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.’” (NKJV)

Samuel picked up a stone and gave it a name.

Ebenezer.

It means “stone of help.”

But to understand why that stone mattered, you have to remember what had happened before it was raised.

Earlier, Israel had gone into battle against the Philistines and lost. Instead of asking why, they came up with a plan:

“Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us.” (1 Samuel 4:3)

They wanted God's help without first returning their hearts to God.

They carried the ark into battle almost as though possessing something associated with God guaranteed His blessing.

It didn't.

Israel was defeated, and the ark was captured.

But then something remarkable happened.

The Philistines placed the ark beside their god Dagon. The next morning, Dagon was lying facedown before it.

They picked their god back up.

The following morning, Dagon had fallen again—this time with his head and hands broken off.

The Philistines had to pick up their god. The God of Israel needed no one to pick Him up.

Eventually the ark was returned.

Then in chapter 7, Samuel called Israel to something they hadn't done before:

“Return to the LORD with all your hearts.”

They put away their idols and turned back to God.

And when the Philistines attacked again, this time Israel didn't depend upon the ark as a substitute for relationship with God.

They cried out to Him.

And the LORD delivered them.

That's when Samuel raised the stone.

“Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

I love those words.

Thus far.

Samuel wasn't saying there would never be another battle.

He wasn't saying Israel had arrived or that everything ahead would be easy.

He was marking a moment and saying:

Look how far God has brought us.

That stone stood as a reminder that Israel's story wasn't ultimately about how strong they had been.

It was about how faithful God had been.

Sometimes we become so focused on how far we still have to go that we forget how far God has already brought us.

There may still be battles ahead.

There may still be prayers you're waiting to see answered.

But take a moment and look backward.

Where has God provided?

Where has He corrected you?

Where has He carried you through something you weren't sure you would survive?

Where has He shown you mercy when you didn't deserve it?

For the Christian, there is one place above all others where we can look back and remember God's faithfulness: the cross.

Paul writes, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

When tomorrow feels uncertain, look back at what God has already done through Jesus.

The cross reminds us:

The God who has brought us this far can be trusted with what comes next.

Truth to Stay Anchored In: Don't become so consumed with how far you still have to go that you forget how faithfully God has brought you this far. Remember your Ebenezer: “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

1 Samuel 3:10 — “Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears.’” (NKJV)

Samuel heard his name in the middle of the night.

“Samuel!”

He immediately ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

But Eli hadn’t called.

It happened again.

And then again.

Samuel could hear the voice of God without yet recognizing that it was God speaking.

That makes sense when you notice how chapter 3 begins:

“And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” (1 Samuel 3:1)

Israel had grown spiritually dull. Eli’s sons were corrupt, worship had been dishonored, and hearing from God had become rare.

Yet God was still speaking.

And He chose to speak to a young boy lying down in the tabernacle.

After the third time, Eli finally understood what was happening and told Samuel that if the voice came again, he should answer:

“Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.”

Then God called again.

“Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel responded:

“Speak, for Your servant hears.”

There’s something beautiful about that response.

Samuel didn’t begin by asking God to explain everything.

He simply made himself available to listen.

“Speak.”

And:

“Your servant hears.”

We often say that we want to hear God’s voice. But sometimes what we really mean is that we want God to tell us what we want to know.

Samuel shows us a different posture.

Before asking, “What is God saying to me?” perhaps we should ask, “Am I willing to hear whatever He says?”

And today, we don’t have to lie awake wondering whether a voice in the night belongs to God.

God has given us His Word.

The same chapter that says the word of the LORD was rare ends by saying:

“For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 3:21)

Don’t miss that.

God revealed Himself through His Word.

And ultimately, God has revealed Himself most fully in Jesus. John calls Him “the Word” who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

Notice that hearing is connected to following.

The goal isn’t merely to recognize God’s voice.

It’s to respond when He speaks.

So open His Word with Samuel’s posture today:

“Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.”

Then when His Word corrects you, receive it.

When it encourages you, believe it.

When it commands you, obey it.

Because sometimes the question isn’t whether God has spoken.

It’s whether we’re listening.

Truth to Stay Anchored In: God has spoken through His Word and ultimately through His Son. Come to Him with a listening heart—ready not only to hear what He says, but to follow wherever His voice leads.