Lift High the Lord, Our Banner!

ByCarolyn E. Jacobs

Moses built an altar and called it Yahweh Nissi. He said, “Because a hand was lifted against Yah’s throne, Yahweh will be at war against the Amalekites from one generation to the next.” Exodus 17:15-16

This is the only mention of Yahweh Nissi in the Bible. What’s the context?

As you read Exodus, you see a them in the people’s attitude. “The people grumbled . . . The people quarreled . . . The people complained . . .” Every time the people faced a challenge, they complained. Bitterly. Not some anonymous complaint to HR or grumbling around the water fountain. They hurled accusations at Moses. Did you bring us out here to let us die? Why didn’t you just let us die in Egypt? 

To be fair, they faced enormous hardships – Pharaoh’s army, hunger, thirst. But come on. Yahweh delivered them from slavery. He parted the Red Sea and then let it crash back down, leading them through the waters and killing Pharaoh’s army in one fell swoop. (Don’t you love how God multitasks?) He gave them manna. He brought water from a rock. At what point do you think it was reasonable for them to get a clue? Hey, things look bad, but I’m going to bet God’s going to come through for us.

In Exodus 17: 8-16, the challenge is the Amalekites. During the battle, Moses held his staff (the same one he’d used with Pharaoh) over his head. When his arms were raised, Israel did well, but when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites would start to win. Aaron and Joshua supported Moses’s arms, and the Israelites won.

Afterward, “Moses built an altar and called it Yahweh Nissi.” Don’t you love it when the Lord puts the cookies on the lower shelf? The Lord is our Banner. We lift him high, and he fights our battles.

May this song, a great Dennis Jernigan worship song from the ’80s, bless you!

This series inspired by Ann Spangler’s book, Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks

Similar Posts

  • The Good Shepherd

    “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” – John 10:11 One thing I’ve loved about researching this blog series is taking these names and digging past the familiar to see where they lead. Jesus as the Good Shepherd is as familiar as it gets. What does “The…

  • The Word

    This week’s name, The Word, is so much more than a name. It’s the very essence of Jesus. John tells us about this Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him,…

  • Child

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. – Isaiah 9:6a For this week’s name of Jesus, we turn again to Isaiah. Because, despite what Andy Stanley might say, unhitching from the Old Testament is a really bad idea. The Old Testament adds depth and context, an understanding of God’s…

  • The Lord is My Shepherd

    In Psalm 23, David calls Yahweh his Roeh, his shepherd. Yahweh is my Roeh.     I am never in need.         He makes me lie down in green pastures.         He leads me beside peaceful waters.         He renews my soul.         He guides me along the paths of righteousness             for the sake of…

  • The Most High

    This week’s name is El Elyon, the God Most High. It has so much significance. We discussed how King Nebuchadnezzar came to acknowledge him as El Elyon, the Most High, one true god raised above all the false ones. But what else can we learn? Elyon provides shelter. The name makes me think of standing…