The Lord My Banner

By Marta Greenman –

Do you want to be successful? I do, but what does success look like? Dictionary.com defines success as, “the accomplishment of one’s goals.”[1] By the world’s standards if a person achieves their personal goal(s), they are successful.

Is this the same way God defines success? Joshua 1:8 teaches, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” God says success will come when we are seeking God’s ways and God’s plans. There is a big difference between my plans and God’s plans. We need to know and understand God’s heart when He says, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9). The Lord wants a heart that is completely His. The supposition is when our heart is the Lord’s; our plans will be His also.

If success comes from the Lord and is accomplished by following the Lord’s plan then we need to come face to face with Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord My Banner. In biblical times a banner was something that traveled before a group, such as warriors going to war or a nation. Today we often think of a flag going before an army or country. Although this is a great example, flags were not the only “banners” used in biblical times.

The first time Jehovah-Nissi is used in the Bible is Exodus 17. The Amalek nation, enemies of Israel, came against them in the wilderness. They had left Egypt, and already witnessed God’s miraculous hand in parting the Red Sea. The Lord provided manna and quail for them daily and not once but twice water in a miraculous way. Yet the children of Israel still grumbled and complained.

Moses and his leadership had to constantly remind Israel to trust the Lord and look to Him for provision and protection. Therefore, when the Amalek came upon Israel, Moses stationed himself at the top of the hill where all Israel could see him. He held up the rod (staff) of God to remind Israel where their protection would come from. Then Moses sent Joshua, his servant, to go lead the fight against Amalek for Israel.

When Moses got tired and his arms came down the Amalek would begin to win the battle but as long as Moses’ hands were held high with the staff of God, Israel would prevail. The battle raged on and Moses grew weary, therefore Aaron and Hur began to hold up Moses’ arms with the staff while Moses sat on a stone.

After Israel was victorious Moses built an altar and named the place Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord My Banner. Moses wanted the children of Israel to be reminded that as long as the staff of the Lord (Banner of the Lord) was before them they would be successful.

We, too, need to understand we can only be successful when we allow the Lord to provide for and protect us. He needs to be our Banner and go before us in everything we do. Proverbs 16:3 teaches, “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Allowing the Lord to make our plans guarantees success.

Many are familiar with the verse, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Israel was in turbulent times when God gave them this promise; King Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon had captured them and placed them in slavery. God had told them they would stay in captivity under this pagan king for the next seventy years. For most who were in captivity that would mean the rest of their life, yet God was proclaiming this message of welfare and hope, not calamity for His enslaved people.

“In the original language, the word for welfare is shālōm meaning, ‘health, security, or tranquility. Shālōm is clearly depicted as a satisfied condition, an unconcerned state of peacefulness.’ The word calamity is translated from the Hebrew word ra’ meaning ‘inferior quality the inability to come up to good standards.’”[2] God’s message to Israel was clear. His plan was to give them security, peace and hope even during this period of turmoil and captivity.

How do you spell success? Trusting in the Lord’s plans for your life, especially during difficult times will bring you shalom and you will be satisfied. Unlike the inferior quality of life the world gives. Which will you choose?

[1] Success. Dictionary.com. Accessed April 8, 2015. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/success

[2] Marta Greenman, Bound To Be Free, Crossbooks, a Divison of Lifeway. Bloomington, IL, p. 133.

Marta Greenman’s life calling is to inspire others to fall in love with God and teach them how to study His Word to bring change in their lives. She is the founder of Words of Grace & Truth, author of two published Bible studies, Bible teacher, conference speaker, and wife to Marshall. You can find Marta’s testimony and studies at wogt.org.