By Christopher Dryden
14 After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”). 16 He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”
Exodus 17:14-16
Who is God? How can I get to know who He is?
Scripture helps with this by showing that often people get to know God through certain situations and experiences. For Moses, he had an insight into who God is, initially at the burning bush encounter, where He had a revelation of who God was in a way that people had not seen to that time.
In this scenario, the people of Israel have had their first conflict since leaving Egypt. It’s their first encounter of combat and they have been victorious. It’s significant particularly because those who opposed them in essence were raising their fist against the rule of God. God does not take this lightly and, once again, He wants His people to take note of this experience and see what it says about who their God is. Where the enemy raises a fist, God is their banner.
The thought of a banner today is used in protests or other kind of marches to display and declare to all what the people are for or against. People rally under the banner where they agree and know for sure where to target their angst if they’re against it. Either way, there’s no doubting what is being shown when that banner is lifted.
God is the rallying point for His people when combat is required. God is the rallying point for His people when the conflict is in full flow. God’s people rally under Him, take their courage from Him and engage in the conflict confident that if God is for them, no one can stand against them.
When the enemy opposes, the Lord lifts a standard against them and He Himself is that standard. Therefore, any weapon formed against those that are under that banner is doomed to fail. Whether that weapon is the flesh, or depression, or sickness, or other spiritual forces. Under the banner there is victory.
That banner underlines, the fact, though, that there is a war going on. God does not take that lightly at all and the good news for the believer enduring hostility, is that following Jesus, they are following one who has overcome. Not just that but Jesus is destined to return to confirm His rule – conquering every opposition once and for all. Just as God promised to erase the memory of Amalek, so there is a day promised where all evil and wickedness will be wiped out forever and those under His banner will live in peace and righteousness forever.
We can know God as we go through the challenges and conflicts of life. We can know Him as the one who fights for us. We can know Him as our rallying point. As we wait for that glorious day of victory over all evil, we can confidently put our trust in Yahweh Nissi.
Ask – What did it mean for Moses and the Israelites to have the Lord as their banner?
Seek – What battles are you going through that requires God to come through for you?
Knock – There is a war going on, if you’re going to win you need to rely on the Lord of Hosts – Your Banner – express that in prayer on behalf of you and those in your sphere of influence today.
(Upper Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels)
(Inner Photo by bantersnaps on Unsplash)
