Names of God #7 Jehovah Nissi

Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is My Banner

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             Jehovah Nissi -

                                Nes = Banner or Flag – Armies would carry a banner on a pole on the front line to give their army hope and a focal point to follow - show example of a kingdom crest 

                                Banners show WHO we are – WHOSE we are

                                God is our Banner of Encouragement – our Hope – our Focal Point

                                Moses was the only to use this name in Exodus 17

Exodus 17:9-16

                Background – This was the Israelites first battle (against human forces) since they escaped Egypt

                Read story

a.       How did God again use Moses?

b.      How did others help him?

c.       What did Moses mean when he used Jehovah Nissi?

d.      **The War is the Lord’s!! WE are his vessels!!

e.      The Amalekites were a constant battle for the people of Israel. What is a constant battle we today face?  What gives us strength or protection in this war?

f.        How can we compare that back to the “banner” Moses lifted?

A look at Banners in the Bible/Family Craft

Each table will receive a worksheet with some questions.

Adults can select one or two verses to lead the children at the table thru, but then children will work on their Family Banner. I gave each family a larger piece of material to work on together, but then each child also received a smaller piece of material to make their own personal banner to wave during worship. I had two handouts, gathered from the web, to give ideas of what to put on the banners.

The LORD is our Banner

1.       We are part of HIS army

a.       By this shall all men know that you are my disciples – that you love one another – John 13:35

b.      Our banners need to be showing love

2.       HE leads us into Battle

a.       We FOLLOW

b.      We DON’T run ahead

c.       We DON’T run to another line

3.       He WILL always be visible to us – Look to HIM when confused – not the world

Take Homes

                Kids – His Banner Over Me is Love – based on Songs 2:4

Names of God #6 Jehovah Jireh

Jehovah Jireh – God Provides

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Each table is leaving on a trip tomorrow morning – as a table make a list of items to take with BUT you can only take with what each person can carry walking

Draw slips out of a cup – each one with a different destination – are you prepared?

Ex 12:11; 31-39 – What the Israelites took as they left on their trip

 Jehovah Jireh

             Jehovah Jireh – God Provides

             Genesis 22:14 – Abraham named the mountain where he was tested to sacrifice Isaac and God provided the ram

Manna in the Desert

                At tables make a chart – God’s Part/Command vs Israelites Part

                Exodus 16: 1-7; 13-31

                Go over charts together quickyl as large group

                2 Cor 8:13-15 as evidence to explain Ex 16:18 and to lead into providing for others

Providing for Others

                At tables tie blankets for Project Ignite Light  or any other ministry that is close by your church.

Names of God #5: El Shaddai God Almighty

El Shaddai – God Almighty

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Dictionary as group

Cards are things only God can do (examples: blind can see, rising Lazarus from the dead, Jonah and the whale, Crossing of the Red Sea, etc)

What are somethings that you can’t do that God can do?

What are somethings that God leaves to you to do?

How do you react to those in your life that are more powerful than you?

                El Shaddai -        

                                El Shaddai – God Almighty

                                Websters says Almighty is “having absolute power of all; having complete power; having a great deal of power or importance.

                                Well-known verse – “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Gen 18:14

                                Used 48 times in OT - 31 in Job alone!

                                Abram was the first in Genesis 17 as He and God talk about the Covenant between them again

Background to the Convenant

                Background       

a.        Genesis 12:1 – 25 years earlier – God’s promise to Abram (75 years old)

b.      Genesis 15 – no child yet

c.       Genesis 16 – Sarah’s idea to fulfill promise through Hagar

d.      Genesis 17 – Abram is now 100 years old and tired…loosing hope…things are a mess because of Sarah and his’ own attempt to fill God’s promise       

**SO El Shaddai has come in during a seemingly impossible situation

a.       God doesn’t want (or need) our help outside of His plan

b.      We often get in the way of the blessing and delay God

                Read story Genesis 17:1-10

a.       What were the 2 main parts of the covenant? God’s and Abram’s? (circumsion and to walk a holy life)

b.      God had already told Abram His own part of the promise back in Genesis 12 and 15 – why do you think this is the first time He is mentioning Abram’s part? (He is getting ready to fulfill it so preparing Abram for action)

c.       Is God’s condition for obedience one He still expects of us today? (Yes – 2 Cor. 6:17-18 and John 15:5)

                                                                                                   i.      Story of the Rechargeable Solar Lights…We are lights for God – first we need to stay charged with HIS power – second we need to walk in the Light…if Solar lights stay in the darkness, they lose their shine and burn out

d.      God’s side of the covenant had several promises…what are they?  (Father of many nations – fruitful – Kings – to be your God – Canaan) 

**List on white board)

Craft and a Look at How God fulfilled these promises

1.        Each table has materials to make a scene of Abram looking up at the stars. Your stars have verses to look up in the Bible

2.       As children cut and paste the stars in the sky, have someone read the story in the Bible and discuss what part of the promise it fulfills. Write this on a blank star and color both starts the same color

3.       Why is it important that we can identify these stories?? (We trust those who have shown their power…those who have kept their promises)

BLESSINGS from El Shaddai

                Note that God required both something from Abram but ALSO his descendants the Israelites….Blessings require us to react with obedience

                Quick illustration of fishing (from Tony Evans)…2 guys fishing…one kept catching HUGE fish but would throw them back. If he caught anything under 10”s, he would keep it. Finally  the other guy asked WHAT he was doing?! The first man said – well my frying pan is only 10 inches wide…

                WHAT is something El Shaddai is calling YOU to be obedient and do yet you may not feel you have the tools, the frying pan, to accomplish it?

Take Home for Adults: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7706