THE LORD WHO PROVIDES – JEHOVAH-JIREH
“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh” (Genesis 22:14)
The meaning of “Jehovah-Jireh” is The Lord Who Provides. The name is literally, The Lord Who Sees, or The Lord Who Will See To It. This is what we long for when we have a need that is personal and special; One who will see to our needs and provide for us. This is what Jehovah-Jireh means; the Lord Who will see to it that my every need is met. One Who knows my need because He sees. One Who is able to meet my need in just the right time as He did for Abraham, and One Who can meet it fully. For Abraham, it was the ram caught in the thicket that was offered in Isaac's place. For us it is whatever we need. “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (Psalms 34:15-16).
In Genesis 22 we have the account of God telling Abraham to take his only son and offer him as a sacrifice and burnt offering. This was a test and God was not going to allow him to complete this assignment. When Abraham’s adult son asked him, where was the sacrifice, he said: “My son, God will provide (Jehovah-Jireh) himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22: 6-8). At the time Isaac was going to be offered up, God provided a ram. “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Genesis 22:10-12).
Abraham believe that even if he had offered Isaac, God was able to raise him from the dead. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:17-19). God provided His Son as a sacrifice for you and me, and raised Him from the dead as he will you and me one day. Christ has already made provision for your salvation: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
From these scriptures and others we can learn several things. We can learn that God’s provision will come in the time of our greatest need. Where will He provide? He will provide for us “in the mount”, that is the place of our trial. When you cannot see the answer to your need, the Lord will see you and see to your need. He will be your Jehovah-Jireh. “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” (Psalms 34:15-16).
We can learn from this scriptural account of Abraham and Isaac, that God’s provision was spontaneously made. This was an issue of God’s free grace, and nothing that Abraham had worked for or planned for. When we have needs, God is Jehovah-Jireh for us. He can and will provide. “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass”
(Psalms 37:4-5).
We can learn that the provision was made by God Himself. This is a provision that guarantees all other provisions you need. We do not have to interfere with the provision of God. Do you think that after He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, that you need to try to manipulate circumstances for God to work? “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Jehovah-Jireh is concerned about your needs: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
We can learn that the provision was made effectively. Isaac did not die, there was no grief, and they went home rejoicing. You and I were bound on the altar of sin, but Jehovah-Jireh has delivered us and will take us home to Heaven. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Jehovah-Jireh will provide for His children: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalms 37:25).
