Numbers 31 contains one of the most difficult passages in the entire Old Testament. How could a holy and loving God command the destruction of the Midianites?

In this episode, Lance Smith examines the historical and biblical context behind this challenging chapter, tracing the story back to Israel's rebellion at Baal Peor in Numbers 25. Along the way, he addresses common skeptical objections, explores what respected Christian scholars have said about the passage, and explains why Scripture presents these events as a unique act of divine judgment rather than arbitrary violence.

If you've ever struggled with Numbers 31, or wondered how Christians should respond to questions about it, this episode offers a thoughtful, biblical perspective while ultimately pointing to God's justice, mercy, and redemption through Jesus Christ.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
2. “Why did God command the Israelites to completely destroy the Midianites in Numbers 31:17?” GotQuestions.org. Available at: https://www.gotquestions.org/Numbers-31-17-Midianites.html
3. Guzik, David. “Numbers 31 – Vengeance on Midian.” Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Available at: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/numbers-31/
4. “Numbers 31 Commentary.” Precept Austin (includes material from Gleason Archer). Available at: https://www.preceptaustin.org/numbers-31-commentary
5. “The Killings of Numbers 31.” Apologetics Press. Available at: https://apologeticspress.org/the-killings-of-numbers-31-763/
6. Engheta, Matthew. “Did God Command Genocide in Numbers 31?” Reasonable Apologetics (Medium). Available at: https://medium.com/reasonable-apologetics/did-god-command-genocide-in-numbers-31-984e715df861
7. “What about God’s cruelty against the Midianites?” Christian Think Tank. Available at: https://www.christian-thinktank.com/midian.html
8. Dawkins, Richard. The Root of All Evil? (Channel 4 documentary, 2006). Widely available on video platforms.
9. Hitchens, Christopher. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (2007); also 2007 debate with Al Sharpton.
10. Andrews, Seth. Deconverted: A Journey from Religion to Reason (2012); also content on The Thinking Atheist channel.

Episode 272 examines the difficult charge that the Bible endorses slavery by distinguishing ancient biblical servitude from modern chattel slavery, reviewing key Old and New Testament passages, and noting protections and limits found in Scripture.

The episode also connects the biblical trajectory toward human dignity with the church’s role in opposing historical and contemporary forms of slavery, including human trafficking and forced labor.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/slavery.html
2. Apologetics Canada. Does the Bible Endorse Slavery? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qemsox_PlCo
3. CARM. Does the Bible Approve of Slavery? https://carm.org/does-the-bible-approve-of-slavery
4. Global Slavery Index 2023. Walk Free Foundation. https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
5. Mako A. Nagasawa. Slavery in the Bible and Slavery Today. New Humanity Institute. http://www.newhumanityinstitute.org/pdfs/article-slavery-in-the-bible.pdf
6. Midtown Columbia. Does God Condone Slavery? https://midtowncolumbia.com/blog/does-god-condone-slavery
7. Gavin Ortlund. "Is the Bible Pro-Slavery?" The Gospel Coalition, July 2, 2024.
8. Skeptics Annotated Bible. Does God Approve of Slavery? https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/slavery.html
9. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report (annual edition). https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/
10. United Nations and International Labour Organization. Global Estimates of Modern Slavery.
11. Human Rights Watch. Reports on slavery and human trafficking in Mauritania and Libya. https://www.hrw.org/
12. BBC News. Investigative reporting on slavery in Libya and Mauritania. https://www.bbc.com/
13. Hochschild, Adam. Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves. Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
14. Copan, Paul. Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God. Baker Books, 2011.

In this episode, we continue through C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity with Book Two, Chapter Two — The Invasion.

Lewis takes on Dualism, the idea that two equal powers — one good and one evil — are locked in an eternal war. He argues that this view ultimately fails because evil is not an independent force. Evil is “spoiled goodness” — a parasite that must borrow its power from good in order to exist. This is why Christianity has always said the devil is a fallen angel.

Lewis then offers one of his most striking images:

“Enemy-occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”

This chapter challenges the comfortable, feel-good version of Christianity so common today. Lewis reminds us that real Christianity has both a heart and a head. It tells us we are loved, but it also tells us the truth about the war we’re in — and calls us to join the King in taking back enemy-occupied territory. And unlike every other rebellion in history, this one ends in victory, because the King has already conquered through His death and resurrection.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk

Host Lance Smith examines the apparent discrepancy between Numbers 25 and 1 Corinthians 10 about whether 23,000 or 24,000 Israelites died after the Baal Peor incident, explaining that Moses records the total deaths while Paul specifies that 23,000 fell in a single day. The episode reviews the background—Israel’s compromise with Moabite worship, Phinehas’ decisive action, and God’s judgment—and shows how careful reading resolves the numbers.

The episode concludes with practical lessons: Paul’s purpose was pastoral, not statistical, urging believers to learn from Israel’s failure, resist gradual compromise, and rely on Christ’s mercy rather than human perfection.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
2. Lyons, Eric. "A Slip of the Mind?" Apologetics Press, 2001. https://apologeticspress.org/a-slip-of-the-mind-875/
3. Manning, Gary. "Were There 23,000 or 24,000 Slain?" Evidence Unseen. https://evidenceunseen.com/new-testament/1-corinthians/difficulties/were-there-23000-or-24000-slain/
4. Guzik, David. Numbers 25 Commentary. Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/numbers-25/
5. Mody, Rohintan. "Did Paul's Abacus Break? Numbers 25:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:7–10." Churchman 121, no. 1 (2007). https://www.churchsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Cman_121_1_Mody.pdf
6. "Why 24,000 vs. 23,000 Deaths?" Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/q/why_24,000_vs._23,000_deaths.htm
7. "Israel's Whoredom as a Warning for Us (1 Corinthians 10:5–11)." Knowing Scripture. https://knowingscripture.com/articles/israels-whoredom-as-a-warning-for-us-1-corinthians-10-5-11
8. Grant Richison. "1 Corinthians 10:8–11." Verse by Verse Commentary. https://versebyversecommentary.com/2002/10/20/1-corinthians-108-11/
9. "Bible Contradiction? How Many Did God Kill for Committing Whoredom with the Daughters of Moab?" Veritas Domain. https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2022/09/06/bible-contradiction-how-many-did-god-kill-for-committing-whoredom-with-the-daughters-of-moab/
10. "Did Paul Contradict Moses in 1 Corinthians 10:8?" Thoughts on Biblical Subjects. https://thoughtsonbiblicalsubjects.blogspot.com/2012/08/did-paul-contradict-moses-in-1.html

In this episode Lance Smith examines apparent differences between Matthew and Mark about when Jesus cursed the fig tree and when it withered, arguing the accounts reflect different emphases rather than a contradiction.

He explains Mark’s chronological “sandwich” and Matthew’s focus on immediacy, and connects the fig tree’s fruitlessness to a symbolic judgment on hollow religiosity.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/fig_temple.html and https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/fig.html
2. Evidence Unseen: Does this account of Jesus cursing the fig tree contradict Mark’s account? https://evidenceunseen.com/new-testament/matthew/difficulties/does-this-account-of-jesus-cursing-the-fig-tree-contradict-marks-account-mk-1111-15-19-25
3. The Gospel Coalition: Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree? by Greg Lanier (October 2, 2018) https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jesus-curse-fig-tree/
4. Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Mark 11 by David Guzik https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-11/
5. Gutenberg.edu: Making Sense of Jesus Cursing the Fig Tree https://gutenberg.edu/making-sense-of-jesus-cursing-the-fig-tree/
6. GotQuestions.org: Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? https://www.gotquestions.org/curse-fig-tree.html
7. Catholic.com: Why Does Jesus Curse the Fig Tree? https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/why-does-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree
8. Keel, Perry S. Research Paper: The Temple Cleansing in John 2:13-22 and The Cursing of the Fig Tree in Matthew 21:18-22 (NBST815)
9. Simmonds, Andrew. “Cursing the Fig Tree in Mark” (2015)

This week we step into Book Two of Mere Christianity as C.S. Lewis begins unpacking what Christians actually believe about God.

Lewis addresses a common question: Do Christians have to believe every other religion is entirely wrong? He then explores the major division between those who see God as “beyond good and evil” and those who believe God is good, righteous, and actively calls us to set right what has gone wrong in His world.

In one of the most famous passages in the book, Lewis explains why Christianity has always carried a “fighting edge” — not against people, but against evil and brokenness itself. He also delivers his well-known argument: “A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.”

If you’ve ever wondered how Christianity makes sense of the injustice and suffering we see in the world, this episode offers clear, thoughtful insight from one of the 20th century’s greatest apologists.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk

This episode examines Numbers 24:7, where Balaam's oracle says Israel's king will be greater than Agag—though the famous Agag in 1 Samuel lived centuries later. The host explains common solutions: Agag may have been a dynastic title for Amalekite rulers, prophetic foresight, or a case of later names used for clarity.

The discussion touches on the Septuagint reading "Gog," the historical context of Amalek, and how the prophecy points beyond Saul and David to the ultimate king in the Davidic line. Practical and scholarly perspectives are offered to resolve the apparent chronological difficulty.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
2. Guzik, David. “Numbers 24 – The Prophecies of Balaam (continued).” Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/numbers-24/
3. Precept Austin. “Numbers 24 Commentary.” https://www.preceptaustin.org/numbers-24-commentary
4. Translation Insights and Perspectives. “Translation commentary on Numbers 24:7.” https://tips.translation.bible/story/translation-commentary-on-numbers-247/
5. Biblical Scholarship. “Commentary on Numbers 23:27-24:13.” https://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2017/09/03/commentary-on-numbers-2327-2413/
6. Additional background consultation included Bible Hub cross-references and related articles on biblical prophecy and intertextual themes. These supplementary resources informed the study but were not directly quoted.

Sidebar Episode: 2026 Midyear Review (Episode 266)

Hello again, everybody! Join host Lance Smith for a special midyear check-in on the Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast. Whether you’ve been listening since our 2023 trailer or you’re just joining us, this episode is packed with encouragement, gratitude, and the latest numbers showing how God continues to use this little podcast.

We take a honest look back at the first half of 2026: • 11,755 downloads — a strong 70.8% increase over the first half of 2025 • Average ~1,959 downloads per month and ~245 downloads per episode (up from 143 last year) • On pace for over 23,000 downloads in full-year 2026 • International growth exploding: U.S. at 65.17%, with big surges from Singapore (13.94%) and Canada (10.70%), plus listeners across the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and many more countries • Desktop listening surging (Windows at 29.77%, Google Chrome leading sources at 27.72%) alongside strong mobile numbers

We also celebrate the ongoing Tuesday Contradictions series (born from your feedback) and the well-loved Sunday series walking through C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Plus, Lance shares listener patterns, favorite moments, and why these “numbers” really represent people opening their Bibles and wrestling with God’s Word.

This episode is full of gratitude, honest reflection, and excitement for what’s ahead in the second half of 2026. Slow thinking still beats fast answers—thank you for being part of this community!

Links & Ways to Connect: • Website: https://bibledifficultiesandanswers.podbean.com • Email questions: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com • Facebook Group: Bible Difficulties and Answers (great conversations happen here!) • Support (optional): https://buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

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