The Lord is My Banner

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31

In world history, particularly ancient to early modern history, when armies went into battle one of the first things the opposing army would see before the masses of soldiers appeared on the horizon would be the banners or flags whipping in the wind signifying the approach of an army. Whether carried by footman or mounted cavalry or rigged atop ships, banners were often on high poles with bright colors and the seal of the family or nation of the approaching army. Dynasties and empires throughout world history have hoisted their banners as symbols for their leaders, homeland, and even used them as tools of intimidation. When the Roman Legions’ banners appeared on the horizon, the opposing army knew it was about to face the most powerful military and empire on earth at the time. One built for destruction and conquest. Some even believed it was better to surrender than to face the Roman Legions in battle. Likewise, when the Spanish flag appeared on the horizon of the ocean during the 16^th century, opposing navies knew they were about to go to war with the most powerful navy on the planet. In battle, armies and navies only lower their banners to signify defeat and surrender. Even today banners (or as we call them flags) are used to project power, confidence, and identification. So, having a banner is not something too foreign to even us, 21st folks. We wave our flags regardless of our national identity oftentimes with pride and confidence. Yet, there have been thousands of banners waved throughout world history. They’ve all come and gone. They’ve all risen in battle and eventually been lowered. And, they will continue to do so. There is only one banner that will remain victorious for all time – a banner that will never be lowered. We are first introduced to this banner in the book of Exodus.

For hundreds of years, the Israelites had been enslaved by the Egyptians. It seemed that the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, was nowhere to be found as they prayed and prayed for deliverance. They cried out for at least four hundred years and heard nothing but silence. It is likely that many Israelites began to question where the God of their Fathers had gone and why had He allowed this to happen to them. Then, one day Moses, the former prince of Egypt who had fled Pharaoh for killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave, reappeared. Moses had been gone forty years ago. This onetime powerful and wealthy Egyptian influencer and prince was now a wandering shepherd. He told the Israelites that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, YAHWEH, JEHOVAH, THE I AM, had sent Him to deliver them from the Egyptians. Moses (with the help of his brother Aaron) delivered the same message for God to Pharoah over and over again: Let the Israelites go. Because of Pharaoh’s hard and stubborn heart, he refused to yield. So, in demonstration of His absolute power over all creation, God sent plague after plague to the land of Egypt. By the fourth plague, God even further demonstrated His power by ensuring that only Egyptians were affected by His plagues and not the Land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. But these demonstrations of power were not just for Pharaoh. They were for the Israelites. They seemed to have forgotten that the God of Abraham, Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) provides all things and that El Roi (The God who Sees) sees and hears all. So, God demonstrated His power to the Egyptians and the Israelites. By the 10^th plague, Pharaoh finally yielded, and the Israelites rejoiced. Yet, Pharaoh quickly changed his mind and chased down the Israelites. In his final demonstration to Pharaoh, God parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel but sent it crashing down on Pharaoh’s army. Rejoicing and praising God, Israel followed God into the wilderness eagerly anticipating finding their promised home.

Yet, as the children of Israel made their way to Mount Sinai, they grew impatient and started to complain about their circumstances and the lack of water. So, Jehovah – Rapha (The Lord who Heals You) healed the bitter waters of Marah and provided the Israelite sweet water to drink. Eventually, they ran out of food and complained again to Moses. This time, while bemoaning their lack of food they even said it would have been better for them to stay in Egypt (Exodus 16:3). And, yet again God provided. He rained manna down from Heaven and sent quail to the Israelites. Temporarily contented, the Israelites continued their journey to the Mountain of God. While resting in Rephidim, the Israelites ran out of water and again complained. They bitterly asked Moses, “have you brought us to this wilderness to kill us and our children? (Exodus 17:3)” Pushing the limits of Moses, the meekest man outside of Jesus to ever live (Numbers 12:3), Moses took their complaints to God. God told Moses to strike the rock at Horeb and the water would flow. Moses obeyed and again Jehovah Jireh provided. Yet, the Scriptures indicated that this time they remained contentious. Moses even named the springs after their unsatisfied nature because the Israelites, “continued to tempt the Lord by saying, Is the LORD among us or not? (Exodus 17:7).

It was during their stay at Rephidim that the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Moses told Joshua to select a group of men to respond to Amalek’s attack. During their battle, Moses promised to stay atop the hill with the rod of God (Exodus 17:9). When the battle started, Moses raised his arm and hand holding God’s rod. As long as he held it high, Joshua and the men of Israel prevailed but when he let his hand down to rest the Amalekites gained the advantage. So, Moses held his arm and hand up. He held it up until they became so heavy he could not hold them up alone – he needed help. So, Aaron and Hur brought him a large stone to sit on and they held up his hands until the sun went down. The Scriptures simply record the outcome – So, Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword (Exodus 17:13). God told Moses to write down the story and recount it to Joshua and the children of Israel so it would serve as a memorial for what God had done for them. Moses obeyed and then built an altar to God where he stood on the hill. He named the altar: JEHOVAH NISSI, THE LORD IS MY BANNER (Exodus 17:15).

It is not a coincidence that this story falls immediately after the Israelites grumbled to themselves and ask “Is God even among us?” Sometimes, it is truly amazing to be to read through the story of the Israelites during the weeks and months immediately after they left Egypt. How could they have possibly forgotten all that they had just seen God do for them? 10 plagues. A pillar of fire and a pillar of smoke. Parting of the Red Sea. Sweet waters. Manna. Quail. Water from rocks. And yet, they still had the audacity and lack of awareness to truly ask “Is the LORD among us or not?” They were openly questioning if God was really there for them. No wonder Moses said they tempted JEHOVAH with their impudence. Even after all that, God still loved them and proved yet again He was with them. The LORD fought with Joshua as long as Moses could hold his arms up. It was clear to everyone that day who had really won the battle against Amalek. It wasn’t Moses or Joshua and his soldiers. It was JEHOVAH NISSI. The Banner and Defender of Israel.

Sometimes, we are the same as the Israelites. We test the Lord’s patience after He has provided for us over and over and over again. We sarcastically, doubtfully, or bitterly ask, “Does the Lord really see? Is He really here?” We wonder if He is really going to be there when we need Him. We complain about the state of the world or the state of our lives. We quietly demand God fix things the way we want them to be fixed then become annoyed or even angry when they don’t work out the way we want. This story should make us rethink how we speak and think about God. It should make us more self-aware with our attitude toward God. We can easily become the Israelites. We live in the immediate present – forget all the blessings and answered prayers of the past. Then we doubt God and His promised future blessings. We should instead learn the lesson Job learned when he felt this way. We should put our hands over our mouths (Job 40:4) and not question the way the Lord provides for us. We should do as Solomon advises in Ecclesiastes 5

Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;

When we question God, we test His patience. And, while this story shows He is still willing to aid and protect His people. It shows us that our attitudes do affect God and as Moses aptly put – if we are sarcastic, bitter, or ungrateful with God, we tempt or invite God’s anger. Considering the demonstration of God’s power and judgment throughout Exodus, it is amazing that we like the Israelites actively tempt God’s patience.

But, sometimes, we are the children of Israel who prayed for deliverance before Moses arrived. Crying out to God but we think we hear only silence. We look around and we see all the evil of this world. The evil that spans the globe and destroys lives. We see Satan wield his power and influence over this world. His followers persecute, afflict, and kill the righteous. They revel in their irreverence and blasphemy. They pressure and coerce others to join in their sinful behavior. We cry out like the Psalmist, How long, LORD, will the wicked triumph? (Psalm 94:3). These questions often can discourage us and maybe sometimes we begin to believe the lie the Devil whispers to us: “Look around you fool, your God is losing. What’s the point? You’re on the losing side.” When that happens, remember Moses and his arms as he held out the rod of God atop that mountain. As long as Moses obeyed God and held out his arms, God fought FOR him. And like Moses and Joshua, if we hold out until sundown, we too will see God’s victory. Like Joshua, we do not go into battle for the Lord uncertain of the outcome. We do not go into battle with an earthly banner that will eventually be defeated. So, unlike the Roman empire that eventually faded and fractured or the Spanish Armanda which eventually lost to the British Navy in 1588, our Banner will never be lowered or defeated. The Bible is full of scriptures that point to God as the ultimate victor:

• Psalm 76 describes Jehovah as the ultimate victor: But you, LORD, are feared by all. No one can stand in your presence…
• Paul tells us we have victory through Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15.
• David wrote in Psalm 20 that while some boast in chariots and horses, we the faithful boast in the name of the Lord.

We fight for the undefeated and eternal Banner. Nothing in this physical world or the spiritual world (Colossians 1:16 and Romans 8: 38 – 39) – nothing and no one can stand against God. And, if we believe and obey God like Moses and Joshua, God will do the fighting for us. We too will be victors. We fight under the banner of Jehovah Nissi and His Banner will never be defeated.