Nissi, My Banner
Israel was in the middle of a battle against the Amalekites. As long as Moses kept his hands raised, Israel had the upper hand (pun intended), but when he lowered them, the enemy began to gain ground. With the help of those closest to him, Aaron and Hur, Moses’ hands stayed lifted until God gave the Israelites victory.
Then the Bible says:
“Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my banner (YHWH Nissi).”
Exodus 17:15
Teaching our children YHWH Nissi “The Lord is my Banner” helps shape how they understand both victory and dependence on God from an early age. In a world that often celebrates self-reliance, this truth gently reminds our littles that:
we are not meant to do life alone,
God gives us people to support and strengthen us,
and ultimately, every victory comes from Him.
Lets break it down!
Engage:
Let’s pretend we’re in a battle. We’re facing a powerful enemy, and the only way we can win is if you keep your hands raised.
Can you imagine how tiring that would be? Go ahead, try it! 🙋♂️
How long can you last before your arms start to feel heavy?
That’s exactly what Moses was experiencing. He couldn’t do it on his own, he needed help.
And just like Moses, we all need help sometimes too!
Apply:
We are not meant to do life alone: Just like Moses couldn’t hold his arms up by himself, we aren’t meant to carry everything on our own. It’s okay to say, "This is too heavy for me."
Like... trying to clean up a huge mess of Legos, or carrying a heavy grocery bag. It’s much easier (and more fun!) when someone takes one handle.
God gives us "Aaron and Hur" moments: God gave Moses his brother Aaron and his friend Hur to hold his arms up when he got tired. God gives us "helpers" too, like parents, teachers, and friends.
Like... when you’re frustrated with a hard math problem and a teacher sits down to help, or when you’re sad and a friend gives you a hug. That is God’s love in action!
Every victory comes from God: Even though Moses had help, it was God who won the battle for Israel. We work hard and do our best, but we don't have to stress because the "win" belongs to Him.
Like... practicing really hard for a soccer game or a piano recital. We do the work, but we thank God for the strength to play and the joy of the finish line.
God is our banner, our victory (YHWH Nissi)!
Repeat & Reinforce:
The "Heavy Arms" Challenge:
Have your child hold two objects out to their sides until they get tired, then step in to hold their elbows up for them. This physically shows them how Moses felt and why having "Aaron and Hur" as helpers was so important.
DIY Victory Banner:
Create a "God is my Victory" flag using a stick and some fabric or paper to wave during worship. It’s a colorful reminder that we are on God’s winning team and He is our "Banner."
Thankful Stone Altar:
Collect and stack smooth stones outside to represent the altar Moses built after the battle. On each stone, draw or write one thing God has helped your family achieve to remember that the victory comes from Him.
The Helping Hands Chain
Cut out paper hand shapes and staple them together to create a long "helping chain." Each link represents a person God gave us, like a teacher or a friend, to help us stay strong.
Closing Thought:
May our littles grow up knowing that every win comes from God and every struggle is supported by the community He provides. YHWH Nissi, our banner, our victory and our strength.
I’ll leave you with this 6 min video “The Story of Jesus' Resurrection (The Easter Story for Kids, Pt.4) - Bible Stories for Kids” from Minno laugh and grow bible to show how the battle won at the cross is our greatest victory. It’s a perfect reminder that even Jesus didn't walk alone. He used His closest friends to spread His love to the whole world, teaching us that we were always meant to do life together.
For even more hands-on fun, pair this mini-devo with the activity sheet below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Nissi Activity Sheet
This 2-page activity pack blend foundational biblical truths with essential literacy and math readiness skills.
Page 1: Victory & Numbers Focus. Includes a fun “Nissi” match-up activity to support color and number recognition. A “Stone Path” counting exercise helps children write in missing numbers as they guide friends toward the victory banner. and a simple, meaningful prayer for families to pray together, thanking God for being our Banner.
Page 2: “Banner” Beginning Sounds. A bright beginning sounds activity where children look at familiar images (such as a ball, apple, and net) and practice identifying and writing the first letter of each word. This helps build early phonics skills, vocabulary, and literacy development.
The Story of Jesus' Death for Kids (The Easter Story for Kids, Pt. 3) - Minno Laugh and Grow Bible
