JEHOVAH-NISSI
Exodus 17:8-16
Trusting in Jehovah-nissi gives you confidence in every struggle. Moses discovered the secret of victory when he and the people of Israel were attacked by the Amalekites; “so Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” Ex. 17:13. Following this victory, God revealed Himself again with a new name, Jehovah-nissi. “Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner” Ex. 17:15. Who can you rely on when you face the battles of life with a seemingly insurmountable opposition? Run to Jehovah-nissi – He is your victory.
The name Jehovah-nissi is used only once in the New Testament, here in Ex. 17:15. But His work is seen throughout the Scripture. The Amalekites represent evil enemies of God’s people who have always been trying to destroy them. When they came against the Israelites, Moses sent Joshua to lead the battle as he stood on the top of a hill with staff of God in his hands. When Moses held up his hands high, Israel prevailed in the battle, but when his hands fell, Amalek prevailed. Then Aaron and Hur helped support Moses’ arms high into the air, and victory was won. Jehovah had resolved to “utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” Ex. 17:14. Following the words of the LORD, Moses built an altar and named it “The LORD is my Banner.” Moses realised God as Jehovah-nissi, and it was Jehovah-nissi, – not Moses, not Joshua, and not the people – who was the real victor in the battle.
As mentioned earlier, throughout Scripture we learnt that the LORD will fight for us, the battle is His, and He is the God of deliverance who has never lost any battle. Jeremiah said Jehovah was with him like a “mighty warrior” Jer. 20:11. David described Jehovah’s response to him when he was in distress as “his stay” – a sure sign that the Lord was his banner Ps. 18:6-19. Peradventure you are in trouble or the next time you are in desperate trouble, call out to Jehovah-nissi and remind yourself of the words of David in Ps. 18! What a victory you will experience with the LORD as your Banner! We must never forget that the enemy cannot defeat us because not only does the greater one lives in us, we are also “more than conquerors through Him who loved us”! Rom. 8:37.
PRAYER: O Lord, fight my battles for me and make me an overcomer in Jesus name.
