Weird Stuff in the Bible

OK so my brother Ben sent me this comment over the summer:Why did God have a problem with the Tower of Babel but not us going to the moon?That’s because we never went. That’s Biblical. Put that in your library and smoke it.Now that’s actually a really smart question Ben. I don’t really know what the library part meant but you got my gears turning with the first part. A lot of us hear the story of the Tower of Babel as kids, the story about a group of people who tried to build a tower that reached heaven. And God said He wasn’t going to allow mankind to do this. It’s a really fascinating comment God makesIn Genesis 11:6…this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.God slapped this down pretty hard. He confused the speech of the peoples, which means He switched up all their languages, and therefore they couldn’t finish the project so they all went their separate ways, and now that’s why now we have to take 4 semesters of French class to get a Bachelor of Arts degree.So why did God have such a strong reaction to this? Why did He literally say that if the Tower of Babel was constructed, mankind would truly become capable of anything? I mean, just because of a tall building?If the problem with the Tower of Babel was just about altitude, then yes, space travel raises a lot of theological questions for us.But what if the Tower of Babel is not what we thought? What if the problem with the Tower of Babel was not how high it reached, but what it was capable of doing?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Genesis 11, and let’s get weird.Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - The Full Story10:15 - What Did Babel’s Tower Do?14:45 - Ziggurats and Pyramids21:30 - Gaps in My Pyramid23:15 - Mailbag26:00 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Paul’s thorn in the flesh. This is a mysterious phrase Paul uses that has stumped commentators for centuries. In II Corinthians 12:7, Paul writes7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.Paul experienced some kind of hardship in his life- and what exactly it was, we don’t know. A sickness, a demonic attack, some kind of earthly trial or hardship, we aren’t entirely sure. That’s the part that commentators theorize about- and that’s NOT the part I want to focus on today.I’m more interested in where it came from. Now you say: well Luke, it’s obvious where it came from- it came from the devil. Paul right there said it was a messenger of Satan.Sure. But why was it given to Paul? He said it was to keep him from getting conceited, which means prideful or arrogant. Now let me ask you a question: is Satan interested in keeping us from becoming too prideful or arrogant? No! Satan wants us more prideful, not less. Satan wants us full of ourselves. Satan wasn’t interested in helping Paul be more humble. God is the one who wants that.Which means that this evil spirit was allowed into Paul’s life by God. The Lord allowed this evil spirit to go after PaulI find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to II Corinthians 12, and let’s get weird.Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - Breaking Down the Context10:30 - God’s Sovereignty Over Evil Spirits17:30 - Evil Spirits as a Tool21:30 - Newsletter23:00 - Sometimes It’s Not Our Own SinIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Paul uses a phrase that I don’t quite know how to interpret, because it’s the only place in the whole Bible that uses this phrase.II Corinthians 12:2 readsI know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heavenWait, who was this guy?What is the third heaven?And what happened to the first two?I mean, some of us know about the Seventh Heaven, if we spent a little too much time watching cheesy Stephen Collins family dramas on the WB as kids. I’d kind of like to forget about that one. But I DO want to know more about this third heaven, because I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to II Corinthians 12, and let’s get weird.Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction1:00 - Paul’s Humility in Boasting10:30 - The Third Heaven14:50 - Next Time & Mailbag19:45 - The Rapture of Philip22:50 - Chris M from BostonIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

If you'd like to listen to "God and His Prophets: A verse-by-verse study through the Bible’s major and minor prophets," you can find it wherever you find this podcast. You can also visit this link: https://godandhisprophets.transistor.fm/God and His Prophets is a verse-by-verse Bible study podcast exploring the mysterious prophets and prophetic texts of the Bible.Each episode unpacks Scripture, helping you understand the cultural context, spiritual meaning, and modern relevance of the prophetic books. Whether you’re a Bible nerd, a small group leader, or just trying to make sense of the books people usually skip- this podcast will guide your journey.Hosted by Luke Taylor, this study began with the Book of Ezekiel and continues through the rest of the major and minor prophets, one verse at a time.New episodes release Mondays. Subscribe today and join the exploration! Popular subjects will include:• Verse-by-verse study through the prophets• Prophetic Profiles on Old Testament prophets• Minor prophets teaching• End times theology• Connections to the book of Revelation explainedHost: Luke TaylorNote: This podcast was formerly published as Cross References and The Book of Ezekiel: A Cross References Bible Study.

You can WATCH this week's loooooong episode right here: https://youtube.com/live/AFtXdS1qvlg?feature=shareIf you’re a Christian who has been saved and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, why do you still struggle against the devil?Why do we have destructive patterns, addictions and sins in our lives that we just can’t get free of?What are some of the ways we give the devil legal access to our life without us even realizing it?These are the questions we’re going to answer in this Masterclass on spiritual warfare where I’m going to break down everything we’ve been studying this summer about legal rights in the spirit realm. We’ll be looking at Genesis 1-3, Hebrews 2, Romans 6 and Ephesians in-depth tonight as we recap and review the past few months of our journey on the Weird Stuff in the Bible podcast.One quick note: if you’re a faithful listener of the Weird Stuff in the Bible podcast and you feel like you’ve already got a good handle on what I’ve been covering, you probably don’t need this whole thing today because it’s mostly going to be recap and review. And if that’s the case, you can peace out, no hard feelings. There’s a little new content, but mostly it’s review.I am putting this episode together because some listeners reached out to me asking me if I could do one long uncut teaching on spiritual legal rights. (I had that same idea in my head- I thought it could be beneficial to you all, so when I kept hearing that idea suggested by listeners, I took it as confirmation that God wants this to happen tonight.)So if it sounds like it would be beneficial to you as well, turn to Genesis 1, and let’s get weird.Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction4:30 - Part 1, The Dominion Mandate11:00 - Part 2, Why Angels Were Created17:00 - Part 3, Satan’s Agenda32:00 - Part 4, Jesus’ Agenda43:30 - Part 5, The Heavenly Realms58:40 - Part 6, Defining Our Spiritual Enemies1:12:00 - Part 7, How Our Spiritual Enemies Gain Access1:37:45, Part 8, How to Find Freedom for Yourself and OthersIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Besides this podcast, where else could you go for talks of aliens, spiritual warfare, resurrection, raptures, portals into the spirit realm, and how to cook with poop? I’ll tell you where else you could go: the Bible. Because the Bible has all those subjects in it. And we’re going to talk about all of them today.To start: there is a dark and disturbing story in II Kings 3 where the Israelites are engaged in a battle against Mesha, the King of the Moabites. Mesha and Moab are way outnumbered. Not only that, the prophet Elisha in II Kings 3:18 had prophesied that Israel would easily win this conflict. And that’s how things look right up until the very last verse of the chapter.Mesha is surrounded with no hope; the Israelites have all the momentum. In a moment of desperation, Mesha stands on the city wall and offers up a human sacrifice. When he does this, the Israelites turn around in fear and run right back home. So the question that will start us off today is: why? I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to II Kings 3, and let’s get weird.Visit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comCheck out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - Beau D13:25 - Alana E16:00 - Rick S21:30 - Joe A22:40 - Vicki VIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Back in the first episode of this show, I laid out several mysteries of the Bible that have always puzzled me. Things like talking donkeys, six-fingered giants, that time Michael got into a fistfight with the devil over the body of Moses… And I’ve done episodes on all these things.But there’s one mysterious verse for which I never got around to finding an explanation, and that will finally change today.In I Corinthians 6:3, Paul writes:Do you not know that we are to judge angels?Uh, no, I didn’t know that. I must have missed that day in Sunday School. Frankly, I don’t feel qualified to judge angels. I can’t even judge the difference in butter and Country Crock. And yet the Bible offhandedly says buckle up and get ready for some angel judging.I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to I Corinthians 6, and let’s get weird.Visit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comCheck out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:50 - The Context of I Corinthians 66:05 - Judging the World13:50 - Judging Angels17:45 - When Will We Judge Angels?23:30 - Next Time & Mailbag26:15 - Closing ThoughtIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Is sin a verb or a noun?Is it an act you choose, or a power that chooses you?Is sin something you do, or does it do something to you?And the answer to all of those questions…is yes. Today I’m going to talk about what happens in the spiritual realm when we sin. We often focus on sin in the physical realm as something we choose. What we don’t realize is our sins actually create legal rights in the spiritual realm for evil spirits to harass and try to dominate us. So today’s episode will give you a greater context for the spiritual battles that we find ourselves in, especially in combatting the flesh or our own sinful desires. And it all begins where sin began, which is Genesis 3. Eve talked to the snake, she bit into the fruit, Adam had some, too, God comes up and asks what they’re doing, and here is what Eve said inGenesis 3:13“The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”Here’s something interesting about this word for “deceived me” in the Hebrew. It can also mean the serpent “put me in its debt.”And that’s such a strange idea. We know who the serpent is- the devil. So how does sin put us in the devil’s debt?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Genesis 3, and let’s get weird.Visit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comMy columns in The Christian Post:https://www.christianpost.com/by/luke-taylorThe Naked Man in the Garden when Jesus was Arrested (article on the site)https://weirdstuffinthebible.com/2025/08/06/the-naked-man-with-the-linen-cloth/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:15 - Recap of the Dominion Mandate4:05 - Nasha in Genesis 38:45 - Masal in Genesis 411:55 - How We Find Freedom in Romans 620:45 - Why would evil spirits follow spiritual laws?26:15 - Announcement- Launch of the WSITB StoreIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Ever since the Garden of Eden, we have been in a battle for dominion.The devil seeks dominion over your eternity, but that’s not all. He wants dominion over your personal life, and he wants dominion over physical space on planet earth.I don’t think most Christians realize that the devil is out to conquer territory. We often talk about the spiritual battle that we’re all in, and that can cause us to think that the physical world doesn’t matter so much. But if you read your Bible, you’ll see that obviously, this world matters to him. And it matters to God. And so we need to make it matter to us as well.I mean, as we read scripture, Satan shows up in Ezekiel 28 as the principality of Tyre. He shows up in Isaiah 14 as the principality of Babylon. Daniel 10 tells us about the principalities over Persia and Greece. And Ephesians 6 tells us that we wrestle against these principalities. But what even is a principality, and how does it come to be in charge of a territory on planet earth?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Ephesians 6, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction1:40 - Recapping Last Week8:00 - Establishing a Principality21:40 - Getting Rid of a PrincipalityIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Most Christians don’t realize this: not every thought you have is your own thought. Some of them are the thoughts of the Pneumatikos. What are the Pneumatikos? They’re those things Paul warned us about in Ephesians 6:12.Once of the most famous New Testament verses. You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. We’ve all heard it.Ephesians 6:12 says (in the ESV)For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.We’ve read that. We’ve heard sermons on it. We’ve understood it- or, we think we do. We understand that this is talking about spiritual warfare. Satan’s army. But what exactly are the rulers? What specifically are the authorities? Or cosmic powers? Or spiritual forces of evil? These names might sound like the bad guys in an episode of Power Rangers. But what do all these phrases mean?These terms refer to the hierarchy of power, or the ranks in the devil’s kingdom. Just like our military might have generals, captains, lieutenants, and infantry, the devil also has an organized militia. They take orders. There’s a chain of command. And if you listen all the way through today, you’ll understand this verse deeper than ever before, and you’ll have a much clearer understanding of how Satan’s kingdom operates.There are demonic minions who operate at a very low level. There are principalities who operate at a very high level. And there is a prince of darkness at the very very top. (And it was not Ozzy Osbourne.)I did find Ozzy Osbourne to be weird. But even more-so, I find Satan’s kingdom to be weird, and I’d like to know everything about it that we can find in the Bible. And if you want to learn that, too, turn to Ephesians 6, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:20 - Get Me to the Greek5:15 - Arche or Principality8:20 - Exousia or Power-Authority13:50 - Kosmokrator or Cosmic Powers15:50 - Pneumatikos or Spiritual Forces17:30 - How Satan’s Kingdom Functions26:00 - How to RepentIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We’re going to be in the book of Ephesians for the next couple of weeks, really centering around this famous verse at the end of the book:Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Next week, we’ll be looking at what these rulers, authorities and spiritual forces exactly are. All you need to know is that these refer to the hierarchy of Satan’s kingdom. Rulers and authorities, powers and spiritual forces, these are demons and fallen angels. For this week, I want to just explore this concept of “the heavenly realms.” We read that and we’re like, “well I know what that is: the spiritual realm. The supernatural realm. The unseen world. Behind the veil. The upside down. The Quantum Realm. Narnia.”Whatever you want to call it. It’s that spiritual plane of existence that angels and demons inhabit. But wait: what if I told you that “the heavenly realms” is a phrase that’s been used throughout the book of Ephesians- and not only that, it says we’re already there.Ephesians 2:6 saysGod raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ JesusSo how can we be there if we’re here?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Ephesians 1, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction1:55 - Epouranios5:45 - Ephesians 2:610:30 - Ephesians 1:312:00 - Ephesians 1:2015:25 - Ephesians 3:1023:00 - Next Time25:40 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Who outranks who: angels or humans?I mean, angels get to go to heaven and can turn invisible and beat up demons- and FLY- so it sounds like they’re better than people. Like angels are superior to humans.And yet, Hebrews paints a different picture.Chapter 1, verse 14 saysAre they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Those who inherit salvation are us. So angels are ministering spirits who serve us. Wow. So maybe humans outrank angels. But it’s going to say in the very next chapter,verses 6 and 7What is man, that you are mindful of him,    or the son of man, that you care for him?You made him for a little while lower than the angels…Wait, so humans are lower than the angels? And that also speaks of Jesus- when Jesus was on earth, was He lower than the angels as well?Make it make sense!I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Hebrews 2, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction1:55 - Lower Than the Angels7:20 - What is Man?15:30 - Psalm 8 and the Elohim24:45 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Why did Satan tempt Adam and Eve into sin in the Garden of Eden?You’ve probably wondered that before. You’ve probably wondered why Satan felt it was so important to bring sin into this world and to corrupt mankind. And you’ve probably heard answers like this: because Satan hates God, and humans are made in the image of God, so therefore Satan hates man.And that answer’s fine, I guess, but it doesn’t really check all the boxes for me. Such as: what does Satan get out of it? What is his endgame? What does he get by attacking us?I have an answer to those questions that will bring a greater context for this spiritual battle we’re in between God and the devil- and why this planet is the battleground. The Bible tells us why Satan relentlessly attacks God’s greatest creation, which is human beings. And I’m glad it tells us, because I find Satan’s actions to be weird, and I’d like to explore why he does what he does in the Bible. Turn to Genesis 1, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction1:30 - Understanding Dominion6:20 - How Satan Stole Our Dominion11:55 - Satan God What He Wanted15:00 - 3 Areas Where the Devil Seeks Control23:15 - Next Time25:15 - How the Gospel Gets Our Authority BackIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Genesis 3:1-2 sayNow the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent,Well wait, let’s stop right there. Why wasn’t Eve just running the other way at this point Why was Eve talking to a snake? Did animals used to have the ability to speak before the fall of man?Possibly. But that’s kind of a strong claim to make without more scriptural support for it. I don’t know that animals were that smart.I did see an article this past week where the headline said scientists have determined that dolphins are the second-most-intelligent beings on this planet. Not snakes, but dolphins. It said dolphins are second only to man.It did not say where women rank in the lineup. I felt like that should have been part of the story, but the article never went there. But the smartest creatures we have on earth other than man are dolphins, and even dolphins can’t talk.But Genesis 3 hits us with a talking snake.And Eve talks right back to it. She even lets it convince her to commit the first sinful action ever taken by humans.Now most of you are already ahead of me: duh, Luke, it’s the devil! (Satan, that serpent of old, as Revelation 12:9 says)And yes, it’s totally the devil. But that makes the question even more challenging for us, because now we have to explain: how was the devil a snake, who did Eve think she was talking to, and why was she listening to him? We’ll answer all those questions today, because I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Genesis 3, and let’s get weird.My column this week in the Christian Post: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/gods-will-or-not-in-modern-times-casting-lots-for-big-decision.htmlCheck out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - The Snake’s Identity8:20 - Why Did Eve Listen to Him?12:25 - Could Animals Talk?15:35 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We’ve heard a million sermons, bible studies, Sunday school lessons, and more on Genesis 3. And for good reason. This is the chapter that depicts the first sin, the fall of man, the reason we needed Jesus to come and die for our sins. Genesis 3 is where Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, bring sin into the world, and get kicked out of the paradise of Eden.So for good reason, there are countless books and teachings and even podcasts that dive into this chapter. And yet, I find that the more you dig, the more you keep finding. There’s more going on in this story than you probably ever realized. For a chapter that seems to explain so much about reality, it also raises a lot of questions.For example, let’s just talk about the opening line: Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.Well we all know who the serpent is. That’s the devil, or Satan. We’ve got that down. We know that a serpent refers to a physical creature like a snake, but we also understand that this is no mere snake, but also referring to the devil himself. So we know the Bible here is using a physical creature to depict a spiritual being.But what about the beasts of the field also mentioned there? We usually assume that that’s just talking about the other animals that filled the earth in those early days.But if the serpent at the beginning of the verse is referring to a spiritual being, why would we not also assume that the beasts of the field that the verse mentions later are not also spiritual beings?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Let’s dig into this idea today, and as we do, it’s going to show us how sometimes the Bible sounds like it’s speaking in physical terms but is actually just using those words to communicate about what’s going on behind the spiritual veil. So today will expand your vocabulary of spiritual terminology and bring some clarity to your Bible reading.Let’s start by turning to Genesis 3, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction3:30 - The Craftiest Creature God Ever Made7:20 - Beasts of the Field15:30 - Birds of the Air18:35 - Snakes and Scorpions25:40 - Closing Thought: Why I Talked About NephilimIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Let’s begin with where we left off last week. We started with Goliath and traced his origins and ancestral line backwards, all the way back to Genesis 6. In those verses in Genesis 6, we read about how spiritual beings called the Sons of God came down to earth and mated with human women.As I said last time, this is probably the weirdest thing I believe. And if you like hearing about Weird Stuff in the Bible, you’re in the right place. Genesis 6:1-4 sayWhen man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.So last week, we talked about how the giants- or Nephilim- were created. And how this eventually led to a most famous giant: Goliath, who fought David in I Samuel 17.But wait, you might say: wait a minute Luke. Genesis 6:1-4 happened BEFORE the flood of Noah. So how did the Nephilim continue to populate the world in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua and I and II Samuel, which all take place after the flood.That’s what I will talk about today, and along the way, we’ll also meet all the other giants of the Old Testament. It wasn’t just Goliath. He wasn’t just a one-and-done. There are multiple others; in fact, entire tribes of giants.I find that to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Numbers 13, and let’s get weird.(NOTE: where I said “Genesis 6” at 18:35, I meant Ephesians 6)Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - How Did the Nephilim Return After the Flood?7:30 - Anak12:00 - Og19:00 - Mailbag23:00 - Goliath’s Brothers (or Cousins)If you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

I am on a bit of a David-and-Goliath kick right now, for three reasons. One, because I just got back from vacation where I saw an incredible production of David’s life at Sight and Sound theater. Two, there’s an amazing new show on Amazon called House of David that I just finished watching. And three, because the story of David and Goliath is a picture of the spiritual battle we all find ourselves in every day.Now, even if you aren’t a Christian, you know the story of David and Goliath. The small Israelite boy who used a sling to destroy the giant champion of the Philistines. But when we say Goliath was a giant, what do we mean? Well, I Samuel 17 says he was six cubits and a span. I have enough trouble converting English to Metric, and my yardsticks growing up did NOT have an edge that measured cubits and spans.Scholars will tell us that six cubits and a span amounts to anywhere from 9-foot-9 to 10-foot-6.And yet those same scholars will tell us in the next breath that this must be some kind of mistake, because obviously, nobody can be 10 feet tall. Even Christian scholars will teach that this must be some kind of typo in the Bible.Well, call me old-fashioned, or call me a fundamentalist, but I believe that the whole Bible is God’s Word, and that God doesn’t make mistakes.So I take this to be literal truth. But I also take it to be weird. And I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to I Samuel 17, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - The Origin of Goliath8:10 - The Origin of the Anakim11:40 - The Origin of the Nephilim14:25 - Life Update & Mailbag22:20 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We often talk about HOW to do spiritual warfare. But we don’t often talk about WHY we do it. WHY do we have to have these struggles with spiritual beings?WHY does God have us fighting on this spiritual battlefield against enemies we can’t even see?WHY does God allow us to be afflicted and tormented by demons or unclean spirits that we are so defenseless against in the physical?Well this week, I’m on vacation with my family, but I wanted to share this message I recently preached at the church where I’ve been serving as Interim Pastor the past few months. The message was called Binding, Loosing and Why We Fight. I’ve spoken about prayers of binding and loosing on this podcast before so I didn’t bother including that portion of the message, I’m just sharing today that last section of it: Why We Fight.And in true preacher fashion, I said it would take 5 or 10 minutes, it took more like 15 or 20.But I do believe it will be helpful and instructive to all of you listening as well. Thanks for tuning in today. If you need to get in touch with me, I’ll check my email when I get back from vacation: WeirdStuffInTheBible.com. We’ll be back with another traditional episode next week. But for today, here’s some thoughts on WHY we engage in spiritual warfare.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Ephesians is famous for a line in chapter 6 about who we wrestle with in spiritual warfare. We’ve even quoted it several times on this podcast.Verse 12 saysFor we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.And man, there’s a lot to unpack in that single verse alone. It talks about the various hierarchies of fallen angels and demons and all those spiritual entities who fight against us for dominion of planet earth.But wait- this kinda just comes out of nowhere. I mean, Ephesians starts by talking about the purpose of the church. Then it gives some good moral guidelines and application. Then it starts talking about wives submitting to their husbands and husbands submitting to Christ and children obeying their parents and employees obeying their bosses- and then out of the blue, it starts talking about spiritual beings and the armor of God-And where did that come from? What ties all this together?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to the book of Ephesians, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - Ephesians Explained4:00 - Chapter 16:10 - Chapter 28:10 - Chapter 310:40 - Chapter 416:00 - Chapters 5-622:15 - Chapter 6 & the Armor of God24:25 - Next Time & MailbagIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Does God ever overreact?I think a lot of us would say no, that God always responds to each action in an appropriate and measured way.But what about poor Uzzah here? Uzzah is a guy who is transporting the Ark of the Covenant, it’s being carried by an ox on a cart, and the Ark almost slides off the trailer. Uzzah puts out a hand to stop it from falling, and he gets fried for touching the Ark.II Samuel 6 even calls it an “irreverent” act in the NIV translation. It says in verses 6-7 (NIV)6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.As we’ll read in a moment, David considers this a major overreaction on God’s part.I know the Ark is important, but why did Uzzah have to die just for trying to stop the Ark from sliding off into the dirt? Did God overreact here?As we dive into this today, we’ll discover the answer to another question: is it possible to try to honor God but actually insult Him?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to I Chronicles 13, and let’s get weird.Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comSign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - But it’s a NEW cart6:30 - An Overreaction?8:50 - The Weight of Glory12:00 - Next Time & Mailbag13:40 - Closing ThoughtIf you want to get in touch, my email is weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.comHosted by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!Topics discussed in this episode include: Uzzah, Ark of the Covenant, 1 Chronicles 13, Why did God kill Uzzah, God's holiness, Bible judgment stories, touching the ark, fear of the Lord, David and the Ark, Old Testament justice, Weird Bible stories, Weird Stuff in the Bible, Luke Taylor podcast, strange Bible events, sacred things in Scripture