IS IT TIME TO REVISIT EBENEZER?
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field........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. So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel.
( 1 Samuel 4:1,2 and 7:12,13)
As a boy I recall the neighborhood bully challenging me to fight him and then giving me a pretty good whipping. It was embarrassing and demoralizing at the time. Afterwards, my father even gave me a spanking for not fighting harder. The good news however is, I resolved to fight harder the next time, and sure enough I came back the next time and "I" gave "him" a pretty good whipping.
In the passage above, the Israelites were soundly defeated by the Philistines after staying in a place called "Ebenezer." The Israelites lost 4,000 men. Not only that, they later lost the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines. Some 20 years later however, Israel had another chance to redeem itself against the Philistines. Upon Samuel praying to the Lord on Israel's behalf, the Lord showed favor to His people and they defeated and subdued the Philistines. The Philistines did not come anymore into the territory of Israel.
In our lives, an "Ebenezer" is a combination of events that start with getting beat up; but ends with God delivering us from our troubles. God helps us come back from past failures and difficulties. Behind every spiritual victory lies many a trial, and sometimes a defeat. Sometimes the Lord brings us through hardships to lead us to victory.
I have had several Ebenezers in my life, and I am sure that you have too. One thing I continue to remember however, is that we should never give up. Is it time for you to revisit some situation in your life that did not work out the first time? You gave up thinking it would ever happen differently. Well just remember, with God, you can always revisit your Ebenezer. And when you do, deliverance is right around the corner. Hallelujah!
