The Worst Chapter in the Bible

bible christianity theology

When I was a Lead Pastor, I had a memorable conversation with a church member who loved the Old Testament but found my approach to it troubling. They couldn’t understand why I didn’t hold its teachings at the same level as the New Testament. That moment set the stage for countless conversations about how Christians should read the Old Testament, especially its most brutal chapters. And let’s be honest—there are some passages that are downright shocking, like Numbers 31.

In Numbers 31, Moses leads the Israelites in a divinely-ordered revenge war against the Midianites. The chapter begins with God instructing Moses to exact vengeance. What follows is deeply unsettling. After a resounding military victory, Moses is enraged—not because of the violence, but because the soldiers didn’t kill enough women. His solution? Kill every male child, every non-virgin woman, and take the young girls as spoils of war.

As if this weren’t troubling enough, the text details how these captives are divided among the people, with a portion set aside as an offering to God. Numbers 31:40 mentions that 32 virgins are given to God. Think about that. 

When we read passages like this, glossing over them or pretending they don’t exist is tempting. But atheists and skeptics don’t ignore them—they often cite them as proof of the Bible’s inconsistency or cruelty. If my only image of God came from Numbers 31, I wouldn't follow Him either.

But here’s the thing: I believe the God we see in Jesus looks nothing like the God portrayed in this chapter. Jesus is our clearest image of who God is—He embodies nonviolent, self-sacrificial love. So how do we reconcile this image with the one we see in Numbers 31?

The early church father Origen offers a helpful perspective. He taught that when we encounter passages that seem unworthy of God, we should seek their deeper meaning through the Spirit. Scripture often reflects the cultural and historical context of its writers, revealing more about humanity than divinity. God meets people where they are—even if their understanding of Him is flawed. Numbers 31, then, reveals less about who God truly is and more about the ancient Israelites’ view of God, shaped by their violent culture.

This concept of God “stooping” to meet His people is both comforting and challenging. It suggests that God patiently works within human limitations, guiding us toward the ultimate revelation of His character in Jesus. In Jesus, we see a God who forgives enemies, loves sacrificially, and rejects vengeance.

But why would God allow such flawed depictions of Himself in Scripture? Greg Boyd likens it to clouds obscuring the sun. Jesus is what God looks like when there are no clouds—clear, radiant, unmistakable. The harsh depictions of God in the Old Testament are like clouds; they obscure the fullness of God’s character but don’t erase it.

Andy Stanley’s book Irresistible further emphasizes the need to “unhitch” our faith from the Old Testament covenant. The early church moved away from many Old Testament practices, from animal sacrifices to circumcision. They understood that Jesus ushered in something new—something radically different from the culture and laws of ancient Israel.

So, how should Christians approach texts like Numbers 31? First, we must acknowledge their difficulty and refuse to justify or ignore them. Instead, we read them through the lens of Jesus. Every story, every law, every chapter should point us to Him.

Passages like Numbers 31 remind us of humanity’s capacity for violence and the ways we project our flaws onto God. But they also challenge us to embrace a God who is so much better than we can imagine—a God who looks like Jesus.

If Numbers 31 makes you uncomfortable, that’s good. It means you’re paying attention. But don’t stop there. Let the discomfort push you toward the Spirit, asking for clarity and wisdom. In the end, the Bible isn’t about defending every verse. It’s about discovering the God revealed in Jesus—the God of love, mercy, and grace.


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