Thus Far Has the Lord Helped Me

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'” ~ 1 Samuel 7:12

A few years ago, Scott and I headed out on a warm July day, to pick up trash in our neighborhood. Who wouldn't, right? Well, as we reached the halfway point, we saw a terrible accident: motorcycle versus car. Those rarely turn out well, and this one was no exception. The rider had life-threatening injuries; I wasn't certain he would make it until the ambulance arrived. Traffic was still trying to get around us and all the debris, people were frantically calling for the ambulance, folks were trying to make sure the driver at fault did not leave the scene, the motorcycle had to be very carefully but immediately moved, the victim's injuries were causing him to be combative. So much was going on, everything seemed critical. Everything required the power and presence of Jesus. So, that's how I began to pray. "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," over and over. As I prayed, I just imagined Him covering the situation with His precious, loving care. I imagined Him standing above it all, calming things down, bringing peace and clarity to us all. I imagined Jesus touching the man's body and healing his injuries.

That moment is my Ebeneezer. You see, 1 Samuel 7:7-12, records a time when massive, deadly Philistine forces declared war on Israel. God's people were terrified, and begged Samuel, God's prophet, to entreat God for help on their behalf. As Samuel was before the Lord, the Philistine war machine approached. But God "thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines," and they were overcome -- they ran like frightened children with the men of Israel hot on their heels! Samuel then took a stone, setting it up as a monument to what God will do for His people. He called it Ebeneezer, "stone of help".

When I am confronted with grief, or pain, or I come before the Lord with the needs of others, I remember that day. I remember the name of Jesus spoken over a chaotic situation, and bringing peace; the name of Jesus spoken over some bystanders, bringing level-headed thinking -- and an off duty EMT (!); the name of Jesus spoken over a critically injured man, bringing healing and health. Jesus is my help, and that warm July day marks what He will do for His people.