Outline // Monuments #2: The Lord is My Banner

January 10th, 2026

Exodus 17:8-9
Israel Defeats the Amalekites
8 While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. 9 Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

RABBIT TRAIL: Read Exodus 4-17 and Numbers 17-20, specifically focusing on the uses of a staff.

THE STAFF(s)
1. Staff turns into a serpent (Moses’ called at the burning bush)

? Exodus 4:2–4
God tells Moses to throw his staff on the ground
It becomes a snake, then turns back into a staff
Purpose: a sign to authenticate Moses’ calling
“What is that in your hand? … A staff.”

2. Staff becomes a serpent before Pharaoh

? Exodus 7:8–12
Moses (via Aaron) throws down the staff before Pharaoh, The Lord tells them to do this
It becomes a serpent and swallows the magicians’ staffs
Purpose: shows God’s supremacy over false power

3. Water turned to blood

? Exodus 7:19–20
Moses instructs Aaron to stretch out the staff over the Nile, at the command of the Lord
Water becomes blood
The Staff in the Ten Plagues - judgement!

4.Plague of frogs

? Exodus 8:5–6
The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron to raise his staff over the waters of Egypt
Frogs come up over the land

5.Plague of gnats (lice)

? Exodus 8:16–17
The Lord told Aaron to strike the dust of the ground with his staff
Dust becomes gnats

6.Plague of hail

? Exodus 9:22–23
The Lord told Moses to stretch out his staff toward the sky
Thunder, hail, and fire fall on Egypt

7. Parting the Red Sea

? Exodus 14:16, 21
God tells Moses to lift his staff and stretch out his hand
The sea parts; Israel crosses on dry ground
One of the most iconic uses of the staff — deliverance through obedience

8. Closing the Red Sea

? Exodus 14:26–27
The Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand again
Waters return and destroy the Egyptian army - RESCUE!

9. Water from the rock at Horeb

? Exodus 17:5–6
God tells Moses to take the staff
Moses strikes the rock
Water flows for the people - provision of God!
This is the 9th time (that I counted)…that GOD tells MOSES to use the staff.
The 10th time, it doesn’t say that.

10. Victory over Amalek (raised staff)

? Exodus 17:8–13
Moses holds up the staff during battle (no words from God about it)
When the staff is raised, Israel prevails
When lowered, Amalek prevails
The staff here represents intercessory authority, not striking

Exodus 17:10-16
10 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. 11 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.
12 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.
13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
14 After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”). 16 He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”

What can we learn?
1. Ongoing victory comes from dependence. Raised hands mattered more than raised swords.

2. The Altar was a reminder of the Source. Moses built an altar and named it "Jehovah Nissi". The Lord is my banner.

Examples and Functions of flags in the ancient world:

Ancient Egypt: Used standards with decorative symbols, animal figures, or deities on long poles for processions and warfare, representing a leader or god. The Israelites would have seen this after 400 years of existing with the Egyptians.
Ancient Rome: Employed signa (signs on tall poles that they carried), as rallying points and to signify legion power; losing one was a great disgrace.
Ancient China: Utilized flags (often colored with family names or symbols) to identify military units and control cities.
Ancient Israel: The Bible mentions standards for different tribal camps, showing early use for identification.

So they were used as:

Rallying Point: Kept soldiers oriented and together in formation or when scattered.
Identification: Showed allies from enemies and helped commanders track their units.
Morale & Pride: Symbolized the group's identity, inspiring courage and fierce defense, as capturing an enemy's flag was a major victory.
Communication: A visible signal for orders or formations.

3. Worship frames the "win" as God's. Success belongs to God, not us.
HE is our identity.
HE is our flag.
HE is our rallying cry.
HE is our sword.
If we have any might or power at all, it’s HIM.
If HE says go, we go. If HE says stay, we stay.
We take our orders from HIM, and Him alone.

When something GOOD happens in your life–do you stop to thank God?
Do you take time to worship Him?

Exodus 23:19, “As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the Lord your God.”

Application: