What does God think of war?

Genesis 1:27So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 9:1-6Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.”

Psalm 116:15The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.

God created every person and God loves every person. Therefore, anything that takes human life grieves God. Even if we conclude there are times when war is permissible or necessary, it should always be the last resort. And it is wise to be careful about glorifying war and reveling in death—even the death of our enemies.

Numbers 1:2-3“From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron must register the troops.”

At the beginning of Numbers, God prepares Israel for battle against the Canaanites. Not only is a military census taken, but the camp is readied as an army for war. God does not condone all war, but he does judge sin, and here he is using Israel as a tool of his anger against the sinful Canaanites. He had been patient with the Canaanites for centuries, but they had not turned from their sinful and destructive ways (read Genesis 15:13-16). In a sense, that war was a preview of God’s final judgment on earth against sin, which is yet to come. God’s holiness demands that crimes against other people as well as rebellion against him must be punished.

Matthew 24:4-14Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

Jesus made it clear that war would be with us until the very end. We can be certain that there will be more or the end will come. Jesus’ instructions begin with a call not to panic. Events may appear to be out of human control, because they are. But they are never out of God’s control.