War God - Part 2

The solution is still evasive, but I have a few more thoughts on the tension which exists between the God of war in the Old Testament and the Prince of Peace in the New Testament.

I was listening to Dr. Greg Boyd speak (via mp3 during my Monday morning walk) as he discussed the purpose of Jesus' incarnation and sacrificial work on the Cross. He cited Hebrews 2:14 as a launch pad for discussing the warfare in which God is engaged. Some of the insights he shares are fabulous and are worthy of some elaboration. The number of passages in the New Testament which refer to the conquering mission of Jesus Christ on the Cross is actually quite impressive when you begin researching. My focus, though, is to simply reflect on the parallels between the literal warfare of the Israelite Conquest with the spiritual (yet, no less real) conquest of Christ.

The parallels are rather striking.

• Both are led by a man with the same name, "Yeshua" - Joshua (Hebrew) / Jesus (Greek).
• Both come after a time in the wilderness.
• Both come after passing through the waters of the Jordan.
• Both begin with a resounding victory - Jericho / Calvary & Resurrection - followed by a series of smaller battles.
• Both begin the process of purging evil from a promised region - Canaan / Earth.
• Both have as their primary objective the defeat of Satan's work.
• Both simultaneously demand holiness to prevail and call the unrighteous to come to God to escape condemnation.

The contrast (which is the real crux of the problem) is that in the conquest of Christ, Satan is the conquered one, condemned justly for complete rebellion against God. In the conquest of Israel, human beings created in the image of God are the condemned, though they are, in reality, the victims of Satan's rebellion. How can we possibly draw a parallel between the defeat of Satan and the slaughter of pagan human beings? Were those ancient peoples such committed agents of the devil that they were evil incarnated? If this were the case, we could more easily justify their extermination.

It is true that the wicked influence of these peoples is so dynamic that, even in their decimated state, they cause the outnumbering and overpowering Israelites to fall time and again to practices completely abhorrent to God. Read Judges and the Divided Kingdom segments of the Old Testament (1 Kings 12-22; 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles 10-36, plus many of the writings of the Prophets).

But are any human beings so "far gone" spiritually as to be considered unredeemable and worthy of execution via warfare? Of course, only God can determine the spiritual state of the human heart, but it is true that even the children of some of these pagan hordes were not safe from their own, being offered as sacrifices to their gods. Still, is death brought by invading God-fearers preferable to death inflicted by their own parents at the sacrificial altar?

Another troubling question: Is a mandate from the Creator God for the extermination of a people group consistent with His character or a just treatment of even the most sinful of people?

The sovereignty of God establishes the authority of God's judgment. His method of judgment cannot be considered less "humane" simply because it is more graphic in nature to us. We are ALL sinners and due condemnation. Should God choose to exercise His wrath in a more physical way before we are condemned eternally, is He being unjust?

As sinners we are deserving of complete separation from God for eternity. Our rebellion is the cry of our evil heart. In condemning us to an eternal alienation, God is simply giving us our desire. Perhaps the issue with which we struggle is the public nature of His wrath in ancient times, and the lack of such visibility today. Invisibility does not negate reality. And visibility does not intensify the horrendous nature of what has been otherwise unseen. Sin, judgment and wrath are brutal realities created, not by God, but by our sin. We cringe at the thought of carnage done by the hand of God, but our hypocrisy betrays us. We seek grace for sin, but never wrath. God is not only love. He is also holy.

One more question that stirs inside me: What affect does this warfare have on those who are the instruments of such judgment (the Israelite soldiers)? Even though the mandate of God was unmistakable, actually being used by God to execute (an unfortunate pun) His judgment is a frightful thing. How does this scar the human soul? Is this a lesson for Israel as to the "bloody" nature of sin, one which would, hopefully, help to steer them clear of their own rebellion in times to come? If so, it failed miserably. They became as faithless and heartless as those whom they slaughtered.

I am raising far more questions than answers. And I am still pondering. Perhaps there will be a third installment.

GO TO WAR GOD (original post)

GO TO WAR GOD - PART 3