1 Samuel 7:12 “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.””
As the Philistines were attacking Israel Samuel cried out to God for help. 1 Samuel 7:9 says the Lord answered him and in verses 10 and 11 God thundered from heaven so loud that the Philistines were in great confusion and they retreated as the Israelites began to chase them. Recognizing the great work of God Samuel set up a memorial (a stone) and called the memorial Ebenezer as a testimony that the LORD had been their helper.
A quick survey of just the book of Psalms finds one of the descriptions of God is He is our helper. In numerous verses in Psalms, you will find the plea for help. For instance, Psalms 30:10 “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!” As well numerous verses tell of how God helped such as Psalms 54:4 which says, “Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.”
How are you at asking for help? How are you at asking God for help? Are you able to humbly cry out like Samuel or the Psalmist for help? Are you able to identify with Asa in 2 Chronicles 14:11 which says, “Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!?
With this short devotional, I want to encourage you to be empowered to ask for help from God and not just because you are facing something you can’t handle but to ask for His help in everything you are doing. Did you know that God rides the heavens to help you? It is true. Deuteronomy 33:26 says, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds.”
Asking for help is saying to God that you trust Him. One of my early verses to memorize regarding prayer was 1 Chronicles 5:20. It tells of how the Israelites were helped by God as they cried out to Him in the battle they were having. “And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.
While seeking to encourage you to ask God for help I would also like to encourage you to acknowledge God for His help. How are you at saying thank you to God for His help? That is what Samuel is doing in 1 Samuel 7:12. The stone of remembrance was a testimony and a thank you to God. Samuel was acknowledging that without God’s help, they would have never succeeded.
Pointed question: are you acknowledging God’s help with your life? Moses went so far as to acknowledge God’s help that he named his son Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); Exodus 18:4
Continue Strong asking God for help and acknowledging His help,
And remember to DATE the Word