Onward Christian Soldiers!

Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was itcollege! We're only to avoid those aspects of this
because they didn't have faith? Did they believe inworld's system that are Biblically wrong (1 Jn.
themselves instead of trusting God? Did they2:16).Joseph served in pharaoh's administration.
insist on fighting their own battles, rather than letWas he spiritually defiled? Daniel was in the belly
God wage war for them?Why did God fight forof the beast - Babylon - yet he served the king
Israel in Egypt? Did they exercise faith then? Didand God. Whenever there arose any conflict of
they somehow lose their confidence in theinterest, Daniel put God first, as we must also
wilderness, after having seen God's mightyalways do. Nehemiah worked in the Persian
miracles? Does that make sense? They'd heardgovernment, yet he was also blameless before
what God was going to do to Egypt from theGod. God even referred to Cyrus and
onset, and they saw with their own eyes whatNebuchadnezzar as His servants.God is our
God did through 10 consecutive plagues. AfterHeavenly King over all, that's why we can't allow
defeating the world's only superpower, had Godothers to try and usurp His authority over our
spent His energy?God took on the gods of Egyptlives. He's our Husband and to listen to anyone
single-handedly. He didn't want Israel's participationelse who would dare go against His Word is
lest their deliverance be misconstrued as aspiritual adultery and fornication. This is one of
successful slave revolt. He took a slave people tomodern Israel's biggest sins: giving in to
become His Servant-Nation. Israel had onlyinternational peer pressure rather than obey God!
changed masters.When God led Israel out ofYet God isn't our only ruler. He's ordained that
Egypt by Moses, He purposely told Moses tomen aren't to be left in a state of anarchy, but
bypass the hot spots where Israel wouldought to obey the Noachide laws binding on all
encounter hostile forces, lest they opt for themankind: to establish a system of justice, abstain
"security" of Egypt (Ex. 13:17). They went out offrom idolatry and immorality, and refrain from
their way to avoid war! It doesn't sound like theyeating blood (Acts 15:29).Even Christ will be King
were eager to do battle when you read theof kings and Lord of lords; He won't be ruling
accounts of their griping and complaining to Mosesalone. God's our Minister, and Jesus Christ's our
(Ex. 14:10-12).Moses, full of faith, encouraged theHigh Priest, yet we don't object to having human
congregation to believe God. The first time Israelministers also. Do we have a double standard
engaged in battle was at Moses' command! Hewhen it comes to politics? We speak of "dirty
instructed Joshua (also faithful) to assemble apolitics." And there is too much graft and
fighting force and defeat the pesky Amalekitescorruption. But what about religious scandals?
(Ex. 17:8-16).God had fought the first few roundsPerverted preachers and adulterous ministers?
against Israel's enemies, showing Israel He wouldDoes that mean we should reject the whole idea
destroy their foes. Now God would fight in andof God having human servants? "Dirty religion?"
through and for Israel! Moses' uplifted hands ofBoth Church and State need to let Christ clean up
blessing and authority insured Israel's militarytheir act (Malachi 3:3).
success. It was evident to all where their trueGod didn't forbid Israel from having a king or a
strength came from (Ps. 33:16). Israel was only ahigh priest. He simply put restrictions on them and
fighting instrument in God's Hands (Isa. 41:15, Micahoffered guidelines. The king was to be Israelite; he
4:13).Many people understand the commandmentwasn't to put his trust in financial securities or
against killing should be translated "murder." Godgold, or depend on a huge army or arsenal of
commands His ministers of state to executeweapons for Israel's defense; and he was to
judgment and utilize capital punishment for variousstudy the Scriptures daily (Deut. 18:15-20). He was
offenses (Rom. 13:4). We're told to rememberpermitted a token military force made up of
Moses' law and obey it (Malachi 4:4). God hasvolunteers (Judg. 7:2, Deut. 20:5-9). The priest was
authorized the State to act within the guidelinesto bless Israel's troops before they went to
of His Law Book.Israel wasn't anxious to enterbattle, encourage them that God would fight
Canaan - they were afraid! Moses admitted theythrough them, and sound the alarm with the
were outnumbered and outgunned by thesacred silver trumpet (Deut. 20:1-4, Nu. 10:9,
Canaanites, but reassured Israel that GOD would31:6).God was upset with Israel when they
be with them and grant them supernatural victorydemanded a king, but not because they wanted a
(Deut. 7:1-2, 16-24). When the spies brought theirking - He had made an allowance for that through
report to Moses about Canaan's men and might,Moses - but because they were rejecting God as
they wanted to run with their tails tuckedtheir Supreme Ruler (1 Sam. 8:20).They wanted
between their legs (Numbers 13:31). Only Joshuato walk by sight, not by faith, overconfident in
and Caleb put things in perspective andhuman leaders (Ps. 118:9).The kings were to lead
encouraged the people to trust in God (Numbersthe way (Ps. 1:10-11). They were to follow in the
14:9). Israel didn't have any faith in their ownfootsteps of King David who enacted the law of
ability or God's!What many have failed to realize isMoses (1 Kgs. 2:3). Israel was only to follow men
ancient Israel wasn't going to enter the Promisedas they followed God. The prophet Samuel
Land by faith alone; it was going to require faithwarned them of greedy rulers, excessive taxes,
and works! God wasn't going to do all the workand corrupt administrations, but they still decided
for them. Israel had to actively claim theirto go ahead with their political elections. Not that
inheritance. Don't we also?Israel lacked faith thatthe religious world was free from fault (1 Sam.
GOD could work miracles through them! They8:3). And God reveals that the best man shouldn't
knew God could take on their enemies, but theyalways win (Dan. 4:17). But if we pray for God to
doubted He could work through them. Theylead us in deciding who to vote for or against, it's
concentrated on their weakness rather than onHis responsibility to let us know what to do. Of
God's strength. God expected Israel to fight Hiscourse we should study the party platforms and
battles and He would guarantee their success.see which one is more closely aligned to biblical
Israel took one city at a time, slowly but surelyprinciples. It's vain to think that our vote could
making progress, subduing the land and defeatingthwart God's Will! He'll promote and demote whom
their foes, and yet giving God all the credit - likeHe will (Ps. 75:7).Ancient Israel was both Church
our process of conversion (Ps. 44:1-8).Even David,and State: a theocracy. God recognizes these two
a man after God's own heart, fought numerousbranches of government and encourages us to
battles for God and His people, but considereddo the same (Malachi 4:4-5). The two anointed
God the Victor. David would ask God whether hepositions in Israel were that of priest and king
should attack at this time or place, and what to(Zech. 4:14). The oil was representative of God's
do, when and how, and God answered him (1Holy Spirit that Israel prayed would guide and
Chron. 14:10).Did Abraham, the father of thedirect their leaders.We've seen how God has
faithful, sin by waging war against those who hadauthorized human leaders to take life (Lev. 20).
kidnapped his relatives (Gen. 14)? MelchizedekThey're free to deputize a police force (to
blessed him, He didn't rebuke him! Levi and sons,protect and defend communities), as well as use
following Moses' call to arms (at God's command),the armed forces to defend their country and
went through Israel's camp and slaughtered thosekin.God holds His leaders responsible not to get
who'd sinned with the golden calf (Ex. 32:28). Didgreedy or become bloodthirsty. We're not to
they lack faith? No! They were acting faithfully!relish war, but use it as a last resort (Deut.
They put God before family and friends. Couldn't20:10-12).We're only to fight wars of self-defense
God have just sent a plague? Yes. But Heand not throw our weight around (Lk. 3:14). We're
worked through men. Since God works throughto hate the sins of our enemies and learn to love
men, why didn't Jesus let Peter defend Him? 1)them, knowing they're also made in God's image
Because prophecy had to be fulfilled and 2)and hopefully will come to their senses someday;
because God's Kingdom wasn't established yet -we're not to be trigger-happy or gloat over our
otherwise Jesus said His servants should fight!enemies' downfall (Prov. 24:17).God's going to
This example teaches us that loyal citizens oughtutilize Israel to punish various nations during their
to be willing to fight and defend their king andtrek back to the Middle East (Isa. 11:14). And God
country!Presently we have a "dual citizenship." Paulwill be fighting through the Jews at Jerusalem
didn't deny that he was a Roman citizen or(Zech. 14:14). Christ's coming back to earth to
hesitate to exercise his civil rights (Acts 16:37,wage war before He ushers in peace!God hasn't
22:25, 25:11). He didn't just turn the other cheekonly intervened for Israel. He's determined the
when he was about to be scourged! There's aoutcome of various wars and battles to let one
time and a place to wage war or declare peacegroup of Gentiles beat another (Deut. 2:19-23).
(Ecc. 3:8); to suffer persecution and death, or toMoses also said it would've been a sin if the
run for your life (Mat. 24:16, John 8:59)!Spirituallydifferent tribes of Israel didn't rally to each others
speaking, we should all understand we're onlydefense (Nu. 32:20-23). And it's a disastrous sin to
mortal, taking up temporary residence on earth,go to war if God's servants instruct otherwise
and therefore be mindful of eternity and live(Deut. 1:42-45).It's all a matter of faith and
accordingly, waiting for our eternal inheritance inobedience. We're to realize God is our true
God's 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?" If weSalvation, and follow the lead of His Holy Spirit
exercise our right to vote and get involved in(Jos. 5:13-15, Heb. 2:10). But let's not forget that
politics, isn't that defiling ourselves with this world'sGod can and does work through inspired men
system? Only if and when it contradicts the(Neh. 9:27).David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist
commandments of God. We should never disobeywriter and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's
God to follow men (Acts 5:29). We're in this worldRise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and
and do take an active part in its system ofJerusalem, his analytical articles help others
government and education everytime we go toimprove their understanding of that troubled
work and pay taxes or send our kids to school orregion. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.