Stone of Help, Part 1
I hike quite a bite around southern Ohio, whether it’s one of the trails here in Ross County’s parks or nature preserves, or on the Buckeye Trail that weaves through the hills and valleys in Pike or Highland County. I enjoy hiking with my wife and my dog, Tanner. Each year I make a special trek to the top of Mt. LeConte with some hiking buddies. It’s a challenging trail but once you reach the summit the view is spectacular.
One of my habits is looking for unique rocks to represent my time on a particular trail. Right now, I have a box full of rocks which I have marked and dated. Hocking Hills provides numerous varieties to pick up; and the trails along creeks and streams afford an opportunity to find some hidden gems amongst all the common stones.
Recently, I found a hand sized stone my eyes caught from a short distance while walking a creek bank. I knew it was special before I even picked it up. In the sea of common, smooth, and monolithic creek stones, this one had a story to tell. Once I felt the heaviness and distinctive surface contours in my hands, I realized God and humans had touched this stone before me.
The story of Samuel and the Israelites at Mizpah brings to light the on again and off again relationship between God and God’s people, which enfolds a Ebenezer stone. The Israelites at this point in the story have stumbled through some rocky times. Their nemesis, the Philistines, have them on the run after two previous defeats in battle.
Samuel asks the people to gather at Mizpah to reconnect with God. Mizpah is the place where Samuel leads the nation in corporate repentance and worship. In the book of Genesis, Mizpah is mentioned. Jacob and Laban make a pile of stones to mark their agreement between them. Mizpah means “watchtower,” an emotional bond, the gravity of which was hard to articulate. God was a watching witness to their oath. They turned their oath into a prayer. You may have heard the Mizpah prayer before: “May the Lord watch over you and me while we are absent one from another.” They asked God to be in the center of their relationship as they live, love and journey together.
When I meet with couples seeking counseling for their marital issues and trouble, I hear both the husband and wife say they have grown apart and they are unable to communicate. Finally, they mention the lack of an emotional connection. In other words, they needed to make a journey to Mizpah. They seek a stronger emotional bond as a couple.
I sometimes share with them an image of a large circle called “Us with a Future” and inside that circle are two smaller ones. One represents the husband and the other the wife. Couples with a common and mutually agreed upon future fosters intimacy and excitement. They talk about their hopes and dreams and create a hope-filled journey sealing a stronger emotional bond. Troubled relationships, on the other hand, have one spouse or both outside the larger circle only thinking of himself or herself.
The Israelites had another nemesis, themselves. As much as God’s hand of blessing was on them, they quite frequently blazed their own trail of selfishness and idolatry; and turned their backs on God. They left God out of their future.
Samuel, the spiritual leader of the People, inserts himself in the situation. Samuel, at this time in his life, is seen as the man with some serious clout. He is the one that has the connection with God; and the people believe God hears Samuel’s prayers. He becomes the intercessor in the people’s behalf.
Samuel’s intercession results in three miracles: One, the Israelites sins are forgiven after their confession. Two, the Philistines panicked because of God’s thunder. Three, God hears Samuel’s prayer and helps bring victory to the Israelites.
To commemorate and celebrate the breakthrough, “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” What is an Ebenezer? It means “stone of help”, or “Stone of Remembrance” Shen means “crag,” a tooth-shaped rock. You might say they the Israelites were between a rock and hard place and God rescued them from total failure, an Ebenezer moment!
The purpose of Samuel’s alter was to remind the Israelites of what God had done for them and what God will do.. In a time when God had removed his presence from them and they had experienced defeat, they needed a visual reminder of redemption. This was a way for Samuel and the people to give God thanks for the gift of a miracle.
Samuel chose to set up the Ebenezer stone of remembrance in a special place, located between Mizpah and Shen. Shen was most likely the very place where the Philistines were defeated by the Israelites. An interesting fact related to the location of Samuel’s Ebenezer is “Samuel’s stone would stand midway between the two scenes of battle: the battle gained by him on his knees of Mizpah, and the battle gained by the Israelites when they fell on the Philistines demoralized by the thunderstorm,” writes Dr. Blaikie.
How might couples apply the Ebenezer moment in their relationship? The purpose of Samuel setting up an Ebenezer stone of remembrance was to help God’s people remember the times of reconnection and the times when God’s hand protected them. “Us with a Future” can transform a couple’s relationship with the needed breakthrough to move them forward on their relationship journey. When have you experienced an Ebenezer moment in your relationship? Ebenezer moments are times when you know without a doubt that God has intervened in your life. You realize that only God could have allowed the outcomes you have experienced. His help has brought you through.
This would be a good opportunity to hear each other’s story to see how they align and create an Ebenezer moment together.