Jehovah Nissi

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Israel’s trek through the wilderness

After the healing of the waters at Marah, the Israelites proceeded on to Elim, which was an oasis with wells and trees. It would have been a good place to dwell for a time, but their goal was to reach Mount Sinai. They departed from Marah and came into the Wilderness of Sin about 75 days after leaving Egypt. The name ‘Sin’ was simply a place-name and had nothing to do with moral wrong-doing. It was located between Elim and Mount Sinai.

If you look at a map of Egypt today, you will see that the Red Sea runs alongside of it on the east. Two gulfs, today called the Gulf of Suez to the west, and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, form a ‘V’ shape at the north end of the Red Sea This area today is called the Sinai Peninsula. It is near the bottom of this ‘V’ shape where you can find what was called the Wilderness of Sin. It was in this desert area that God supplied manna for the Israelites. 

Israel vs the Amalekites

Israel was was forced into war with the Amalekites. The Amalekites had proven to be a thorn in the flesh of Israel. They had been making cowardly attacks on those lagging behind, the exhausted and weak, as they trekked across the desert. Finally, as Israel rested at Rephidim, the place where God had just provided water from a rock, the Amalekites attacked the camp.

Moses chose Joshua to lead the battle. Moses stood on the hilltop overlooking the valley where the battle was raging, with his staff upraised. As long as his staff was held high, Israel prevailed, but when his arms got tired and he lowered his staff, Amalek prevailed. Aaron, brother to Moses, and Hur, a trusted leader, found a rock where he could sit and they stood by him all day, holding up his arms, until the battle was finally won at sunset. 

The strange way in which the battle against Amalek was won left no doubt as to the One responsible for the victory. Moses stood on the top of the hill where he could see the armies below him. He held the ‘Rod of God’ in his hand, the same rod with which he struck the rock to bring forth water.

At the end of the battle, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi.

Moses named this altar Jehovah-nissi, signifiying that the the battle was not won by military might or superior battle plans, but by the power of God. It served as a reminder to all of them to depend on Him for strength during struggles and conflicts. This name also highlighted how Yahweh became a symbol of encouragement, focus and hope for all of Israel in their time of need.

Who were the Amalekites?

The Amalekites at the time of the Exodus were a nomadic, war-like nation that primarily inhabited the Sinai Peninsula near the Egyptian border. They were the first nation to attack Israel after the Exodus, using cowardly hit-and-run tactics. Their lack of respect for Yahweh and their animosity towards the Jewish nation made them long-time enemies to both the Israelites and to Elohim.

As descendants of a grandson of Isaac, they should have been familiar with the plan of God to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Jacob. Since they were not living in the promised land, but far south of it, they should not have felt threatened. In addition, the first targets of their warfare were the aged, the sick and the tired, those who lagged behind the line of march. This could also have been a continuation of the animosity that was between Jacob and Esau.

Amalek became the ‘first among nations’ of those who came against Israel. They were identified thusly by the prophet Balaam, who prophesied against them.

In the book of Deuteronomy, as Moses recited out-loud the history of their wilderness journey and the statutes of the Lord, here is what he said about the Amalekites: 

Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. Deuteronomy 25:17-19

Unfortunately for Israel, the memory of the Amalekites was not blotted out. They surfaced several more times throughout Jewish history.

In the book of Esther, recall that Haman was the advisor to King Ahasuerus. Esther 3:10 says 

… Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 

The Agagites were descended from King Agag, the king of the Amalekites. This was the same King Agag that King Saul, in 1 Samuel 15 was commanded to utterly destroy.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1 Samuel 15:2-3

Saul, the newly anointed King over Israel, disobeyed this command. This act of disobedience cost him his kingship over Israel.

Amalek is seen over and over in the scriptures as Elohim’s and Israel’s adversary. Gideon had to fight against them, Saul and David battled against them, and they had to be fought in the time of King Hezekiah. We could almost call them the Anti-Christ because of their perpetual animosity towards God’s people.

Jehovah-nissi

The name, Jehovah-nissi, appears only one time in the Bible, in this passage in Exodus.

And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Exodus 17:15-16

Jehovah-nissi means The Lord is my Banner. It was first used as a name for the altar rather than as a name for God. Even so, Jehovah Nissi is used as a name for God, even today, in music, in prayer, and in describing God’s leader-like nature. Although it is not seen anywhere else in the Bible, the concept of Jehovah Nissi being a focus and a rallying-point in events and in our lives is seen over and over.

Jehovah Nissi, our focus

Historically, early banners were not necessarily flags on poles, but could have been simply a pole with a medallion or other insignia on the tip. The ‘Rod of God’ that Moses held was simply a branch that Moses brandished to perform the miracles that God commanded. On the opposite side of the valley from where he stood, it is most likely that the standard-bearer of the Amalekites also stood holding the ensign of the Amalekites.

Have you ever seen a football player run towards the wrong goal? When someone is totally consumed with what is happening on the field of engagement, it is possible to become disoriented. But as the Israelites fought the Amalekites, they could look up and see the staff that Moses held up. They knew that they were oriented correctly because of that one landmark. Moses acted as the banner for the Lord that day. He displayed the Nissi attribute of Jehovah Nissi.

This attribute is seen in other places in the Bible. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet spoke to the exiles of raising up a standard that they could follow as the people prepared, both spiritually and physically, for their return from exile. Their standard, Yahweh, gave them something to focus on, rather than their circumstances. They were to keep their minds actively turned in that direction. He spoke of the things that they should do to prepare: 

• go through the gates, meaning to move forward in their lives; 

• prepare the way of the people, meaning to urge them to physical and spiritual readiness for this change; 

• cast up the highway and gather out the stones, meaning to remove sin and hindrances in order to make a smooth road

• lift up a standard, meaning lift up the name of Yahweh as their focus and the One to follow, rather than dwelling on their present circumstances

Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Isaiah 62:10

In our walk with God, how many times have we become bewildered when the action was thick and fast around us. Which doctor to go to, what job to take, which college to choose, who to believe. Yet when we focus on God in the midst of the uncertainty, the very certainty of His presence can remove the fear of making a bad decision. Focusing on Jehovah Nissi, our banner and the focus for our lives, can help us to rest in Him and clear away the confusion.

Jehovah Nissi, our rallying point

There is a very famous sculpture in Washington DC, called the US Marine Corps War Memorial. It is a sculpture that was created from a photo taken by a war correspondent of the raising of the United States Flag on the island of Iwo Jima in 1945, near the end of World War II. 

As the flag was raised on the hilltop, the US Marines who surrounded the hill were thrilled at the sight of the flag. It was a hard-won placement and, since then, many others have rallied around this symbol of freedom as they have fought to bring other visions to fruition.

A flag, or banner, in the midst of battle, is home. It is the place to go for instructions, the place to gain fresh fortitude and energy, and for the victors, it is the place to go when the battle is ended. It is the rallying point that gives life to the cause and fresh assurance throughout the battle.

In the case of Joshua at the battle of Ai, it even served as a signal in order to spring a trap for the enemy. This happened when Joshua led the Israelites against the city of Ai in Joshua 8. When they had drawn the men of the city far enough away, Joshua raised up his spear, his standard, to signal his hidden troops to attack. The retreat of his exposed troops drew the enemy away from the walled city so that his hidden troops could ambush it.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. Joshua 8:18-19

In our own lives, there are rallying points. Think of the churches, of schools, of government offices, of libraries of your home. These are all places where people can gather to gain fresh perspective and boldness, and find refuge and purpose. We seem to have built this attribute of Jehovah Nissi into our very culture.

His banner over us

The banner expresses faithfulness. Every country in the world, and every state in the USA has a flag that identifies it. We pledge our allegiance to the flag, because it gives us our identity. It invokes loyalty and patriotism to the degree that even our National Anthem was composed around our flag. Our national flag is a symbol for unity and pride.

Flags and banners are used today for everything from sporting events to club meetings, and from festivals to yard sales. They identify the event, the team, the products, the services, and the location. We have this physical attribute of Jehovah Nissi all around us, and as God’s children, we also have the spiritual attribute of His banner over us, which is His love for us.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song 2:4.

The Cross of Jesus Christ

Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah when he said this: 

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious…And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:10,12

He was foretelling the gathering together of the Gentile nations and the dispersed Jews under the banner of the Messiah. Just as Moses raised up the Rod of God as a sign of God’s saving protection for the armies of Israel, Jesus was lifted up on the cross for us. As we look to Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, we are under the banner of His protection and love. Jesus said,

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

The Ultimate Banner

The cross is a continual reminder that His banner over us is love.

• The cross is a sign of victory, offering believers victory over sin, darkness and despair.

• The cross is a sign of our identity and belonging. Just as we are identified by the flag of the nation that we live in, the cross identifies believers as belonging to God, and marking them as His treasured posession.

• Similar to a banner that gathers soldiers in the battle, the cross rallies the church together and offers guidance at all times, both difficult and peaceful.

• The cross serves as a symbol of unifying believers worldwide.

• The Cross signifies that believers are under the protection of God, who is their banner, Jehovah-nissi.

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. Psalm 60:4

In the midst of the battle

When you think about it, many of our own battles come on suddenly, just as the Amalekites came suddenly upon the Israelites. Our battles could take the form of medical emergencies, deaths, financial disasters, accidents or others.

When Moses became tired in the midst of the battle, he had two faithful friends who held up his arms and gave him rest with a place to sit. When we are in the midst of our battles, our friends can hold up our arms and help us out physically. Assistance such as providing meals, rides, taking care of our children. These kinds of things help us to spread a banner of the love of Christ over each other.

In the midst of our own battles, it is sometimes very difficult to pray, to seek God, to cover ourselves or our loved ones with prayer. This is also where the Body of Christ can cover each other. The intercessory prayers of our friends become a banner of love over us and our situations and our loved ones.