By Dr. A. T. Schofield

A SIMILAR experience to that which our country is now passing through is detailed in Exodus 17:8-16. Then, as now, a nation, untrained in war, was suddenly attacked without provocation by trained bands of warriors in the difficult defiles and hill country of Sinai. Without a moment’s hesitation, at the first alarm, Moses decided to resist, and divided his forces into two — the fighting division and the praying division. The fighters went to meet the wanton aggressors, Amelek, under the young captain Joshua, and, like our troops, met with varying success, both advancing and retreating until, with the close of that long and terrible day — the day of war — came final and complete victory.
Meanwhile the praying contingent, consisting of three individuals, climbed slowly to the extreme summit of one of the mountains of Horeb, a part of the Sinai group, the mountains of the presence of God.
We are struck at once with the unequal numbers of the two divisions — three as compared with probably three hundred thousand, and the three had no weapons but the rod of God. But the rod of God is the power of God, and the uplifted hand is the spirit of prayer. Observe this prayer, this power was not used down in the valley where the fighting was, but far above — in the calm and solemn presence of God.
It is so now. There are essentially but two forces arrayed against the enemy, very unequal, it is true, in their relative numbers and in their apparent strength, and yet on that memorable day in the wilderness there was more real power with the three than with the three hundred thousand. And the secret of this then and now is the secret of the Lord. For there were not then and there cannot be now THREE, for there are always FOUR, and the form of the fourth is as the Son of God.
This work of prayer, “lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting,” is essentially the Christian’s service to his country today. He is a Briton, it is true, and loves the Union Jack, but he has besides a special banner, the sign of his special work and of his strength, and this banner is Jehovah-Nissi — “The Lord my flag,” or “standard.”
In connection with this, David’s language in Psalms 60:2-4 is of intense meaning to every Christian soul today. “Thou hast made the land to tremble; thou hast rent it. Heal the breaches thereof, for it shaketh. Thou hast showed Thy people hard things. Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering.” Shall we ever forget “the wine of staggering” of August 2nd, when the cup of war placed to our lips caused us to reel and stagger as drunken men?
Now, what is our resource and what is our banner? David tells us it is that which was found by the three in prayer on the mountain top, in the presence of God: “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” This banner is none other than our God, Jehovah-Nissi, “The Lord my flag.” It is, therefore, the duty of every Christian who loves his country and who believes that God hears prayer to gather in small companies on the mountain top, to seek God’s face the livelong day of this terrible war; crying to Him to save and strengthen this country, crying for our soldiers and sailors, and not forgetting to bring before Him the needs and distresses of all His children, in whatever nation they may be found.
It may be through special circumstances some may be called to enter the fighting division. It matters not where they are, so that they have God with them—that is everything, and with Him they can be of untold blessing on the battlefield and in the hospital. But there can be no doubt that THE division to which the Christian, by his calling, belongs today is the praying division, not forgetting, of course, to be at the same time the servant of all, and giving all the time, the money, and the strength he can spare for the sick and wounded, for the relief of the distress and misery that everywhere abound, and for the safety of this great country, to whom he owes so much.