JEHOVAH
– NISSI!
Ex
17:10-15
10
So
Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron,
and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11
And
it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when
he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12
But
Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he
sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side,
and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down
of the sun.
13
And
Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
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:
Only a few weeks had elapsed from the time
the children of Israel left Marah , the place of bitter waters, till
they reached Rephidim, the scene of Jehovah's revelation of Himself to them as
Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah my banner. At Marah, we will recall, in healing the
bitter waters of that place, He had revealed Himself as Jehovah-rophe, Jehovah
who heals, the one who alone has the remedy for the sins of mankind, the balm
for the sorrows and sufferings of His people; who has sweetened the bitter
waters of human misery and death through Christ, the Tree of life and the sweet
and living waters.
(from
Names of God, Copyright 1944 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Esau’s
grandson, Amalek, was a constant menace to the children of Israel. His tactic was
to come along behind and smite the women, children and the weak in the rear of
the column (Deut. 25:17,18). God had pledged to answer this cowardly attack and
to wipe them off the earth (Exodus 17:14).
Moses
stood upon a mountain overlooking the battle! He is interceding in prayer for
his people while holding up his miracle-working rod. As verse 11 explains, as
long as Moses held up that rod Israel prevailed but when his arms grew weary
and drooped down Amalek surged forward. Aaron and Hur did not take the rod!
They held up Moses’ arms. This is the kind of support every leader dreams of.
A banner, in ancient times, was not
necessarily a flag
such as we use nowadays. Often it was a bare pole with a bright shining
ornament which glittered in the sun. The word here for banner means to glisten,
among other things. It is translated variously pole, ensign, standard, and
among the Jews it is also a word for miracle. As an ensign or standard it was a
signal to God's people to rally to Him. It stood for His cause, His battle. It
was a sign of deliverance and salvation.
(from
Names of God, Copyright 1944 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Isa
11:10
10
And
in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, [Jesus] which shall stand for an
ensign [banner or rallying point] of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek:
and his rest shall be glorious.
Song
2:4
4
He
brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Dear
Lord, Thou art the victor in all my battles. You are my banner! Let me rally to
you in the day of trouble. Amen
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