They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. – Joshua 11:4

Today's Scripture Reading (February 15, 2022): Joshua 11

Canadian Bacon tells the story of the United States at peace. The 1995 comedy posits a world where, with the break up of the Soviet Union, the United States has no credible enemy. Without an enemy on which to focus, the popularity of the President begins to decline, and the political structure of the nation decides that what they need is another conflict. They don't want a war, just a country on which to focus their anger so that they can exist in the perpetual preparation for war. The United States attempts to stir up another cold war with Russia, but the Russians decline the invitation. And a war against terror is decided to be too ludicrous and ambiguous to fit the situation.

The solution to this uncomfortable state of peace is discovered at a hockey game when an American fan criticizes Canadian Beer. As a result of the insult, a brawl breaks out among the fans, and the political structure of the United States decides that they have found their new enemy, Canada. The Canadians are a perfect enemy. They are close by and too nice to really take offense.

It would likely be a one-sided affair if a real war were to break out between the United States and Canada. With Britain's support, Canada might have been victorious in the War of 1812, but in 2022 the results would be very different. Canadian knowledge is on par with their American counterparts, but the population of Canada is one-tenth of that of the United States, and militarily, Canada's army is not as advanced as their southern counterparts. (Although I am convinced that one limitation for the American military in such a conflict might be its reliance on technology. The Canadian army might be more innovative, which might be an advantage for the Canadians, but not a big enough difference to change the outcome.) The reality is that the United States would have a huge technological advantage over its Northern neighbors.

As Israel prepares to take on the Northern Kings, they are entering a situation that they had never had to experience before. They have been the underdog before, but not to the degree they are now. This would be a war like one proposed between the United States and Canada, with Israel playing the part of Canada. Israel would be understaffed; the northern kings possessed "a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore" and had a technological deficit; Israel possessed neither horses nor the chariots of the northern Kings. But God was with them. And if they were willing to trust in him, that would be enough.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 12