Under the Banner

Lieutenant Karso knew they were losing. She had led her unit into battle with high hopes, but now her troops were tired, hungry, and demoralized. The enemy had been using cheap tricks and psychological warfare for weeks. Karso opened her mouth to call for a retreat, when she saw something cresting over the hill. It was their flag. The banner they fought under. She had often overlooked their flag with its geometric triangle design, but today, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. The flag was held by one man. He marched onward, waving the flag with everything he had and signaling to follow the banner. “It’s beautiful,” Karso thought as she looked at the flag. And she remembered their King. She was filled with a longing for home. “But what home will look like depends on what we do here and now,” she reminded herself. “We need to fight off the enemy because they want to destroy us. Destroy the vulnerable and those who don’t know the King yet.” Karso looked back to the flag and was reminded what it stood for: forgiveness, grace, and redemption. That was what made her want to join the fight in the beginning, and those were the values she would fight for now. Despite the exhaustion in her muscles and the mud under her nails, Karso called at the top of her voice, Re-form ranks! Everyone band together! Under our banner! Naomi Vroegop In this story, Karso needed to be reminded of her King and what He called her to fight for. In Exodus 17, Moses called God our Banner, because He is a Savior (this name anticipates Jesus). The Israelites’ question was, Is the Lord among us or not? The staff was a symbol that God was present among them. Have you ever sensed that God is present among us? When? The flag’s triangle design in today’s story symbolizes the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit (sent to be in us). Read 2 Corinthians 13:14. How might it change our perspective to know that God is with us even when everything looks grim? How have you seen God fulfill the name my banner? (Also check out our “Know Jesus” page.) If you’re ready, pray and ask God to help you embrace your desperate need for the good news about Jesus, and that from this place you might declare the gospel fearlessly (Ephesians 6:18-20). Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means the Lord is my banner). Exodus 17:15 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Exodus 17:8-16; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Ephesians 6:10-20