Walking the Point

posted by Writer on Feb 14

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Dr. J. Vernon McGee believed “The Old Testament has a definite application for believers today” and “that one of the greatest sins in the church of Jesus Christ in this generation is ignorance of the Word of God.” (1)

Our Forefathers relied on Scripture when they built the country and the issue at hand for us to consider is women being sent into combat. So, what does our history and the Scriptures have to say on this?

First off, Wayne Grudem says; “Historically the position of the United States has been that women should never be sent into combat. Women could serve in other capacities in the armed forces, but not in responsibilities where they were likely to engage in combat…I believe that the historic position of the United States is correct and that it is wrong to send women into combat. The biblical argument for this position is expressed well in the ESV Study Bible article on “War.”

Most nations throughout history, and most Christians in every age,
have held that fighting in combat is a responsibility that should fall only
to men, and that it is contrary to the very idea of womanhood, and
shameful for a nation, to have women risk their lives as combatants in
war. The assumption that only men and not women will fight in battle
is also a frequent pattern in the historical narratives and is affirmed by
leaders and prophets in the OT (See Numbers 1:2-3; Deuteronomy 3:18-19;
20:7-8, 24:5; Joshua 1:14; 23:10; Judges 4:8-10, 9:54; 1 Samuel 4:9;
Nehemiah 4:13; Jeremiah 50:37 and Nahum 3:13). (2)

I’ll borrow some verses from Mr. Grudem and let you look up the rest. When exhorting his troops, Moses said; “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain…but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them” (Joshua 1:14, New American Standard Bible).

The King James version has the wording “all the mighty men of valor” instead of  “valiant warriors.”

Nehemiah spurred his boys on with these words; “Do not be afraid of them; remember the LORD who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Nehemiah 4:13, New American Standard Bible).

In Numbers 1:2-3 the LORD ordered Moses to; “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel…every male…from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel…“ (New American Standard Bible).

Below is an account of hand-to-hand combat one Marine experienced in Afghanistan.

“I pawed at the ground with my right hand and found a rock the size of a baseball. I clutched it and swung blindly at his face. The blow stunned him. Before he could recover, I pushed off his chest, lifted the rock high in my right fist, and smashed it down like a hammer, breaking his front teeth. He looked me in the eyes, the fight knocked out of him, his head not moving. We both knew it was over. I drew back my arm and drove the stone down, crushing his left cheekbone. He went limp. I pushed up on my knees and hit him with more force. This blow caved in the left side of his forehead. I smashed his face again and again, driven by pure primal rage.” (3)

I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s difficult to expose men let alone our girls, to these conditions. However, war will continue until Christ ends it all when He returns (Psalm 46:9).

“The Scriptures are left for a standing rule to us: they are written that they might remain for our use and benefit. First, for our learning. There are many things to be learned out of the scriptures; and that is best learning which is drawn from these fountains…We must labor, not only to understand the literal meaning of scripture, but to learn out of it that which will do us good…” (4)

(1) J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Volume 4 – Matthew through Romans, p. 747 (Romans 15:4); (2) Wayne Grudem, Politics According to the bible – A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture, page 435; (3) Only a Barbaric Nation Drafts Its Mothers and Daughters into Combat, National Review OnLine, The Editors, February 9, 2016; (4) Matthew Henry, A Commentary on The Whole bible, Volume 6 Acts – Revelation, p. 484 (Romans 15:4).

Painting after Footnote 3 is the Battle of Mount Patano, Italy November 1943