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Day 65 – Banner Exodus 17:1 Then the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of JEHOVAH, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore, the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt JEHOVAH?” 3 The people thirsted for water, and complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 Moses cried out to JEHOVAH, saying, “What will I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me!” 5 JEHOVAH said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also, take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you on the rock in Horeb; and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted JEHOVAH, saying, “Is JEHOVAH among us or not?” 8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of Elohiym in my hand.” 10 Joshua did as Moses said to him and fought with Amalek. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 Moses’ hands became heavy; so, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then JEHOVAH said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called its name, JEHOVAH-Is-My-Banner (JEHOVAH Nissi); 16 for he said, “Because JEHOVAH has sworn: JEHOVAH will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” God’s name: JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal Elohiym – Mighty God God’s character: JEHOVAH Nissi – The LORD our Banner JEHOVAH Jireh – The LORD our Provider When you plan your itinerary for a trip, you look at the sites you plan to visit, and excited, you start your trip, but the unforeseen happens. When you get to one of your destinations, you find the amenities listed in the brochures you studied don’t exist. What do you do? You complain and blame each other for their lack of attention to detail. While you’re blaming each other more unforeseen situations arise which you have no control over. What do you do? Do you leave or do you stay and try to help? Israel went wherever the pillar of fire and cloud led them. It was by JEHOVAH’S command that they stayed or kept moving. JEHOVAH led them to Rephidim, a place without water, and unbeknownst to them, the Amalekites wanted to go to war with them. No water, and war on their doorstep, they blamed Moses and Aaron for leading them to a place where they cannot quench their thirst. Moses cried out to JEHOVAH, bringing the people’s complaint to Him. Does it seem like JEHOVAH doesn’t know what He’s doing when He tells you to go, but when you get where He tells you, there’s nothing you can do because you don’t have the materials to work with and the people are against your being there? How can you trust JEHOVAH when your tongue cleaves to the roof of your mouth in thirst? How can you trust JEHOVAH when the people you came to help don’t want you there and fight against you? What do you do? Where is your faith and trust? Moses cried to JEHOVAH. He laid the situation before Him, and JEHOVAH told him what to do. JEHOVAH knows what you will face before He tells you to go where He leads you. He wants you to trust Him to provide you with everything you need. JEHOVAH doesn’t want you to rely on your strength, but on His. He wants you to know you can trust Him to quench your thirst and go to war against your enemy, Satan. Remember, it isn’t the people you war against when they come against you. Satan doesn’t want you to bring salvation to the people. He wants sole control over the people and will make war against you. With their thirst quenched, the Amalekites came against them to rid the land of the Israelites. You might wonder where the army came from that went to war with the Amalekites. Exodus 6:26 These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom JEHOVAH said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.” (NKJV) Exodus 7:4 “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.” Exodus 12:17 ‘So you will observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you will observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.’ Exodus 12:51 And it happened, on that same day, that JEHOVAH brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies. What did Pharaoh say about Israel before Moses came on the scene? Exodus 1:8 Now, there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; 10 come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Pharaoh knew Israel’s strength and made it impossible for them to war against Egypt by enslaving them. Israel faced their first test. They were an army, JEHOVAH’S army. They needed to know JEHOVAH would come through for them. Moses told Joshua to take men to fight against the Amalekites. When Joshua complied, Moses stood on a hill with his hands raised. He wasn’t alone. Aaron and Hur were on either side, helping to keep his hands raised to show Israel JEHOVAH fought for them. You face many tests. When you do, you need to prepare for war. First, you need to pray. Second, you need to go to battle in JEHOVAH’S strength. He will go before you into battle to defeat your enemy. JEHOVAH is your Banner. When soldiers go to battle, they take the flag of their country with them. It goes ahead of them into battle, so the enemy knows who they’re fighting. When you go to battle against Satan, you take JEHOVAH’S banner with you. You take His blood, you take His Word, and you take His strength. You are not powerless against Satan. He is powerless against you. If you don’t waver, you will win the battle. When Moses’ hands felt heavy, Aaron and Hur kept them raised. Israel won the battle against the Amalekites. You will win the battle against Satan. JEHOVAH goes before you into battle. Let’s pray: Father, it isn’t by my strength I face Satan. I am weak, but You are strong. Lead me against Satan when he comes against me. Be my strength and my sword to defeat Satan. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 23 March 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.