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Text: Exodus 15-17 as summarized in “The Lord My Banner.”

1. Free but Unhappy
   1. Israel had been delivered from Egyptian slavery.
   2. They had been miraculously brought through the Red Sea.
   3. Their enemies had been destroyed.
   4. They should have been "on top of the world" in their faith.
   5. Instead, they doubted God and said some extreme things.
2. First Problem Bitter Water
   1. They camped near a water supply only to find it unusable.
   2. They definitely needed water in the desert.
   3. They could have remembered the miracles in Egypt and the Red Sea and believed.
   4. They could have prayed and watched to see what God would do next.
   5. Instead they complained against God's representative.
3. God's Response
   1. God directed Moses to cut down a tree and throw it into the water supply.
   2. The water became useable.
   3. God met their need
   4. God met their need in a way that pointed to His presence and help.
4. Second Problem: Shortage of Food
   1. Obviously, the desert isn't an easy place to find sustenance
   2. They could have remembered the miracles they’d seen, including Marah, and believed.
   3. They could have pray and watched to see what God would do next.
   4. Instead, they doubted God and said some extreme things.
5. God's Response
   1. God promised bread and meat.
   2. He sent quail.
   3. He sent manna—an obvious miracle food.
   4. God met their needs in a way that pointed to His presence and help.
6. Third Problem: Lack of Water (Again)
   1. They needed water and naturally couldn't find it in their current desert camping place.
   2. They could have remembered all God's recent miracles, including manna.
   3. Instead, they doubted God and said some extreme things.
7. God's Response
   1. He directed Moses to strike a rock with his rod.
   2. God caused water to come out of the rock and meet their needs.
   3. He met their needs in a way that pointed to His presence and help.
8. Fourth Problem: Attacking Enemies
   1. This time there is no record of doubt and extreme speech.
   2. There is an extreme problem, a dangerous enemy army.
9. God's Response
   1. Moses sent Joshua out with the army.
   2. He stood on a nearby hill to bring God's blessing on His army.
   3. As long as Moses kept his hands up, the army of Israel prevailed.
   4. When Moses let his hands down, the enemy prevailed.
   5. Moses naturally couldn't keep his hands up, so Aaron and Hur held them up.
   6. God met their needs in a way that pointed to His presence and help.
10. Jehovah Nissi--"The-Lord-Is-My-Banner" (NKJV translation)
    1. Yes, the name of this altar was a testimony to God's plan to fight this enemy forever.
    2. In a sense, God had been their banner all along, showing them His presence and help.

This devotional was written to complement our story The Lord My Banner."