My Ebenezer

God’s faithfulness never ceases to amaze me. In my life I know there will be many mountains and valleys, many great successes and many great failures. Through it all I want to make sure to credit God for His faithfulness.

Ebenezer means “stone of help”.

1 Sam 7:7-12

When the Philistines heard that Israel was meeting at Mizpah, the Philistine leaders went on the offensive. Israel got the report and became frightened — Philistines on the move again!

8 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray with all your might! And don’t let up! Pray to GOD, our God, that he’ll save us from the boot of the Philistines.”

9 Samuel took a young lamb not yet weaned and offered it whole as a Whole-Burnt-Offering to GOD. He prayed fervently to GOD, interceding for Israel. And GOD answered.

10 While Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines came within range to fight Israel. Just then GOD thundered, a huge thunderclap exploding among the Philistines. They panicked — mass confusion! — and ran helter-skelter from Israel. 11 Israel poured out of Mizpah and gave chase, killing Philistines right and left, to a point just beyond Beth Car. 12 Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying, “This marks the place where GOD helped us.”
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

I wonder how many times a father walked by Ebenezer with his son or daughter and the child asked, “what is that?” It was both a reminder to the Israelites and also an opportunity to teach those that came behind them of God’s great love and faithfulness. 

I want to mark all the places where God helps me. I want to always remember that God is, and always has been, faithful. No matter what life brings my way I can depend on God to carry me through. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow but I am certain God will be where He always is. And He’ll provide as He always has.