Exodus - 44 - Exod 17:15 - Our God, Our Banner, Our Standard

In our day one might say our times are chaotic and evil.  Today Christians and the church are even called evil and we are accused of being the source of all that is wrong.  It’s too difficult to deal with.  It seems that evil so controls our country, our society, and that we have no power over this at all.  Nothing works.  We try and solve it via politics and legislation and the vote.  In my view the USA is on such a downward slide, it’ll never recover.   This is not very hopeful.  Without the Lord there is no hope.  

Israel coming out of Egypt faced death and disorder as God led them into the wilderness of Sinai.  The Hebrews had assimilated into the Egyptian culture slowly after Joseph died.  For the Hebrews they understood and held to the Egyptian understanding that the wilderness of Sinai was a land of death, disorder, and evil.  It was a place not conducive to good life.  They called it the land of CHAOS.  Their gods had no power over chaos.  Their king, we call Pharaoh, must be the one to maintain order, life, prosperity, truth, and goodness, called Ma’at in Egyptian.  Pharaoh had to battle against Chaos.  The gods of Egypt had no power for Chaos, no power over the wilderness of Sinai.   In Egypt they relied on a man to provide truth, justice, goodness, and order.  It's like today.  Reminds me of CLIMATE CHANGE.  Many say WE humans must solve the problem.  We must spend money and make laws to save the planet.  I don't believe there is a climate crisis.  It is simply not scientific.  This reminds me of ancient Egypt and a worldview that lifts up mankind and has turned away from the one God, the true God, the one who made it all and the one who controls and rules over nature.  

However, Yahvay, God, God alone, created the wilderness.  He fed His chosen in the wilderness of Sinai.  He gave them water from rocks in the Sinai.  And He helped the Hebrews defeat the Amalekites in the Sinai at Rephidim.  Moses as was in awe of Yahvay, the Lord, that he sets up an altar to remember the victory and he names the altar יהוה נסי - Yahvay Neesee, The Lord is My Banner. 

Today many say this phrase says JEHOVAH NEESEE.  The word Jehovah is shown to be a translation error of a Franciscan monk in the 16th century.  Here’s a article by a renowned and proven scholar, David Biven, on this translation error.  Link –

https://shamar.org/articles/jehovah-misunderstanding.html

We ask, how did those Hebrews perhaps understand this?  Did it somehow connect to something in Egypt?  What did it say to them then? 

It is interesting to note that the Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol meaning GOD is a banner, a flag.  Check out the article about the word NETJER in ancient Egyptian and the use of the flag to write this word for GOD –

https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/terminology-netjer#:~:text=The%20Egyptian%20word%20that%20is,flagpole%2C%20often%20shown%20in%20green.

Finally, we recall Jesus’ word in John 5:39 that all scripture testifies of Him. 

“And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. "You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(Joh 5:37-40)

Is it possible this verse, Exod. 17:15, also connects to Jesus?  Of course it does.  Jesus teaches us this truth.  Come and let’s go see.

Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?  What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0