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.” (I Samuel 7:12ESV)
Rolling Stone
Maps created after battles vary greatly. Not merely because any such map depends on the memory of the mapmaker, but a battle is very fluid. It is difficult to know exactly where important parts of a military endeavor took place at exactly what moment. Battles do not follow printed arrows and lines on a map.
When the Lord led the Israelites to victory over the Philistines, Samuel placed a Memorial at the location of that victory. He called it a Stone of Remembering. “THIS far,” Samuel proclaimed, “The LORD has helped us.”
An excellent statement of praise.
But to be accurate, Samuel should have placed another stone the next day, because the Lord helped them to that point, too.
And another…
And another…
All the way to the Cross…
All the way through the empty tomb…
All the way to your day of birth…
All the way to today…
All the way to THIS moment.
Because the Lord does not only help at particular moments. He continues to help… and helps again… and will help again.
Notice today how often, in BIG ways and little, the Lord helps you.
And lift up rolling stones of remembrance.