Jehovah-nissi--The Lord Our Banner. This name means “The-Lord-Is-My-Banner,” in honor of God’s defeat of the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15).

Tour guides. 10th Legion at Masada. Civil War Color Sergeants

Have you ever noticed the monument of the 143d Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg? Next time you visit the battlefield stop and take a look at it. It is one of the few monuments to actually depict an incident of the battle. It shows a standing color sergeant with the color defiantly waving his fist.

On the first of July, 1862, the 143d fought its first major battle as a regiment in Stone's 2d Brigade, 3d Division, I Corps, Army of the Potomac. Posted near the Chambersburg Pike, the regiment made a determined stand against Confederate General A.P. Hill's Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, but, with the rest of its corps, was forced to retreat before superior numbers

As the 143d fell back, young Color Sergeant Benjamin Crippen continually turned, shaking a defiant fist at the advancing enemy. He held the regiment's state color and his bravery and subsequent death was even noted by General Hill. The fallen flag was retrieved by another member of the color guard, Corporal Owen Phillips. Phillips was burdened with the blue regimental, Crippern's color, and his rifle musket, which he refused to give up. The regiment's colonel, Edmond L. Dana, eventually took one of the colors and the regiment was able to leave the field with all its flags.

Of the 465 officers and men who went into battle that day, 253 became casualties. Corporal Phillips was the only member of the color guard to escape unscathed.

Carrying the colors was hazardous duty and it cost many a brave man his life, limbs, or health. Color sergeants (and corporals) were truly brave men and truly a breed apart.

In the 17th chapter of Exodus, Israel was fighting under another banner. The banner of the Lord.

v. 11, prevailed (1396)—be strong, mighty

Joshua (Jehovah is salvation) now comes on the stage for the first time.

Joshua led Israel to victory as Moses interceded in their behalf in prayer.

Eph 6:10 ff.

v. 12, upheld (8551)—grasp, lay hold of, hold fast

As long as Moses held up his hand in intercession and in dependence on God, the Israelites had the margin of victory. But when Moses’ hand sagged, Amalek gained the ascendancy (when we try to overcome in our own strength).

According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, Hur was the husband of Miriam, Moses’ sister. This same Hur was later left with Aaron to supervise the people while Moses was on Mount Sinai (24:14).

Tactics don’t make sense to us. Imagine trying that (or Jericho) at NTC. God’s backward logic (humble yourself)

All verses about God fighting our battles and not by our hand.

Ju 7:2-7, Gideon’s 300

Ps 20:7, chariots

Jer 17:5

Amalek, a descendant of Esau, is a type of the flesh--the evil, corrupt, Adamic nature of man. Observe the following parallels between the flesh and Amalek:

(1) It presents itself after the Holy Spirit is given at conversion to fight against the Spirit;

(2) The Lord will have war with the flesh from generation to generation; (3) It is never eradicated from the believer till death or the Rapture of the church (sin nature).

(4) Two means of triumph over the flesh are suggested—prayer and the Word.

v. 13, defeated (2522)—weaken, disable, prostrate; Satan tried four times to destroy Israel

Pharaoh

Haman

Antiochus

Hitler

v. 14, banner (5251)—standard (rallying point)

God told Moses to Write this for a memorial in a book. This is no doubt a plain reference to the book of Exodus

Nu 21 (pole)

Tour guides. Civil War Color Sergeants. Are you fighting under the banner of the Lord?