Asymmetric Warfare

History is full of warring parties whose relative military powers differ significantly. This is asymmetric warfare. David versus Goliath. American colonists versus the British regular forces. The Viet Cong versus the American military. Hamas versus the Israelis. Do the weak actors, rebels, or insurgents always win? No. The underdog Americans won against the British in the American Revolution, but the more industrial Union defeated the more agrarian Confederacy in the American Civil War. Nations rise and fall because of the Unseen Hand of God. “6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel. 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them” (Jeremiah 18:6-10 KJV). 

With Malice Toward None

“With charity toward all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds.” During the American Civil War, these were the words of President Abraham Lincoln in his March 4, 1865 Second Inaugural Address, about a month before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and 41 days before his assassination. Charitable love must be the foundation of civilization and law, or we will descend into tyranny and despotism. “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:35-40 KJV).

How Any Nation Can Win Their War

During the American Civil War (1861-1865) fought over the issue of slavery, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer for April 30, 1863. “Nations like individuals are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world… We have forgotten God… too proud to pray to the God that made us.” On July 4, 1863, the Confederate forces surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Siege and Battle of Vicksburg and giving control of the Mississippi River and the West to the Union. Likewise, the Confederate invasion of the North was halted at the Battle of Gettysburg, where General Robert E. Lee was forced to withdraw on July 4, 1863. Understandably, military historians view this as the turning point of the war. “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14 KJV).