Setting up my Eben-Ezer

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

1 Samuel 7:12

Ebenezer or Eben-Ezer, so critical in our relationship with God yet we glance over the word when it’s mentioned; at least I did when I read this verse. When we look at the word Ebenezer in the Hebraic text, we get the definition of “Stone of help” and we see it used in context. Ebenezer is not a one-time thing, but a daily occurrence. 

The first time I ever heard the word Ebenezer being used was when one of my bosses told me a story. I believe his story gave the best understanding of the importance of erecting an Ebenezer. His story went something like this,

‘My wife and I would go on vacation to a remote cabin up in the mountains. We loved going there because it had a great view, but it also used to be one of the most dangerous places to go to because of the thick fog that would settle there.

The fog made it nearly impossible to find this cabin, and the owners realized this after a few people were reported lost on this mountain; though they were eventually found, the owners began to set a path toward their cabin. When the fog lifted, they asked anyone that came to their cabin to start setting up rocks when they left. They were to set these rocks in a mound every mile. This then motivated others to begin doing the same when they came up. So now, even when the fog is at its thickest, people never get lost; the reason for this is because of the rock mounds that were set up every mile. Now people know which way to go because they know that every mile there should be a big rock mound; if they go about a mile and have not found one, they know to go back to the previous mound.’

I wish that was an exact copy of his story, but I know I missed some cool parts in there. That is the general gist of the story though, and the most important part is in there. Just like with Samuel, he set up the stone because it reminded him that up until now God Has Helped him. The keywords are the combination of the two words “has” and “helped”. So real quick, an English lesson; sorry. Has is typically the conjunction of to have, which is only to be used in the present tense; but when you combine it with a past participle verb such as Helped, it becomes a present perfect tense; inturn this just means that the action being described already happened. All this to say, Samuel was remembering what God had already done for him, and at the same time setting up a future reminder should he doubt God.

So what does this mean for me and you, how can this be applicable? Some of you have already figured it out, but we need to set up reminders of how God has helped us in the past because the world is getting worse; it’s becoming a lot harder to see how God is good in the midst of all of this, but as I look back I see a good God sitting enthroned above all things. I see His sovereignty, His power, His knowledge and so much more.

So, although it’s hard to see it now, I know He is still Good and in control. The world race might get pushed back again, and at first, I was upset and sad. I questioned what God was doing and why He keeps pushing it back, but then I remembered that His timing has and always will be Perfect!

So please keep praying for the World Race, and for our nation. Keep setting up your Ebenezers, cause God already told us that things will have to get worse before they get better. Keep the Faith and keep erecting your Eben-Ezers!