THE LORD IS MY BANNER

 

Thursday, January 6, 2022

 

THE LORD IS MY BANNER

 

Ex 17:8-15

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

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:

KJV

 

          Barnabas Piper comments: “When Israel faced the Amalekites in battle at Rephidim it wasn’t with overwhelming force, an experienced army, or the best commanders. It was as a transient tribe of herdsmen escaping slavery in Egypt and travelling uncertainly to a promised land they hadn’t seen in over four hundred years. They were trespassers travelling through the lands of fierce fighting peoples. They travelled with women, children, herds, and all their possessions. The battle was for survival, for hope, for a future.”

 

          The people’s battle flag was a rod held high by God’s representative, Moses. There was no peculiar power in the leader. The power was in the rod – or rather the God – which was held. What a wonderful picture of our dependence on the Lord for victory. When the foot soldier becomes separated from his company, he is vulnerable. When he is separated from his purpose he is defeated.

 

          When we focus on the three elements of fear mentioned by Piper, our survival, our hope, and our future, we can easily place ourselves in the same urgent position as the people of Israel. When fear is the focus defeat is the result.

 

          Moses had three wonderful helpers. He had a rock – a place to sit down, Aaron, and Hur. Wise is the leader who recognizes those helpers on all sides. Wise also are the helpers who understand the true nature of their task.

 

   All glory, praise, and honour,

   to you, redeemer, king,

   to whom the lips of children

   made sweet hosannas ring.

 

Thank you, Lord, for being my banner today. AMEN