Ichabod Moments

The pandemic situation in the last few months made me reflect a lot from the Scriptures. This is one study that spoke to my aching heart. I feel it is relevant for our present situation where we are fighting the epidemic of our times, the C-19 virus.

 Ichabod means “Where is the Glory?” or "Where is God?" This was uttered by Eli, a priest’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, near the time of her delivery. The ark of God had been captured and her  husband and his brother were killed by the Philistines. Hearing this tragic news Eli, her father-in-law died too. She was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.  She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”. (1 Samuel 4:19-21)

 Poor baby Ichabod. He was born on a day where there were four deaths in his household.  He lost his dad, Phinehas and his mom, his uncle, Hophni and his granddad, Eli on one single day! His mom was right when she said that God’s glory left Israel because the Ark of God, which truly meant the presence of God was captured by the enemies, the Philistines.

 Reasons for Ichabod

The following verses give some clues: 1 Samuel 2:12-26 and 1 Samuel 3: 11-14, wherein we can see a list of the sins of Hophni and Phinehas: They were

• scoundrels (rascals/villains)
• treated the Lord’s offering with disrespect
• coveted
• gluttoned
• were immoral
• blasphemed (had no respect for the Lord)

 Failing to restrain them was clearly Eli, the priest-dad’s mistake which pointed out by God. What a miserable marker painted on a priest of the day! (1 Samuel 3: 11-14)

 A Parallel Story

However, we find a godly couple named, Hannah and Elkanah, who did not belong to a Levite background but were in the parish of Eli. Hannah is known for pouring her pain in the form of a beautiful prayer (1 Samuel 1). She was a woman of faith. Even before God answered her prayers, the Bible says, she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast (1 Samuel 1:18). She kept her vow by dedicating little Samuel as an offering in the temple. She and her husband were role models in visiting the temple together year to year and offering sacrifices. (1 Samuel 2:19)

Results of Ichabod (1 Samuel 4 -6)

• When a priest’s family was in a mess, the loss was not only to them, but to the whole nation.  The Israelites were defeated by Philistines.
• The saddest of all was the loss of the Ark (the presence of God) to the enemies.
• Many died of a disease that spread to the Philistine cities of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. They had undermined the power of Yahweh.
• Even in the Israelite territory 70 people in Beth Shemesh died because they looked into the ark of the LORD. 

What was the Solution? 

A change of situation happened through Samuel who turned to be a revivalist of the nation of Israel. All the people of Israel turned back to the LORD with all their hearts. The LORD’s presence was manifested supernaturally with loud thunders against the Philistines which threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. God became their ever-present help which was when Samuel took a stone and set it, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7: 2- 12

 Reasons for Ebenezer

•  A godly family raising a godly Samuel
• A true repentance following the Chronicler’s model

When … I send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13,14)

It may look like Ichabod moments now. However one thing that is assured in the pandemic season is the presence of God to all who love him. Psalm 23 assures his presence. The Great Commission assures his presence (Matthew 28:20). He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The change should begin in me. It would be a blessing to all if we could take a stock of our lives in the light of this Bible study and seek His face. Our land will be healed for sure. 

We can travel from our seemingly Ichabod moments and reach our Ebenezer milestone soon. Why not?