Samuel Sets Up an Ebenezer Stone to Remember God's Victory
(1 Samuel 7)
The ark of the Lord had been gone from the tabernacle for a long time. It had been captured by the Philistines, and then it was returned. For twenty years, the ark stayed in the house of a man named Abinadab in the town of Kiriath Jearim. During those long years, the people of Israel began to ache in their hearts. They missed the Lord. They mourned and longed for God, and they started to turn their hearts back toward Him.
Then the prophet Samuel spoke to all the people. He gave them a clear and powerful message. "If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts," Samuel said, "then get rid of all the foreign gods you have been worshipping. Throw away the idols of Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. Commit your hearts to the Lord and serve only Him. Then He will rescue you from the Philistines." The people listened to Samuel. They put away their false gods, and they worshipped the Lord only.
Samuel then told all of Israel to gather at a place called Mizpah. He said he would pray for them. So the people gathered together at Mizpah. They drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord in a ceremony of confession. They fasted that day and they confessed their sin, saying, "We have sinned against the Lord." At Mizpah, Samuel became the leader and judge of Israel.
But when the Philistine rulers heard that all of Israel was gathered in one place, they saw their chance to attack. The army of the Philistines marched up to fight against Israel. When the people saw the enemy coming, they were terrified. They begged Samuel, "Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us. Save us from the Philistines!" So Samuel took a young lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to God on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him.
As Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistine army drew near to attack. But that day, God did something amazing. He thundered with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven against the Philistines. The enemy was thrown into such confusion and panic that they ran away in defeat. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and chased the Philistines all the way to Beth Car, striking them down along the way.
After the victory, Samuel wanted to make sure the people would never forget what God had done. He took a large stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named the stone Ebenezer, which means "stone of help." Samuel declared, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." The stone was a powerful, permanent reminder that God had given them the victory. The Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading Israel's land. The Lord's hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel's life, and there was peace.
A Curious Question
Why do you think God chose to help Israel by sending a powerful thunderstorm instead of just making the Philistines disappear in a silent way?
Jesus Connection
The stone Samuel set up was called "The Stone of Help," and it marked a place where God saved His people. The Bible tells us that Jesus is our ultimate "Stone of Help." In 1 Peter 2:4-6, Jesus is called the "living Stone" and the "cornerstone." Just as Samuel's stone reminded Israel of God's past help, Jesus is our constant reminder of God's love. He is the foundation upon which we stand, and He is our helper in every time of trouble.
Jesus is the ultimate helper who came to rescue us from our sins. The victory over the Philistines points forward to the victory Jesus won for us on the cross.
Discussion Questions
- What did Samuel tell the people they had to do before God could help them defeat the Philistines?
- Why was it important for Samuel to set up a stone and name it Ebenezer?
- How does remembering the times God has helped us in the past help us to trust Him for the future?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
- Think about a hard time you went through. Can you see how God was with you or helped you through it?
- Talk with your family about setting up a "family Ebenezer." This could be a story you write down or a special object you keep to remind you of a time God helped your family.
- When you are afraid or in a tough spot, remember how God has helped you before. Tell Him, "Lord, you have helped me this far, and I trust you to help me now."
Memorize God's Word
1 Samuel 7:12: "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'"
Hand Motions:
- Then Samuel took a stone pretend to pick up a heavy rock from the ground.
- and set it up between Mizpah and Shen place the stone on the ground in front of you.
- He named it Ebenezer point to the imaginary stone.
- saying, Thus far the Lord has helped us point upward to God, then spread your hands out wide to show "this far."
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You for being our helper, just like You helped Israel at Mizpah. When we are scared, help us to remember that You are with us. Please forgive us for the times we forget to trust You. Thank you for sending Jesus to be our forever help and our foundation. In Jesus' name, amen.
Craft or Activity
Ebenezer Memory Stone
Each child will create their own "Stone of Help" to remind them of God's help in their own life.
Materials Checklist:
- Cover your table with newspaper to protect it from paint and markers.
- Use the acrylic paint to color your rock. You can make it any color you like.
- Wait for the paint to dry completely.
- Use a permanent marker to write the word "Ebenezer" or the phrase "The Lord has helped me" on the stone.
- If you have room, decorate your stone with small drawings or symbols that remind you of a time God helped you.
- Take your stone home and put it somewhere you will see it, like on your nightstand, to remind you of God's faithfulness.
Effective Teaching Techniques
For Younger Children: Use simple words like "hard times" instead of "adversity." Focus on the concrete idea of the stone as a "reminder." Show them your own craft example and explain what it means to you.
Prep Shortcut: To save time, you can write the key words "Ebenezer" and "Stone of Help" on the rocks before class. This allows more time for painting and decorating.
Classroom Management: Give clear instructions before handing out the paint and rocks. Remind kids that markers are for rocks, not for clothes or skin. Use newspaper placemats to keep desks and tables clean.
For Older Kids: Challenge them to think of a specific time when they saw God's help in their life. Encourage them to write that story on the back of the stone or to draw a picture that tells the story on the front.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did the people have to do before God would help them?
- Samuel told the people to get rid of their foreign gods and idols and to commit their hearts to serving the Lord only.
- How did God defeat the Philistines at Mizpah?
- While Samuel was offering a sacrifice, God sent a mighty thunder against the Philistines that threw them into confusion, and Israel chased them away.
- Why did Samuel name the stone Ebenezer?
- Ebenezer means 'stone of help.' Samuel set it up to remind Israel that 'thus far the Lord has helped us.'