EquippedMama

In this series of blog posts, we are exploring the name of God Jehovah-Nissi or “God is my banner”. In our last post, we looked at the beginning of the book of Exodus, where the Lord released the nation of Israel from slavery to Egypt after over four centuries of captivity.

Scarcely had they been freed from over four centuries of slavery when suddenly they were faced with violent attack. Deuteronomy 25:17-18 says it like this:

¹⁷ “Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, ¹⁸ how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God.

Deuteronomy 25:17-18, NASB, New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

This people group was the decedents of Esau, (Genesis 36:12, 16) and they appear to have held a multigenerational grudge against the offspring of Jacob- the one who had taken the familial blessing and the birthright from their father (Genesis 28:41). It seems that the Amalekites had been waiting for their opportunity to exact revenge on the people of Israel and saw the tired and weary travelers as an easy target.

Moses acted as a ready leader to the people and immediately delegated Joshua to assemble an army. While Joshua and the warriors of Israel met the Amalekite’s challenge, Moses, Aaron, and Hur (Caleb’s son) stood on a nearby hill. Moses held the staff of God which had been used to perform miraculous signs before Pharaoh. Israel’s military victory corresponded to the staff being held high, which led to the two other men supporting Moses’ hands. “So Joshua overwhelmed (literally weakened) Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Deut. 17:13). God gave His people a decisive victory, and not only that, but He promised to continue to pursue the people and to “have war against Amalek from generation to generation” (Exodus 18:16).  God’s promise to Abram many years earlier- to bless those who blessed them and curse those who cursed them was coming true (Genesis 12:3). The Israelites’ first major military encounter was a decisive win. Perhaps more importantly than the actual victory over the people of Amalek was the provision the Lord brought. Doubtless the people of Israel recognized the clear correlation between the staff of Moses being raised and the battle going in their favor. God was showing His people that He was their strength, their victory, their standard.

In this context, Moses crafted an altar, which he called Jehovanissi. John Calvin commented on this building an altar when he said-

15. And Moses built an altar. The purpose of this was that not he alone, but the whole people should testify, by solemn sacrifice, their gratitude; which the very name of the altar proves…that the Israelites, being inflated by their good success, should not boast of their own strength, but glory only in God. 1

As the nation began its journey as a newly freed people, Moses desired the people to understand that God was their identity. He had granted them success and also promised to continue to pursue Amalek until he was destroyed.

We see Israel have run-ins with Amalek throughout her early history- in Numbers 13 when Moses sent spies to search out the promised land, who was one of the major discouraging factors to the people? (Num.  13:29a- “Amalek is living in the land of the Negev.” The spies discouraged the Israelites from occupying the promised land because of the threat of this people in the land of Canaan. What was the result of the people’s fear? They wandered in the desert for 40 years until those who doubted the Lord died. In the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy and Judges you see the Amalekites as a recurring source of danger for the Israelites, until 1 Samuel where the Lord commissioned King Saul to wipe out this people group. His disobedience to completely annihilate the Amalekites spelled his doom as king and his successor, King David was the one to bring slaughter on this people, who appear to have been completely destroyed by the descendants of Simeon and recorded in 1 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 4:43). The Lord kept His promise to avenge His people. The Lord always keeps His promises, but sometimes we need help remembering that!

In a world that is increasingly opposed to God and the things of the Lord, having God as our banner is both vital and difficult. Whereas 50 years ago claiming to be a Christian in America would have met with an overwhelmingly positive response, things have drastically changed. The world has become increasingly “progressive” and opposed to the things of God. We as Christians might be tempted to camouflage our faith to be a little more palatable to the world around us. Rather than being overtly Christian, we might settle for appearing kind and moral people. We might shy away from  taking opportunities to tell strangers about the hope we have in Jesus, choosing rather to gravitate towards safer and more “non-controversial” subjects. Yet John’s warning in 1 John 2 suggests that this is dangerous territory- he writes:

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15, NASB).

The Lord doesn’t need silent but “nice” followers. He wants followers who are thrilled to call God their banner, to wear the colors of Jesus Christ whether He is seen by the culture as the “winning team” or not. This is why it is crucial that we remember what God has done for us, that we truly believe that God is our banner, as well.

Notes:

1. John Calvin, Harmony of the Law Volume 1, John Calvin: Harmony of the Law – Volume 1 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org), Accessed 12/30/2021

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