Yahweh Nissi

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! (Exodus 17:8-16 ESV).

 

The Israelites’ victory over the Amalekites has long captured the imaginations of children. While Moses held up his arms, the Israelites were winning, but when Moses’ arms drooped, the Amalekites overpowered Israel. Finally, with Aaron and Hur supporting Moses’ arms, the Israelites triumphed over the Amalekites. Many adults find this story puzzling, even troubling. After Amalek is defeated, God tells Moses to record the event, because, he says, “I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” No easy answers come to mind to explain this sober ending.

 

After the battle, Moses builds an altar, calling it Yahweh Nissi, “The LORD is my Banner.” The Hebrew word nissi comes from nis, meaning “banner.” Ancient armies often attached a banner or a flag to a pole as a focal point and a rallying sign for their troops engaged in battle. For Moses and the Israelites, their first battle on the way to the Promised Land showed that God was their banner. He called his people to rally to him. The Lord went before his people, protecting them and triumphing over their enemies.

 

In the very real spiritual battles we fight every day, we do well to remember Yahweh Nissi, “the LORD is our banner.” And, his banner over us, through Jesus Christ, is always victorious! Whatever you are facing today, look to your Banner!