With the Banner of God
Is the Lord among us or not? Exodus 17:7
When we think of banners used in war, many envision the inspirational photograph of six U.S. Marines raising a flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.*
Thousands of years earlier, Joshua and the Israelite fighters couldn’t see a flag or banner. As they looked to the top of the hill, they saw 
Moses, Aaron, and Hur. They saw Moses’s hands raised, his head thrown back, his eyes closed in prayer. They saw Moses’s rod in his hand (Exodus 17:8-10).
Israel hadn’t provoked the attack. They’d left slavery in Egypt ready for battle, but this was their first one (Exodus 13:18). Were they ready? When they’d faced the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, Moses had raised his shepherd’s rod—the same one with which he’s performed miracles before Pharaoh. The sea had parted, and they’d walked away from their enemy on dry land. Then God had brought the sea back and destroyed the enemy as they stood watching in awe.
But this time, God did not act supernaturally. The Israelites had to fight the Amalekites. As Moses held up his hands with the rod that had become known as the Rod of God, the Israelites prevailed, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. When Moses became weary, Aaron and Hur placed a rock for him to sit on and stood alongside him, each holding up one of Moses’s hands. Thus, his hands remained steady till sunset, and Joshua and his men overcame the Amalekites (Exodus 17:11-13).
What the fighters couldn’t see, Moses saw. After the battle, he built an altar and called it Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord is my Banner (Exodus 17:15).** He knew it wasn’t his rod that brought victory; it was the Banner of Jehovah.
Are you fighting battles in your life? You are not alone. Jehovah-Nissi, The Banner of Jehovah, will bring you victory.
DIG DEEPER:
Read Exodus 17:1-7. What had happened just before the Amalekites attacked? How might God have used this battle to teach the Israelites about his power and presence, about Moses, and about their own fighting?
Read Exodus 17:8-16 and note the roles of prayer and action in the battle. Recall a time when you fought a spiritual battle. What part was played by prayer and what part was played by your own actions?
In 1 Samuel 17:47, David declared, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” How can you glorify the Lord as you face your enemies?
Nancy J. Baker
This devotion is part of a series on the Names of God.
** https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3071&t=KJV
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima The photograph was taken on February 23, 1945 by Joe Rosenthal.