By Machelle McDowell
February 25, 2024
In this week’s Bible reading format I found my feet planted in Exodus 17:8-14. I love picturing Moses standing on top of a hill with the “staff of God” raised in prayer for the Israelites and surrounded by brothers who he trusts and loves to give him strength, (literally).
We are also introduced to a young man named, Joshua! He is instructed to lead the Israelite army into battle. Little does he know, God’s plan for his life is about to unfold in chapters to come!
But, for now he is being empowered by God through the prayers of Moses who by the way is surrounded by his brothers, Aaron & Hur for support! Yep, Christians, sometimes we need a little help when life hits those bumpy roads.
To bring you up to speed, the Israelites have been blindsided by Amalek, (apparently, Amalek is a grandson to Esau, the older brother of Jacob)…who knew?
God is not happy about this situation! This attack was not initiated by the Israelites. Moses instructs Joshua to go fight on behalf of the Israelites.
Moses raises his staff to God and God empowers Joshua in the battle against Amalek. When Moses grows tired he drops his hands and the Israelites begin to lose. So, Aaron & Hur took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it while they held his hands steady!
These are the kind of friends we need in our lives, Christians! Those that are there for comfort and strength in a time of weakness. To help hold us up when we can no longer fight the battle! AMEN?
Through the prayers of a Godly man, Joshua overcame Amalek and his people!
God told Moses to write down what had happened and recite it to Joshua as a memorial. The Lord told that he would blot out the memory of Amalek.
Moses built an altar and called it, “The LORD is my BANNER.”
The Lord was a banner to Moses and Joshua that day and continues to be a banner for the world!
Psalm 60:4
“You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow.”
How many of you remember singing the children’s song, “His Banner Over Me is Love?” The lyrics read:
Jesus is the rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
Jesus is the rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
Jesus is the rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
His banner over me is love
The definition of banner- a long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, (hung in a public place), or carried in a demonstration or procession.
Remind you of anyone? Who hung in a public place bearing the message of LOVE? His banner is over us today! He is the rock of our salvation!
Our Jesus, Our Savior, Our Lord! God loves the world so much that he sent His own son, Jesus to die for us that we may have eternal life with Christ. He paid the ransom for our sin through his blood. He hung on that cross to demonstrate that love while we were still sinners.
What a banner of love that God would wave for the the world to know the love He has for us that he would allow his own son to die for it!
Jesus….the son of God was displayed on the hill of Golgotha for the world to see.
His banner over us is love.