Man of War

Exodus 15:3 - "The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is His name."

I friend recently asked me how I felt about the congregation that keeps protesting the war and funerals of fallen soldiers. Apparently the Westboro Baptist Church, located in Wichita, Kansas, doesn't study, read, or preach out of the Old Testament. If they did then they would know it was Moses who said, "The Lord is a man of war."

I don't understand how any bible believing Christian can deny the fact that some times war is necessary. Moses, one of the renown men of the Bible, said that God is of war. If it is God's will then we must fight. There is a spiritual war going on right now. It has been waging since the beginning of time, and is now at its peak. So how is it that we can say God is against war?

It could be that God is against killing and the act of war, but some times war is necessary. I don't believe that God would want us to simply be slaughtered when we have a great work to do for Him. But that is my own belief, my own opinion. For some, my opinion won't matter.

However, if we look at the Bible we can see the facts. War is necessary, otherwise God would not have led his people into it. Let us take a look at the Old Testament.

There is the battle at Jericho. Joshua and his army marched around the city, kept silent, blew their horns, and watched as the walls crumbled. Then there is Gideon and God's select few. God kept dwindling down the number of Gideon's troops, but when it came time to go to war God led them through. Of course Joshaphat's army defeated three armies at once just by praising the Lord.

All of these, and many more, are sure signs that God is a God of war. These are all instances that the battles were won by divine nature. So for me it is hard to discredit God's presence in war. But perhaps my favorite example doesn't come from the past, but from the future.

Revelation 19:11 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."

In the revelation of Jesus Christ it is written that He will come back and make war. Why? Because some times war is necessary.