Feeling weary? Fight the battle with Jehovah-Nissi: There's power in the name! (part 7)
Are you in a trial, difficult situation or feeling stuck in a “desert”? God is able to do the impossible. Your strength, hope, and victory is in Jesus!
God cares, loves, guides, protects and will bless you all the days of your life—if you will only allow him. Simply follow His leading and trust the Lord in every circumstance. Learn to recognize the voice of the Lord by spending time with the Lord and becoming familiar with His voice.
Understanding His names is a means to understand who God is—and, in turn, how important you are to Him.
The names we’ve studied so far are: Elohim: the strong creator, Jehovah: and the self-existent one, Adonai: owner, master, and supreme authority, Jehovah-Jireh: your provider, Jehovah-Rapha: the Lord who heals, Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord is peace, Jehova-Rohi: the Lord is my shepherd.
Today we learn about Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord is my banner.
The names of God convey the truth of His power, love, sovereignty and authority. He created you, loves you and His desire is to be intimately involved in your life. He sees you; he’s with you. Receive the help and love of God today.
Feeling weary? Here’s how to fight battles with God.
The Names of God
We have been looking at different names of God that are found in scripture. The names we’ve studied so far are:
Elohim - the strong creator.
Jehovah - the self-existent One, the I Am.
Adonai - owner, master, Lord and sovereign God over all creation.
Jehovah-Jireh - the Lord will provide.
Jehovah-Rapha - the Lord who heals.
Jehova-Shalom - the Lord is peace.
Jehova-Rohi - the Lord is my shepherd.
There’s power and comfort in the name of the Lord: spiritually, emotionally, and physically—in every way. The names of God portray exactly who God is in your time of need. Each name of God reveals something new, helps you to know and understand more about God, gives you a better idea of how much God loves you.
God is for you and the power and presence of God is consistent no matter your circumstance.
He is able to deliver you.
He is the eternal I am.
He is the self-existent one.
He is all powerful, all knowing and ever-present.
He is your healer, provider, protector.
He speaks peace into your spirit.
This week, we look at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord is my banner.
Trust and Depend on God as you battle the enemy
“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’ 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.’ 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, ‘Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation’” (Exodus 17:8-16, NIV).
Moses learned to trust God. Moses’ actions of raising his hands and holding the staff was an act of humility and dependence upon God. It displayed who Moses trusted and his total reliance upon God and God alone.
God will fight battles for you, as you focus and walk in faith and obedience.
God is fighting battles for you, but that doesn’t mean you do nothing and wait for God to clear the path and defeat the enemy that is before you. No, we are to engage with God and battle the enemy, much like Joshua did against the Amalekites.
Understand:
God brings the victory over your situation.
God gives you the strength to do battle.
God gives you the ability to overcome impossible odds that you cannot overcome on your own.
God knows what He is doing. He is never surprised.
Don’t be afraid to accept (or offer) help
Moses knew God would be with his people. Moses went to the top of the mountain with staff in hand; he raised it. As long as he held it up, Joshua and the Israelites were winning the battle against the Amalekites. But when the staff was lowered, the Amalekites began to win. The staff itself had no power. The staff may have become a visible banner or symbol but that was all. The staff represented the presence and power of God. Lifting it up throughout the entire battle was not easy. As we have read Moses was not able to do it himself and both Aaron and Hur helped to hold up Moses’ arms.
At times, we all need help in and through the trials of life. It is God who will get us through the trial, but at times we need someone like Aaron and Hur to encourage us; someone to help us in a practical way; to pray and stand in prayer with us; to speak words of encouragement and faith; or simply be around and hold us up when we become weary. We should never resist assistance.
We should welcome the prayers and time of encouragement, and be ready to do it for others. Needing assistance is not a sign of weakness, if you need a helping hand accept it willingly. God may just be speaking to someone to come to you in a time of need. Moses had become physically weary. The battle was taking all day. You may become physically, emotionally, financially, or spiritually weary and in the midst of a trial or battle that can lead to trouble. It’s not the time to be weak in faith. It’s not the time to doubt God. It’s not the time to shrink back when you are fighting a physical, emotional, spiritual, or even a financial battle. Remember, God is on your side. It’s in times of testing and trials that we should remember to look to God Almighty.
You cannot do it alone. Joshua didn’t defeat the Amalekites in his own strength. God did it; but Joshua was involved in the battle in the midst of a trial. It is always important to remember all that God has done for you and believe He will do the same in the situation you find yourself in today.
Victory is coming!
Joshua and those fighting understood God was in their midst. God was with them in the battle and also with Moses and those who held the staff high. Joshua needed to know that one day there would be total victory, and that it was God who brought the victory.
What would remind the Israelites of the great victory? The altar that Moses built and named The Lord is my Banner. By naming the altar the Lord is my banner, Moses was reminded to worship and thank God for the great victory that the Lord brought against the enemy. I do not believe the altar was the banner; rather it is the name and presence of God flying over His people—just as the name of Jesus is the Christians’ banner that reminds us of the victory we have because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Victory comes when we look to the Lord. In Verse 14 God promises complete victory over the enemy. It may only be a battle you win today, but total victory is coming soon.
Allow each victory to encourage you. Let each trial be another opportunity for God to prove Himself strong against the trial you are facing.
God is able to do the impossible.
Remember, He has delivered you from spiritual death; He has given you eternal life in Christ Jesus; He has defeated the enemy of your soul. Let the banner of the Lord be raised high above you for all to see. Let people know you are a child of God and that your hope, your strength and victory is in Jesus!
Suggested Praise and Worship:
