Throughout the Old Testament we find a progressive revelation of God and His character expressed through His Hebrew names. We recall that God identified Himself to Moses in Exodus 3: 13-15 as “I AM THAT I AM.” It is the announcement from God Himself as the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to the generations to follow that He will fulfill His covenant and keep His promise—a memorial to all generations. This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. He is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance. (Ps. 107: 13) He had revealed Himself to Israel as Jehovah-Jireh—“The LORD will provide” in Genesis 22:14 as He provided a lamb for Abraham to sacrifice as a substitute for Isaac pointing to Christ as our substitute. We see Him as Jehovah-Jereh throughout the wilderness journey. He provided manna from heaven, water from a rock and quails in the wilderness to sustain them and clothes and shoes that didn’t wear out for 40 years. Our study today focuses on God’s next revelation of Himself as Jehovah-Nissi. In Hebrew, it can mean a flag, a sign, a banner, a staff, a pole, a standard that is lifted or raised up. It is a symbol of the mighty hand of God. A standard was used in battle when it was raised as a signal for all the troops to rally at that point. God’s lifting or setting up a banner is a most expressive figure; declares His peculiar presence, protection, and aid in leading and directing His people in the execution of His righteous will; and giving them comfort and peace in His service. (Ps. 20:5)
As we look back through the wilderness journey of the Israelites, we see God lift up His standard many times through Moses as He provided him with a rod as a standard. The rod was used as a symbol of the authority of the person holding it. We read about that in Exodus 4: 2-5 where God turned the rod into a serpent and then had Moses to take up the serpent—lift it up and it was transformed into a rod again! God was demonstrating His Divine Rule over the Serpent Satan. (Genesis 3: 15) God provided Moses a rod as a standard of His empowerment to perform miracles before Pharoah. It was that same rod—standard that Moses lifted up over the Red Sea. It was a revelation of God’s power to the Israelites as they were fearful of the Egyptian army. Moses said: “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will perform for you today. You have seen the Egyptians today, but you will never see them again, ever! The LORD will fight for you, while you hold your peace.” Then the LORD said to Moses: “Why are you crying to Me? Tell Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. Then the Israelites will go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.”
Let us examine the first mention of God’s Name—Jehovah-Nissi in Exodus 17. In verses 1-7 we have the account of quarreling. The people complained and murmured against Moses because they had no water. Moses cried out to God for direction. Again, we see the “Rod of God” as God instructed him to take it in his hand and strike the rock and water came out of it. Water is a sign of life. The Rock was a picture of the smitten Christ by the hand of God to give us eternal life. The rod was a symbol of Calvary. Verse 7 records: “He called the place Massah (proof) and Meribah (contention) because of the faultfinding of the Israelites and because they tempted and tried the patience of the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?” In His mercy God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh and provided water but with every lesson comes a test! Would this revelation of God’s power increase their trust in Him?
In order to prove Himself again, God would allow the Israelites to be attacked by the Amalekites—their first and eternal enemy—a people that were the embodiment of evil recorded in verses 8-16. The Amalekites are the descendants of Esau who despised Jacob and his descendants. Completely unprovoked and lacking fear of God, the Amalekites attacked the Jews when no other people dared. Moses prepared the people for the attack and instructed Joshua to choose out men and go out to fight them. Moses turned to God’s power for help. He said: “Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the Rod of God in my hand. (v. 9) The next day Joshua fought with the Amalek and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the hilltop. When Moses held up the Rod of God—the Standard, Israel prevailed and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’ hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur held his hands up for him until the sun went down and Joshua and his men were victorious over the Amalek. God told Moses: “Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens.” Moses built an altar and named it Jehovah-Nissi—God is My Standard! The altar was a sign that every time Amalek or the enemy attacks, it will not be an offensive war but to defend God’s ways on earth, as directed by God—by His power—marching under God’s Standard! Practicing Jews still consider it a commandment from God—to remember the Amalekites as a perpetual enemy of the Jews. On the Jewish Sabbath, or day of rest—preceding the holiday of Purim, practicing Jews publicly read the section of the Torah that commands them to remember the Amalekites' evil and to annihilate them. The timing of this reading is noteworthy as it is celebrated on Palm Sunday this year. Purim celebrates the failure of Haman's plot to destroy the Jewish people. Haman, a descendent of Amalek, was determined to exterminate the Jews. Today we face the Hamans of this world who are evil and oppose God and His people. Like Moses, we must trust God that the battle is His and seek His power and strength that overcomes the enemy. Our “battle standard” is the Holy Spirit lifting up a standard that repels the enemy and empowers us to overcome in the Name of Jesus.
Later in Numbers 21 we read about another occasion when the Israelites became impatient, depressed and discouraged because of the trials of the way and spoke against God and against Moses. They said: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and we loathe this manna.” This time their lack of trust and complaining resulted in a greater trial from God. We read in verses 6-9 that He sent a plague of fiery serpents that bit the people, and many died. The people came to Moses and said: “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, that He may take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people and the LORD instructed him to make a bronze serpent and raise it up upon a pole—a standard before the people and everyone who was bitten when he looks at it attentively, expectantly, with a steadfast gaze would live. As we have already seen, all the lessons in the Old Testament point to Jesus. When He came to earth, He made it clear that all the law and the prophets spoke of Him. He particularly connected this wilderness lesson to Himself in John 3: 14-15 when He said: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert (on a pole or standard), so must (so it is necessary that) the Son of Man be lifted up (on the cross), in order that everyone who believes in Him (who cleaves to Him, trusts Him and relies on Him) may not perish, but have eternal life and (actually) live forever!” And in 6:36 He said: “He who believes in, clings to, and relies on the Son now possesses eternal life. But whoever refuses to believe in and trust Him will not see life and the wrath of God will come upon him.” This is a clear picture of God’s story—His plan of redemption for mankind. The enemy is identified—the age-old serpent. Revelation 12: 9 says that the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan is the seducer, deceiver of all humanity the world over. The serpent is a symbol of disobedience, rebellion and sin against God. Jesus took our sin upon Himself when He was lifted up on a pole—a standard and gave His life as a ransom for the sin of the whole world. We look to the Savior on the cross to heal us from the poison of sin. The Israelites were saved from physical death at that time; we are saved from spiritual death and granted eternal life instead. God needed them to look hard at His judgment so they could receive His mercy. God uses Christ on the Cross—the emblem of His judgment to draw us to Him.
JESUS IS OUR STANDARD high and lifted up that He might draw all people to Him! Through the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus not only conquered Satan and his forces but He spoiled them. He stripped them of all their power and authority over mankind. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for our own sin—past, present and future Jesus becomes our Standard—our Refuge—our Strength—our Hope both in this life and the life to come! When we accept Jesus for who He is, we become entirely new creatures, gain a brand-new identity, gifts, and callings, and become children of the Father—joint heirs with Christ. We are born of the life of God, so He becomes our Standard who is seated at the right hand of the Father making prayers and intercession for us. We are partakers of the Divine Nature, and God Himself, in the person of His Holy Spirit who takes up residence in our hearts! We have the power of God’s Name in His Son—JESUS! We lift up His righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, love, and godliness.
Isaiah 59: 19 describes the power of God’s Name—Jehovah-Nissi: “So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight (for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives.)” Through the powerful Name of Jesus—our Standard, the devil can no longer cause us any trouble unless we let him! Jesus has completely defeated him and given us authority to enforce that victory here on the earth. The enemy is coming in like a flood today with torrents of problems, as our enemies sweep toward us, seemingly ready to engulf us. In our flesh, we can panic at these moments, overcome with fear and anxiety. Like the Israelites, we can become discouraged and feel that defeat is inevitable. But, at times like these, God promises, by His Spirit, to “lift up a standard against” our enemies. We must stop complaining and put on God’s complete armor that we may be able to resist and stand our ground on the evil day of danger and having done all the crisis demands, to stand firmly in our place. According to Ephesians 6: 14-18 we are to tighten the belt of truth around us, put on the breastplate of integrity and right standing with God, face the enemy with the firm-footed stability of the Gospel of peace, lift up over all the covering shield of saving faith upon which we can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one, put on the helmet of salvation to guard our minds, take up the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God, and keep alert to watch and pray. God promises to attack our enemies on our behalf and provide us with a means of escape—DIVINE INTERVENTION! He can act speedily, coming to our aid with spiritual power and energy. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and know that He has won the victory and He is with us! God has already declared “the end from the beginning.” His plans will be accomplished! Let us rally together, trust in Him and have faith that He will bring us victory in every situation and work everything together for our good and His glory. When the church of Jesus Christ raises up the standard of Jesus Christ, we are declaring the Lordship of our King in the land and proclaiming His victory! GOD LET US SEE YOUR GLORY! GOD WINS!