail” of it, Yahweh rains down hailstones on Egypt. He thus reveals himself as the mighty “Storm God”, and announces his control over the land of Egypt. For the first time, people are killed by the plagues, but Pharaoh’s heart remains harder than the stones falling from the heavens.

In this episode of the Exodus series on The Faith Explained, God says to Moses: “In the past, I revealed myself as ‘God Almighty’ to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ”But now, in revealing himself as the God who “is” and “will be”, God reveals much more about himself—that he’s with us in the present moment, and in the challenges and experiences of everyday life.

On this episode of the Exodus series on The Faith Explained, Moses begins his journey back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. But on the way, God confronts Moses and tries to kill him! Why on earth would God do this? Ultimately, Moses is saved by the quick thinking and actions of his wife, Zipporah.

Yahweh reaches directly into Pharaoh’s heart to harden it…is God taking away his free will? Plus: our Q&A segment deals with the difference between marriage annulments and priests leaving the priesthood.

The 10 plagues continue to pummel the Egyptians, but Pharaoh continues his two-faced, duplicitous ways. We also see how each plague is a direct attack by Yahweh on one of the so-called “gods” of Egypt.

Moses, unbelievably, gives Pharaoh the choice of when the plague of frogs will end. It’s up to him! We also have a choice to be for—or against— God. St Augustine says, “The God who created you without you will not save you without you”.

Cale dips into the 10 plagues that God unleashes on the Egyptians. The first two have to do with water. Aaron’s staff turns into a great sea monster and Moses commands that the Nile be turned into blood.  What’s Pharaoh’s reaction? Find out in this episode of the Faith Explained.

In this episode of the Exodus series on The Faith Explained, God says to Moses: “In the past, I revealed myself as ‘God Almighty’ to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ”But now, in revealing himself as the God who “is” and “will be”, God reveals much more about himself—that he’s with us in the present moment, and in the challenges and experiences of everyday life.

God picks Moses back up after he falls flat on his face with Pharaoh. Not only does Pharaoh not “let God’s people go”, things got even worse for the enslaved Israelites. Find out what God does in response, on this episode of The Faith Explained with Cale Clarke!

On this episode of the Exodus series on The Faith Explained, Moses begins his journey back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. But on the way, God confronts Moses and tries to kill him! Why on earth would God do this? Ultimately, Moses is saved by the quick thinking and actions of his wife, Zipporah.

On this episode of the Faith Explained, God calls Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh. Moses doesn't want to go and asks God to send someone else. Sometimes we feel the same way, but there are people only we can reach and God  will equip us like he equipped Moses.

What’s in a name? What’s in a divine name? There are so many names for God in the Old Testament; Yahweh, Jehovah, the Lord. Where do these all come from? It’s all connected to how God reveals Himself in chapter 3 of Genesis. Cale discusses this and more in this episode of the Exodus series on the Faith Explained.

When God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, we might ask who or what is this angel spoken of? Plus, God says He will send Moses to a land filled with milk and honey, but what kind of milk and honey? Cale discusses this and more on today’s Faith Explained.

God steps onto the “stage” of Exodus and reveals himself to Moses in the wilderness. Moses is charged with leading Israel out of bondage, but suffers from “imposter syndrome”, doubting he’s up for the task. God’s response: “I will be with you.” What more could one ask for?