God is a Man of War (Part 1)

"God is A Man of War" - God Fights for His People and He Fights Beside Them (Part 1)

The Bible contains record after record of the valiant and victorious exploits of God's warriors in their battle against the enemies of God and the enemies of God's people. God's promise to soldiers in the Old Testament times was not only stated but established with emphasis by God in His Word. When God states something twice it is established and nothing will ever change it. (Genesis 41:32). And that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. The third stating and further statements of a promise is added emphasis on the concreteness of the promise. The promises available to the men of God in the Old Testament are still available to members of the body of Christ, to the Christian soldier fighting for the defense of God's people today, the following promise still applies.

One of you shall chase a thousand. With God fighting with you, He gives you the ability to be a stronger force than a thousand enemies. An example of this is recorded of Samson who killed 1,000 Philistines with only the jawbone of a donkey (sure wasn't superior weaponry that gave him the victory).
“Leviticus 26:8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword."
“Deuteronomy 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?"
“Joshua 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you."
“Judges 15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men."

We have all heard sermons and teachings of various aspects of God. The most popular are God is Love (1 John 4:8, 16), God is Light (1 John 1:5), God of Peace (Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20), God who provides for us (Philippians 4:19), God the creator (Genesis 1:1), God of Judgment (Isaiah 30:18), yet there is another aspect of God that few seem to teach today. It is an aspect that would be counter productive to the formation of a one world government and one world religion for certain. God is a God of war, the Antichrist is opposed to this concept - it defeats his deceptive peace plans for the world.

This aspect of God as "The LORD is a man of War" is first recorded in the book of Exodus. This is the first reference to God's warrior for His people aspect. Many people today erroneously believe that war is wrong. If we take into consideration the lessons learned from the Old Testament, we see that God had no objection to war being waged against the oppressors of His people and them who would attack them. God even instructed His chosen people to engage in war with various countries. These wars of Israel were not waged according to the "conventions of war today," in many instances God instructed the children of Israel to totally kill entire populations (men, women, and children) of the heathen unbelievers living around them. Now it has been proposed that God only operated in this capacity during the Old Testament times and that with the ministry of Jesus we were under the mandate of the law of love, the aspect that God is love. This is very true, but we must keep in mind one pertinent fact concerning God. God does not change, "Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Yes, the predominate attributes that God exhibits to His children in our day (the age of grace) is as light of the world, love, and provider of blessings for His children. Still though, God has not abandoned His attitude toward enemies of His children and those who oppress His children. God is still quite capable of calling His people to war if necessary, as in the past. And, He will most certainly do so in the future. When all the members of the body of Christ follow Christ Jesus as he makes entrance on a White horse leading the army of heaven with the saints for the final conflict, you and I will be armed for the battle (and I don't think it will be optional to avoid fighting in that battle under the leadership of Christ). Let us first look at the Old Testament record of what God's attitude was toward war, how it was to be fought, for what reasons to fight, examples of strategy used in warfare, examples of God fighting for His people, examples of God fighting beside His people, and God's deliverance for His people and His warriors. First here are the two verses that establish this warrior aspect of God specifically. As the book of Ecclesiastes says, "Ecclesiastes 3:1 ,8; "1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
“Exodus 15:3; "3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name."
“Isaiah 42:13; "13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies."

Let us look at what Jesus had to say about war. Jesus himself predicted the wars to come after him prior to his return to gather together his body, the church prior to the full onslaught of the Tribulation. The wars and rumors of wars we have seen on increasing frequency over the years.
“Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

Jesus, in his dealing with the un-named Roman Centurion (Roman Army officer, the leader of 100 soldiers), did not reprove him for his occupation. As a soldier of rank in the Roman army it is quite conclusive that this man had actively fought in war and would again. Jesus said of this soldier, that he had found no one in Israel with greater faith than this man.
“Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."

Next, lets go to the Old Testament and look at what God inspired men of God and the Prophets to tell the leaders of His people, to teach and record on the subject of war. When you look closely at the Old Testament, you will notice that a majority of the things recorded there refer to various war situations God's chosen people experienced. As long as God was for them and thay had not managed to turn away from God (as they had a bad habit of doing) they were victorious in battle.

MAKE WAR BY THE COUNSEL OF GOD
When war is a consideration for a leader to make, according to the Word of God, this decision must be made after having taken counsel with others as to whether or not it is a wise decision. With the people of God, this included counsel from God through a man of God. Today with the fanatical separation of "church" and "state" in most countries, God's input into decisions of war has fallen to the wayside with the advice of "renowned and expert" secular advisors who have not the capacity to hear or deliver any wisdom from God on the matter at hand.
“Proverbs 20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war."
“Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
“Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."
“Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety."

Jesus, when teaching and calling out disciples to follow him, used this example of taking counsel before proceeding with war.
“Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace."

A justifiable reason for war is the securing the release from captivity and bondage of your fellow believers, whether in another land or in your own.
“Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people."

God instructed Saul to kill all of the Amalekites men, women, children and even the animals. Saul failed to do what God had instructed, and beside sparing the animals, he let their king Agag live. As a result of this God rejected Saul as king. The prophet Samuel, the man of God, took his sword and hacked king Agag to pieces and followed through with the directions from God on the unbeliever King Agag.
“1 Samuel 15:1-3, 8, 22-23, 32-33 - 1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal."

God told Moses to go to war against the Midianites. Besides just sending the warriors of the people, Moses sent Eleazer the priest to fight in the battle as well, and the battle was won.
“Numbers 31:6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. 7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. 8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. 9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. 10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire. 11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. 12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho. 13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. 14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. 15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves."

God leaves some nations in place for the purpose of later proving of His people and to teach them war.
“Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim."

You might want to war against someone but God says no. If you wage a war in opposition to God not wanting you to engage the enemy, the examples in the Old Testament show that you will not win or there will be no decisive victory. King Amaziah was determined to go to war and even hired 100,000 mercenaries to fight with his army but was told by God, through a man of God, that if he fought he would loose because God was not with Israel in this war effort. But the consolation of God for obedience was that He was able to repay Amaziah much more than he had spent on war effort.
“2 Chronicles 25:5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this."

Again a man of God warns the nation not to go and fight because God was not among them in this matter, if they fought they would lose. They went to war anyway and were defeated.
“Deuteronomy 1:41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill. 42 And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. 43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. 44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah."

God revealed to King Hezekiah that He had given Judah the victory over the Assyrians and that they would win the fight against the oppressors in the land because God was with them to help them and that God would fight in the battle.
“2 Chronicles 32:2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. 4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? 5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."

God positioned Elisha the Prophet as a war counselor, to the extent that God told him them detailed plans of the enemy in such exactness that the king of the Syrians thought he had a spy in his household. Elisha advised the king of Israel "not once nor twice", meaning a number of times - where the enemy was, what their plan was, and how to defeat them. Israel won that war.
“2 Kings 6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber."

GOD GIVES THE VICTORY, EVEN IN BATTLE AGAINST SUPERIOR NUMBERS AND SUPERIOR WEAPONS
Abraham rescues Lot with 318 trained men. He defeated the combined armies of four Kings, rescued Lot and his people, recovered all that had been stolen from them, and killed the kings who made him captive. It was a victory against a much greater force because God was with Abraham and his small army.
“Genesis 14:8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people."