Today is the Emmanuel Congregation's 19th birthday. There is much to give thanks for and many amazing highlights in our journey thus far. But I don't want to draw too much attention to the congregation, but rather to the true Emmanuel - "God with us!"
Our text passage is part of the saga of the Israelites being reckless with the Ark of the Covenant, treating it like a good luck charm and taking it into battle like a lucky rabbit's foot.
The ark gets captured by the Philistines and is eventually restored to Israel. But the conflict with the Philistines continues and after long desperation the people gather together to humble themselves before the Lord. But as they do this, the Philistines attack!
Samuel continues to make the offerings before the people and God thunders out against the Philistines throwing them into disarray and confusion and the Israelites simply have to pursue their fleeing enemy.
Along the way Samuel erects a stone, "Ebenezer: - Thus far has the Lord delivered us."
It is worth celebrating milestones, victories and birthdays - especially if it allows us the opportunity to acknowledge and praise the God who has brought us "thus far."
Please join me in a prayer of thanks and praise to a God who has brought a congregation through so much in the last 19 years!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
