Discussion Guide for Sunday, April 12, 2020

JEHOVAH NISSI:

THE LORD IS OUR BANNER

Series: Knowing God by Name: The Power of God’s Names

Big Idea

Our Scripture text for this week introduces us to an age old family feud. Esau and Jacob were twin brothers who just couldn’t seem to get along. The bad blood between these brothers festered for generations, and in Exodus 17:8-16, the descendants of Esau – the Amalekites, launch an attack on the descendants of Jacob – the Israelites. The Amalekites represents anything in your life that blocks you from doing what God wants you to do, and their battle against the Israelites represents the spiritual warfare that the people of God regularly face. The lesson this battle teaches us is that as believers, we fight their battles in both the natural and the spiritual realm. While Joshua went down into the valley to fight the physical army, Moses took the rod of God and went up into the mountains to fight the spiritual enemy.

When the battle was over, Moses built an altar and named it “Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is our Banner.” In ancient days, a banner was nothing more than a bar staff, like Moses’ rod, with a metal ornament that glistened in the sun. The rod in this story is an Old Testament picture of Jesus Christ. It shows us that Jesus struggled for our victory. Jesus endured excruciating pain to secure our salvation. That is why it is called His passion, or in the Latin His agony. However it is through that struggle that Jesus secured our victory. Through His death on the cross, Jesus once and for all defeated the works of the devil, and it is through His finished work that we continue to overcome the devil’s snares. Right now, Jesus is standing in the gap for our victory. He is seated at His Father’s right hand praying for us right now. As we trust Him, He gives us the strength we need to conquer the skirmishes we face day to day.

Discussion Questions

• Are there any strains in your family relationships that need to be resolved? How can you begin to get things right?
• When Moses’ arms grew heavy, he had Aaron and Hur as a support system. Who makes up your support system? How do you return the favor?

Prayer Focus

Lord, I thank you for raising Your standard over me. As I face spiritual battles of many kinds, help me to be confident in your protection, to fight with your power, to prevail in your strength. Dear Lord, may your victory be total and complete, destroying whatever stands in the way of your plans and purposes for my life.

Next Steps

As believers, we fight our battles in the natural and the spiritual. Joshua fought a physical army in the valley while Moses fought a spiritual battle on the mountain. You must learn to do both. Spend some time this week praying over a strained relationship. Ask God to break down any walls that could keep you from reconciliation, and plan some practical ways you can work towards restoration. Maybe you can make a phone call or schedule a lunch, but whatever you do, don’t leave it at just prayer. Pray and take action.