What does it mean for a country when women, the bearers of life, are sent to the frontlines of battle to serve combat duty? Does God’s Word speak to this issue?
Deborah – A Woman Warrior?
When Christians ask, “Should a woman serve in combat,” it is not uncommon for some to offer Deborah the prophetess as an example. Deborah was a courageous military leader, they may point out. But, God did not ask Deborah to carry the sword in combat. He asked Barak, through Deborah. Victory was promised to Barak if only he would obey. Barak, however, refused to go into battle unless Deborah went with him. In giving the victory to a woman, Barak would be shamed (v. 9).
Dr. Leroy Vogel, retired U.S. Navy chaplain and professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, explains that “Deborah accompanied Barak to Mount Tabor, but no further … [S]he donned no battle gear nor engaged in the conflict. Barak (unaccompanied by Deborah) led 10,000 men into the valley to a resounding victory. The rebuke for Barak’s recalcitrance was rendered when a heroic woman, Jael, was given the opportunity to slay the fleeing enemy commander, Sisera. She did this in her own tent, with household equipment, not as a warrior on a battlefield.”
Dr. Vogel notes that women not wearing battle gear is consistent with Deuteronomy 22:5 which, in the NIV translation reads: “A woman must not wear men’s clothing … for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.” Dr. Vogel submits that this verse is about more than cross dressing. He explains that “men’s clothing” in Hebrew is translated keli-geber. Keli denotes “equipment,” specifically a soldier’s equipment. The Hebrew noun geber denotes “mighty man” or “hunter” or “warrior.” So, writes Dr. Vogel, “a legitimate translation of the phrase uses language of a decidedly military flavor: ‘No woman shall put on the gear of a warrior.’“ The church fathers and reformers John Calvin and Martin Luther understood this. Dr. Vogel continues, “Luther knew Hebrew and comments on the verse [Deuteronomy 22:5] as follows: ‘A woman shall not bear the weapons of a man … it is improper … Through this law [God] reproaches any nation in which this custom is observed.’ Why? Because God created male and female with specific and complementary characteristics. It is in their relationship with one another that the two constitute the full expression of humanity.” (The Lutheran Witness, “Women In Combat: Two Views, May 2003, p.16-20)
Deborah – A Mother of Israel
Although there is no specific passage that forbids a woman to serve in combat duty, worldly thinking within the Church, at the very least, ignores or denies the created difference by God of male and female. “God made two different sexes, equal but with assigned roles,” writes Dr. Vogel. “Sexual equality is not the issue; ordered equality is. Scripture and the tradition of the Church assign to man the role of defender, protector, warrior. To woman is given the role of life-giver, nurturer, sustainer.”
God was not pleased with the man who used Deborah as a kind of “human shield.” That is because Jesus Christ, the Groom of the Church, does not stand behind his Bride. He stands in front of her. Small tribes and great countries who honor the human rule of chivalry understand that great sacrifice may be necessary in order to protect mothers of children for they are a people’s future. Deborah sums up her role as a “mother of Israel” (Judges 5: 7). To her, “mother”—not ruler or warrior—was descriptive of her highest and most noble call as a woman.
Genesis 3:20 tells us that “Adam named his wife Eve (which means “life”) because she became the mother of every living person.” A woman’s “glory” is found in her God-given role as life-giver and nurturer. A culture that encourages women to destroy life is a culture that rebels against God’s design for his creation. A culture that doubts the created differences between the “defender” of life (male) and the “bearer” of life (female) is a culture that has been deceived by Satan’s question: “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1).
Serving in the Military vs. Serving in Combat
Is there a problem with women serving in the military? No. A strong, effective military respects and utilizes the abilities of women in medicine, teaching, and even tactical maneuvers. But, to pretend that women are no different from men, place them together in close quarters, lower standards of physical endurance, and compromise training is to place men, women, children, and country in harm’s way.
Christians who want to make a positive difference in their culture will ask important questions that help people think. First, instead of asking, “Can women serve in combat?” we should ask, “Should women serve in combat?” Other questions to help people think include: (1) How are young men taught to think about women as they endure the rigors of military training side by side? (2) What do boys learn from fathers who intentionally put women in harm’s way? (3) What is the carry-over to life outside the military? (4) If society will not tolerate male aggression toward women in everyday life, is there wisdom in making an exception in the military? (5) What is the reality of battle conditions and the affect on a woman’s hygiene, gynecological health, and dignity? (6) What are the realities for men and women serving together in close quarters?
Adam sinned when he failed to remember God’s Word and use it in the battle between life and death. Adam failed to protect his wife and future generations from the attack of the evil one and bring order out of chaos. Genesis 3:12 tells us that instead of accepting his created and protective role, Adam stood behind his wife, denying the one who had come from his side. Rev. Frederick A. Hertwig observes, “For a man to see his wife, mother, or daughter writhing in the mud with a bayonet rifle is repulsive to the core. When Adam retreats, yes even in the face of God, he has in a miserable moment surrendered to the devil. To venture the “absence” of specifics [on the subject of women in combat] is an accommodating detail to the devil’s question, ‘Did God really say …’” (The Lutheran Witness, “Letters,” June/July 2003)
Jesus “Took the Bullet”
Jesus faced the greatest weapon of mass destruction-the anger of God upon sinful people. He did not stand behind “human shields,” letting you and me die so that he might live. In the battle for the life of his Bride, Jesus “took the bullet.” He died so that we might live. Because Jesus was victorious over death, the believing Christian will be too!
Jesus is the way to eternal life where all battles will be over. Glorious peace will be the order of the day every day!
Assured of this peace, men and women acknowledge Jesus first and foremost as their Savior. Motivated by this peace, men and women seek to follow Jesus and to imitate his behavior and choices in their lives. Of course, as redeemed men and women, we will not always follow well. We will not always be obedient; instead, we will want to test the boundaries. We will want to “prove” ourselves at the expense of others. We will, in fact, resist the Creator’s way, thinking ours is a better way. But after wrong choices have been made and we sorrowfully fall to our knees in repentance, Jesus reaches down to pick us up, saying, “I love you! I came for you! I forgive you!” With nail-pierced hands, Jesus leads us away from sin and death onto the path of life.
(Portions of this commentary are excerpted from the Bible study Men, Women and Relationships, by Linda Bartlett)