To My Flag

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle....Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”).

Exodus 17:10-13,15

The American Pledge of Allegiance to the flag as we have it today was not in its current form until 1954.  Rear Admiral George Balch pinned a pledge 5 years before Francis Bellamy.  The Balch pledge is, “We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag!”  (To tell the truth, I like the Balch pledge better.)  The Balch and Bellamy pledges were used in parallel until 1923, and the Bellamy pledge that became the standard began differently than what we speak today.  Originally the pledge began, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag…”

My flag.  That’s a little more personal.  To pledge allegiance to “the flag” seems impersonal to me.  “The flag” is just a thing.  Like the flag pole.  No one places special significance to the flag pole.  The flag pole is just a thing, like “the flag”.  My flag is mine.  It is special, personal, intimate even.  No other flag is like my flag.

The Israelite battle with the Amalekites was a special battle for all of Israel.  The Amalekites attacked Israel while still at Rephidim.  This is a place they arrived after they had “moved from place to place.”  Their attack occurred after Moses had struck the rock for water as he had been commanded to do.  Israel was complaining and arguing against Moses.  Moses named the place Massah and Meribah, or test and arguing.  Israel was not in a positive place.  God had given them the blessing of water from a rock, but this did not occur until after the people had berated Moses to a point that he named this place of miracle “arguing”.  This battle was personal.  At a point of struggle for Moses (and likely Israel) Amalek attacks, without provocation.

The battle plan was unique, as it always is:  Joshua takes some men to battle the Amalekites while Moses overlooks from a hill.  Israel defeats the Amalekites, but it was not the power of Israel warriors, Joshua’s military skill, or Moses’s leadership.  Israel only had the advantage when the Lord’s staff was held up.  The flag or banner that Moses held over the battle was the LORD’s staff.  The LORD had used this staff since Israel was in Egypt to show his power.  In Israel’s flight from Egypt, the LORD used the staff to divide the Red Sea.  In the days preceding the battle with the Amalekites, he had brought water from a rock with the staff.  This staff showed the LORD’s presence and power, and idea that the Israelites understood.  This staff was placed in the Ark of the Covenant.  While the LORD was raised high at the battle, Israel advanced.  Because of this, Moses named this place “יהוה נִסִּי” or YHWH Nissi.  Nissi is “my banner” or standard or flag.  Moses, and all of Israel at this place, understood that the LORD was their standard.

We all have banners, standards, or flags that we fly over our lives.  They may not remain the same throughout.  As a child your favorite superhero might be your banner.  As a high school student it might be your favorite band.  In college it might be your university.  As an adult, your standard might be your company.  If you are not working outside the home or retired, your standard might be your children or grandchildren.  

1. Who or what is your standard today?
2. As a Christian who should be your standard?
3. Do your actions demonstrate that the LORD is your standard or flag over you?

--Zine Smith