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Introduction
Tonight we go to Exodus 17 for our next name of God to consider.
Remember we are still considering God’s name “YHWH” or “Jehovah.”
I would also remind you that His name, “YHWH,” focuses on the righteousness and truth of God.
As He is righteous, so He expects those who follow Him to be righteous as well.
The wonderful news is that God knowing our unrighteousness made it possible through His Son for us to be righteous once again in His sight.
Thus, He has made it possible for us to live righteous as we obey His word.
Now, this evening, we are going to consider the compound name of God which is “YHWH-Nissi” or “Jehovah-Nissi.”
In our last study of God’s names, we considered His name as “YHWH-Jireh” or “Jehovah-Jireh.”
As you might recall, His name “Jehovah-Jireh” means the LORD will Provide.
This name of God was given by Abraham as God provided the ram in the bush as a replacement sacrifice for Isaac.
Now, as we continue, you can take your charts and fill in under Jehovah-Jireh this name.
Jehovah-Nissi
Take your Bibles and turn to Exodus 17.
We will read this entire chapter since it gives us the background for our study this evening.
As noted in our text, there was a great battle between Israel and the Amalekites.
You will note in verse 8 that it was the Amalekites that initiated the fight.
They were the aggressors.
Israel was simply following God’s lead as He led them through the wilderness towards the promised land.
In fact, one of the main reasons God led them the way He did is noted in Exodus 13:17
Thus, God led them on a much further journey around the Philistines.
It is interesting that the Amalekites attacked right after Israel’s issues with water.
Rephidim was a dry place.
Many still today consider it inhabitable.
If you were to look it up on map, you will find it as barren desert.
There is nothing there.
This is where the entire nation of Israel found itself.
By the way, God was the One Who led them there.
When they arrive, they are out of water and no place to get water.
So, naturally, what happens?
They begin complaining against God and Moses.
We know the rest of the story as we just read it.
God hears their cry and, as He always does, He answered their cry.
He commands Moses to take his rod and smite a rock.
Moses obeys and water comes gushing from the rock.
No doubt there was great relief and, perhaps, astonishment seeing this great miracle.
Israel is enjoying the refreshing pure water of the rock supplied by God.
They are relaxed and enjoying the goodness of the Lord.
I want you to note one thing before I move on.
Note the question raised in verse 7.
It would seem that there was a real concern among all Israel concerning Jehovah.
Many were still doubting His presence and even His leadership.
Is the LORD among us, or not?
Keep that in mind as we go through this study.
Then, suddenly, one morning as the sun rises trumpets sound and word begins to spread through the camp.
Someone has sighted a great army heading their direction.
It is the Amalekites.
Not much is known about the Amalekites outside of the fact they were relentless enemies of Israel.
This encounter was the first of many between them and Israel.
In fact, this encounter and their relentless oppression of God’s people is the reason God commanded King Saul to annihilate them.
As we know, Saul failed to do so.
Later, that failure came close to ending Israel as a nation.
Here is a little known fact.
Over in the book of Esther, Haman, the one who tried to exterminate all the Jews was an “Agagite.”
Agagites can be linked back to the Amalekite king that Saul spared.
So, back to our story.
Israel wakes up to the news that this great army is headed their way.
Please remember they are still struggling with the question of God’s loyalty to them.
Is the LORD among us, or not?
What were they to do?
As we read, Moses and Joshua prepare the people for battle.
Moses instructs Joshua to choose men from the nation.
They were then to go out and meet the enemy doing battle.
Meanwhile, Moses would go up on a high mountain overlooking the battle with his rod in his hand.
And, as you know, as long Moses held up his hands with his rod, Israel prevailed against the Amalekites.
However, when Moses’ hands drop due to weariness, the Amalekites prevailed.
Realizing this, Aaron and Hur sit Moses down on stone, stand beside him with one on one side and one on the others side.
They then each held up one of Moses’ arms so that Israel was able to overcome the Amalekites and win the battle.
Understanding the Word “Nissi”
Following that great victory, Moses builds an altar unto the Lord.
He names the altar using this compound name, “YHWH Nissi” (Jehovah Nissi).
The word “nissi” simply means a banner or a flag.
It was essentially any type of clothe raised in the vicinity of a battle by which troops could rally.
Flags have long been used in battle.
Many battle flags become a source of pride, fellowship, and identity for warriors and soldiers.
National flags and military unit flags were often used to mark locations and to serve as rally points in the midst of the smoke and death of battle.
In the days before radios and the many modern communication devices of today, the one bearing the standard or banner was important.
Flags were only means of communication on the battlefield.
Thus, the one bearing the banner was an immediate target.
If the enemy successfully took out the standard bearer, confusion would reign and victory would not be far behind.
So, here we have Moses sitting on stone with hands holding up the rod.
He was, in a sense, the banner of Israel.
However, we must not lose sight that God was force behind it all.
Moses knew that.
Aaron and Hur understood it.
For that reason, as soon as the battle is done, they build an altar and declare God as their banner - YHWH Nissi.
A further study of the word “nissi” reveals that is used 20 times in the Old Testament.
At times it is translated into English as a pole in Numbers 21 (we will come back to that in a bit), as a sign, as a banner, as an ensign, as a standard, and as a sail.
Yet, in every instance, it was used as symbol that people could look to and rally around.
In naming the altar “Jehovah-Nissi,” Moses was literally saying, “A hand upon the throne of Jehovah!
Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
You see Amalek had dared to assault what belonged to God.
In turn, God gave Israel the authority and the power of His throne to overwhelm the Amalekites.
Moses reaching into the air was a symbol of placing his hands upon the throne of God seeking God’s help.
This ties in with Israel’s victory at the Red Sea.
Remember how Pharaoh's army was hot on their heels.
God instructed Moses to once again extend his hands into the air reaching out with his rod over the Red Sea.
What did God do?
He divided, dried out the bottom, and allowed Israel to escape.
Then, God closed the sea in on the Egyptian army destroying them.
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