The Good Ol’ Days

If I were to ask you how people identified you in middle school what would you say?

For me, I know that my middle school years were a complete cringe fest. I played softball and was definitely the worst player on the team, but thought I was cool because I was actually participating in sports! Yay me! This was also a time in my life that I thought that my friends and I were the coolest girls when we wore sweatpants, a side-ponytail, white Nike socks that go to the middle of our legs, and neon-colored tennis shoes.

Oh yes, the good ol’ days were quite something…

The funny part is that I realized that people saw me differently because I dressed this way. They recognized that I was characterized as an “athletic girl”. This is incorrect in every way because I am not athletic at all, but I found it a compliment that people saw me this way.

This is a hilarious example, but the truth is that we all have an identity. It may not be wearing athletic clothing when you actually are the most unathletic person on the planet, but it can be anything that we want to be known for. Who you are might be identified in your clothing, education, economic status, relationships, jobs, hobbies, and even past mistakes.

If you are a Christian, I would argue that your identity is found in Christ. This means that despite everything that has worldly value in your life, Christ is ultimately your King.

 

Israel’s Identity in God

For the Israelites in Moses’ time, God was their identity. These were His chosen people whom He selected to represent Himself to the world.

For you [Israel] are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 7:6 

Sounds really cool to be chosen by God, right? 

The first part of Exodus really shows the Lord’s faithful covenant to His chosen people who were exiled in Egypt at the time.

Quick Backstory: God calls this guy, Moses, to go to Pharaoh and tell him to “let my people go” (Exodus 5:1). This of course does not go over well with him and each time the Lord tells Moses to talk to Pharaoh, his heart becomes hardened. This results in numerous plagues, some including water turning to blood, frogs, locusts, death of the firstborn, and many more.

Eventually, Pharaoh does release the Israelites to worship the Lord, but he still pursued them for selfish reasons and the Lord washed away all of the army, including Pharaoh, into the Red Sea.

We continually see God’s promises of provision and faithfulness for His people in this story. After their release, the Israelites sang songs and danced for the Lord because the one who claimed them did exactly what He said He was going to do from the beginning of the story.

As the Israelites continue to move forward throughout their long journey, the Amalekites come to wage war against Israel, but God once again provides a victory accomplished through Joshua’s military leadership. After this, Moses takes the time to build an altar, naming it “The Lord is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15) as a place of remembrance for all their God had done for them.

The Point

A banner is something used to declare a message; we often hold them above our heads to signify the importance of what we are trying to convey to the world. For example, The American Flag is the banner of the United States that represents that we are “One Nation Under God”.

There is no coincidence that the altar was named “The Lord is My Banner.” Moses made it completely transparent who the Israelite people identified themselves with.

First, Moses uses this altar to show complete surrender to the God who brought freedom to a whole group of people. The word “altar” in Hebrew means a place of sacrifice or slaughter. Moses took the time to make something that could serve as a place where the people could come and surrender to the God of Promises.

Second, Moses uses this altar as a place of remembrance where the people can come and be reminded of what the Lord has already done for them and promised to carry out in the future. They were a chosen people, specifically selected by God, Himself.

There is no doubt that God is the banner that the Israelites hold up during those times of restoration and peace. They knew their identity was found in the Father because He led them through the wilderness, war and peace, and provided a way out.

For Us...

I think so often we try to let worldly things define who we are. The problem is that they are temporary and have no significant power. My side ponytail cannot save enslaved people and bring them to a promised land. Neither can my whitest Nike socks blot out the darkest sins that are prevalent in the world. Artificial identities have no power, but identity is found in God’s power.

Our only identity is found in the living God who created us from the dust of the earth and chose to have a relationship with us through His only son. He brings deliverance to those who “call upon the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13). This is the same God that was faithful to the Israelites and made a way for them to walk across dry land in the middle of the Red Sea.

If you know the Lord and have asked Him to be the King of your life, He is where your identity is found. It does not matter what your past mistakes look like, your clothing choices, or your new job. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ; our identity is forever found in Him.   

So, what does that look like today?

What does having the Lord as our banner look like today?

The easiest answer is to “take up [your] cross daily and follow [him]”. This means being willing to set aside fleshly temptations and have kingdom minded hearts.

The difficult part is that we live in a Genesis 3 world where everything is broken and sin runs rampant.

But it is your choice.

You can choose to have your identity found in the one who gives life, peace, love, patience, kindness, grace, mercy, etc. Or, you can choose to put your faith in things of this world that will most definitely disappoint you.

As we can see in the story of the Israelites, God IS faithful and will provide. Why would you want your identity found in anything else? Your version of the “cool side-ponytail” won’t bring you comfort in the way you want people to see you. Only the Father of Heavenly lights can bring completeness to who we are and healing in a desolate land.

So, my question for you today is…

What is written on the banner of your life?