Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord is My Banner
Exodus 17:15
Names of God:
- Yahweh – The Lord
- El Shaddai – God Almighty
- El Roi – The God Who Sees
- Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide
- Jehovah Shammah – The Lord Is There
- Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Who Heals
Exodus 17:1–7 (NKJV)
1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?”
3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”
5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.
6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
I am sure Moses was shaking his head and thinking to himself… “how could you ask that question? Why would you think that? Is the Lord among us or not??? Like haven’t you experienced the grace of God? Haven’t you experienced the goodness of God?”
Here they are doubting the provision of God | doubting the presence of God | doubting the promises of God
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Amalek and the Amalekites were descendants of Esau. Amalek represents the forces of evil – because he stood in opposition to God’s purposes and God’s people.
Listen- Anything in your life that blocks you from doing what God wants done is your Amalek.
Amaleks tries to hinder God’s purposes, programs, and progress.
Amaleks show up many times in the Old Testament, always trying to block God’s
people from getting to where God wants them to go.
9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
Up until now, God fought all their battles for them.
The problem with this is, they became passive and then became complainers when God didn’t do things exactly the way they wanted.
Now, they’re told to be proactive and fight their enemies.
Now here is the lesson that they need to learn and remember-
- they cannot do anything in their own strength.
- They’re to be proactive and not passive,
- They’re to remember that God is their source and power.
As we rely on the strength of the Lord
And we Remember – God is El-Shaddai and he desires to give us his strength,
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength….. I can face any situation – because God wants to give me his strength….
As we take steps of courage, God gets the glory and our faith in Him will grow.
Instead of just being observers of God’s work, now they were being asked to be participants in God’s work.
Picture the scene: Up to 2 million Israelites are trying to quench their thirst and now the Amalekites attack. Those in the front of the group are getting something to drink and those in the back are very vulnerable. The Amalekites have gone out of their way to come after God’s people- because Rephidim isn’t even close to where they live. This was an opportune time for the Amalekites because the COI would not be expecting an attack and The Amalekites want to take them out before they head to the land of Canaan.
Satan does the same to us. He comes after us when we least expect him, and he’ll go out of his way to knock us out, or knock us off stride.
The Amalekites attacked the children of God when they were tired and exhausted….
We are attacked the most when we are tired and exhausted…..
Look at verse 10…
10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand (remember what is in his hand??? the rod of God), that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
With the rod of God in his hand- Moses visibly demonstrated that it was the power of God fighting for them that gave them strength.
The staff symbolized how God had come through for them before and He would do so again. It was the pledge of His power.
12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;
16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
That phrase – The-Lord-Is-My-Banner – is the Hebrew name for God – Jehovah Nissi
In a battle – it is essential for a soldier to be able to locate his banner –
His banner is what unified him with all the other soldiers under that banner to rally together
It was an indication that they are not fighting alone…
As Children of God we will face battles…
We will face opposition.
We will face enemies – whether physical enemies – emotional – mental – spiritual enemies
Our God is Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is our banner
As Children of God it is important that we look to the Lord, we rally together around the Lord –
Our God is victorious and he desires to walk in His victory.
Proverbs 21:31 (ESV)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.
1 Samuel 17:47 (NKJV)
47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV)
15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
We need to remember – The battle belongs to the Lord. –
Key Point- Since the Lord is my banner, I will See a Victory
Romans 8:31 (NKJV)
31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:37 (NKJV)
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Here are some victories that Jehovah Nissi gives us –
1. The Victory of Salvation
1 Corinthians 15:56–57 (NKJV)
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage reminds us as believers that through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have access to a victorious life.
Jesus’ death and resurrection secured the ultimate victory over sin and death.
We have been saved – delivered – rescued because of Jesus – He is our Jehovah Nissi –
The enemy Satan – The enemy sin – the enemy death – have been defeated by Jesus who is our Jehovah Nissi. As
God’s people we gather under the banner of Jesus.
This verse acknowledges that the ultimate source of victory is God Himself, and it is through His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus that believers can overcomers.
2. The Victory Over Circumstances
God’s Promises of Victory
Deuteronomy 20:4 (NKJV)
4 for the Lord your God is He who goes with you (you are not alone – you are not fighting alone…), to fight for you (If God be for us – who can be against us) God fights for you against your enemies, to save you.’
2 Chronicles 20:17 (NKJV)
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
Just as God promised victory to the people of Judah, Jehovah Nissi promises victory to us.
If we believe that He is who He says he is – We can trust Him to fight our battles and deliver us from any difficult circumstance.
3. The Victory in Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is a real battle.
Ephesians 6:10–13 (NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
God has provided us with spiritual armor to stand against the enemy’s attacks.
- The Belt of Truth
- The Breastplate of Righteousness
- The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
- The Shield of Faith
- The Helmet of Salvation
- The Sword of the Spirit.
It is up to us to put it on….
By putting on the full armor of God, we are equipped for victory in spiritual warfare.
4. Jesus is our victory.
1 John 4:4 (NKJV)
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:4 (NKJV)
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Through Christ, we have the power to overcome the enemy. The victory is already won, and we can confidently face spiritual battles, knowing that the One within us is greater.
Our Lord is Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is my banner –
He is victorious – and He fights for me.
