Surrender to Win
After hearing a powerful message preached by Pastor Lia, I decided to dive deeper into Exodus 15 where we read about the battle between the Israelites and Amalekites.
Exodus 15:8–14 (NLT)
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.”
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”).
We read that as Moses lifted his hands; the Israelites gained the upper hand, but when he dropped his hands, the enemies prevailed. I believe that there is a principle we can learn here — sometimes, we have to surrender to win.
In life, it is not always about fighting with clenched fists. There are times when we open our hands and lift them high in a declaration of our dependence on God. We cry out in prayer that God, we cannot fight this alone, we need you in our lives. We surrender our lives to You and You will bring us the victory because you are Jehovah Nissi. You are the Lord our Banner!
When we open our hands, more than just surrendering to God, He will place His staff in our hands.
Isn’t it interesting that the staff which was in the hands of Moses won the battle? Instead of a sword, spear or bow, it was a wooden stick that led the children of Israel to victory. God’s idea of triumph isn’t the same as ours. We think that by fighting our way through with a sword and shield equates being chivalrous and heroic, but God gives us a staff instead. Just as a Shepherd (like Moses) uses a staff to support himself and to guide his sheeps, God is teaching us another principle here — we do not have the fight the battles ourselves. We can depend on Him for support and guidance.
Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
If we bring this into today’s context, what does the staff represents then? It represents the Holy Spirit — the Comforter, Counselor, and Helper. Jesus is the Shepherd, and he has placed His staff — the Holy Spirit in our lives and because of that, we can find protection, comfort, support and guidance in the battles we are fighting.
John 14:26 (AMP)
26 But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor — Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
So, will we lift our hands in surrender, our heart abandoned for God to raise His banner high? Let’s surrender our all so that God can bring the victory. Let’s proclaim that God is Jehovah Nissi — The Lord our Banner!
Find out more about the amazing church I call home: http://www.heartofgodchurch.org/
