If you're not familiar with this story you may wonder why I have chosen such a verse. I'll admit on the surface it doesn't seem "wow." But let me delve just a bit into the story. The Israelites were being persecuted and the Philistines were routing them in battle. So the soldiers sent some back to get the ark of the covenant (remember Indiana Jones?) thinking if they brought it into battle with them then God would overpower the Philistines. Long story short, the Philistines redoubled their efforts because they thought a "god" had come into the Israelites camp, and they not only defeated the Israelites, but stole the ark of God. After much turmoil the Philistines send the Ark back to the Israelites (it's quite the read if you want the story--1 Samuel 5-6).
I want you to see this next verse in the middle of the story, "Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord" (1 Samuel 7:2). This is pivotal to the "why" the Israelites were defeated and the "why" of the stone referred to in the picture. When the people returned to the Lord, Samuel their leader told them if they were returning to the Lord with all their hearts they needed to rid themselves of their other gods and idols.
Fast forward to another battle with the Philistines--the Israelites were afraid and told Samuel (vs. 8), "Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us." This time God intervened in the battle. He sent loud thunder that threw the Philistines into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
Thus the stone. It was at this point that Samuel set the stone he named Ebenezer, or thus far the Lord has helped us.
Getting to my point here--they were doing a half-hearted job when they originally brought the ark of God into the battle (they still had their other "gods"). Have you ever had to do battle in your life? It might be a battle for one of your children. It might be a battle over addiction. It might be a battle over your mind. What happens when you battle in a half-hearted fashion? Yep, you get half-hearted results.
A great by-product of the "thus far the Lord has helped us" is that it didn't stop there. Not only did the Israelites subdue the Philistines, but they restored cities that had been captured and helped deliver their neighbors. Another people group benefited from the Israelites whole-hearted return to the Lord.
Our battles can be long, drawn out and intense, but even our victory isn't ours alone. Our victory can help others caught in the same battle. We want our pain to mean something. We want our pain to make a difference. With God it can and does--our neighbor may find deliverance.
When you overcome a challenge set yourself up an Ebenezer stone of your own. Write in a journal, get a piece of art, hey, set a stone in your yard--do something that will remind you of the time the Lord helped you. That Ebenezer will not only remind you to be thankful, but will also remind you that if He's done it once He will do it again.
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