The Ebenezer Ten Pound Note

In a small cemetery I once visited, there is a tombstone to the memory of a soldier, Major General William Sage, who died in 1864.

It has the following inscription.

. . . to the fatherless and the widow a protector

To the poor a brother

So honest, truth-seeking and noble a man

So generous, kind and firm a friend

That many mourn . . .

He has fought the good fight. He has finished his course.

He has kept the faith.

Henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness.

What a great testimony!

I wonder how many lives he touched in the course of his seventy years, that would bear witness to his protection, support, kindness, and generosity. I find the words inspirational, but the purpose of the stone is not just to inspire, but to help the reader remember who William Sage was.

There are several accounts in the Bible, in which stones were used for a similar purpose. Abraham and Jacob were particularly fond of erecting memorials. Abraham set up altars at Shechem (Gen 12), Bethel (Gen 13), the Oak of Mamre in Hebron (Gen 13), and Mount Moriah (Gen 22). Perhaps the most well-known memorial is associated with Jacob’s famous dream encounter with the Lord. Upon waking, he sets up a pillar, pours oil on it, and names the place Bethel—the house of God.

In one of her darkest hours, Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, also has a dramatic encounter with God, in the form of the angel of the Lord. She may not have set up an altar, but she gives the well where it took place a special name. She calls it Beer-lahai-roi, meaning ‘The Well of the Living One who sees me’.

She’s an abused woman, evicted from her home, on the run, and yet she names the place, ‘The Well of the Living One who sees me’.

Such is the mercy and compassion of our gracious God.

MEMORIALS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Memorials continued to be a feature in the history of Israel.

The Ten Commandments, of course, were written on tablets of stone. Joshua set up twelve stones—one for each tribe of Israel—after they had crossed the River Jordan on dry land. They stood as a reminder to the people of God’s faithfulness and covenant towards them (Joshua 4). Then in 1 Samuel, we read the following verse.

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.’

1 Sam 7.12

Samuel set up a stone in a public place, literally a ‘stone’ (eben) of ‘help’ (ezer), to remind the people of how God had routed the Philistines. It was an amazing deliverance and worthy of remembrance. For Samuel and those who witnessed this extraordinary act of God, this Ebenezer served as a focus to remind them of what God had done, and who he was.

OUR OWN EBENEZERS

When our circumstances seem overwhelming, we need to fix our gaze on the one who can change those circumstances. We may be aware of this truth, but it’s not always easy to do. Especially in the middle of the night when the ‘worry wolves’ prowl! How easy it is to forget what God has already done. How inconstant we are that we so easily lose sight of his character and his promises.

Like the Israelites, I know there are times when I need an Ebenezer—a ‘stone of help’ to redirect my thoughts and heart. I need to be reminded that my God is all of the following and more.

• Heavenly Father.

• Almighty God.

• Everlasting Father.

• Wonderful Counsellor.

• Prince of Peace.

• He never slumbers or sleeps.

• He watches over all our comings and goings.

• He is full of compassion.

• He is a ‘mountain-moving’ God, who can do more than we can possibly imagine.

I wonder if you have an Ebenezer? It could be a stone, a pebble in your pocket, a verse of Scripture, a song. Frankly, it can be anything that helps you to fix your eyes upon Jesus.

THE EBENEZER TEN POUND NOTE

When God called us from serving in the local church to ‘pastoring pastors and their spouses’, the path before us was unclear. All we knew was that we were being called deeper into a place of dependency on the Lord. Before we left the church, a dear elderly lady, who had very little, pressed a ten pound note into the hands of my husband, Rowland. It was such a precious, sacrificial gift. Just looking at it was a reminder that God saw us and would provide for us.

He saw us—not just an Ebenezer but our very own Beer-lahai-roi moment.

When we got home, we discussed what to do with the ten pound note. We decided that if we were down to our last ten pounds, then this very note would be the last money we would spend. Of course, we have never needed to spend it. The Lord has provided in remarkable and miraculous ways.

So, we’ve framed it. It hangs on our living room wall as our Ebenezer. It speaks of God’s grace, provision, and faithfulness. It calls us to be thankful and to worship.

What about you?

Do you easily forget what God has done for you? Are you prone to wander? Do you need a reminder of just how good God is, how faithful, how merciful he is? If you do, then I encourage you to select your own Ebenezer. A stone, a significant memento that calls to mind what God has done for you. Perhaps even a ten pound note?

Life can be tough; we all know that. We need hope. We need reminders of the faithfulness of our God, who holds us in his hand. Let me finish with these words of hope from Lamentations.

Let them stand as a reminder.

Inscribe them somewhere, perhaps, as an Ebenezer today.

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.

Lam 3.21-24