And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi. Exodus 17:15
What does Jehovah-Nissi mean? It depends on which version of the Bible you read. Although our King James does not translate Jehovah-Nissi, most modern language versions do; they call it ‘God is my banner’. The Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Old Testament, translates Jehovah-Nissi as ‘The Lord is my refuge’. The old Latin Vulgate version renders Jehovah-Nissi as ‘The Lord is my Exaltation’. Whichever one is right – and I am not picking sides – this altar has a special significance. This verse is the only time in our Bible that Jehovah-Nissi appears. It marks a great first.
Although the Israelites saw the Egyptians defeated at the Red Sea, they were not actually involved in the fighting. God did everything. The battle of Rephidim was their first actual warfare as a nation. The name Moses gave to that battle’s memorial altar shows his acknowledgment that in the victory, God was their banner, their refuge, their exaltation. And that title could be used as a template for all of the many battles to come. It should serve as the template for all of our spiritual battles, too.
It is tempting for us to look at the little victories we have over our enemies – the world, the flesh, and the devil – as our own achievements. But none of them are. It is only pride that would see our own strength, our own will power, our own intelligence as the deciding factors in any struggle. That dangerous attitude sets us up for a defeat. We achieve nothing as Christians apart from the guiding and empowering hand of the Lord.
Every time God gives you victory today, be sure you give Him the credit He deserves. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/lUPAc3g-EdI