| Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it | | | | of this world's system that are Biblically |
| because they didn't have faith? Did they | | | | wrong (1 Jn. 2:16).Joseph served in pharaoh's |
| believe in themselves instead of trusting | | | | administration. Was he spiritually defiled? |
| God? Did they insist on fighting their own | | | | Daniel was in the belly of the beast - |
| battles, rather than let God wage war for | | | | Babylon - yet he served the king and God. |
| them?Why did God fight for Israel in Egypt? | | | | Whenever there arose any conflict of |
| Did they exercise faith then? Did they | | | | interest, Daniel put God first, as we must |
| somehow lose their confidence in the | | | | also always do. Nehemiah worked in the |
| wilderness, after having seen God's mighty | | | | Persian government, yet he was also blameless |
| miracles? Does that make sense? They'd heard | | | | before God. God even referred to Cyrus and |
| what God was going to do to Egypt from the | | | | Nebuchadnezzar as His servants.God is our |
| onset, and they saw with their own eyes what | | | | Heavenly King over all, that's why we can't |
| God did through 10 consecutive plagues. After | | | | allow others to try and usurp His authority |
| defeating the world's only superpower, had | | | | over our lives. He's our Husband and to |
| God spent His energy?God took on the gods of | | | | listen to anyone else who would dare go |
| Egypt single-handedly. He didn't want | | | | against His Word is spiritual adultery and |
| Israel's participation lest their deliverance | | | | fornication. This is one of modern Israel's |
| be misconstrued as a successful slave revolt. | | | | biggest sins: giving in to international peer |
| He took a slave people to become His | | | | pressure rather than obey God! Yet God isn't |
| Servant-Nation. Israel had only changed | | | | our only ruler. He's ordained that men aren't |
| masters.When God led Israel out of Egypt by | | | | to be left in a state of anarchy, but ought |
| Moses, He purposely told Moses to bypass the | | | | to obey the Noachide laws binding on all |
| hot spots where Israel would encounter | | | | mankind: to establish a system of justice, |
| hostile forces, lest they opt for the | | | | abstain from idolatry and immorality, and |
| "security" of Egypt (Ex. 13:17). They went | | | | refrain from eating blood (Acts 15:29).Even |
| out of their way to avoid war! It doesn't | | | | Christ will be King of kings and Lord of |
| sound like they were eager to do battle when | | | | lords; He won't be ruling alone. God's our |
| you read the accounts of their griping and | | | | Minister, and Jesus Christ's our High Priest, |
| complaining to Moses (Ex. 14:10-12).Moses, | | | | yet we don't object to having human ministers |
| full of faith, encouraged the congregation to | | | | also. Do we have a double standard when it |
| believe God. The first time Israel engaged in | | | | comes to politics? We speak of "dirty |
| battle was at Moses' command! He instructed | | | | politics." And there is too much graft and |
| Joshua (also faithful) to assemble a fighting | | | | corruption. But what about religious |
| force and defeat the pesky Amalekites (Ex. | | | | scandals? Perverted preachers and adulterous |
| 17:8-16).God had fought the first few rounds | | | | ministers? Does that mean we should reject |
| against Israel's enemies, showing Israel He | | | | the whole idea of God having human servants? |
| would destroy their foes. Now God would fight | | | | "Dirty religion?" Both Church and State need |
| in and through and for Israel! Moses' | | | | to let Christ clean up their act (Malachi |
| uplifted hands of blessing and authority | | | | 3:3). |
| insured Israel's military success. It was | | | | |
| evident to all where their true strength came | | | | God didn't forbid Israel from having a king |
| from (Ps. 33:16). Israel was only a fighting | | | | or a high priest. He simply put restrictions |
| instrument in God's Hands (Isa. 41:15, Micah | | | | on them and offered guidelines. The king was |
| 4:13).Many people understand the commandment | | | | to be Israelite; he wasn't to put his trust |
| against killing should be translated | | | | in financial securities or gold, or depend on |
| "murder." God commands His ministers of state | | | | a huge army or arsenal of weapons for |
| to execute judgment and utilize capital | | | | Israel's defense; and he was to study the |
| punishment for various offenses (Rom. 13:4). | | | | Scriptures daily (Deut. 18:15-20). He was |
| We're told to remember Moses' law and obey it | | | | permitted a token military force made up of |
| (Malachi 4:4). God has authorized the State | | | | volunteers (Judg. 7:2, Deut. 20:5-9). The |
| to act within the guidelines of His Law | | | | priest was to bless Israel's troops before |
| Book.Israel wasn't anxious to enter Canaan - | | | | they went to battle, encourage them that God |
| they were afraid! Moses admitted they were | | | | would fight through them, and sound the alarm |
| outnumbered and outgunned by the Canaanites, | | | | with the sacred silver trumpet (Deut. 20:1-4, |
| but reassured Israel that GOD would be with | | | | Nu. 10:9, 31:6).God was upset with Israel |
| them and grant them supernatural victory | | | | when they demanded a king, but not because |
| (Deut. 7:1-2, 16-24). When the spies brought | | | | they wanted a king - He had made an allowance |
| their report to Moses about Canaan's men and | | | | for that through Moses - but because they |
| might, they wanted to run with their tails | | | | were rejecting God as their Supreme Ruler (1 |
| tucked between their legs (Numbers 13:31). | | | | Sam. 8:20).They wanted to walk by sight, not |
| Only Joshua and Caleb put things in | | | | by faith, overconfident in human leaders (Ps. |
| perspective and encouraged the people to | | | | 118:9).The kings were to lead the way (Ps. |
| trust in God (Numbers 14:9). Israel didn't | | | | 1:10-11). They were to follow in the |
| have any faith in their own ability or | | | | footsteps of King David who enacted the law |
| God's!What many have failed to realize is | | | | of Moses (1 Kgs. 2:3). Israel was only to |
| ancient Israel wasn't going to enter the | | | | follow men as they followed God. The prophet |
| Promised Land by faith alone; it was going to | | | | Samuel warned them of greedy rulers, |
| require faith and works! God wasn't going to | | | | excessive taxes, and corrupt administrations, |
| do all the work for them. Israel had to | | | | but they still decided to go ahead with their |
| actively claim their inheritance. Don't we | | | | political elections. Not that the religious |
| also?Israel lacked faith that GOD could work | | | | world was free from fault (1 Sam. 8:3). And |
| miracles through them! They knew God could | | | | God reveals that the best man shouldn't |
| take on their enemies, but they doubted He | | | | always win (Dan. 4:17). But if we pray for |
| could work through them. They concentrated on | | | | God to lead us in deciding who to vote for or |
| their weakness rather than on God's strength. | | | | against, it's His responsibility to let us |
| God expected Israel to fight His battles and | | | | know what to do. Of course we should study |
| He would guarantee their success. Israel took | | | | the party platforms and see which one is more |
| one city at a time, slowly but surely making | | | | closely aligned to biblical principles. It's |
| progress, subduing the land and defeating | | | | vain to think that our vote could thwart |
| their foes, and yet giving God all the credit | | | | God's Will! He'll promote and demote whom He |
| - like our process of conversion (Ps. | | | | will (Ps. 75:7).Ancient Israel was both |
| 44:1-8).Even David, a man after God's own | | | | Church and State: a theocracy. God recognizes |
| heart, fought numerous battles for God and | | | | these two branches of government and |
| His people, but considered God the Victor. | | | | encourages us to do the same (Malachi 4:4-5). |
| David would ask God whether he should attack | | | | The two anointed positions in Israel were |
| at this time or place, and what to do, when | | | | that of priest and king (Zech. 4:14). The oil |
| and how, and God answered him (1 Chron. | | | | was representative of God's Holy Spirit that |
| 14:10).Did Abraham, the father of the | | | | Israel prayed would guide and direct their |
| faithful, sin by waging war against those who | | | | leaders.We've seen how God has authorized |
| had kidnapped his relatives (Gen. 14)? | | | | human leaders to take life (Lev. 20). They're |
| Melchizedek blessed him, He didn't rebuke | | | | free to deputize a police force (to protect |
| him! Levi and sons, following Moses' call to | | | | and defend communities), as well as use the |
| arms (at God's command), went through | | | | armed forces to defend their country and |
| Israel's camp and slaughtered those who'd | | | | kin.God holds His leaders responsible not to |
| sinned with the golden calf (Ex. 32:28). Did | | | | get greedy or become bloodthirsty. We're not |
| they lack faith? No! They were acting | | | | to relish war, but use it as a last resort |
| faithfully! They put God before family and | | | | (Deut. 20:10-12).We're only to fight wars of |
| friends. Couldn't God have just sent a | | | | self-defense and not throw our weight around |
| plague? Yes. But He worked through men. Since | | | | (Lk. 3:14). We're to hate the sins of our |
| God works through men, why didn't Jesus let | | | | enemies and learn to love them, knowing |
| Peter defend Him? 1) Because prophecy had to | | | | they're also made in God's image and |
| be fulfilled and 2) because God's Kingdom | | | | hopefully will come to their senses someday; |
| wasn't established yet - otherwise Jesus said | | | | we're not to be trigger-happy or gloat over |
| His servants should fight! This example | | | | our enemies' downfall (Prov. 24:17).God's |
| teaches us that loyal citizens ought to be | | | | going to utilize Israel to punish various |
| willing to fight and defend their king and | | | | nations during their trek back to the Middle |
| country!Presently we have a "dual | | | | East (Isa. 11:14). And God will be fighting |
| citizenship." Paul didn't deny that he was a | | | | through the Jews at Jerusalem (Zech. 14:14). |
| Roman citizen or hesitate to exercise his | | | | Christ's coming back to earth to wage war |
| civil rights (Acts 16:37, 22:25, 25:11). He | | | | before He ushers in peace!God hasn't only |
| didn't just turn the other cheek when he was | | | | intervened for Israel. He's determined the |
| about to be scourged! There's a time and a | | | | outcome of various wars and battles to let |
| place to wage war or declare peace (Ecc. | | | | one group of Gentiles beat another (Deut. |
| 3:8); to suffer persecution and death, or to | | | | 2:19-23). Moses also said it would've been a |
| run for your life (Mat. 24:16, John | | | | sin if the different tribes of Israel didn't |
| 8:59)!Spiritually speaking, we should all | | | | rally to each others defense (Nu. 32:20-23). |
| understand we're only mortal, taking up | | | | And it's a disastrous sin to go to war if |
| temporary residence on earth, and therefore | | | | God's servants instruct otherwise (Deut. |
| be mindful of eternity and live accordingly, | | | | 1:42-45).It's all a matter of faith and |
| waiting for our eternal inheritance in God's | | | | obedience. We're to realize God is our true |
| Kingdom (2 Cor. 5:1, Ps. 39:12, 2 Pet. | | | | Commander in Chief and the Captain of our |
| 3:11).But what about "spiritual fornication?" | | | | Salvation, and follow the lead of His Holy |
| If we exercise our right to vote and get | | | | Spirit (Jos. 5:13-15, Heb. 2:10). But let's |
| involved in politics, isn't that defiling | | | | not forget that God can and does work through |
| ourselves with this world's system? Only if | | | | inspired men (Neh. 9:27).David Ben-Ariel is a |
| and when it contradicts the commandments of | | | | Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond |
| God. We should never disobey God to follow | | | | Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus |
| men (Acts 5:29). We're in this world and do | | | | on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his |
| take an active part in its system of | | | | analytical articles help others improve |
| government and education everytime we go to | | | | their understanding of that troubled region. |
| work and pay taxes or send our kids to school | | | | Check out the Beyond Babylon blog. |
| or college! We're only to avoid those aspects | | | | |