Created by pastorbuddy on 5/1/2009
THE SOLDIER’S RANSOM
by Bertrand L. Comparet
Taken From Your Heritage
Prepared into a PDF file by:
Clifton A. Emahiser’s Teaching Ministries
Plus Critical Notes
Those entering the military service, and their families, naturally are worried over
the dangers to be faced in battle. They should know that Yahweh has provided the
defense against such dangers. The directions to receive His protection are in the Bible.
There is no pacifism in the Bible, because Yahweh has destined us to impose
His will upon the world, a process which often requires war when wicked nations seek
to blot out righteousness. In Jeremiah 51:20 Yahweh says to our nation, “ Thou art My
battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with
thee will I destroy kingdoms.”
No matter how the self proclaimed intellectuals may scorn this duty, it is our
inescapable destiny. We can do our part willingly, in complete reliance on Yahweh’s
protection, and we shall prosper. Or, we can be driven to it unwillingly, like slaves under
the lash, and accomplish our purpose at frightful cost, it is our destiny and perform it we
shall.
Recent efforts to abolish the draft, and establish a mercenary army of
professional volunteers, is bad. The Bible never gave its approval for mercenary
professional armies. For us, Yahweh’s plan was universal registration and
conscription, we find this law in Numbers 1:1-3 & 26:1-2. “ And Yahweh spoke unto
Moses in the wilderness of Sinai saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the
children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every
male; from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel;
thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.”
Note this military service began at age twenty, none were exposed to the
hardships of war while they were immature boys. Exemptions from military service were
few, and for one year only, these rules are found in Deuteronomy 20:5-9 & 45:5. One
who had built a new house but had not occupied it yet, or who had planted a new
vineyard but hadn’t received a crop from it, and one who was engaged to be married,
or had been married less than one year, these received one year’s exemption from
military service.
Military service was a moral duty of the Israelites. When the people of Israel
were entering into the promised land, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of
Manasseh chose their inheritance in the lands east of the Jordan river. All the rest of
the nation had to cross over the Jordan river and conquer the lands to the west of it.
When it seemed possible that Reuben and Gad might want to stay in their lands while
the other tribes had to continue the war without them, Moses sternly warned them, as it
is recorded in Numbers 32:6-23.
Page 2
“ And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall
your brothers go to war, and shall ye sit here? If ye will go armed before Yahweh to war,
and will go all of you armed over Jordan before Yahweh, until He hath driven out His
enemies from before Him, and the land be subdued before Yahweh; then afterward ye
shall return, and be guiltless before Yahweh and before Israel; and this land shall be
your possession before Yahweh. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against
Yahweh: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Registration for conscription was a religious duty in times of national danger,
however it wasn’t to be enforced only so the king could know how big his army was,
merely for his own pride. King David ordered a registration out of his own vanity, when
there was no need for it, this was a sin on his part. However, the punishment fell on the
whole nation because they obeyed the king when he commanded them to do what was
sinful. This is told in detail in II Samuel chapter 24. Yahweh’s way to raise a
conscription citizen’s army, and to give them protection amid the dangers of war, is
stated in Exodus 30:12-16. “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after
their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto Yahweh …
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a
skekel …. an half shekel shall be the offering of Yahweh. Every one that passeth among
them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto
Yahweh. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a
shekel, when they give an offering unto Yahweh, to make an atonement for your souls.
And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it
for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the
children of Israel before Yahweh, to make an atonement for your souls.”
The half shekel of the soldier’s ransom was worth 33 cents in our money, so it
was no burden on the poor. The rich weren’t to make a display of their wealth, to
embarrass the poor by giving more. The importance of the act was that it was a
declaration of faith in Yahweh, looking to Him for protection. Those who truly trust in
Him, He doesn’t fail.
Yahweh’s promise of protection is clear and strong. It is set forth most
beautifully in Psalms 91:1-11. “ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and
my fortress: my God: in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the
fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and
under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not
be afraid for the terror by night, nor the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence
that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand
shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou
hast made Yahweh, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation: there shall
no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give His
angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
The Bible records that those who did offer the soldier’s ransom, in reliance upon
Yahweh’s instructions, did receive His protection in battle. In Numbers chapter 31 it is
recorded that an Israelite army of 12,000 men was sent against the Midianites. They
annihilated the Midianite armies and burnt the Midianite cities, quite a devastating war.
Upon the return of the Israelite army we read, “ And the officers which were over the
thousands of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, came
near unto Moses: and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the
men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.”
If you are thinking Yahweh was able to protect His soldiers against swords,
spears and arrows in ancient times, but wondering if He has the power to protect them
against the terrible modern weapons, such as atom bombs, I tell you to have no doubts.
He who created atoms is still their master, still able to give protection where needed. In
Isaiah 54:17 we have His promise. “ No weapon that is formed against thee shall
prosper: and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and their righteousness is of Me,
saith Yahweh.”
War on a scale never before seen, must come in the near future, it is part of the
battle of Armageddon and the great and terrible day of Yahweh. There is no escaping it,
for it has been prophesied by Yahweh. When it comes, we must take our part in it.
Yahweh has never required us to enter battle without offering protection to those who
are loyal to Him and who claim His protection in sturdy faith.
For those who are drafted into the armed forces, they or their families should
seek their protection by offering the soldier’s ransom. We have heard many reports of
families who have done this, and their sons have returned safely from combat. You
should also profit by their example.
Take Yahweh at His word. Obey His instructions to offer the soldier’s ransom.
Have faith and you will see the demonstration of Yahweh’s power.
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