What are Ebenezer stones?
When people think of the term Ebenezer they probably think of “A Christmas Carol.” In it, Ebenezer Scrooge goes through a trying night and comes out on the other side thankful for life and for the people in it.
In truth his life becomes an amazing example of what an Ebenezer stone actually is.
The term originally comes from the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible:
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named Eben-ezer saying, “Thus far Adonai has helped us.””
1 Samuel 7:12 TLV
Translated literally Ebenezer means: “Stone of help”
It was a reminder of the victory that came when the people of Israel trusted in the Lord… For a time after this: the people of Israel did remember the Lord’s victory through Samuel… and continued to be victorious as they trusted in God.
I have found this principle to be true… if I remember the Lord and His victories in my life… even when I initially fail: I come out victorious.
Ebenezer stones are designed to help facilitate this remembrance.
We have come to honor that allegiance– Haldir
In the movie “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” there is a scene that is very powerful. The people at Helm’s Deep are very scared because an army of 10,000 is marching on them… and they have little hope.
That is, until an army of Elves marches to the gates of Helm’s Deep. After they march in their Leader speaks up:
I bring word from Lord Elrond of Rivendell. An Alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance.
Haldir
The tone of the movie turns from desperate to hopeful. The Elves remember the allegiance they have… and come to honor it. In this they bring hope to men.
In the story… we turn backwards… to remember something that happens in the past… and it gives hope for the future.
This is precisely how Ebenezer stones work… the only difference is WE remember what God has done for us… and the army in question is God Himself and the army of the LORD…Which is always fighting on our behalf . He is always fighting on our behalf.
I have various Ebenezer stones laying around my house… a staff from a prayer journey… a shirt purchased for me on another prayer walk. It reminds me that God knew me even when I don’t know me. Somewhere, I have a plate that has the signed names of the community God gave me in Northern Michigan (see below). There is a red ball that was given to me by an observant pastor to mark a moment where God showed me mercy… Sitting on top of our clothes shelf sits the cake tooper from our wedding. This reminds me of what a miracle it was that God put Jordan and I together… and how he kept us together.
Each of these remind me who God is… They remind me about how God came through.
Do you want to know what my BIGGEST Ebenezer stones are?
Let me tell you a story.
Honey, I think that giant 17 is important-Me
Two days after Jordan and I got married we were walking along the dock in Cheboygan, Michigan when I looked up and this sign caught my eye. I looked at Jordan and told her I thought this giant number 17 is significant. She told me it was probably cause we were married in the year 2017…. I was like… no that’s not it, but ok.
Fast forward a couple of months. Jordan and I are driving between Petoskey and Boyne City for who knows what. We had just found out we were pregnant with our first born Haddie.
Something she said (I don’t remember what) peaked my attention. “Wait, how many kids DO you want?”
Jordan goes silent.
To give some context. Though Jordan and I had been really good friends and then best friends for a while… we went from dating to engaged to married in a matter of six weeks. There were MANY important topics in that time…so this one hadn’t come up yet.
“Honey, you really need to tell me.”
“Ok… I want 17… I want to have 7 and adopt 10. I’ve wanted this ever since I was a little girl.”
I thought about it for a moment and replied: “Sounds good.”1
You see… God had prepared me for this moment. I myself am adopted and I come from a larger family. I’ve had my own encounters with orphans, adoptees, and troubled youth. Jordan’s desire… though seeming to be outlandish on the surface, made complete and total sense to this man’s heart.
Later I remembered the giant number 17 in the water and remembered that that was the day we conceived Haddie. The giant 17 event happened only hours after God literally spoke Haddie into existence.
Yes, I understand the science involved.
But that morning in my prayer time, after Jordan and I had been intimate God whispered Haddie’s name to me for the first time since Jordan and I had talked about her while dating.
I prayed for my daughter for the first time… literally as God was getting busy creating her.
In this season…. My kids are both my most important Ebenezer stones AND my big challenge. And that’s actually kinda normal in the Bible.
God gives Abraham a promise of a son… and then he waits years. With little and big reminders along the way.
God promises David kingship… that also takes years. With little and big reminders and miracles along the way.
The promises themselves are something we need to mark as stones… the little reminders and small victories are things we need to mark as stones.
I started this blog because I remembered a promise God spoke to me about sharing His heart as Father with others…. This was a very specific promise in a difficult time in my life… At the time I wasn’t all that connected to His heart as Father… in that same season God spoke to a spiritual father of mine and said: How is Jonathan ever going to be a father, if He’s never had a father.
When my spiritual father told me this: I didn’t even understand what He was saying!
A decade later… I am literally walking in fulfillment of those promises and seeing those questions answered. God has taught me about His heart as Father and showed me who He is as Dad: THROUGH making me a Dad.
Being a Dad is challenging…. But every time I look into their eyes I remember that God promised them to me… I remember the things He has spoken about each of them.2
And then I remember that He who called me to this… will get us through it…. if only I trust in Him!
So may you Hear promises from our Heavenly Father… May you believe them… May you Act on them… and may we declare with mutual joy:
“Thus far He has been our help.”
Footnotes
1. Upon reading this post to Jordan she corrected my wording. She remembers this moment well because it was the first time someone had told her that her desire sounded good.
2. For more details check out: The ClingOn Assistant and My Little Golden Whirlwind
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