From the very beginning, humankind’s rebellion ended up causing distress and violence. Genesis 6:11 records: “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.” This corruption in humanity led to conflicts and wars that fill the biblical narrative. The presence of war is ultimately a consequence of a broken world. When people and nations give way to sin, disputes escalate into violence on a larger scale.
Scripture shows that war originates in humanity’s fallen condition, yet God can use it in specific ways to enact justice and fulfill redemptive purposes. The Hebrew Bible often portrays God’s direct involvement in Israel’s battles. Deuteronomy 20:1 says, “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots…do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.” This involvement underscores God’s rule over all nations. One key example of divine intervention is the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6).
God used war to judge wickedness of certain nations (Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 9:4), while at the same time protecting the covenant people through whom the Messiah would come. Although these holy wars can be challenging for modern readers, scripture shows them within the moral structure of a righteous God who judges evil practices (Deuteronomy 18:9-13).
When Israel and its leaders honored the Lord and sought his help, he clearly moved powerfully to protect them. But when Israel refused to obey God, it had devastating consequences, such as the nation’s two exiles (the northern kingdom into Assyria in 2 Kings 17; and the southern kingdom to Babylon in Kings 25).
Alongside divine-commissioned battles, Scripture records power-hungry and idolatrous kings who waged war to conquer territories or fortify pride (2 Kings 24:2; 2 Chronicles 28). In these narratives, the Bible highlights consequences for wayward nations, showing that when leaders forsake God’s ways, war and oppression inevitably follow.
The New Testament writer, Paul, explains that governments bear the responsibility to protect their citizens and restrain evil. They may call their citizens to bear arms to defend their countries. The authorities that exist have been established by God, and citizens should obey their orders. (Romans 13:1-5) Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was born into a Jewish family and received Roman citizenship by birth.
Some Christians claim that the Bible commands pacifism. They believe that the teachings of Jesus require His followers to lay down their arms and promote peace. They cite passages such as the Sermon on the Mount as evidence that the New Covenant has rendered irrelevant any Old Testament examples of righteous war. I think the current Pope is one of them.
Pacifism is an admirable goal, but is it realistic? Does pacifist thinking work against terrorist groups or fascist dictators? What happens to pacifists and their families when terrorists threaten? The no-war crowd seems to forget that their freedom to exercise pacifism was bought with the blood of non-pacifists. Those soldiers did not die because they loved war. They died, in part, so that future pacifists could expound freely about their sincerely held beliefs without fear of death, torture, or imprisonment by those who refuse to consider peace. Without non-pacifists, there would be no pacifists.
Despite what Christian pacifists would have us believe, God is not a pacifist. Exodus 15:3 – “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.”
Furthermore, the same Jewish writer Paul, also emphasizes that Gentile believers, having received spiritual blessings through the Jewish heritage of faith, are indebted to support Israel and to help God’s people when they need it. (Romans 15:26-27)
What if nobody would have stopped Hitler? What would happen if the IRGC would continue to finish an atomic bomb to wipe Israel from the map?
Divine judgment on the nations is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God’s sovereignty, justice, and righteousness. This concept underscores the belief that God holds all nations accountable for their actions, particularly in relation to their treatment of His people and adherence to His moral laws. He makes it very clear that nations will be judged based on how they treat Israel. (Obadaiah 1:15)
Throughout Scripture, the absence of peace serves as a reminder of the brokenness of the world and the need for divine intervention. True peace will only come when the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, comes to redeem his people and God’s kingdom will replace conflict with harmony. “Then they will beat their swords into plowshares…Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation…” (Isaiah 2:4).
Standing with Israel 