Act of God - Part 8

War - God's wars compared to man's

Was there ever a generation in mankind's history where there was no war? It has been estimated that only 8% of mankind's history was free of major conflicts. Humans have always eagerly used violence to obtain their objectives. But what of the conflicts directed by God, that are recorded in the Bible? We all know well the accounts of the capture of the promised land. Why would God permit, and even command the death of entire cities, even sometimes - children?

Before we compare God's ancient wars with mankind's, it is useful to consider the changes to warfare made through history. Where once wars were waged between one or two nations, and for any purpose, in more recent centuries, nations have fought actual “Word wars.” They have also defined what they term - “Just wars.” These are wars with rules, and limits. There is an actual list of requirements a nation must fulfill, before the international community will condone or support such a war. All this reveals that – humans have no problem with wars, as long as they stick to the rule-book – the human rule-book – drawn up by a select group of the most powerful nations. Only they define what is acceptable and “just.”

Despite this international commitment to limits on warfare, mankind – especially modern mankind – have flouted these standards when it suits their purposes. No-one can forget the mass atrocities done by the world wars of Germany. In the last few decades nations – including the so-called civilized ones such as Britain and USA have illegally invaded several countries – often on false pretexts – resulting in occupation, and thousands of deaths of innocent civilians. Recently, the world watched as the superpower – Russia – invaded the country of Ukraine, claiming to be defending it's own nation, and blaming the western alliance of NATO for extending it's membership close to Russia's border. Most nations have condemned this action, assisting Ukraine in it's defence. While it is undoubtable that the Russian aggressors, and their leader – Putin – are murderers and law-breakers, we can only wonder what some of the NATO nations would do if Russia were to procure allies with countries bordering the USA or Britain.

Last year, terrorists – who claim to be oppressed and denied their freedoms – attacked the people of modern Israel. This indiscriminate slaughter – in the name of freedom – resulted in over a thousand people – including children – slaughtered and raped. The murderers also took hundreds of innocent people hostage – many of whom have since died. They say that they want to negotiate the release of the hostages – in exchange for concessions on land and prisoners. Apart from a few nations who feel that the terrorists have a genuine grievance against Israel, the international community universally condemned this barbaric act. In response to the terror attacks, Israel invaded Gaza – where the terrorists were claimed to be hiding - and launched a full scale bombardment of it's cities. This has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths of innocent citizens – mostly children and women. It has also displaced millions of people – leaving them homeless, and facing possible starvation and disease on a massive scale. Generally – the international community – including the western nations such as Britain and the USA have defended these atrocities, as Israel's “Right to defend itself.” Up until recently, they refused to even call for a ceasefire. In fact, they have even gone so far as arm the nation of Israel, and offer them protection from retaliation.

We must therefore ask some profound questions about this invasion and slaughter, and all such modern conflicts. Firstly – are these actions in keeping with the conditions of “Just warfare” as outlined and agreed by the majority of nations today? Secondly – Does God have the same right to defend his people when they are enslaved, oppressed attacked, or murdered? The situation seems to be very similar to that of ancient Israel and it's captivity in Egypt, and it's being attacked by the cities of Canaan. Did God not give those oppressors every chance to free his people, or to surrender peacefully? Yet, the so-called civilized nations today - while unconditionally justifying their own wars, and supporting, and enabling the actions of Israel, reject and condemn any and all acts of violence used by God in the Bible.

The conflicts directed by God were fundamentally different from the conflicts of mankind - in many ways. God always issued a warning before taking any action. This gave the wrongdoers a chance to change and stop their evil practices. Sometimes the warnings were heeded, as in the case of the city of Nineveh (Jonah 3.5-7), other times, the evildoers cursed God or mocked him, as in the case of Pharaoh (Exodus 5.2). In addition, in most cases where God commanded the destruction of wicked people, he instructed the executing army to kill only the men in the city, as it says in the account in Deuteronomy 20-10-13 - “If you approach a city to fight against it, you should also announce to it terms of peace. If it gives a peaceful answer to you and opens up to you, all the people found there will become yours for forced labor, and they will serve you. But if it refuses to make peace with you and instead goes to war with you, you should besiege it, and Jehovah your God will certainly give it into your hand, and you must strike down every male in it with the sword.“

Despite using warfare to sometimes destroy evil people, God reveals how he feels about having to take such action. At Psalm 11.5, God states “Jehovah examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one; He hates anyone who loves violence.” It is a weakness of humans, not God, to “love” violence.

The Bible says that “I take delight, not in the death of the wicked one, but in that someone wicked turns back from his way and actually keeps living” (Ezekiel 33.11). Attacks by mankind are are often surprise and unprovoked, terrorism being the most prominent example of merciless killing.

Unlike men's wars, where nations execute, imprison or publicly humiliate their own people for refusing to fight, God's wars allowed for exemptions from battle, for very compassionate reasons. If a man (and only men were required to fight), were newly married or engaged, he was not required to fight, but was allowed at least one year with his bride, to give him a chance to be with his wife and produce a baby. If a man had just acquired some new land, he was exempted from war, to enable him to plant and harvest his first crop and, if he had just built a house, he was also excused from war. Most remarkable of all was that if a man was simply afraid to fight, he was excused from warfare, without shame (Deuteronomy 20.5-8). Only men over 20 years old could be asked to fight (Numbers 1.3), unlike the nations of the world where young boys are sent to their deaths regularly.

God's motive for his direct interventions is always just - the removal of the wicked, the salvation of the innocent, and the vindication of His sovereignty (his authority to rule). Men's motives are land, oil, money, pride, fame, paranoia, or simply protecting their own interests and their own way of life.

It is interesting to note that, the battles initiated by God did not seem to endanger the Israelites themselves. Consider the siege of the Canaanite city of Ai. Only 3,000 Israelites went up against the city. Unknown to them, one Israelite had disobeyed God and was hoarding stolen goods. Consequently, God withdrew his blessing and protection. The result was that they lost the battle. But the number of men lost was 36, hardly a military disaster! The point is that, when the Israelites obeyed God's commands explicitly, there were few, if any, lives lost. The account involving Gideon demonstrates this clearly. God chose just 300 men to attack the thousands of their enemies. There is no mention of any Israelite casualties. These conquests were not wars, they were formalities, divine executions. Those on the receiving end had been tried, judged and sentenced, by God himself. The men of Israel were simply the tool of execution. This was demonstrated by the low casualty numbers and the miraculous events that often accompanied the battles. The Bible says that God accomplishes these victories “Not by military might, or by power, but by my spirit” (God's active force), (Zechariah 4.6). The Bible further says “Jehovah your God was the one fighting for you.”

This brings me to a very important point on this whole issue of war. God's wars are totally different from mankind's, for several reasons; first, as cited above, God has the right to seek justice, in whatever manner he deems fit. Secondly, God's wars do not kill indiscriminately, only those who have been judged by God. Too often in man's wars, innocent bystanders and citizens are the victims. In modern times, the majority of casualties are innocent. But the God of the Bible only punishes, or destroys, those that he finds guilty, while preserving alive those who are not. When the Babylonians, with God's permission, destroyed Jerusalem in the year 607 BCE, God's faithful followers were preserved alive.

Almighty God has used war in the past but, He does not use it in the present and He will not use it in the future, at least, not the kind of physical war humans relate to. Jesus always condemned violence. He clearly commanded “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword (or any weapon) will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26.52). Jesus is now the spokesman of God and he does not allow his followers to go to war, for any reason. Jesus goes further and states that we should “Love your enemy and pray for those that persecute you” (Matthew 5.43). No nation today – including Israel, Palestine, or the Islamic States - have God's backing for their wars, and it is a blasphemy to claim that they do. If God were on any nation's side today, that nation would not require the super-weapons and tens of thousands of men that they use. They would suffer no casualties and would be supported by divine demonstrations of power. Furthermore, they would kill no innocents and there would be no “Friendly fire.” On this basis, God condemns all wars today, especially those that are waged in his name (Psalm 83.18). Jesus powerfully warned against killing in his own name or the name of his Father (Jehovah-God) when he said “The hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me.”

The Bible tells us that God does not favour one nation over others when it says “For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him” (Acts 10.34). How can God take sides in wars when every country has some of his faithful followers?

The Bible holds out a reassuring promise for those of mankind who are faithful, and who love peace. In a remarkable prophecy, God promises that he will “Bring an end to wars throughout the earth” and that “They will learn war no more” (Psalm 46.9, Isaiah 2.4). No human agency can accomplish such a global miracle. Yet, this prophecy has already seen some initial fulfillment in our time. There is an organization on earth today that follows the teachings of the Bible, and have denounced all forms of violence – including war. They number almost nine million – in all nations of the earth, and they are a global family – united in peace and love. They are Jehovah's Witnesses. They are an example of how God's teachings can bring universal peace.