The Lord is My Banner

Let’s be real for a second 2020 has been a battleground!! I’m not sure anyone has been spared from some form of emotional, spiritual, physical, personal, or financial battle this year. If you have been spared from these things, I am sure someone you know is in a battle. Many people have lost jobs and loved ones. Many people have suffered from mental and emotional breakdowns. Many people have wondered how they were going to put food on the table. Many people have not been able to celebrate or grieve like they normally would.

The list of battles being fought is seemingly inexhaustible and I’m sure you are exhausted.

Well in Exodus 17 there was a battle between the Amalekites and the Israelites. Similar to how we have been ATTACKED by 2020, the Israelites found themselves in a war. Moses, their leader, went to the top of a hill as the battle progressed. He looked down at the armies fighting and held his staff above the fighting armies below. As long as his staff was lifted in the air the Israelites continued winning against the Amalekites. But as soon as his hands started to fall the Amalekites began to defeat them.

For those who have seen Lord of the Rings I can imagine Moses holding the staff in the air in a similar way that Gandalf did when he said “You shall not Pass” to that monster in the cave.

How long could you keep your arms up like that? If I asked you right now to hold your arms in the air I’m sure you would get tired by minute five (for me, minute two ?????) and yet Moses needed to do this for an entire battle. Understandably, he got tired and weary. His brother Aaron brought him a rock to sit on as the battle continued. When Moses’ arms could not hold themselves up any longer Aaron and Hur went on either side of him to support the weight. And Good News The Israelites defeated the Amalekites.

There is so much we can apply to our situation today from this event that happened so many years ago. The first thing I want to make clear is that Moses did not possess any power in and of himself. The staff was simply a staff, however God demonstrated His power, through Moses. It was the power of God that parted the red sea and the Power of God that defeated the Amalekites. With that as our framework I want to look at a few key elements here.

First, Moses was a leader of the Israelites, he was a type of CEO, a type of pastor, a shepherd of the people. He had many other leaders under him. He was a representative of the Israelites before God.

I think of our pastors and leaders at this time. How hard was it to lead in 2020? Will 2021 be any easier? With the personal responsibility to the people that our pastors have as part of their calling, I can understand their arms being exhausted at the end of this year!

Sometimes we don’t take time to consider that pastors and leaders get weary like we all do. I’m here to tell you that they face battles as well and they need supportive people by their sides. Moses had been called by God personally. He had a personal call to ministry from God through a fiery bush. In the beginning Moses had a reluctant start to that calling. He did not think he was the right guy. He even tried to get out of serving by saying he was not eloquent enough to speak to Pharoah. In response, God called his brother Aaron to come along side of him to be a support for Moses.

I think the picture of Moses’ arms becoming weak and tired is a picture of how many of us are tired right now. 2020 has challenged us immensely. We are tired of the news, tired of the emotional drain, tired of the worry, tired of the immense pressure… (Just to name a few reasons).

From parents to pastors to students to children we all feel the weight. It does not matter how long you have been a Christian or the great things you have been called to do or maybe even the great things you have already done, it is human tendancy to get tired when immense pressures and emotional fatigue wear us down.

We have to ask ourselves how can we fight this fatigue? How can we fight this pressure? Our arms are lowering and the battleground of 2020 may continue into 2021… How are we going to fight this?

Moses’s staff was a symbol of the power of God. Without the power of God there was no way the battle against the Amalekites was going to be won. Isn’t it like that in our lives too? Without the power of the almighty God lifting us up and holding us in our time of need there is no way the battle can be won. We cannot do it in our own strength. It is only in His strength and power on the battle field of 2020, 2021 and life in general can we overcome the daily struggles we fight. If we take our eyes and focus off of Him our weakness only continues. If we lower our defenses and stop turning to Him in our time of need, as our ‘arms’ lower we start losing the battle.

Some of us may even drop our arms completely. There are times in life when we completely give up turning to God. We give up on prayer. We wonder if God listens to us or hears our cries? We wonder if He cares? We drop our arms to our sides in defeat. When this happens the war in our minds can easily be taken by the enemy. When we lower our defenses it gives Satan a chance to attack, destroy and accuse and keep us in a place of distress.

We are tired. We are so tired.

I see many people counting down to the end of 2020 wondering how they’re going to keep up with finances and remote learning. How they are going to be able to handle more isolation and not seeing family. How  they are going to handle not being able to worship in the way they used to and want to.

How can we possibly emotionally keep up with these battles? How can we stand firm?


I don’t think it was coincidence that Aaron and Hur brought Moses a Rock ? to sit on as the battle progressed and his legs started shaking from fatigue.

When Moses couldn’t stand on his own he sat down on a rock. Just like when we can’t stand on our own, God is our rock and fortress.

God tells us to cast our cares on Him and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. He comforts us.

The Bible and the promises He has given us are the sword in this war and God is the Rock we can find refuge in and stand on.
We need to pray continually and the Holy Spirit will bring us comfort, light and guidance:

In Him we are more than conquerors:

You may be sitting here thinking I know all of these verses and I still can’t do this. I, like Moses, cannot hold my own arms up. I trust in God to work miracles, I trust in God to win this battle. But my arms are tired, they are shaking… they are falling…tears are streaming down my face, I’m watching the battle and I am losing.

Friend, dear friend. who can hold your arms up with you?

We are not meant to do life on our own. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Do not forsake gathering together as some are in the habit of doing (even if that means zoom). Reach out for help. Reach out to that friend or loved one who can physically support you, who can emotionally support you and speak truth to your life. You do not have to fight these battles on your own. God gave us to one another to be a physical reminder of his great love. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and when two or more are gathered in His name, He is there also. Find a friend who loves the Lord, tell them your struggle and watch as the weight you carry, and the battle you are fighting- suddenly starts to become lighter and bearable. Let them come along side of you like Aaron and Hur did for Moses.

Friend, you have a great and Mighty God. He has already won the final battle but we are going to face trials before His ultimate victory plays out in our lives.

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you. Keep your arms raised and your eyes and heart lifted to God and rest on Him when your feet can’t stand any longer. He is the Rock of our salvation and He will fight this battle, in many ways, for you. But as the war continues, whether you are a leader, mom, dad, sister, brother, child, student, essential worker, pastor, or any other role you may have, please remember, you do not have to be alone. Please seek out someone who you trust, please tell a friend the battle you are in, please trust someone enough to say I am weak physically and I cannot do this on my own. This may mean getting to know someone new! (I know scary thought ?)!

Watch as they come along side of you and lift up your arms in words, actions and prayers. Your King of Kings, your Father in heaven loves you and will be the hero of any and every battlefield you encounter.

Moses named the battleground of the Israelites and Amalekites Jehovah Nissi, which means The Lord is My Banner, let that be our victory banner for this year and the coming years as well.

The Lord Bless you and Keep you,
Kara

If you do not know Jesus as your savior please see the prayer below the first image below. You can talk to God like you are talking to a friend. He will hear you. Ask him into your heart today. He wants a relationship with you. Let him be your Rock. Let Him be your banner.