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Jehovah-Nissi


Moses built an altar and called it "The LORD is my Banner" (Exodus 17:15)

JEHOVAH-NISSI meaning “The Lord our banner”

          Where I live right now, I get to see lots of banners. Some are American, Canadian, CanAm or other national and provincial flags. Some announce in what branch of the military someone served or are POW/MIA flags. Others are pretty pictures or holiday greeting. Some are sports-oriented. A few say things like "Wine about it a little," or "It's 5 o'clock somewhere."  A lot of people use wooden banners (AKA plaques) with their names, home towns  and lot numbers on them. Mine says 74A. 
          Banners tell you something about who owns it, whether or not they're friendly, what their interests or obsessions might be, their past associations, their names, addresses, hometowns, citizenship and level of patriotism. What mine tells about me is that I don't really care if anyone knows who lives here, but I do want people to be able to find the address if I call an ambulance or repair person. 
        If God is Jehovah-Nissi, "Jehovah is my banner," what does that tell people about you? I don't think there's space to go into all the negative things that some people would say, but here are some things to think about. 
      If Jehovah is your banner, you have a living, intelligent, responsive banner. We're not used to that kind of banner. He identifies you for others and to others. More specifically, He identifies you with Himself. That's something that bothers me because I not only don't deserve it, but I think I'm an embarrassment. There are also people out there who use the banner as a target, which means you're a target, too. He also  interacts with you. There are times He blows over your head and shelters you or comes between you and someone else. There are times He is like a towel snapped at your backside. He not only tells others about you, but He tells you about you. He reminds you whose you are. He goes before and shows you where to go and how to go there. As we follow our banner, as we keep our eye on Him, we become more like Him. We learn to treat our banner in a way that shows Him respect.

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