And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;  for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”   Exodus 17:15-16 NKJV

HE is our battle flag of victory, as we march forth and fight to establish His kingdom on earth and in men’s hearts.

Challenges come and go and no one is exempted from it.  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that IN ME you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

The good news is God ALWAYS causes us TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST and when we display such victory in our lives, through us He diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  It is HE Who fights the battles for us and our part of the equation is to believe, obey His instructions, trust Him, stand still and SEE the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for us each day.  Through our testimony which is a spirit of prophecy to those who witness what the Lord has done and is doing in our lives, it brings HOPE to the hopeless. Through our rooted and grounded identity in Christ as sons and daughters of God, it brings a revelation to those around us that we all have a GOOD, GOOD FATHER Who is a Father to the fatherless, a good Heavenly Father Who so loves us, cares for us, comforts us, provides for us, heals us, or whatever your need be, HE IS.

I love the passage in the bible that was about the warriors of Amalek who came to fight against the people of Israel at Rephidim.   Moses who led them out of Egypt instructed Joshua a call to fight the army of Amalek.  Moses told him, “Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, with the rod of God in my hand!” (Exodus 17:9 TLB)

The very next day, Joshua and his men went out to fight the army of Amalek while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  How awesome this event could be that as long as Moses held up the rod in his hands, Israel was winning; but whenever he rested his arms at his sides, the soldiers of Amalek were winning.  Then, Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the rod any longer, so Aaron and Hur rolled a STONE for him TO SIT ON, and both of them stood on each side, HOLDING UP HIS HANDS until sunset.  As a result, Joshua and his troops crushed the army of Amalek, putting them to the sword. (Exodus 17:1-13)

Years ago, when I meditated on this, I found a golden nugget of revelation that as we lift our hands in praise and worship, the Lord will fight every battle and win them for us just as when Paul and Silas were in prison, stripped and beaten with wooden whips, again and again the rods slashed down across their bared backs, put into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet into the stocks, as they were praying and singing hymns to the Lord while the other prisoners were listening, suddenly there was a great earthquake; the prison was shaken to its foundations, all the doors flew open—and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:15-26)  

Another powerful battle that was won through a shout was the wall of Jericho.  “So when the people heard the trumpet blast, they shouted as loud as they could. And suddenly the walls of Jericho crumbled and fell before them, and the people of Israel poured into the city from every side and captured it!  They destroyed everything in it—men and women, young and old; oxen; sheep; donkeys—everything.” (Joshua 6:20-21)

God’s thoughts and ways are higher but one thing that amazes me is that when He instructs us in the way we should go and do, it is very doable on our own human ability but the result is above and beyond what we can think, dream or imagine.  Haven’t you noticed how He instructed Moses to lift his arms with His rod, the enemies were defeated?  In praying and singing, prison doors were opened for Paul and Silas.  And for the walls of Jericho to crumble and fall, it only took a shout!  Our Heavenly Father is so awesomely good and mighty that He makes it easy to cause us to triumph when we inquire of Him and His ways and as we obey we will SEE Him move mountains without us wasting our time, treasure and talent.

TODAY, as I went through the same story of Moses and the Amalekites, I found something new and much more promising.  When you go back to the time when Moses’ arms became TOO TIRED to hold up the rod any longer, Aaron and Hur rolled a STONE for him to SIT ON.  Hmmmm… STONE?

“The stone that the builders rejected has NOW become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22).

“Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has NOW become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.'”  (Matthew 21:42)

JESUS is the rejected STONE that NOW became the CORNERSTONE.  How about Moses sitting which is a position of RESTING?  Isn’t it that HE made us SIT TOGETHER WITH HIM, Who is the STONE in the heavenly realms?

“But God is so rich in mercy; He loved us so much  that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, He gave us back our lives again when He raised Christ from the dead—only by His undeserved favor have we ever been saved— and lifted us up FROM THE GRAVE INTO GLORY ALONG WITH CHRIST, where we SIT WITH HIM in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did.” (Ephesians 2:4-6)

And one more …. Aaron and Hur stood on each side of Moses, HOLDING UP HIS HANDS until sunset because Moses’ arms became TOO TIRED to hold up the rod any longer. What about this?  Could it be that those ARMS were the ARMS OF JESUS STRETCHED OPEN WIDE when He was crucified making sure that when our sins and unrighteousness were NAILED at the cross, it SEALED, SECURED and GUARANTEED our victory at all times?  No longer were Aaron and Hur that depicts human effort is needed to hold Jesus arms up but HIS LOVE for you and me DID IT ALL.  He endured it all for the JOY that was set before Him, you and me reconciled in this everlasting love relationship with Him.

Moses building an altar and calling it “The Lord is my banner” was His recognition of the presence of God.  He was honoring God as the giver of victory over the Amalekites.   It was a MEMORIAL, A MARKED PLACE TO REMEMBER where God intervened on behalf of His people and promised to utterly defeat His enemies not just for the present generation but for the generations to come.

“The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,  “This is My body, broken for you.  DO THIS TO REMEMBER ME.  After supper, He did the same thing with the cup:  This cup is My blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, REMEMBER ME.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns.  YOU MUST NOT LET FAMILIARITY BREED CONTEMPT.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 MSG)

Familiarity over the finished work of Jesus Christ deprives us to enjoy the daily benefits that He loads us.  It takes a day-to-day personal experience that allows us to discover and uncover a deeper insight and revelation of Himself.  When God provided “manna” to the Israelites in the wilderness, He was taking them to a place of an everyday encounter, an everyday acknowledgement, an everyday thanksgiving, but instead, they unceasingly complained.  They got so familiar with the Lord’s faithfulness instead of looking for ways and means to give thanks and appreciate what He has done.

Manna means “what is it”!  Every time I wake up and press in into His presence, I always ask for my daily bread.  I have grown to inquire of Him saying “what is it” that You have for me to partake today?  You are the Bread of Life that I desire to feast on.  Open my eyes and ears.  Show me Your ways that I may know You more.  Allow me to see, hear and taste the favor and flavor that You have daily loaded me TODAY in Jesus’ Name.”