The Lord Is My Banner

Exodus 17:10-12, 15 (NIVUK)

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  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…Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 

The Israelites were frustrated. They had been complaining to Moses that they were incredibly thirsty and had cried out against the Lord saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ I am sure that many of us will have asked that question at times throughout the course of our lives, wondering where God is in our particular situation.

Once again, the Israelites faced another challenge: a battle with the Amalekites.  Yet the focus is not on the battlefield, but on the top of the hill with Moses, Aaron and Hur. Why did Moses have to keep his hands held up high?  Was it so his army could see an outward demonstration of prayer, beseeching God to act on the Israelites’ behalf? It is striking that Moses - who encountered the glory of God on the top of Mount Sinai by himself - cannot manage this act alone.  Aaron and Hur held Moses’ hands aloft until sunset and the battle was won.

Moses, in his weariness, could have given up, resigned to witnessing the defeat of the Israelites when his arms grew tired.  However, he allowed Aaron and Hur to step in, to bolster him up and encourage him to continue in this faith-filled act.  

There have been times in my life when I have felt too mentally and emotionally exhausted to consistently pray through difficult circumstances.  God has graciously surrounded me with people who have interceded for me and my family, offering timely words of love and encouragement.

The Israelites won the battle and Moses built an altar called Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner.  God is the one who helps us overcome the battles that we face.  Like a huge banner flying high, we can celebrate the fact that God is the one who leads us to victory. And his banner over us is love.

Prayer — Lord, thank you that you go before us in every situation that we face. Help us to lift our hands high towards you as we trust you with our lives. May we also intercede on behalf of others who are experiencing difficulties, faithfully holding them up before you in prayer.