The Lord Our Banner
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1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
Joshua = Salvation/Savior
Joshua = Salvation/Savior
Jeshua- Jesus- Savior- Salvation
A “Type” of Christ-
A “Type” of Christ-
The life of Joshua is at least in part a picture of the coming Messiah/Savior and the Narrative in the book of Joshua is the story of God’s Power, Faithfulness and commitment to accomplish what He has said He will do.
Joshua, Son of Nun
Joshua, Son of Nun
The first mention of Joshua, Son of Nun is in Ex 17. Let’s turn there to read about what was taking place there.
This account we are about to read took place just a short while after the Israelites had escaped from the hands of Pharaoh.
Plagues-
Passover- Consecration of the first-born
Pillar of Fire & Cloud
Pharaoh’s heart became hardened
Crossing the Red Sea
Song of Moses- Praising God, their Salvation.
Bitter Water Made Sweet
Manna from Heaven
Water from the rock
They were released from bondage just after the plagues had occured, which culminated in final plague, we now refer to as the Passover.
His heart was hardened one last time, just after Moses lead the people out of the area as God lead them by a pillar of fire and a cloud, directing their path directly to the Red Sea.
Moses holds up his staff and the Red Sea parts, so the Israelites passed through on dry ground. Followed by the Egyptians being swallowed up by the waters.
This time was like an incredible time in history of God repeatedly showing His power and might, through miraculous control and sovereignty over the elements of His creation, including the hearts of men.
Fighting Amalek
Fighting Amalek
8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Amalek, a descendant of Esau- had children of his own and eventually they became a group of nomads living in the desert of Negeb. Several commentators suggest that Amalek and the Amalekites are a “type” or example or illustration of our sin nature. I am looking forward to taking the time to discover the many lessons we can learn from the events that took place during the time of Joshua and the Israelites entering into the Promised Land.
I felt it would be neglectful to skip over the back story of the life of Joshua, so we will begin our new series on the book of Joshua looking at the book of Exodus, which gives us a broad context of the events leading up to Joshua’s commissioning as the new leader of God’s chosen people following the death of Moses.
Joshua- Servant of Moses a servant of God
Joshua- Servant of Moses a servant of God
12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.”
Spying on the Promised Land
Spying on the Promised Land
16 These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.
11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
The Power, Presence and Promises of God
The Power, Presence and Promises of God
His Promises are Unfailing
His Power is Limitless
His Presence is Eternal
These attributes of God are real and are not dependent upon our belief, nor do our experiences alter their reality.
These attributes of God are real and are not dependent upon our belief, nor do our experiences alter their reality.
THE LORD OUR BANNER!
THE LORD OUR BANNER!
a standard, ensign, signal, sign:—banner(2), distinguishing mark(1), sail(1), signal(4), standard(12), warning(1).
The Lord is our distinguishing mark. He is our banner. How is the Lord held up in your life, as a student, as an employee, as an employer, as a parent, as a neighbor, as a child, as a relative?
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Telling others and building “altars” to the LORD OUR BANNER
Telling others and building “altars” to the LORD OUR BANNER
Pledge to the Christian Flag- “I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands; one Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.”
Have you any “altars” that have been set up in your lifetime, that signify you are indeed a child of God.
For some it is that they have obeyed through the act of baptism
For some it is that they have dedicated their children to the Lord before the church.
Some of us (and other believers around the world) have become members of a local church.
We can look at a number of examples, including Moses and Joshua within the pages of God’s Word to see illustrations of how we can set up “altar” like objects of worship as well as “altar like” acts of faith, which distinguish us as being “Servants of the Most High God.” They identify God as being the one whom they worship, love and obey.
This is also the case throughout the pages of history. Examples of believers throughout the reformation that took a stand against “organized religion” and made statements to trust in God and God alone.
Example: Robert Estienne- Royal Typographer. Not a name that I’ve ever heard before. He is relatively unknown, yet his actions made a significant lasting and blessed impact on the world. Estienne built his “altar” in the pages of literature that he worked so earnestly to produce on his printing devices. His work made it possible for men and women to have access to the Word of God and a number of theological works in their own language, allowing them to know and worship God in Spirit and truth.
What “altar” are you able to build within your god-given sphere of influence that would show that The Almighty God- Maker of Heaven and Earth is your BANNER?
How has God gifted you and equipped you? We all need to ask ourselves, what tool or resource has He given me, that needs to be wielded as a weapon for righteousness.
The decisions we make on a moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day basis have an lasting effect. We can see the negative effects of disobedience in 1 Sam 15, when Saul fails to follow through on completely destroying Amalek.
The greatest “altar” is that we would raise up praise to Him as we delight in Him.
Unfailing Promises
Limitless Power
Eternal Presence
Unconditional Love
Amazing Grace
OPEN INVITATION
OPEN INVITATION
I want to welcome you to come and talk with me about the things God is doing in your life. I want to welcome you to come and ask questions or share concerns that you are having in your lives. I want to be able to encourage you and pray for you in a way that is consistent with your life at this moment in time. I have an Open Door policy and I would be blessed to have you share what God is doing or how He is working in your life, challenging you or molding you.