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b'Standing on the peak of the mountain outcropping, Shalish scanned the/battlefield. The noonday sun glinted off armor as the battle raged on in the valley/below. Lord Nissi, the great voice who had led them through both sea and desert, had trained Shalish and several of her friends for years. But the throes of their first combat were more taxing than they had imagined..Yet Shalish was positioned above the battlefield for a reason. Lord Nissi had/given her a gold cord to wear around her wrist, saying, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153My presence goes with you. Remember me.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Now, when Shalish kept her cord raised above her head, their victory seemed sure. But her right hand had long since fallen asleep, and her muscles spasmed as she struggled to keep her wrist high above her head. She/trembled at the thought that keeping her gold cord raised would be the difference between victory and defeat..When she had momentarily lowered her hand an hour ago, it had almost cost/Ezrah his life. Shalish could only watch in horror as the enemy\\u2019s sword slashed just below the gap in his armor, Ezrah\\u2019s crimson blood flowing..Ezrah and Merea were two of her closest friends. Shalish scanned the battlefield for Merea\\u2019s fiery red curls, concerned that she had not seen her friend in a while. But then another spasm shot through her arm, and in despair she cried out, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Lord Nissi, my strength has run dry\\u2014please, help your people!\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d.A gentle footfall caused Shalish to whirl around, her right hand still raised, her sword/at the ready in her left. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Shay, you need help.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Merea\\u2019s brown eyes reflected concern..\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153But Merea, you\\u2019re needed on the battlefield!\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d.\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I\\u2019m needed right here.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Merea reached up and intertwined her bronze cord with/Shalish\\u2019s gold one, supporting the weight of her friend\\u2019s arm. Shalish felt immediate relief, and she let out a sigh as she leaned on her friend..Sunset was quickly approaching, and the task of keeping the cords held high over/the battle was once more becoming too difficult. But then, Ezrah wordlessly joined/them on the mountain, tying his silver cord to theirs. Shalish couldn\\u2019t even lift her head, and Merea laughed in delirious relief. Supported by her friends, Shalish felt Lord Nissi\\u2019s presence around them..As the setting sun splashed vivid pinks, golds, and dark hues of purple across the/sky, a cry of victory rang out. Ezrah smiled at his friends, joy etched on his glistening/face. Then he reminded them of Lord Nissi\\u2019s words: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.\\u201d \\u2022 Savannah Coleman.\\u2022 Today\\u2019s allegorical story is based on Exodus 17, when the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. God had just delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. When they came to the Red Sea, God told Moses to raise his/staff, and God parted the waters so the people could pass through. Yet, not long after this, the people/asked, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Is the/Lord/among us or not?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (verse 7). So, when the Amalekites attacked, Moses stood over the/battle on the top of the hill with the staff of God raised in his hands (verse 9). Whenever Moses\\u2019s hands lowered, the Israelites started losing the fight (verse 11), and he inevitably grew tired. Thankfully, Moses had two friends, Aaron and Hur, to help hold his hands up as he held the staff until the battle was won (verses/12-13). Then Moses built an altar and called it \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Yahweh Nissi\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d which means \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153The/Lord/is my banner\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (verse 15). (The Hebrew word for/\\u201dbanner\\u201d/is very similar to the word for/\\u201dstaff.\\u201d) God had saved His people once again/and confirmed that He was indeed with them. Can you think of a time you were reminded of God\\u2019s presence/with you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. .\\u2022 In Exodus 17, we catch a glimpse of the gospel, God\\u2019s plan to deliver His people from sin and death. Jesus is Immanuel, which literally means \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153God with us\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (Matthew 1:23). When He went to the cross for us'