It was never God's intention that the offspring of Jacob released from the bondage of slavery should ever engage in warfare. One reason He took them on a circuitous route from Egypt was that He wanted to protect them from armed conflict. God had always promised protection, using hornets, giant hail, or earthquakes to confound the enemy. It was Israel's desire to be like every other nation which led to disobedience against the sixth commandment. Bound by His promise to Abraham, God led them into the country that He had previously arranged, using the unconverted Israelites as His instrument of removal, but unmistakably showing them the fruits of war, including captivity and bondage for disobedience to God. God ordered the ancient Israelites to kill because of their sin in not trusting God to fight for them, and that God's purpose must stand on what He would do-to remove the interlopers and land poachers from the promised land. God has the ultimate authority to raise up and to remove kings and peoples (Daniel 2:19). As God's called-out ones, we are held to a higher standard than physical Israel. It is not wrong for the author of life to take life because He has the power to give it back; we do not. God's young draft age men and women in the Church have had a respite since 1972, but war-mongering politicians are hellbent to re-instate it. Conscientious Objectors in the past have been subject to horrible persecutions, including beatings, harassment, and imprisonment. Church members before 1972 were subject to ridicule from local draft boards, placement in work programs, or imprisoned. We must plan ahead, realizing that the command not to kill is a deeply held conviction and not just a preference, and understanding that no matter how formidable a human government can appear, it is a mere drop in the bucket compared to God's sovereign power (Isaiah 40:15).