Yahweh Nissi
One of the earliest battles the Israelites fought was against the Amelikites. They were not an experienced army - they were slaves who had recently become nomads. They faced a cruel enemy.As they went into battle, Joshua led the troops while Moses watched over them from a hilltop. When his hands were raised over them, they were winning. When his arms drooped, the Amalekites surged back. So Aaron and Hur sat Moses on a rock, stood either side of him and held up his arms. When the battle was done, the victory was credited to Joshua, but God instructed Moses to record the battle and Moses built an altar called "Yahweh Nissi" - The Lord is my Banner.
We find banners in a couple of places in the OT...
Here are a few examples:
- Psa.60:4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
- Isa.11:10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;
the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. - Isa.49:22 See, I will beckon to the Gentiles,
I will lift up my banner to the peoples;
they will bring your sons in their arms
and carry your daughters on their shoulders.
The first is that the banner is a rallying point and call. We need to come towards, turn to, look up to, raise our hands towards and be summoned by the Lord who is our banner. The second nuance is the implication of victory and triumph - When the Lord is our Banner, we will triumph over our enemies.
There are dangers with this idea: We can use the Lord's name as a rallying cry and even as a guarantee of victory. We can appear to be honouring God's name and renown but actually just using His banner to manipulate others.
In the light of these dangers, there are three aspects from Moses' story that are important here:
1. Moses had to remain focussed on the Lord.
2. Moses had faithful people to support him.
3. Moses built an altar - He was crystal clear about who deserved the glory.
God is our refuge, our rescuer and deliverer. He is our Banner. If we rally to Him and remain focussed on Him, He will lead us to victory.
| So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." 15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. (Exodus17:10-15) |
