“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah nissi” (Exodus 17:15).
TEXT — Exodus 17:8-16
Message
Following their miraculous victory over a confederacy of Arab nations led by Egypt that fought against Israel in the famous six-day war of 1967, former Israeli president and wartime pilot, Major General Ezer Weizmann, simply said the victory was “The finger of God.” The Israeli army was clearly outnumbered by the enemy nations’ superior military power and experience, yet they fell in defeat before Israel in less than a week. When God fights for you, no power can stand before you.
In our reading today, the young nation of Israel had just left Egypt en route the Promised Land. They had not gone too far when the nation of Amalek rose up against them seeking to halt their forward journey to the land of promise. By this time, Israel had no standing army and was utterly inexperienced at warfare. However, through Moses, God instructed Joshua to rally a few men to face the Amalekites. While Joshua and his men engaged in the war, Moses, supported by Aaron and Hur, interceded for them; and God did fight for them. The Amalekites were defeated, and in praise to God, Moses raised an altar before the Lord in which he acknowledged God as their Banner, Jehovah Nissi!
No matter what enemy may confront us in the battle of life, we are confident of victory. This being the case, we do not have anyreason to fear as Christians. The devil may attack our health and well-being, work and businesses, home and family life, or calling and ministries. In whichever form the attack may come, his primary focus is to stop our heavenward journey. This we must resist vehemently with faith in God.
We must resist the temptation to succumb to the enemy’s threats. Fear will make us look away from God to other sources for help. Fear will make us surrender our liberty to the enemy and become his ensnared slave. But we must remember that the Lord is always with us as a mighty Man of war. He will fight for us and hand us the victory banner!
Thought for the day
When God fights for you, no enemy can withstand you!
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
