Jehovah Jireh, The LORD will Provide!
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight we continue our study of God’s names revealed to us in Scripture.
If you look at your charts, we are still working through the compound names of Jehovah. Remember, Jehovah means the God of righteousness and truth. Already, we understand the implications of His name as Jehovah. As a righteous God, He must judge sin. Additionally, He demands that His people be righteous even as He is righteous. However, as a righteous God, He also made way for us to be righteous by giving Himself as payment for our sins.
Last week, we concluded our study of the His compound name - Jehovah Rohi. We understood God as our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd in that study. We learned just how much God loves and cares for His own. As a Shepherd, He desires to feed, lead, and protect us.
Looking at your charts, we are ready to fill in the next name under Jehovah. The name of God we will study this evening is Jehovah Jireh. You can write that in the box just under Jehovah Rohi.
Our text for this name is Genesis 22. We will get to the exact verse in just a moment.
By introduction, it is said that the “false” prophet Mohammed received from the archangel Gabriel 99 different divine names. He was given the 99 holy names so he, as a prophet, could present the whole Being of God. An objective that he totally failed to accomplish. However, Scripture performs all that God intended for us to know. This name, Jehovah Jireh, is one of the many precious names of God.
Again, this name is found as we read about the life of Abraham. Throughout Abraham’s life, he continually made new discoveries about God. As he did, Abraham, through the Holy Spirit’s working, coined several new names, of which Jehovah Jireh is a name. The whole story behind Abraham’s declaration of Jehovah Jireh is recorded, as we already noted, in Genesis 22.
Here is the story in a nutshell. Genesis 22 tells God’s great test of Abraham’s faith. As we know, God promised that He would bless Abraham through Abraham’s seed. A promise that later became a testimony of God’s miraculous ability to keep His promises. Abraham and Sarah were well past their childbearing days at God’s covenant with Abraham. It seemed an impossibility they would ever have children. Again, in previous lessons, we noted their struggle with God’s promise of a child. A struggle that resulted in the birth of Ishmael. Yet, sure enough, God did precisely what God said He would do. Despite Sarah’s doubt, God made her womb fruitful, and a beautiful baby boy was born of Sarah and Abraham. His name was Isaac, and you can imagine the joy and excitement of his birth. God kept His promise. In doing so, Abraham and Sarah’s faith in God was strengthened. Yet, how strong was that faith? God wanted to know.
We often talk about Abraham’s faith and forget about Sarah. Consequently, God puts both of them to the test. I say both of them because both are involved. As the story goes, God tested them by saying the following words to Abraham.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
What was Abraham’s reaction?
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Remember, this is not just a test of Abraham’s faith but also an examination of Sarah’s faith. Interestingly, Scripture records nothing of Sarah’s reaction. It would seem then from Scripture’s silence that she put her faith in God and His provision just as much as Abraham. What mother, especially one who gives birth miraculously, would willingly give up their only child to be physically sacrificed?
Yet, here is Abraham, he rises up early, takes Isaac and two young servants, and they proceed to the “place of which God had told him.” They arrive. Abraham leads the two young servants behind and moves on with just Isaac, the fire for the sacrifice, and a knife. At this point, Isaac thinks things are not adding here.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
It is in Abraham’s answer that we see a man of faith.
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Many of you already know the story of their arrival at the top of Mount Moriah. Upon their arrival at the summit, Abraham builds an altar, lays the wood on top, binds Isaac places him on top of the wood and is about to slay with the knife. It is then that God stops him.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
Verse 14 provides us with the name of God we are considering this evening. Abraham called the name of the place after God’s name which is Jehovah-jireh.
The word “jireh” means to give what is desired or needed, especially for things such as support, food, or sustenance.
Thus, God’s name reveals He is the Righteous God Who Will Provide. An additional understanding of this name is that God sees. Therefore, God is not only the One who foresees what is needed, but He is the one Who provides what is needed.
Essentially, what we understand about God through this name is that He is the God of pre-vision and pro-vision.
This entire story and Abraham’s declaration of His name show that God is omniscient (all-knowing) and utterly righteous in character. Whatever He asks of His people He is quite capable of providing or supplying to meet His own demands. Not only did God demand a sacrifice, He already knew what the provisional sacrifice would be.
Now, for a moment, I want to note a little bit of wordplay with the name of the mountain and God’s name. Remember, this mountain is in the land of Moriah.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
We have come to call it Mount Moriah today. The name “Moriah” in Hebrews means “seen of Jehovah.” As we already noted, the word “jireh” can also mean to see with the connotation of seeing and providing what is needed. If you take those two and combine them, you have the following.
Genesis 22:2 (KJV 1900)
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
In the mount of the Lord, or in Moriah (that is, where Jehovah sees), He (Jehovah) will be seen.
As we continue this thought, we see one other thing related to God’s name. Go back to verse 1.
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Which name of God is used in this verse? It is Elohim. Thus, Elohim was the One Who demanded a sacrifice. Yet, even though it was still God, Jehovah was the One who provided a substitute sacrifice for Isaac. What God commanded, God supplied. Does that not remind you of all God did for us on the cross of Calvary?
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
As we know, Mount Moriah was the summit of Abraham’s faith. Abraham began the event with confidence that God would provide Himself a sacrifice. This severe test resulted in the revelation of God as Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD Who Provides! The entire event was a testimony to God’s all-sufficiency.
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
It ended with Abraham declaring:
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
As we think about this great name, Mount Moriah is a testimony to the Jehovah-Jireh. There are three things seen at Mount Moriah.
A Memorial of God’s Gracious Provision
A Memorial of God’s Gracious Provision
The mention of Mount Moriah and Abraham’s great test is, without a doubt, one of the great monuments of Scripture. Undoubtedly, this event stands as a great memorial commemorating Abraham’s deliverance. Until this moment on Mount Moriah, God’s revelation of His name stood apart from God’s direct intervention. By that, I mean God directly intervened in this instance, and His name was revealed. Now, after this first instance of God’s direct intervention combined with His name, many more came. However, this was the first.
One of the gut-wrenching elements of this event is that God required Abraham to sacrifice the promised child, Isaac. Remember, outside of Ishmael, there were no other children. Isaac, of course, was pretty special. He was the child that both Abraham and Sarah waited 25 long years to be born. So much trial, tribulation, and testing had already passed in just the time they waited for his conception and birth. Now, God demands that his very son be put to death in the act of worship to Him. There is not one person sitting here that could possibly understand what was in Abraham’s heart when Isaac looked up to his father and said to him -
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
It is quite possible that Abraham felt an overwhelming horror in his soul in the flash of a single moment, knowing that Isaac was the sacrifice, the lamb. Indeed, we cannot even understand Abraham’s anguish as he prepared the altar, bound up his precious son, and ready the knife that took Isaac’s life.
Why did Abraham do it? The answer is quite simple.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham believed that God would resurrect Isaac from the dead even if God allowed him to go through with it. He had an overwhelming belief that God would provide no matter the outcome. So, with the knife in hand, he was ready to deliver the death blow. Abraham loved God, obeyed God, and trusted God.
What was God’s answer to such devotion and obedience?
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
God came through for Abraham. I imagine it was not the way Abraham envisioned it would happen. The Holy Spirit testifies in Hebrews that Abraham expected God to resurrect Isaac. I am sure Abraham was surprised when God stopped him and provided a substitute. The interesting thing about God is He always delivers in ways we never imagined. Someone has said, “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” It is interesting that the same voice which said, “Take thine only son, whom thou lovest, and offer him for a burnt-offering” was the same voice that said, “Abraham! lay not thine hand upon the lad.” Mount Moriah stands as a monument of God’s gracious provision. It was a testament to God’s generous provision for all men when Christ, the Lamb, was offered for all sins.
Here is the second thing seen at Mount Moriah
A Mirror of the Lamb’s Glory
A Mirror of the Lamb’s Glory
Isaac asked, “Behold the fire and the wood, BUT WHERE IS THE LAMB?”
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
There is no doubt about the striking similarities between Mount Moriah and Mount Calvary. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son (legitimate son). A scene that echoes John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Yet, there is a fundamental difference between Moriah and Calvary. Isaac was to be offered, yet, at the last minute, a ram was sacrificed in his stead. The knife stayed at Moriah but was not held back at Calvary. Men crucified our Lord, the Lamb of God. In the end, Christ willingly gave Himself for our sins. Even though Isaac was spared, we have another wonderful picture of the cross. The ram provides as a substitute reminds us of Christ being our substitute.
Another essential thought concerning Moriah and Calvary is that the events of Calvary could not be avoided. Even from the foundation of the world, the events of the cross were already determined. Calvary was inevitable. Christ himself said...
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Is it possible this vision was given to Abraham at Mount Moriah? We will not know until we get to heaven. Yet, Christ made it quite clear that even Abraham saw the day Christ would lay down His life as the Lamb. Maybe that vision drove Abraham to bind his son, laying him upon the altar of sacrifice. However, we must never forget that Christ willingly gave His life. No one needed to force or convince Him to do it. He did it out of His love for mankind.
Isaac asked, “where is the lamb?” Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb.” On that day at Mount Calvary, the place of the skull, God did precisely that. He provided Himself as “the Lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Here is the last thought as we consider Mount Moriah and God’s name as Jehovah-Jireh.
A Message of God’s Goodness
A Message of God’s Goodness
God’s goodness to Abraham is also seen at Mount Moriah. Remember, God is Jehovah-Jireh, the God Who Provides. We noted that at the beginning of this study, He not only foresees the need but also provides to meet the need. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. However, in the mind of God, He already foresaw the ram in the thicket. He provided what He demanded. It is another reminder of God’s goodness. In fact, we are reminded of God’s goodness as He proves over and over again that He is the unfailing Provider.
In Philippians 4:19, we have this promise.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Remember and consider that He is Jehovah-Jireh. As such, He is the God of the Old and New Testaments. He has not changed. He still seeks to provide us with all our spiritual, physical, or material needs. He said as much in Matthew 6.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Christ demonstrated a great example of His unfailing provision when He sent out the seventy disciples. They went out as He commanded and they came back lacking nothing.
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
He gave them nothing, and they came back lacking nothing. Why is that? It is because God foresees our needs and then meets those needs. He does so, especially for those who seek His kingdom and righteousness. All who will love, follow, and obey Him will lack nothing, for He will add “all these things” unto them.
Earlier today, I was working on my weekly blog. The text for my blog was 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
In that article, I noted that the Lord increases our love toward others. He does so as we love Him. The by-product of our love and devotion is He strengthens our faith. We strengthen our faith by watching Him provide for us as we serve Him. I am convinced that all your needs will be met if you love the Lord and serve Him. Why? He is Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD Who Provides.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Abraham faced a stern test. He passed the test because he believed the LORD (Jehovah) would provide. We, too, must have the same faith. Whenever we face a legitimate and perhaps tricky test, we must have confidence that the LORD will see it and provide. Remember, He is a God of pre-vision as well as pro-vision. He knows the need long before there is a need, and He already has the provision for that need. Trust and obey Him, for there is no other way to be happy.