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 Samuel 7:12

             When I first became a Christian, I told a friend that I wanted something to remind me of my newfound commitment to Christ— something physical, something I could touch, especially during times of temptation, that would remind me to turn the other way, back towards the right and righteous road. At first, he looked puzzled, but then he exclaimed, “Oh, like an ebenezer!” I said, “A whaaat?” It was my turn to be puzzled. He explained to me that an ebenezer stone is something that was used in the Bible as a physical marker, as a reminder of God’s presence, actions, and promises. I said, “Yeah, okay, something like that…” and eventually settled on a cross pendant to wear around my neck. Not exactly an original thought, but it filled the bill reasonably well.

             Except. . . you can take a necklace off. It can be lost or stolen. It can break. Well, I say be careful what you wish for because one day God gave me an ebenezer that I can’t take off or easily forget! Tuesday, September 20, 2022, to be exact, is forever etched in my mind as a horrible and holy day. Around 6:30 PM that evening, I had an accident with a table saw. I nearly cut off the tips of three fingers of my left hand. Emergency room x-rays revealed that the saw had entirely severed the bone of my ring finger, sliced halfway through the distal joint of my middle finger, and nicked the end of my index finger. Only four months later, the images of the bloody pulp that the ends of my fingers had become, in an instant, is a fading memory. And I thank God for that!

             My fingers have healed remarkably well. The scars from the blade are barely visible. But the tips of my middle and ring fingers have started to pull to the left, as the ligaments tighten. This left-crook is clearly visible— to the extent that people have begun to ask me about it— “What happened to your fingers?” My short answer was, “A table saw.” Then I’d flesh out the story, if they had time.

             In the middle of prayer earlier today, I thanked God for healing my fingers. Then I asked for boldness to share the gospel. And that’s when it hit me— God gave me the perfect ebenezer— and also the perfect intro for sharing my testimony with the world!

             Next time, my answer will be, “A table saw. And God.”

             I never would have signed up for an almost-amputation of my fingertips. That’s a close encounter that was a little too close! But as a result of that injury, I prayed more frequently and fervently than I ever had in my life. And I had the amazing experience of God speaking to me through his Word for the first time (see “God Speaks — Amputation Anxiety” post). And I had a first-hand look at the power of God’s healing. And now I have an easy conversation starter— an ebenezer and an ice-breaker all-in-one. (Try’n tell me that God doesn’t have a sense of humor)!

             So, ultimately, I have to say that I’m grateful for the scars.

Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel… Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

— Genesis 28:18-22