"Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."(1Samul 7:12)
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The name "Ebenezer" has its interpretation as "stone of help." This stone was to remind the Israelites of how God rescued them in the hands of Philistines-their enemies. The Israelites were suffering in the hands of Philistines for quite long time of battle between them. But, Samuel as a pillar and leader of the Israelites trusted in God with all his heart and might. So, he was admonishing his people saying that for that for quite long time that the Philistines have followed us, you should therefore return unto the Lord with your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtorath from among you and serve him only, then He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines(1Samuel 7:3). Here, I must emphasized that because of the selfish interest of the Israelites thinking that they can do it without the Almighty God, so they put their trust in these lesser god and were struggling among themselves.
After Samuel gathered the Israelites and announced to them what God can do for them if they really serve Him with all their hearts and might, they listened in good faith and finally turned unto the Lord God. Following this, Samuel prayed vehemently to God cast his mind unto how the Philistines are doing to them. Through this Samuel again offered a burning sacrifice of lamb and cried before God to listen to their humble prayers he and his people of Israel are pouring before him. Finally, the Lord God answered their prayers and set confusing and misunderstanding between the Philistines and they could not come closer the Israelites(1Samuel 7:9).
Relating this struggling to our lives, many battle ocured both physical and Spiritual, of which some could be unbearable without the intervention of God. Some of these battle were sickness, poverty, accident, family issues, debts, lust, imprisonment, affliction encounter with the devil and many of these nature. In all these life changes, God has seen us through from January 2018 up to December 2018. We will say thank you God, Ebenezer this is how far you have brought us. Through the ups and downs in life, God has delivered us safely. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ-the world saviour is yet to be born and this signifies that there are more grace and mercies awaiting us. So, we still hold unto our faith strongly and trust him all the times.
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There are two remarkable things that the Israelites did which went well for them, upon listening to the advice from Samuel, that is trusting God with all their heart and might, and offering sacrifices to God almighty. As we within the Christmas festivity, we shouldn't let the joy outweigh are responsibilities as Christians, but we should rather hold unto our faith in God. We sacrifice our time and energy for God's work. Though the Christ birth is happiness and celebration, but we should do this in relation to God's word and not things that are contrary to God's word. We should also not forget to share the little that we have with others, especially the less endowed ones, so that we will be blessed. The Christ birth is also about giving arms as the three wise men did, by donating something to Jesus Christ-the new born King.
