Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is my Banner

by Debi Baker

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In Exodus 17:8-16 we see Moses and the Israelites at war with the Amalekites.   Joshua is leading the battle while Moses, Aaron and Hur are on the top of the hill.  As long as Moses holds his staff UP, the Israelites are winning the battle.  If he lets his hands fall, the Amalekites pull ahead.  Aaron and Hur begin to hold Moses' hand up when he is tired.   As a result, the Israelites are victorious.  "14 And the Lord said unto Moses, 'Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua:  for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.'  15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi:"  {If I remember correctly, this is the first instance of God directing someone to write down what had happened.  Prior to this time it had always been a word-of-mouth passing down of the word.}

Jehovah Nissi:  The Lord is my banner.  Think about what a banner is.  A flag is a banner.  At sporting events, we often wave a banner of some kind showing which team we support.  The staff of Moses became a banner for the Israelites.  Moses' staff being held high where the Israelites could see during the battle was a reminder to them that God is present with them.  It was a sign of God's power; a sign of encouragement.  It also reminded them that it was God that gave Moses the authority. 

Whose banner do you wave?