Background:
In the Old Testament God is referred to as Yahweh, also pronounced Jehovah, and translated in English as ‘Lord’. There are seven occasions where Jehovah is used with a suffix which describes a different aspect of the nature of God.
Today we are going to look at Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Provides.
Bible Reading: Genesis 22:11-14
The angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said.
"Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God,
because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.
He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
So Abraham called that place Jehovah Jireh, The LordWill Provide.
And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lordit will be provided."
A Reflection:
Abraham’s faith in God is challenged when he is asked to sacrifice his longed-for son Isaac to God. At the last minute God provides a ram for the sacrifice and Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh which means The Lord Provides.
Here with Abraham God reveals to us that it is his nature to provide. Throughout the bible we see him providing for his people, culminating in the New Testament as he mirrors Abraham by providing his own Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sin.
Imagine for a moment both the anguish that Abraham experienced as he prepared to sacrifice his son and the joy he felt as God provided a ram in his place.
Imagine now the anguish that God the Father felt as he sacrificed his Son for us. I wonder how this makes you feel, and how you might respond.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus reminds us that God is still our provider. If we are inclined to worry about life, what we will eat or drink or wear, he says to us, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.’ (Matthew 6:33-34)
What are the things that you worry about today? They might be financial, physical, emotional or spiritual. God the Provider has promised that he will supply all your needs as you seek first his kingdom.
Pray:
Father God I thank you for all that you have provided for my life and my salvation.
Help me to seek your kingdom each day and to trust in you to provide for all my needs. Amen
Who is there like you?
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