Knowing the Lord provides can be faith stretching. We like to be in control of our lives, but when we begin to follow the Lord, we need to turn the reins over to Him. One of the names of God found in the Bible is Jehovah Jireh, or God Provides. It is first mentioned in a story of Abraham.
The Lord Provides for Abraham
Abraham was asked by the Lord to sacrifice his long-awaited son, Isaac. Abraham did not question God, but early the next day left for Mount Moriah where he was to sacrifice his son. In Genesis 22:4-5 Abraham gives interesting insight into his trust in the Lord. The Lord has told him in Genesis 15:5 he will be the father of many people as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham believed God so he knew somehow the Lord provides.
If he sacrificed Isaac, was he expecting him to be raised from the dead? The Bible does not say, but it does say they will worship together and come back in Genesis 22:5. Abraham said the Lord provides and He did in a way he was not expecting. He will do the same way for you!
Abraham’s Story
Genesis 22: 7“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,”
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Jehovah Jireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”[1]
The Lord Provides Jesus for Us.
Abraham was willing to give his son as a sacrifice, but at the last-minute God provided a substitute in the form of a lamb. We deserved to die for our sins. For years, people offered lambs as a sacrifice for their sins at the Temple. But this was only a temporary solution.
God would send His Son, Jesus, to be the ultimate sacrifice for us. John 1: 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world![2]
At the same time lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple, Jesus was dying on the cross. His sacrifice would pay our sin price once and for all. Hebrews 9: 12 With his (Jesus’) own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.[3]
The Lord Continues to Provide
God obviously has provided salvation through His Son, Jesus, for us. But the Lord provides for our lives. We have many Bible examples of God’s provision. God provided food in the wilderness in the form of manna. Joshua received unusual battle plans to help him defeat Jericho. God gave David shelter and protection while Saul was chasing him. Nehemiah had a God given vision to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
If you have trouble trusting Jehovah Jireh, continue to seek God for more faith. He will answer that prayer.
Prayer
Thank You, that You have provided all that is needed for holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus, and that in Him I have all that I need to live godly in Christ Jesus. Keep me ever looking to Jesus and keep me I pray, from straying away from Your loving embrace.
Thank You that You have promised to supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory and thank You that You loved me so much that You sent Your only begotten Son to die in my place on the cross and to pay the price for my sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [4]
To hear more how the Lord provides, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-abraham
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.