For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
God's people finally come back to Him with all their hearts - and set up a stone to remember His help.
Today's Story
For twenty years, God's people had been struggling. So Samuel called everyone together and said, “If you're really returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then get rid of all your fake gods and serve only the true God!” And the people did it! They put away their idols and turned their whole hearts back to God.
But just then, their enemies the Philistines came to attack! The people were afraid. “Samuel, keep praying for us!” they cried. So Samuel prayed and cried out to God for help. And God answered with great power, and Israel was rescued. God saved His people because they turned back to Him.
After the victory, Samuel did something special. He set up a big stone and gave it a name: “Ebenezer,” which means “Stone of Help.” “We'll remember this,” Samuel said. “Up to this point, the LORD has helped us!” The stone would remind everyone how faithfully God had helped them.
It's good to set up “remembering stones” in our own lives - to look back and say, “Thus far, God has helped me!” God has been faithful in the past, and He'll keep helping us.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- The people put away their idols and turned their whole hearts to God. What does it mean to come back to God with your whole heart?
- Samuel's stone helped everyone remember God's help. What are some times God has helped YOUR family?
- “Up to this point, the Lord has helped us.” How does remembering God's past help give us hope for the future?