The Lord is my Banner

God will be fighting with us.

The Lord said to Moses to write down the victory he did for his children Israelites over the Amalekites as a permanent reminder of who He is. We can read this story in Exodus 17: 8-16.

I want to share 3 things I have learned from this story that I hope can also bless you.

1. Know that the battle is real.

Exodus 17:8-10 (summarized)
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites. Moses stood on top of the hill with the staff of God in His hands together with Aaron and Hur while Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered.

We can see that there is a battle waging against God’s people in the face of the Amalekites. This is also the same with our generation today. There is a practical battle in reality and there is also a battle that cannot be seen. Either way, God gave us a heads up already that in this world we will still be in a battle. (John 16:33)

2. Prayer is important in every battle.

Exodus 17:11 NIV
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

God taught us here that whenever prayer is offered up, victory is upon the people of God.

There is power in prayer over any battle. When we pray, it’s also like telling God that we trust him to fight for us as we do our part.

Sometimes when we are the ones facing the problem, we struggle to offer a prayer to God but thank God we have Jesus, He is always interceding for us (Romans 8:34) and the people of God around us.

For all the battles we see around us, it may not be up to us to solve but we can always be part of it: be prayed for and pray for others too.

If the battle is real every day, prayer should be lifted also daily.

3. Praying together sustains the work of God’s power.

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. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Exodus 17:12-13 NIV

There is power in a community that prays together.

I am not saying that God is dependent on us but God wants us to experience more of His power as we depend on him.

Sometimes when the battles take time, we also struggle to maintain the same faith as we began. Community helps us to be reminded when we are surrounded.

Matthew 26:41 NIV Jesus “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We can look out and be of support to one another to overcome our weaknesses. Together we can hold each other’s hand in prayer and remain steady in our faith until we see victory after victory in Jesus’ Name.

Whatever form may Amalekites be seen in our lives these days, take heart! Jesus already won for us and He will keep fighting with us. Let’s keep winning!

Exodus 17:15‭-‬16 NIV
Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Let’s lift up God daily over our enemy and to God be all the glory!