Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will Provide

Introduction

This morning turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis 22, Genesis 22. While last week we looked at the name of God of patience, this week we are looking at which means God will provide. While God is patient, he is also proactive in helping his children become like Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God will provide for his people what is necessary. We all have needs, hurts, and concerns we deal with physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We may have lost a loved one, financial stresses, the holidays may be stressful, or there may be circumstances you are facing where you face the unknown. When Jane was about one week old she went in for her checkup and had to be sent back to the hospital because her skin was yellowed with jaundice. The billyreuben was high she had to have extra care. As new parents, My wife and I were teary eyed. We hoped and prayed she would be all right as we stood in the hospital room looking at our dear little girl under the light. We prayed together committing her to the LORD and realizing she was in God’s hands. As a new Dad, I was scared and felt hopeless other than to cast all my care on the LORD who could take care of baby Jane.

This morning God knows and will provide what you need as you walk in obedience to God. Let us read this familiar, but true story, of the patriarch Abraham and how he was asked to do what seemed contrary to God’s very nature and did so willingly although the Scriptures provide no words to describe the emotional storm he was feeling inside of him.

Genesis 22:1–18

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. 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. 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. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 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? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 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. 15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22:1–18

D. Jehovah-Jireh sees what you need and will provide.

P. If we will see Jehovah-Jireh provide as needed in our lives we must exercise faith to obey.

T. This morning I want you to observe several characteristics about Jehovah-Jireh. Because, sometimes we have misconceptions that we believe wholeheartedly about God. We make ourselves idols of who God is instead of letting God’s Word inform us of who He is. Sometimes God will ask us hard things and we will be faced do I trust God through this trial or resort to my own devices?

1. Expect Jehovah-Jireh to Test

Genesis 22:1–2 “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. 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.”

Explain:

These things: Isaac is born, Ishmael is sent away, and Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech and worships the Lord.

Isaac is born 21:1-3; circumcised 21:4-7, and weaned 21:8

Sarah when she is 90 years old and Abraham is 100 years old. 21:1-3

Isaac is circumcised in obedience to the sign of the covenant with God and Abraham. 21:4-7

c. Isaac is weaned and a great feast is held to celebrate the occasion. 21:8

Ishmael is cast out, but still provided for by God, and God is with him 21:9-21

Ishmael is cast out at Sarah's request. 21:9-14

Ishmael is provided water by the God when their stores were gone. 21:15-19

Ishmael has God with him, marrying and becoming an archer. 21:20-21

Abraham’s dealings with Abimelech, the king of the Philistines.

Abraham's agreement with Abimelech because of his observations of God's presence with Abraham. 21:22-24

Abraham reproves Abimelech because of his servants violent takeover of his well. 21:25-26

Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech accompanied by a gift of livestock. 21:27-32

Abraham plants a grove a trees and calls upon the name of the Lord. 21:33-34

At least thirteen years have transpired from the beginning of chapter 21 till the beginning of chapter 22 which begins with “now after these things.” It appears that Abraham has already weathered the worse of life’s storms and he could coast in retirement, but this isn’t the case. God still has some things to provide for Abraham in the form of testing. The Scripture states God tempted Abraham in period of life where things were going great and he was even enjoying as it seems spiritually closer fellowship with God. Sometimes we think just cuz we are close to God we should somehow be shielded from hardship, but as we look at Jehovah Jireh I find truth that reveals this is faulty.

God tempted Abraham

Mind you God is not asking Abraham to do something because he is mad or Abraham is out of sorts with God. It is not because God did not know what Abraham would do either that God bring this proving time into Abraham’s life.

The word tempt means to prove or test.

Scriptural positive examples of the word are prove:

Psalm 26:2“Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my reins and my heart.” of commitment to God

Of David using King Saul’s armor to fight Goliath

Of Gideon using the fleece to determine if God really wanted him to lead Israel to fight the Midianite invaders.

Queen of Sheba in regards to testing King Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge.

Solomon of life's pleasures Ecc.2:1; 7:23

Daniel eating pulse instead of the King of Babylon’s unclean meat Dan. 1:12-14

Scriptural negative examples of the word are tempt:

most contexts of Israel trying God in the wilderness

Psalm 95:9“When your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my work.”

Psalm 106:14“But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert.”

But also of the wicked King of Judah, Ahaz Isaiah 7:12“But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.” This was a self-righteous and disobedient response to the LORD’s request that he ask for a sign. Deuteronomy 6:16 “Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.”

Argue: God purpose in tempting is not for Abraham to fall into sin, but rather to purify Abraham’s faith through trial. The book of James lays some very important framework about our approach to trials as perfecting our faith and God’s role in our trials. We could honestly state Jehovah-jireh provides trials for the perfection of my faith.

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

James 1:13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

Jehovah-jireh’s provides testing in our lives is for our good.

The nature of God’s testing.

Personal: thy son

It was the son whom he had been promised.

There was Ishmael, but he had been sent away.

Abraham had no other son God wanted. He wanted the son of promise.

Why not call Ishmael back and spare Isaac. Not that it would make what was required any easier, but God made the covenant promise with Isaac, not Ishmael. he was the one to whom the covenant promises were made.

Better yet, why not sacrifice several hundred or thousand of his herds of sheep to the Lord instead of his beloved son, but no.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave HIS

Prized: thine only son

Genesis 22 it is used three times

Genesis 22:2 “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.”

Genesis 22:12 “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.”

Genesis 22:16 “And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:”

only always coupled with a beloved son

darling Ps. 22:20; Psalm 35:17“Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.”

solitary Psalm 68:6“God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”

once of Japheth's only daughter Judges 11:34 “And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten

Proper name: Isaac

Take Isaac who name means laughter and slaughter him for a burnt offering.

There are many things we often have that we may not care that much about, but God goes for the nearest and dearest to our hearts. Will you still worship me if I take...

Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus of himself as he shares God’s love for the world. God gave the world Jesus.

Passionate: whom thou lovest,

Abraham was passionate about Isaac. He loved him.

The word for love here is used for the first time regarding family relationships, specifically a father towards his only Son of promise. Remember, Abraham waited at least 25 years to have this Son of promise and he was born to him at 100 years of age.

God made it clear that it was through Isaac the covenant would pass on.

God the Father loved Jesus from eternity past. John 17:24 “... for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

Three commands regarding the personal, prized, proper, and passionate affection of Abraham:

Take Isaac

Get thee to the land of Moriah

Offer him as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains I will show thee.

Argue:

Isn’t God against murder? Genesis 9:5–6 “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”

Isn’t God against killing children?

Jeremiah 19:5 “They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:”

Jeremiah 32:35 “And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.”

Illustrate:

Going to the Detroit Auto Show I remember observing the rough tests the suspension systems that the Chevy trucks went through to prepare them for the potholes in the Detroit area. Why did they put their vehicles through such rigorous testing, so they had a proven product that they could be proud of and stand behind.

Ephesians 1:12 “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Apply:

Will you still worship me if I ask your son or daughter in full-time Christian service?

Will you still worship me if I give you or a loved one bad health?

Will you still worship me when your marriage is difficult?

Will you still worship me when your work is stressful?

Will you still worship me when your friends disappoint you?

Will you still worship me if you don’t get a deer.

Will you still worship me if …my friend you know what is dearest to your heart and God does not want that taking first place over Him. Is it your job? watching the lions game? a hobby? What is your personal favorite? Prized person or thing? What the proper name of it? God knows? What is it that you are passionate about? Jehovah-jireh will provide you opportunity to prove that God is first place in your life.

2. Render all Jehovah Jireh requires.

Genesis 22:3–6 “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. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.”

Genesis 22:9–10 “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”

Explain:

Abraham

He rose early.

There are commentators in both the Jewish and Christian tradition that believed that Abraham may have had God tell him in a dream or vision to offer his Son.

If that is the case of which the text is silent. Abraham did not let a day go by before he got ready to do what the Lord commanded of him.

We do not find he consulted with his wife even. Perhaps she would have not let Isaac go. Nobody knew the mission Abraham was on except God.

When God speaks and tells us to do something we need to do it.

Galatians 1:16–17“To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.”

Abraham as well as Paul show us the importance of immediate obedience to God. There is no delay, for to delay is to disobey.

He prepared

He got everything he needed a couple servants to help, his donkey, fire, knife, and split wood.

The donkey carried the wood and necessary supplies and food.

He rose up and went to the place God said.

The mountains of Moriah is estimated to be 20.5 hr hike from Beersheba

It was near 60 miles and they covered it on foot in three days.

He lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.

It is believed that Abraham knew where the mountain was by rabbinic tradition of a cloud that shadowed the mountain.

Moriah is only used one other time in the Bible and is used of the place where Solomon built the temple. 2 Chronicles 3:1 “Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

So the Lord had it that the place where the temple would be was nearby if not on the same place where Abraham offered God Isaac, and Jesus would be crucified near this place 2,000 years later.

He went to worship

bow down to a deity.

He went with his Son who was still unaware of what was going on.

Isaac is estimated to be about 13-20 years of age.

He is going with his Dad.

He enjoys a good relationship with his dad too.

Argue:

Shouldn’t of Abraham talked to Sarah?

I don’t believe he wanted to be hindered from doing God’s will.

He believed God would somehow raise Isaac back to life again.

Shouldn’t he have taken Isaac on a Mediterranean cruise beforehand or vacation on the Nile?

Explain verses 9-10

They arrive at the place God shows Abraham

He solemnly builds an altar and places the wood in order upon it.

Now he binds his son Isaac who is willing to be partner in this act of worship to God and places him on the altar.

He demonstrates faith too, that his Dad ought to obey God. For as a young man he surely could have overpowered his 110+ year old father and ran away, but he lets his father bind him and place him on the altar.

Abraham offers Isaac to the LORD as a burnt sacrifice.

The tears may be flowing from the eyes of Abraham as he takes knife and raises it to slay his son, his laughter in life the Son of promise. But he in faith does what God requires. James 2:21 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

Apply:

When God tells you to do something do you delay. Abraham got going early, prepared the supplies, and got on the road that very morning.

Do you find excuses or talk about it with others to rationalize away what God has told you?

Do you question God and refuse to obey? Abraham did not refuse even though there was assuredly a great battle raging within his soul.

God may ask you to do something for Him no one else knows about or would understand, you be obedient to follow the Bible and His Spirit’s leading as he shows you how he wants you to live it in your life.

Abraham was tested and he rendered all Jehovah-jireh required, but he also was anticipating how Jehovah-jireh would again bring Isaac back to life.

3. Anticipate Jehovah Jireh will provide.

Genesis 22:7–8 “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? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

Genesis 22:12–14 “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. 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. 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.”

Explain:

The servants have been left behind and now it is just Isaac and Abraham.

Abraham places the wood on Isaac much as our Savior bore his own cross.

Abraham took the fire and knife in his hand with a resolve to do what commanded, yet a wonder of how God would raise Isaac from ashes.

Then Isaac also asks, Dad, I see the fire and wood, but where is the lamb?

Abraham discreetly answers God will provide himself one although at this point he knew Isaac was the lamb.

Argue:

Why didn’t Abraham tell Isaac.

How could Abraham believe God had even told him to do this? It seems contrary to all that we know of God’s revelation today.

God was giving us a visual picture of what he did for us in our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:32

Romans 8:32 KJV 1900

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Isaiah 53:10 KJV 1900

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Explain Genesis 22:12-14

Genesis 22:12–14 “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. 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. 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.”

God doesn’t want us our children to him for burnt offerings. But he does want our children to be second to Him.

God would provide his only son Jesus, through Abraham’s family.

God provided a substitute for Isaac as Jesus is our substitute as well.

Abraham calls the place in the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen. 2000 years later the Lamb of God would be seen on a cross near this place. God would provide himself a Lamb, His Dear, Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Apply:

Have you accepted what Jehovah-jireh has provided in his Son Jesus Christ?

Are you trusting God to provide what you need to be like his Son Jesus in your life. Or, are you only focused on self-worship, what you want?

May we be focused on pleasing the heavenly Father. He provides what we need and may we seek to be willing to identify ourselves with the blessed Lord Jesus no matter what persecution we may face. Jesus is worthy of every bit of us. Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Don’t hoard your life from God. Give it all to Him 180% of it. Mark 8:35 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

Don’t hold back your time, money, and talents in your service for your Savior.

Abraham’s faith shown through his obedience. He was tested of God. He rendered what God required, and He anticipated the provision. But what he also gained the promise of God.

4. Jehovah-Jireh blesses others through your obedience.

Genesis 22:15–18 “And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

Explain:

By myself I have sworn because thou hast done this thing

Hebrews 6:13 “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,”

Thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son.

God knew what he was promising.

He was promising the great sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ for lost sinners like you and I. I know am saved because of that sacrifice. Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Blessings

Brought personal.

Invoking divine favor.

God blessed Abraham materially and spiritually

Brought family blessings: Descendants

multiplication of family

Numbers as of the stars and sand on the sea shore.

Brought victorious blessings.

Future generations would rule over their enemies.

Brought global blessings. The seed of Abraham is through whom Jesus Christ would come.

The salvation of mankind would come through his family

Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

The obedience of Abraham had eternal consequences.

Apply:

Yield to Christ no matter the cost. You will be blessed and experience REAL joy.

Family blessings: your choices make a difference in your children. Make godly choices.

Victorious blessings are offered us in Christ.

We are conquerors. Romans 8:37; 2 Cor. 2:14

We are freed from sins slavery. Romans 6

We have the promises of God of salvation and participation of the Divine nature and promises to live above the corruption of sin.

Global blessing

While you may not have a global impact I believe your obedience affects more people than you realize. The opposite is also true: your disobedience will affect more people than you realize.

Be purposed to obey the Lord no matter what.

Conclusion

When Jane had jaundice looking back, I see God provided and answered prayer. We drew closer to God through that test. That is what God wants in the tests you are facing in your life. He wants a close relationship with you through His Son Jesus Christ.

Jehovah Jireh will test to see your loyalty and perfect your faith. Are you walking in immediate obedience? Trust God to work in your situation anticipating how he will provide even if it seems humanly hopeless. God may use your obedience in ways you never imagined so stay faithful to trust Jehovah-jireh who will provide what you need.