"NISSI"

>>>(Illust.) Went to see “The Batman”

>>>The movie opens with night time Halloween Gotham w/noir style narration from Bruce Wayne.

>>>It includes different crimes getting committed, which he can’t always stop.

>>>Turns attention to the Bat Signal in the sky.

*“We have a signal now for when I’m needed. But when that light hits the sky, it’s not just a call...it’s a warning...to them.”

*Criminals begin to be frightened.

>>>What if the the identity of God’s people was not just a call for God, a symbol for the world to see/come to, but a warning to the enemy?

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>>>Moses has taken the Israelites through the Red Sea.

>>>They set up camp in the Rephidim (“rest”).

>>>The Israelites grumbled about not having water-Moses strikes the rock.

Exodus 17:8–16 “Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did just as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “Because the Lord has sworn, the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

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>>>This appeared to be a difficult passage to study-then it came alive!

>>>After the striking of the rock in Meribah, a new plot begins to take place, spotlighting the main characters.

*Amalek-Grandson of Esau/chief of Edom; these were his descendants (Amalekites); His name’s use shows the “grudge”.

*Moses-Leader of the Israelites

*Israelites-God’s chosen people brought out from Israel; descendants of Jacob (Esau’s brother)

*Joshua-soldier in Israel’s army who will take over after Moses’ death; first time introduced.

*Aaron-Moses’ brother who will be the first priest for Israel.

*Hur-mentioned out of the blue for one of a few times; friend of Moses

*The LORD

Exodus 17:8–9 “Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

>>>(v.8) This story begins with a random attack from Amalek against Israel at Rephidim.

*Rephidim is not a place of rest for Israel (grumbling/war).

*Esau vs. Jacob-no reason to attack other than hatred.

>>>(v.9) Cue Joshua: Moses tells him to go out and fight against Amalekites (attack back/defend) and that he will go on the top of the hill with the “staff of God”.

*Staffs were used for walking, weapons, symbolizing authority.

>>>Moses’ staff plays a role in this story as well along with other events in Moses’ time.

>>>Ex. 4 Moses encounters God and is back and forth with Him about going to Egypt.

Exodus 4:1–4 “Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it turned into a serpent; and Moses fled from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out with your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he reached out with his hand and caught it, and it turned into a staff in his hand—”

>>>Moses’ staff would consistently be used to prove God’s power (Aaron’s staff used initially).

*Hail plague

*Parting Red Sea

*Striking the rock

>>>This was not Moses’ wand, but something that would once again prove God’s power.

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Exodus 17:10–13 “Joshua did just as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

>>>(v.10-11) Moses stood on the hill with his arms raised, holding the staff. Hands up-Israel winning; hands down-Amalek winning (arms getting tired-probably switching hands).

*Victory was found in Moses’ hands being raised to God/authority to God/God over all.

>>>(v.12) Moses’ hands began to get heavier (Illust. carrying soccer goals). Amalek would win the battle.

>>>Aaron and Hur saw Moses’ struggle, sat him down, and supported his hands for the rest of the battle. Israel had won! (names Joshua)

Exodus 17:14 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

>>>The LORD told Moses to record the battle and recite it (place in ears of ) to Joshua.

*Notice it was to Joshua and not Israel. The next time Joshua is mentioned is as a servant of Moses, being prepared to be Israel’s next leader.

>>>What did God want Joshua to hear? That He will wipe out the memory of Amalek from the earth-accomplished by Hezekiah (1 Chron. 4:43).

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Exodus 17:15–16 “And Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “Because the Lord has sworn, the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

>>>The climax of the story: Moses built an altar and named it “Yahweh-Nissi”-The Lord is My Banner.

*A banner was a standard/pole where an ensign/flag/object would be attached.

*It was the rallying point/marker for an army-signal for followers. It marked a group’s ID. Other uses of the word include “warning” (Korah’s rebellion).

*Moses’ staff acted as the banner/standard for Israel.

>>>The word for banner is “nēs” (also refers to refuge). When used for possession (my), the word is “nissi”-The Lord is my banner.

>>>God is the rallying point for His people, where there is refuge and victory.

*God vows that He will have war against Amalek-they will not escape. The banner is not just a rallying point, refuge, signal, or place of victory...it’s a warning...to them.

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>>>What started as hope for the enemy to eliminate Israel became both victory for God’s people and advancement of God’s plan (Joshua).

THERE IS AN ENEMY.

>>>This passage shows that there is an enemy-an enemy who attacks all of us-no reason/no warning. It is born out of hate and desire to destroy.

*Satan (“adversary”) is against everything that is God/God’s people.

*The world can bring hate to believers for following God.

IT IS NOT WRONG TO FIGHT BACK.

>>>This sounds against Jesus saying to be “peacemakers” or “turn the other cheek.”

>>>The OT is normally physical representations of NT spiritual realities.

*Rev says Jesus will vanquish His enemies (battle).

*Eph. 6 teaches the armor of God. The “sword”-the weapon for both defense and attack-is the word of God.

>>>We fight with the Word and through prayer in a spiritual battle.

GOD IS OUR BANNER.

>>>Our identity is in God through Christ. He is our banner-defense, refuge, rallying point, and our victory.

*The enemy has to flee.