Numbers 1: Conscription vs Free Society

"The Israelites are to camp by their military divisions, each man with his encampment and under his banner.  The Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community."

Numbers 1:52-53

The first census is taken, counting and registering all males over 20 in the nation of Israel.  Each man "who can serve in Israel's army" was registered by tribe.  The total number was just over 600,000 army-capable men over 20.  This does not include the Levites, nor any of the women, nor the children, nor the elderly and infirm who are unable to fight.

God charges the Levites with the protection of the Tabernacle and all that goes with it.  All other tribes are assigned to military duty.

In America, all young men are required by law to register for conscription at the age of 18, just in case the nation has need of extra fighters.  We got this unconstitutional law straight from the first chapter of Numbers.

Israel was not a constitutionally governed people like we are.  Their government was the church - the priests, directed by the Lord, served as legislators, judges, and executors.  In the United States, our Constitution deliberately separates these three branches AND keeps the church out of all three.

For a nation of the Lord's people, completely run by the Lord Himself, it makes sense for Him to be able to order His people dictatorially.  He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and most importantly all-loving.  He would not ask His warriors to fight in any unjust war.

For a nation such as ours - the free United States of America - a draft goes directly against the founding principles of the nation.  Our leaders are not God, nor are they appointed by God.  Even if they were, not all of the people in the USA have accepted the Lord.  How can we ask people with varying different belief systems to fight wars dictated to us by leaders who do not share our beliefs?

Question of the Day:

Given the current war situations we are in, if a draft were issued, would you accept it whole-heartedly or would you attempt to dodge it?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, give wisdom to our leaders, and to the voters who choose our leaders.  As political campaigning for various offices is growing, help our nation to filter out the lies and misdirection.  Make the truth known to us all, and guide us as we look for new leadership in our nation.  Amen.