Nougat 16

~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

– WOW! Somebody is happy

~ Yes enuh, when I sing this song I feel so light

– Really now. Tell me about it.

~ I don’t know. It’s not something I can easily explain; but it does something for my spirit and it comforts me.

– Well, that’s a good starting point for me. Let’s consider today’s Holy Nougat

“Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”).” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

~ So, you mean to tell me that my comfort song comes from one of the names of God? I didn’t realize.

– Yes it did. But that’s not all. You know context is everything. And the story behind the name is pretty good, if I say so myself.

~ If You say so Yourself. All Your stories are pretty good. Even if it’s not what I want to hear

– Okay, you got me there. Hahahaha. So, as you must have guessed, this one is about Moses. He was a good one. Had a few issues with his temper; but loved and served Me wholeheartedly. I loved to see his development from young happy-go-lucky lad to responsible shepherd; knowing that he was destined for greatness. That’s why I ensured that he lived with the pharaoh of his time. By the time he was in the Wilderness with the Children of Israel, he knew Me well. We chatted about most things.

To tell you a secret; the greatest enemy Moses faced was his own temper, and then the attitudes of the Children of Israel. They were a rough bunch. Hmmn, complained for everything – men and women alike. Some would say the men were worse, because the women wouldn’t go directly to Moses. The men had no such compunction. That’s the only part of freedom they understood. They often questioned Moses’ authority.

While at Rephidim, the same Children of Israel who’d attacked Moses over ‘lack of water’, were attacked by the Amalekites.

~ The who? I thought that Amalek was Esau’s grandson

– Exactly. But the feud between Esau and Jacob never really ended with the reunion; there was too much going on by then.

I permitted the attack and the very same grumpy Children forgot their grumpiness for fear of the Amalekites. They were ready to listen once again to Moses. They may have resented him; but they knew that he had a direct line to Me!

~ So couldn’t they just speak to You directly? I always wondered about that

– Yes, but many of them had their hearts in the wrong place. Remember when Moses came to speak with me and a glimpse of My Glory radiated off him. The Children of Israel insisted that they preferred to speak to me via him. They preferred to remain distant. That didn’t mean I loved them less.

So when the Amalekites attacked, there was no question, I gave Moses the plan to overcome the enemy.

Remember, both the Children of Israel and the Amalekites understood ‘magic’, even when they couldn’t accept Me. Some say it was magical, others may even call it a miracle, but I was reminding both the Children of Israel and the Amalekites of My Sovereignty.

Moses stood at the highest level and held the Shepherd’s Staff, My seal of his office, high in the air. As long as all involved in the battle on either side could see the staff; the battle belonged to the ill-equipped Children of Israel. When Moses’ hand faltered it shifted.

~ But, but why? Shouldn’t it have worked all the time.

– Would the Amalekites have realized the significance? Would the Children of Israel remember that they should rely on Me and also work out their salvation for themselves?

Everyone noticed. So much so that Hur and Caleb – now those two were strong warriors and believers – opted to use a rock (remember that I am also the Rock that is higher than high) to hold Moses’ hand in place.

The message was not lost on the Children of Israel. Especially when Moses helped them to see that Shepherd’s Staff as My Banner. In those days the banner usually indicated whose leadership one was under, like a national flag. So although the flag was not attached; the Shepherd’s Staff (ie the symbol for my Son, and the way He died) did the job.

Do you understand now what it means to sing that song?

~ Oh yes I do. In fact, I’ll sing it even more. There’s the Trinity – the Three aspects of You working together in the story; and of course the connection between Jesus, You the Rock and the Banner of Your Spirit, which lifts Jesus high in Love for my salvation.

I love Him and He loves me – His banner over me is Love;

I love You and You Love Me; Your banner over me is Love!

Your banner over me is

What a promise! What a precious gift

– Never forget; I am Your banner YHWH Nissi

—

May all we seek be found in Christ