The Military Soldier & The Battle Ax – Part 2

Good day to each of you reading this column—The New Year for 2022 has come in and we seem to be where we left off in 2021 with plenty of inflation, higher prices, more shortages, and the government wanting more of our monies.

Here is an interesting tidbit from Paul Harvey—If the word con is the opposite of the word pro, then what is the word opposite of progress?

Yes, it is congress—things that make you hmmm!

I truly love listening to the Paul Harvey “rest of the story” on the internet—so many great stories and so much great information.

For you folks out there that wish to tear down Thomas Jefferson statute, here is a writing from President Jefferson and let me know your thoughts:

(The Making of America, page 395)

“… And to preserve their independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our callings and our creeds, as the people of England are, our people, like them, must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, and give the earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; and the sixteenth being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live, as they [in England] now do, on oatmeal and potatoes, have not time to think, no means of calling the mis manager’s to account; but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow suffers…”

I ask you to thoroughly take the time to read what President Jefferson said in the Making of America as these words ring out as loud and clear in today’s timeframe as they do when Jefferson wrote them.

The yokes on our necks have become tighter and tighter, the taxes higher and higher and the middle class is quickly becoming extinct along with the small businessman.

Our only way out is simple—turn to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and do exactly what that verse says—We must be humbled and turn from our wicked ways—This is everyone including my family and I pray for the day when the yoke will be lifted.

Let’s tackle the issues of the age of soldiers, the selective draft, exemptions from service, and battle regulations.

It is so interesting to follow the Bible as the Bible tackles subjects that are as relevant in today’s world as it was centuries long ago. Centuries ago, the tribes of Israel under Moses were given from God Military Laws to obey and to follow.

The understanding was that Israel was the defender and not the aggressor when waging war with an imposing country or people. When following the Israelite people, God shows our country, the USA, that with God’s help and direction and that the USA being the defender or his battle ax, that we would be successful in our efforts to defeat the enemy.

Let’s begin with the age of a soldier—turn to Numbers 1: 2-3 (NIV)The Lord said, “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families listing every man name by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.

The Lord, utilizing the double witness in Numbers 26:2 (NIV) “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.”

After establishing the age of the soldier, the preparation of what twenty-year-old man was the next questions and could be found in Numbers 31:3-7 (NIV) So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phineas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling. They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man.

The above verses give you the way a selective draft would be used when preparing an army for training and combat. We find the Midianites being the aggressors and throughout the Old Testaments that the Midianites were constantly the aggressors against the Israelite people. The result was that they fought against Midian and killed every man per the Lord’s command.

It is to be noted there is nowhere in the Bible that says a female must serve in the armed forces. When reading our constitution, our forefathers did not mention women serving in the armed forces.

Fellow Christian, when we follow the commandments, statutes and judgements from God, then there would be no need of conscripting the womanhood of America. God always delivered victory when we walk in accord to all His laws.

When building a national army to defend the nation, the word conscription or draft comes to mind—According to Wikipedia Conscription, sometimes called the draft in the United States, is the mandatory enlistment of people in a national service, most often a military service.

Turning again to Numbers 1: 3 (NIV). You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.

The Lord, utilizing the double witness in Numbers 1:45(NIV) All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.

Two perfect examples of a universal draft or conscription based upon the age and ability to serve in the nation’s army. So, the question comes to mind as to any exemptions from the nation’s army.

The Lord provides the following exemptions which include the (Levites) or priests—Turn to Numbers 1:47-49 (NIV) The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. The Lord has said to Moses: “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites.

The Lord has placed the tribe of Levi as the exception for they were to be in charge of the tabernacle of the testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it.

It is true that the United States utilizes priests, chaplains, and pastors to pray, assist, preach and provide encouraging words to the wounded and sick in times of peace and war. I don’t find where it says that they must bear arms.

The next exemption is found in Deuteronomy 20: 5-7 (NIV) The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may dedicate it. Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it. Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.

A double witness is found in Deuteronomy 24: 5 (NIV) on recent married couples in the first year to strengthen their relationship. If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.

According to The Digest of the Divine Law, men of military age were exempt from service who had started to build and plant that they might not be deprived of the blessing of partaking of their inheritance. The same holds true for newlyweds for couples preparing to be married.

It is so interesting that God has thought of any and all circumstances to provide us with the answers when we abide by his commandments, statutes and judgements

The third exemption is found in Deuteronomy 20:8 (NIV) Then the officers shall add, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not be disheartened too.”

The Israelite officers asked if any man was afraid or timid to go to battle for they did not want anyone to destroy the morale of the rest of the army. Those faint of heart or truly afraid and timid by demonstrating their feelings publicly were excused from military service.

In the third and final installment, we will tackle the issues of camp cleanliness, food trees to be spared, plunder or booty and the treatment of captives.

Have you ever thought about sparing food trees in war? Why we need cleanliness in camp and treatment of captives.

Before I close this lesson, God requires us to give our enemies a chance to come to terms, right up to the last moment; and, upon refusal, the attack could be made.

One could insert Israel in the Bible when reading the Old Testament for the appointing captains over the Israel regiments when approaching a city to war against where to first propose peace. If the opposing city or nation surrenders and comes to terms, they would be subject to Israel’s administration. But, if they refuse, then the city or nation would be destroyed and the booty seized by Israel.

Thank you for reading this column and may you bless God in all that you say and do.

Jeff