The aspect of God’s character as Jehovah Jireh, The LORD who will provide, is revealed in the story of God testing Abraham’s faith and commitment. God instructed Abraham to do something which was counter-intuitive and appeared to destroy all of his hopes and God-given vision for the future. Abraham did not falter but immediately responded with obedience, trusting that the LORD would provide, that God’s promise to him would not fail.
Jehovah Jireh Scripture
The account of God testing Abraham’s faith and commitment is found in Genesis 22. His son Ishmael, by Hagar, had been sent away, and his only son by Sarah, Isaac, was now a young man. God spoke to Abraham, with a strange command, and told him to take Isaac to Moriah to sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.
But God had promised Abraham, with an everlasting covenant, that through Isaac his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Abraham did not hesitate, early the next morning he set off to do what God had commanded. He took two servants, his son Isaac, some provisions, and wood for the sacrificial fire. On the third day, they reached the region and Abraham saw in the distance the mountain where God was leading him.
He told the servants to stay at this point, while he took Isaac, the wood, fire, and a knife to the mountain. Abraham speaks words of faith to his servants, that he and Isaac were going to the mountain to worship God – and then we will come back to you.
God Will Provide a Lamb for the Sacrifice
Abraham lived by faith, he believed and trusted in God. Even in this ultimate test, He believed that God would provide a way, that God’s word to Him would not fail, God would fulfil His promise. Abraham had an understanding of this aspect of God’s character as Jehovah Jireh, but soon he would know it as a reality by his own experience.
As Abraham and Isaac set off for the mountain to worship God, Isaac questioned his father, ‘where was the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham replied confidently that God would provide! Finally, they arrive at the place and Abraham builds the altar, arranges the wood, and then ties up his son and places him on the top. It is at the final moment, when he is about to kill Isaac, that God intervenes.
An angel calls out to Abraham and tells him not to lay a hand on the boy. God knows that Abraham is fully committed to Him, he has not held anything back, he was willing to sacrifice his only son if that was required.
Nearby caught in the bushes is a ram and Abraham takes the ram as the sacrificial offering in place of his son.
So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.
Genesis 22:14
What Does the Lord will Provide Mean?
God has provided all that we need for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice, that His death brings forgiveness for our sins, we are given the right to be called children of God. We become part of God’s family, and part of the fulfilment of His promise to Abraham.
We are Abraham’s spiritual descendants when we choose to live by faith, confirmed in our actions, as we trust in the promises of God and His love and faithfulness to us.
There may be times of testing in our lives when we are called to trust God beyond our understanding. We may experience a season where we need to give everything to God, all that we value, even our loved ones. It may be hard to see how things are going to work out, and the future may look uncertain – we can feel at the end of ourselves. But in our moment of greatest need, God is faithful, and as we place our trust in Him, He will provide the way.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
By experience, we learn the peace and assurance that comes in knowing God as Jehovah Jireh, my provider!
Jehovah Jireh – His Provision
Jesus taught us to pray and depend on God for our daily needs. That in times of difficulty and hardship, we are not to worry, God knows what is needed and He will provide. The promise is for our needs, not all of our wants, but God gives generously with an abundance so that we might share what we have received.
Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits
Psalm 103:2
If you are going through a season of hardship right now, hold on, keep on believing and trusting in God. From my own experience, I know that often it is right at the last moment when all our other options have been removed that God intervenes. Do not worry, needlessly, instead remember how much you are loved by the Lord!
Jehovah Jireh – His Presence
God has provided a way for us to enter His presence, He provided the lamb the sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:11-12
Jesus came to be ‘the way’ to the Father, and our lives are transformed with the knowledge of His love for us. Jesus has promised to be with us always, whatever we are going through, we are never alone.
Jehovah Jireh – His Protection
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children
Psalm 103:17
It is good to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness, to look back at those times when we can clearly see His protection over our lives. This brings peace and assurance for the future. God knows what lies ahead and He is working all things together for our eternal good. We can trust, even when we don’t understand. We can trust when we can’t see the way forward, when things don’t work out the way we think they will. God is faithful and when we give all that we hold dear to Him, at just the right time, He will prove Himself to be Jehovah Jireh, the LORD who provides.
You may also like to read:
Jehovah Nissi – The LORD is my Banner
Jehovah Rapha – The God who Heals
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This is the exact passage I have been studying this week! I love your take on it. He is indeed our wonderful Provider! Blessings to you today, my friend!