Getting to Know God – Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is my banner
When I was at high school, I was part of an unusual group. I wasn’t a nerd – I mean you couldn’t call this a nerd could you? Okay – no need to answer, I preferred to think of myself as more of an academic, but almost everyone else in the group I hung out with was without a doubt a nerd – except for my best mate, Ian, who wasn’t a nerd – he was just uncoordinated. Now one thing you have to know about my school - I went to a private boys school in Brisbane and they had a very clear and distinct pecking order.
If you wanted to be seen as cool and acceptable, you played rugby – It was really the only sport to play. Soccer was tolerated, but only just (I played soccer) and Aussie Rules – well that wasn’t even considered high enough to be a sport when I went to school. Probably the coolest summer sport was swimming – for those who could swim. We had heaps of boarders from the country at our school – they were rough and tumble guys who excelled at Rugby, but couldn’t swim for peanuts – it was really quite funny to see these big macho guys floundering in the pool. With regard to other summer sports - cricket was okay, rowing was for the meat heads and tennis was for those who couldn’t handle another sport (That’s what everyone thought anyway). If you didn’t play any sport – you were definitely a nerd and as such a social outcast – none of the guys that hung out with Ian and myself played any sport.
In terms of other Extra Curricular activities that were in and out – Music was out (I played the trumpet – only a bit mind you so I was just hanging in there). Computer club was definitely out. Debating was so far out that even John MacEnroe wouldn’t argue with the umpire over that one. Chess Club was out of this world – better make that this out of this universe.
And oh yeh – one last thing, being part of ISCF was out. Both Ian and myself were Christians, though regretably I must admit that Ian was a far more outspoken and active Christian than I was. It wasn’t as though he was a Bible basher at all – far from it, but He wasn’t afraid to stand up for his faith. I can remember going on grade 8 camp and we had only just got the camp site and were finding our bunks when I came across Ian talking about his faith quite comfortably with some of the other guys in our class – these were seriously bad guys, but Ian was having quite a good conversation with them.
Ian copped a heap about being a Christian and often was teased for his faith, but all through our 5 years at high school, he was able to stand up tall and was not worried about what others said or did to him and because of that in the end of the day he gained quite a bit of respect. I often wondered why that was – I mean why he was able to stand tall. He was intelligent and confident in his own abilities, but he wasn’t top of the class – he had to work for every mark he got. He wasn’t a member of the first 15 rugby team, but at the same time, he had an air of security in who he was and what he believed in. I think it was because Ian had a living faith and that he knew that these guys couldn’t really touch him. Because God was his defender and because of this, he could stand up against anything and anyone and come out way in front of the pack..
I’ve found out since, that when people attack your faith or what you believe in, it is always helpful to know who is on your side. That is why as Christians it is important for us to get to know God and in particular to get to know him as Jehovah Nissi.
And tonight I want to spend a bit of time looking into this name of God to see what it can teach us about the God we serve. But first, let’s pray …
Pray
We’ve been going through the names of God and this is another one of those compound names. It has 2 parts. The first part is This name Jehovah which was from the Hebrew name YHWH. There are many I mentioned the last time I preached that this was the proper name of God. When we see YHWH it is like our name John – it is his name.
Anyway, I don’t want to focus on YHWH tonight, but I want to focus on this word Nissi. Now Nissi is from the Hebrew word Nec (nace) and means a flag, a signal, a sail, a banner, … Jehovah Nissi therefore means literally the Lord is my banner.
Strange name don’t you think ….
Well Let’s look at where it is used in Scripture and try to understand the context and what it meant to the characters in the Old Testament. Read Ex 17:8
Now here is the context to the story – Moses and the People of Israel had just escaped from Slavery in Egypt and they were facing their first major challenges. You need to remember that it is estimated that there was probably over 2 million people in this travelling party – heading out into the desert in search of a better life. What was going to be their first challenge in a hot, dry, parched, desert – any ideas? What would they be in need of in a water-less, arid, desert? Come on, help me here …. – WATER. And so God provided them with water – in Chapter 15. How nice of him – it wasn’t bottled, but it certainly was from a spring.
What else would you need in a barren, desolate, arid, treeless desert? - FOOD Right. Where would you get food to feed 2 million people? I mean there wasn’t any Macca’s around the next sand dune. Even if there was, I mean – come on – you’d starve to death waiting for the food!!! There were plenty of rocks, but no hard rock café’s. There were no Coles supermarkets and no corner stores so what did they do – grumble and you know what – God provided food – manna and quails. They had quail hamburgers, hot and spicy quail manna pizzas, BBQ quails, Satay quail manna subs and they were content.
Well it seems as though this road trip is going to be easy – water on tap every time they complained loud enough and food every day – what else did they need?
Well for one thing, they needed protection. In Chapter 17 we read that the next big challenge after food and water was raiding parties from other nations.
The Amalekites were a nation who lived in the desert. The interesting thing about these guys were they were cousins of the Israelites. You see Abraham had a son – What was his name – Isaac. Look I’m glad you are still with me here … And Isaac had 2 sons – Jacob and Esau. Now Esau was the eldest, but sold his birthright to Jacob for a bit of lentil stew. Well Jacob had how many sons? 12 – and from them we get the 12 tribes of Israel who had multiplied in Egypt, become slaves and now were wandering around the desert.
Esau had several sons also … The eldest was Eliphaz and one of his sons was – you guessed it Amalek. So Amalek was a third cousin to Dan, Judah, Benjamin and Joseph and all the other brothers. Now remember that Jacob had the birthright that rightly belonged to Esau and I’d guess that Esau’s children and grandchildren were a bit peeved about this. This would have no doubt created some rather tense relationships and so it is not surprising to see the Amalekites coming up to make war on the Israelites. Had they sat back and realised it though, they would have known that because they were descended from Abraham, the promises given to him were also meant for them if they had followed YHWH like Abraham.
But Amalek didn’t remember this and instead attacked Israel. It wasn’t a full frontal attack initially, it was more like raiding parties, picking off the weak and elderly that couldn’t keep up with the rest of the pack (Deut 25:17-19).
Attacking God’s chosen ones always draws God’s wrath and so Moses ordered for the army to gather and went out to attack Amalek. And you know the story – while they fought in the valley, Moses stood up on the hill overlooking the valley and while he kept the staff of God raised in the air, the Israelites were on top. But when he became tired and put his arms down, the battle turned and the Amalekites started to gain control. In the end of the day, Hur and Aaron who were with him made him sit down and they held up his arms until the battle was won.
I want you to notice a couple of things about this story …
1) It was God who won this battle not Joshua, Moses, the Israelites or even the staff.
The personalities in this story were not important. Moses was a shepherd who had been enlisted to lead the people of Israel our of Egypt, He had not power in himself, he was only the mouthpiece of God. Moses didn’t win this battle.
The Israelites, didn’t even hold the key to this battle. They fought all day against the Amalekites and often it seemed they were on the losing side. They didn’t win this battle.
And don’t think that that staff Moses held had anything magical about it. I know I can see some of you thinking – Where can I get my hands on one of them staves. It was a bit of wood – nothing special about it at all. The important thing was not what it was, but what it was being used for. God was at work when Moses held his arm up. He was active when Moses reached out seeking his help. It was a lesson for Moses and all of Israel that they had to come in subjection and humility before God, relying on him and him alone. Only when Moses held up his arms – as if calling on God and surrendering himself to God - could God act. When he forgot about God and dropped his arms - forgot that God was the key player and focussed on his and his army’s own resources, God was not able to work.
God is a powerful God who can influence what happens in this world and when we feel that we are under attack, God is always there to help us. He will do the fighting for us if only we are open to him and rely on him.
During World War II, a passenger ship set sail from Great Britian headed for port in New York City. The Captain of the ship being afraid of enemy vessels, sought the advise and guidance of the British Admiral. The Admiral calmly assured the captain that no matter what happens, he should be sure to sail his ship straight ahead. "Do not take any detours -- sail the ship straight ahead -- continue on-ward, heading straight towards the intended mark;" he said.
After several days of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean which was undeniably filled with submarines and enemy vessels of all kinds, the Captain spotted an enemy destroyer off his forward bow. Nervously he grasped the handset and called for assistance. The calm voice replied, "Keep on Straight, Do not Detour, just sail the ship straight ahead. Everything will be just fine. Just keep on going - straight ahead."
After a couple more days the ship pulled safely into the great harbor of New York city. Shortly after docking the great British battleship "Man-of-War" pulled into port behind the passenger vessel. The Captain realized that while he did not see the British Battleship, she was there, standing bye. Standing ready to come to his defense should it prove necessary.
This is how it is with God, he is always there waiting to stand by to come to our aid – when ever we would ask. We might not always see him, but he is there, encouraging us to just keep going and not turn away. It would have been easy for the Israelites to pack up camp and run, but God was there to take care of them. It would have been easy for my Mate Ian to just shutup and not stand up for what he believed to be right, but He didn’t, he stood firm and maintained his witness. When difficulties came, God looked after him.
Every army, the world over fights under a flag. The flag has no power in itself, but it signifies that the soldiers who are fighting have behind them one whose power and resources are at their disposal. If we are Christians, we can fly God’s flag or banner because we have at our disposal all of God’s strength and resources.
What struggles are you likely to face in your week coming? Are there going to be temptations that you have to grapple with – maybe the kids at school want you to act some way which you know is not honouring to God. Maybe the kids are school are pressuring you into coming along to their parties and having just a try of some alcohol or some of their drugs – just to see what it is like. Maybe the struggles for you are some kids who constantly pick on you because you are not one of the cool guys.
I don’t know what you are going through or who your Amalek is, but God does and providing you are flying his banner and relying on him he will be there to fight with you. If you lock him out of your life though and trying to do things in your own strength – flying your own flag, he can’t work. Whose flag are you flying – Your own or God’s.
Oh yeh, And remember that when you do finally overcome, give the Glory where it belongs – to God.
2) I want you to notice that the victory wasn’t a quick one.
Don’t think that just because you are flying God’s banner, that the battle with Amalek is going to be a quick one. The Israelites battled the Amalekites till sunset - it was a long and exhausting battle, but they had to just keep going.
Each of us, have that little temptation which comes back again and again. It is like Amelek – just picking at our back – trying to hit us where we are weakest. It is pesky, annoying and down right frustrating. Usually the battle to overcome temptations like these are long and hard.
Just because we are Christians, God doesn’t promise to give us an easy ride. He promises instead to be with us and to help us through anything we may come up against. You’ve got to be prepared for the long haul.
3) Don’t neglect the support of your Christian Friends.
Who stepped up to help Moses when he got tired? Some of his close friends. Friends are important people and Christian Friends are even more important.
I’m not saying to ignore your non-Christian friends – no way – you need to try to develop good relationships with them so you can have a chance to witness to them. But do you know what – you need to have a couple of close Christian friends also. We all need the support and encouragement of other Christians when things get tough. They can help you fly the banner, they can stand with you and help you set the standard.
So join a youth group, join a bible study group, join a home group and get connected to some other Christians who can pray for you and support you when you don’t have any strength left.
What are you struggling with in your life today. Are you facing a battle that you don’t think you can win? A battle against people? A battle against a system? A battle against temptation? A battle against a desire? Paul writes in Eph 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
We are at battle – we are at war with Satan and the trouble, sin and temptations he would place in our path. To win this battle, we need to stand firm and fight under the banner of Jehovah for our God is Jehovah Nissi – the Lord is our Banner. Get to know him tonight – he wants you to be his.
