Joshua 5:13-5:14

War - What are the causes and effects of War, How do we deal with the loss of life? The Bible from the beginning is filled with war, the causes and effects. As a veteran and coming from a military family, I understand war and its effects on the general population. Many today, with the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places have begun to lose their faith in, Government, Leadership and some even in God.

It seams that most people, when it comes to disaster and loss of life, generally blame God for their troubles most ask me, Why did God allow this to happen, If God was in control, why did my family member have to die? Why didnt God warn us? And the decapitations in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, what about them, why didnt God intervene? What makes men so cruel, what are we going to do? All these questions must be answered, so lets take a look at scripture and God will tell us why. Does God have an Armory? Yes. Jer 50:25 The LORD hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Does God fight wars? Yes Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? {Joshua knew that this was no ordinary man but an emissary from God.}

Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host [ARMY] of the LORD am I now come. [By the command of God]{The [Angel], Captain, Was there to protect the interest of God and only that}(Was He prepared to fight? Yes.)(Would he intervene? Only at Gods command) And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? {Joshua was waiting upon the orders from God on the upcoming battle.} God will not intervene into mans affairs but as the Supreme Orator and Or castrator of mankind, His Armies always fight on the behalf of Gods interest, to preserve His will, nothing else. Now remember this changed from the Old Testament Covenant, where God fought the wars of Israel for and with them.

Gods promise to Israel and His adopted Children hasnt changed, but He will no longer interfere. God, By His son Jesus at Armageddon, will fight the last war. If youve read the scriptures enough youve found out that God gives us the power over our destiny and our enemies, but we have to learn to use it to glorify God. In the last 200 years, weve seemed to fight wars in the wrong place for the wrong reason, ask yourself this question, Knowing what you know about our wars, would God have approved of all of them? We received the power at Pentecost, but over the last 2,000 years, weve seemed to loose our strength as Christians, we must retrain our people in the use of that power.

Why do men and nations fight wars, most times its for gain, political or financial, Oil, Gas, Nuclear, Land ect. Heres Gods answer. Jam 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

1. Jam 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Jam 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

When Israel fought at Gods command they won victory after victory, when they took it upon themselves they lost, not only land, but also many lives. The wars we have fought, preserving our freedom to worship God and our freedom from bondage we have won, victory after victory, but when we fight for selfish reasons we loose. True or not? The soldier fights under orders and if killed dies an honorable death. Weather the war being fought is honorable or not, the responsibility for the war lyes with the leaders and their motives. Let God be the Judge. Many good soldiers suffer and die; its been that way since the beginning of wars. Jesus said, 1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Death is inevitable, weather it is in war or at peace. The way we live can sometimes have an impact on the way we die. The life force {soul, Spirit} lies outside the body of the fallen, the body no longer suffers, where we must put our emphasis is in the Soul. Lets read a little of Matthew Henry, The Spirit of life from God, quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his people, and his dying interest in the world. The revival of Gods work and witnesses, will strike terror into the souls of his enemies. Where there is guilt, there is fear; and a persecuting spirit, though cruel, is a cowardly spirit. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, both in this world, and at the great day, that they see the faithful servants of God honored and advanced.

The next question is, What can I do, what will I do? Heres Gods reply, Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. The next one was, Is God still in control? Rev 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. Our Heavenly Father is always in control. We have been given the freedom of choice, the choices we make are under our control. The last two wars will be supernatural wars fought by the Lord of Host.

Isa 10:5 O Assyrian {Anti-christ}, the rod of mine anger {God}, and the staff in their hand {Power} is mine indignation {Wrath, Anger}. Isa 10:24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian {Anti-christ}: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. What about all the innocent people that have been killed? Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Beheading will kill many, many will continue to be slain for the word of God. Beheading is the worst, cruelest of deaths, but it will continue to occur, we cannot stop it. The Revelation of Jesus will be fulfilled, the thing to ask is, What type of person should we be when it comes our time to meet the Lord? Ive heard many mothers and fathers cry for loved ones that have past on and the biggest answer they receive when they look for words of comfort are, You will see them in the next life.

Or Their in the arms of God. These answers seem un-comforting to many, they look for deeper release from their grief. My thoughts are to say, Your (Son)(Daughter) lived a life that was to be, they have fulfilled their destiny. Being in the arms of God is their reward for many years of faithful service to the one that gave them this time upon the earth. To be able to show love and receive love from those that were close to them. Their life has not ended but has just begun. Rest in the thought and assurance that they are in receipt of the promises of the Father. The life that they have lived was a one of honor and dedication to, family, friends and Country. Let them go, remember them fondly, and Glorify God, for having this time to be with them.

Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, I will repay.

Be not troubled by the news, papers, radio or any reports of war. We know as followers of Christ that these things will come about. We must Honor the Leaders, the Fallen and most importantly God.