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God’s Creative Battle Plans – The Battle-Pole of Moses

God’s Creative Battle Plans – The Battle-Pole of Moses

God’s Creative Battle Plans – The Battle-Pole of Moses.

“Yahweh is a warrior! Yahweh is His Name! (Exodus 15:3).

Moses and Miriam in their famous Song at the Red Sea, were the first ones to describe the Lord as a warrior. And throughout Scripture, God was identified as a warrior ever since. The Hebrew word for warrior in this passage is “ish milhamah,” which means man of war, warrior, champion, hero, fighter, mighty man. God’s stature as a fighter was taken up by the prophets, like David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zephaniah.

The Fierce Warrior with a Vivid Imagination. Lord Yahweh, as we would expect, was not just any common fighter. He was a warrior with the divine imagination that created completely unpredictable battle plans for every conflict between an enemy of God and His Chosen People. In Scripture, the Warrior-King was the master of unconventional warfare, unexpected schemes that would leave people scratching their heads in surprise or shaking their heads in amazement. God’s strategies were so diverse that they might appear to be random, but of course they were divinely orchestrated. His battle strategies to victory were well outside the human imagination, in such a way that the faith of His fighters on the ground was tested.  It became obvious to His fighting men, though, that God was going about this battle in a completely different way than they would, and they were wise when they trusted in Him.

The Staff of God. After wandering some more in the wilderness, there came another time when the people were desperately thirsty. There was simply no water to be had anywhere in their journey. And once again, the people complained to Moses instead of pray to God. Moses again entreated the LORD, and God gave Moses particularly surprising instructions. Pick up your staff, God tells Moses, the same staff you used in confronting the Pharaoh, the same staff you used in parting the Red Sea. Yes, use that staff to strike this rock right here, and everything will be fine. So Moses obediently struck that rock, and sure enough, water gushed out, enough water for all the people to drink their full. By now, of course, the people have been eye witnesses to the miraculous powers God seemed to give Moses’ staff. That staff is once more put into miraculous use in the very next story in Exodus 17.

“Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose for us fighting men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.’ So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and Moses 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. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.” (Exodus 17:8-13).

The Fight is On. The Hebrews were suddenly engaged in their first battle in the wilderness, unexpectedly attacked by the Amalekites, a fierce nomadic tribe living in the northern desert regions of the Sinai Peninsula. They were a vicious group of raiders and killers who were feared for always attacking the stragglers in a group first, the old, the sick, the lame, the children. They always attacked the vulnerable first, which made them a much-hated tribe. Naturally, the Hebrews just escaped a life of slavery and were no match for these professional soldiers with no scruples. The irony here is that the Amalekites were descended from Esau and the Edomites, which means they have some Hebrew blood in their genealogy. Moses quickly assigns his best soldier Joshua to scrape up any fighters he can find to fight off the approaching Amalekites. Moses took his brother Aaron and a man named Hur to the top of nearby hill to view the fighting. While on the hill, the fighters below could clearly see Moses. When Moses held his staff high in plain view, the Hebrew fighters took the advantage. When Moses’ arms grew weary and he let the staff down, the Amalekites immediately started to win. When the fighting Hebrews saw the staff, they were reminded of Yahweh and how He powerfully led them to victory over the Egyptians. And they remembered when He parted the Red Sea. And  that staff also reminded them of the recent miracle involving water gushing out of a rock. That staff carried a lot of spiritual weight. The Hebrews rallied when the Name of Yahweh was raised, when the symbol of the LORD’s power was lifted high for all to see. Moses continued to grow weary, though, so Aaron and Hur found a small boulder Moses could sit on, and they went on each side of Moses to help him lift that staff in the air. This battle turned out to be an all-day affair, so no doubt Aaron and Hur grew tired as well as Moses, holding his arms continuously in the air. Finally at sunset, the Hebrews routed their enemy. It was a miracle victory. And because of the Amalekites preference for attacking the stragglers first, the Amalekites became a permanent enemy of Yahweh for generations. Another example of the LORD defending the weak and helpless.

Lifting the Hands in Worship. Many believe that Moses was raising his arms in prayer and worship. As long as he was interceding for the Hebrews and praising Yahweh, God was enabling the Hebrews to be victorious. Moses here is a clear picture of a prayer warrior, a leader engaging in intercessory prayer and adoration. This is a striking example of the prayers of a righteous person availing much. It’s also a fact that Moses depended on the support of Aaron and Hur to keep the staff, the battle-pole, raised high. Christian leaders need the support of other believers to lead and pray. Support people are needed for strength and encouragement. Without Aaron and Hur, what would have happened during that battle? The Hebrews would have lost. We are stronger together than alone, and we need each other to survive.

“Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, Yahweh-Nissi, the LORD-is-my-banner.” (Exodus 17:14-15).

Yahweh-Nissi, a compound name meaning LORD-my-banner. A banner is a rallying signal during battle, a battle-pole, a symbol held up high so it can be seen from afar. A banner is a conspicuous object that can remind the troops who and what they are fighting for in the heat of battle. A raised battle flag or emblem rouses the troops, encourages them to keep fighting. The Name of Yahweh is itself the battle-cry in this story of Moses.

As was often the case, Moses decided to celebrate this dramatic victory by building an altar at that spot. He named it Yahweh-Nissi, LORD-my-banner. Moses’ staff was the battle-pole that represented Yahweh. And when the Name of Yahweh is raised like a battle-flag, no matter the battle, the route is on.

A Prayer for Yahweh-Nissi (ya’way niss’-eye)

We shout for joy before you, Yahweh-Nissi, LORD-my-banner. For you are in our midst during our spiritual battles, and you lift high the signal to rally your people to victory. Your Name is the battle flag raised up for our deliverance and salvation, revealing to us your presence and your power. We know the battle is the LORD’s, and you will lead us to a decisive victory. You are our sure defense, and a very present help in trouble. And so, we also gladly lift up the banner-pole of your Son’s Cross as we fight the good fight of faith, for you have overcome the enemy. As you have desired, LORD, we raise up the Cross for all the nations to see. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We bow before you, Yahweh-Nissi, and celebrate your holy Name. Amen.