Children Sacrificed to the Gods of War

The United States government has sacrificed far too many children upon the altars of war. We may no longer call our idols Molech or Baal, but we continue offering innocent lives to the gods of military power, national pride, political ambition, and economic gain.

The psalmist spoke of a nation that “sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood” (Psalm 106:37–38, KJV). We read those words and condemn the ancient people for their cruelty, yet remain silent while bombs purchased with our tax dollars fall upon children in distant lands.

We disguise their deaths with phrases such as collateral damage. We discuss military objectives, acceptable losses, and national interests. But God does not see collateral damage. He sees children created in His image. He sees their blood, hears the cries of their parents, and remembers the governments responsible for their deaths.

Scripture declares that among the things the Lord hates are “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16–17, KJV). That condemnation applies to Hamas when it murders Israeli children. It applies to Israel when its weapons kill Palestinian children. It also applies to the United States when our government supplies the bombs, finances the destruction, protects those responsible from accountability, and then pretends that we bear no responsibility.

Many Americans remain silent because these children live far away, speak another language, or follow another religion. But distance does not make their blood less innocent, and nationality does not make their lives less valuable. Silence may protect our comfort, but it cannot hide injustice from God.

The Lord does not look upon the shedding of innocent blood with approval. He looks upon it with righteous anger. Nations may escape human courts through wealth, influence, and military power, but no nation escapes the judgment of God.

The question is not simply what Israel, Hamas, or the American government has done. The question is also what we have done while it was happening. Did we speak for those without a voice? Did we protest the killing? Did we demand that our government stop financing it? Or did we turn away because the truth made us uncomfortable?

The blood of innocent children cries from the ground. God hears that cry even when governments, churches, and news organizations refuse to hear it.

“Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!” (Habakkuk 2:12, KJV).

A nation cannot continually sow bombs and expect to reap peace. It cannot shed innocent blood and expect the blessing of God. Judgment may not come according to our timetable, but Scripture gives us no reason to believe that God will forever overlook the killing of the innocent.

It is time for America to repent, lay down the idols of war, and become a peacemaker rather than an accomplice in destruction.