Carrying the Flagpole: A Tale of Two Battles

One of the scenes I love in the movie Remember the Titans is the penultimate one. It's the final game, the big championship match: T. C. Williams' Titans against G. C. Marshall's Statesmen. I really don't like football, but I love the story of victory in this movie, and so in this movie, I love football. 

The Titans are trailing, the game is seconds away from the final whistle, and the Marshall coach has figured out the Titans' strategies. Coach Boone of the Titans comes up with a last ditch effort, a Hail Mary play, and he tells his football players what to do.

He puts in an injured player nicknamed Rev, a player the Marshall coach presumes to be out for the season, and Rev gets the ball. He tucks it under his arm, veers around the opposing players, and sprints down the field toward the goalposts. Behind him and to the side is his wingman, the quarterback nicknamed Sunshine. Marshall players approach to tackle, and Sunshine shoulders them aside while Rev continues on. Again and again, Sunshine slams into the competition, leaving Rev free to run. Threats turn to nothing as the end zone approaches.

When Rev crosses the victory line, the entire stadium is on their feet. The play is so unexpected and so genius and -- as the scoreboard shows -- ultimately effective. 

Genesis 17 brings up one of my favorite stories. Granted, the story is really packed into a single verse (Exodus 17:12), but it's one that I've come back to over and over again when I'm tired, overwhelmed, wishing I could quit.

It's the story of the Faithful Helpers.

As I was considering this story, the Lord pointed me back a couple of chapters to Exodus 14, and said, "Look. Compare these two battles."

Okay, I will, then. In Exodus 14, we're back at the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. There's a couple of things about that crossing that stand out in interesting contrast to Exodus 17.

First: Moses tells the Israelites to "stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:13-14).

The Israelites need only to be still. They don't lift a finger to fight the Egyptians.

Second: "Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side, so neither went near the other all night long" (Exodus 14:19-20).

The Lord provides a barrier between Israel and Egypt. He makes one side blind in the darkness while giving light to the other side. He does the whole thing; the Israelites, per the Lord's instructions, need only to be still.

Third: "The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on their right and on their left" (Exodus 14:21-22).

The Lord makes an easy walking path for the Israelites, a direct shot from one side of the sea to the other. It's a dry path with protective walls of water that keeps the Egyptians from coming around on their flanks. The enemy can only approach from the rear -- and the Lord stands in the way.

Fourth: "[The Lord] made the wheels of [the Egyptians'] chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving... and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen" (Exodus 14:25, 27-28).

The Lord does all of it. He wipes out Egypt's entire fearsome army while the Israelites walk to victory on Easy Street.

Fifth (and last): "Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord -- [commencing praise and worship service]" (Exodus 15:1).

The Israelites recognize the Lord's work, and in their gratitude, they praise Him, exalt Him, and glorify Him.

That was Battle #1. Lets look at Battle #2; it doesn't play out exactly like the Red Sea one: 

First: Instead of the Lord telling the Israelites to stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord; they need only to be still -- Moses calls in Joshua, son of Nun (an apprentice in many ways to Moses, and apparently one of the military leaders for Israel). He says: "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites" (Exodus 17:9).

The Israelites do have to lift a finger this time. They have to curl them around their shields and their sword hilts, and they have to run into the brutality of battle. This time, it hurts. This time, some die. Has God abandoned them? No. He still fights for them, but it looks different this time.

Second: "So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill" (Exodus 17:10).

God provides Moses with two helpers rather than asking him to act alone. Moses' physical struggle is more intense this time (as we'll see); the Lord gives him aid.

Third: "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning" (Exodus 17:11).

Could God have snapped his fingers and handed the Israelites a victory on a platter as He does in Exodus 14? Sure, but He's working on endurance, faith, refinement, testimony, all sorts of things here. He sees a bigger picture and has a bigger plan than the Israelites can see, so what He asks of His people here directly correlates to His work in their lives. 

Fourth: "When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up -- one on one side, one on the other -- so that his hands remained steady till sunset" (Exodus 17:12).

Fred Rogers is famous for a few things, but one of his pithy stories is this: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" 

Aaron and Hur are the helpers in this scenario. Because of their help, Moses keeps his arms high and lifted up. I'm sure he still feels the blood draining from his limbs and as the deadness creeps in and as he weakens from exhaustion. But he does it anyway, because that's what is necessary to win this battle.

I'll ask again: Could God have handed the Israelites a victory on a platter? Yep.

But He wants Israel to see another aspect. He wants to show them another side of Himself. He's not only the Heavenly Warrior; He is also the Sustainer. He's the Girder Upper (heh) of loins. He's the Source of strength; He's the Wind beneath our Wings. 

Through this, we see an example of sacrifice for the sake of endurance, endurance for the sake of victory. 

And then, fifth: "Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord'" (Exodus 17:15-16).

Here's something interesting: Isaiah 59:19 says: "So shall they fear the Name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun (east, by the way, so... rather encompassing, don't you think?). When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

1.) Standard-bearers, in medieval times, carry a banner or a flag on which is portrayed the coat of arms or the symbol of the house of the noble or lord who fights. It's a rallying point for soldiers; if they can see their standard, they knew where their lord is leading them. 

2.) Being chosen as a standard-bearer is considered a high honor, and yet, it's one of the least defensible positions in the army. If you carry the standard, you hold a flagpole. Everyone else gets the swords/spears/javelins/knives, etc. You are the central point around which the battle is fought, but you can't fight for yourself.

So when Moses calls this altar The Lord is my Banner, he's reminding the people: God fights your battles, not you. You declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). He lifts the sword. You carry the flagpole. He takes care of the enemy. 

Each battle looks different -- in some fights, the Lord will clear the way; in others, you'll be in the thick of the fight.

In all battles, you lift up the Banner of the One Who fights for you.

One more thing: When Coach Boone calls over Rev, the injured player, he asks: "Ready to run?" Rev nods confidently. "Yes, sir!" Because even though he's been injured for the season, he's been at every practice, joined his teammates at every game, and as he's able, he begins to run again.

Sitting on the bench is no excuse not to be ready to join in the battle. Watching more "qualified" pastors, preachers, teachers, prayer warriors, intercessors is no excuse to sit back and let the war pass you by. When God calls, we answer. When God asks: "Ready to run?" we give an enthusiastic: "Yes, Sir!" 

You grab that football, tuck it under your arm -- injured or not -- and run. The Lord will figure out the rest.

Because you never know when you'll be called to step up and step out. Don't get lazy.