Jehovah Jireh

Scripture:  Genesis 22:1-18 - Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”And he said, “Here I am, my son.”Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham! So he said, “Here I am.” 12 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.”  13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

Trials are difficult circumstances that God allows or causes/introduces in our lives to show us where we are in our spiritual life and/or to prepare us for where He wants us to go.  You cannot escape trials in your life. You are either currently dealing with a trial, coming out of a trial, or getting ready to go in another trial.  Even though trials are sometimes very difficult or stressful, we can still have comfort knowing that trials must first pass through God’s hand before reaching us.  Nothing comes our way without first receiving His approval.  
We learn about God’s name, Jehovah Jireh, in Genesis 22:1-18 when Abraham offered up his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice.  He did what God asked him to do even though he didn’t know how God was going to work it out.  God provided a lamb when He saw Abraham going forth in obedience to sacrifice his son.  He provided a way out of Abraham’s  trial.  Just like God provided a lamb for Abraham, God provided Jesus, the Lamb of God, to forgive us of our sin. John 1:29 – The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Hallelujah!!!

God, who loves us so very much, is concerned about our basic needs, i.e., food, clothing, and  shelter.  Matthew 6:25-27 - Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  Matthew 7:11 -  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  God will surely provide what we need.  We have to trust Him.  To not worry doesn’t mean that we should not work or do anything.  II Thessalonians 3:10 –  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. Working is part of the way that God provides for us.  God wants us to work, and He also desires that we worship Him!  Psalms 100:2 – Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Worrying consumes good energy and accomplishes nothing at all.  Matthew 6:27 – Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Worrying discourages us and can make us get sick and stressed out.

As we are going through trials, God wants us to learn to make Him our top priority. Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. He wants us to pray to Him – persistently seeking His face for direction and solutions to our trials.  Luke 18:1-5 - Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’  Never give up praying during trials until He answers. How the Lord answers may not be what you expect though.  As we wait on the Lord for Him to provide for us, our strength will be renewed and our faith in Him will be developed.  Isaiah 40:31 - But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  Thank you so much for saving me and daily providing for me!  You are showing me that I shouldn’t worry about my needs being met in this life if I put you first.  You, Jehovah Jireh, are my provider!!  All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)