Proxy War

Numbers 31:3 So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the LORD’s vengeance on them.”

Sometimes it is right to “get even.” I can only imagine the crimes that will be reported tomorrow as you read these words and begin your attacks!I have unleashed a monster with these words. I take them back. I take them back!

Occasionally the wrongs of the past get righted in the present day. Rightly or wrongly we have seen this happen at least in some degree in the two Iraq wars. It is a complicated matter to remove leader without a clear replacement plan, and this is what would have happened if we had taken out Saddam Hussein after the first war. But the consequences of that decision cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

We see a very difficult situation unfolding in real time in Ukraine. There is no simple solution. The culture and leadership in Ukraine are not what we would call just and fair. But allowing Russia to take over sovereign territory would be unjust as well. So what do we do?

We participate in a proxy war. We send money and equipment to ‘help’ the Ukrainians fight their battle, just like Iran is sending money and equipment (and fighters) to fight against Israel. No personal participation, just though others.

Out text tells us the moment when Moses is given permission to take out an enemy. The Midianites were the ones who hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. I guess their own curses weren’t good enough, powerful enough, sufficient. They needed this foreign holy man to speak magic words.

The Midianites were on the wrong side of history. They had tried to get the Moabites to fight Israel on their behalf. They knew they couldn’t win themselves, perhaps that the casualties would be too great, so they asked for help. And that help asked for Balaam’s help. No one was willing to take on the responsibility of the fight.

Our text tells Moses to take on the fight and he does. This is Moses’ last official act as Israel’s leader. He rights an historic wrong. The Midianites are wiped out.

Proxy fights often get called “back-biting” or “gossip” in our modern contexts. Or “shadowing” or “cancelling!” The ability to directly confront in a productive manner, in a manner that is respectful and yet without compromise, is getting lost. We need to bring it back.