Exodus 17:11-15
New Living Translation
11 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. 12 Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
14 After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”).
It is interesting to see how God operated in this story, knowing that God could have easily caused victory without the requirements of Moses, Aaron, Hur, Joshua, or the army itself.
We see that God often wants us to be PART of the victory and not just spectators. Why? Look at Jesus's miracles that involved spectators. Many would believe, but many would not. But for those who saw the storm be stilled, who experienced healing, who saw the dead raised, who felt the pierced wrists and side of Jesus, their lives were significantly impacted and, for most, changed forever.
But notice someone like Judas Iscariot, who was also present for the victories of Jesus. God requires a response.
The Israelites in battle would have lost if Moses had failed to hold up the staff.
It is symbolic in a way that reminds me of William Harvey Carney
(February 29, 1840 – December 9, 1908). He was an African American and formerly enslaved person that by tradition, likely gained his freedom through the Underground Railroad. He enlisted in the Union by 1863 and became a Medal of Honor recipient.
The story goes, “ William Harvey Carney learned to read and write. Though he thought about becoming a minister, the rumbles of war changed his priorities.
“Previous to the formation of colored troops, I had a strong inclination to prepare myself for the ministry,” Carney told the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator in 1863. “But when the country called for all persons, I could best serve my God serving my country and my oppressed brothers. The sequel in short — I enlisted for the war.”
After enrolling in a Black militia in New Bedford, Carney joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment in March 1863, one of the first official all-Black regiments in U.S. history.
Then, William Harvey Carney marched off to fight in the Civil War.
Just a few months after William Harvey Carney joined the 54th, his unit faced one of its greatest challenges yet. On July 18, 1863, they stormed the Confederate stronghold of Fort Wagner in South Carolina.
As bullets rained down from the fort, Carney and the 600 men of the 54th pressed on. And when Carney saw a bullet pierce the unit’s color guard, he lunged forward to catch the American flag before it fell.
Flag in hand, he zigzagged across the chaotic battlefield. Carney found himself alone, with Confederate troops on the march. As he stood to try to get a better lay of the land, he felt something hit him.
“The bullet I now carry in my body came whizzing like a mosquito, and I was shot,” Carney later wrote. “Not being prostrated by the shot, I continued my course, yet had not gone far before I was struck by a second shot.”
Shot twice, Carney nevertheless stumbled forward, “pressing his wound with one hand and with the other holding up the emblem of freedom,” as later described by The Liberator.
He refused to let the flag go, even when a fellow Union soldier offered to take it from him. Finally, he reached his unit and held the flag aloft.
“Boys, I did but my duty,” he allegedly cried before collapsing. “The dear old flag never touched the ground!” — https://allthatsinteresting.com/william-harvey-carney
The American flag was more than just dye and cloth; it had become a symbol of liberty since the Revolutionary War. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness gave billions the beacon of hope as the Statue of Liberty stood for.
It was a banner worth upholding and giving all who could see it the courage to push forward.
After the battle, Moses was instructed by the Lord to document the historical event and to build an altar to memorialize the victory. God wants us to remind ourselves of past struggles and victories constantly. This reminder gives us the courage to lift the banner of the Lord for all future skirmishes or battles we may face.
May we be reminded of
John 12:32
English Standard Version
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
The Lord as our banner unites us. One body, one church, one mind, one mission, and in unison, we become more Christ-like. As disciples to Rabbi, we begin to become like the teacher as we obey, follow, and mirror the ways of Christ.
Like Moses, we do not carry the banner alone. The staff was just an object with no supernatural power other than what God had imparted. We operate solely in the power of God and not in ourselves. Like Aaron and Hur, we need the help of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to carry out the mission of the Lord.
The great commission,
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Make disciples, baptize, teach, and know that I am with you always. Essentially this is Christ saying this banner will never fall into the hands of the enemy. Like the ancient cornerstone, He is our guide. Like the Prophets and Apostles of old, the foundation was paved. A foundation built on solid ground that now the church of God builds upon. May we build in gold and not straw or hay so that our hands will forever glorify the banner of the Lord, our words speak of His victory, and our minds constantly set on the will of God.
In times of struggle, set your eyes upon the banner of the Lord; it is our beacon of promise, assurance, hope, courage, freedom, forgiveness, grace, and salvation from the enemy. Always remember what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do in the promises to come.
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