Jehovah Jireh // Genesis 22:1-19

Today we look at the compound name of God, called Jehovah Jireh which is first mentioned and used by Abraham to establish how God provided a lamb at the time when God tested him with the sacrifice of his son Isaac.     

 

Abraham was about to experience the most climactic test that would prove the quality of his faith after a lifetime of experiencing the blessings and promises of God unfolding in his life.   It was the supreme moment that would prove Abraham as a friend of God, that would credit him with righteousness…this test is what would become the conduit of God’s blessing to thousands of generations that would follow his faith.   

 

The test was unconventional, taking the very blessing of God, the most precious miracle in his life, his one and only son and sacrifice him as a burnt offering.  This didn’t make sense, it was contrary to everything he believed about his God, and not only did it confuse him, but it tugged at his emotional heart strings.    There is no indication that Abraham debated with God, but I wonder if all night, maybe he talked and tried to change God’s mind.  Well, no matter the case, Abraham would eventually conclude there was really only one choice, to obey or disobey.  And it clear that Abraham chose to obey God right until the end.

According to Hebrews 11:17-19; Abraham “concluded” in his heart that God could raise Isaac from the dead…oftentimes the conclusions we draw from our testing and circumstances will be what drives our decision to obey or walk away…what conclusions are you making about the tests that God has placed you in?  Abraham’s conclusion was one of faith believing that God was able to resurrect Isaac from the dead, a conclusion built around the supernatural ability of God.  Are your conclusions built on the supernatural ability of God, or on the natural ability of your own understanding?

 

Shifting thought from the obedience of Abraham, let’s consider the compliance of Isaac.   One observation that is important to see here is that two generations are being tested.  Each have different roles to play but these two generations are the conduit of blessing to future generations.  There is no generational CONFLICT here, there is generational COOPERATION built on the obedience of the father and the compliance from the son.  Isaac did not see what Abraham saw; Isaac would not realize that God was going to provide, but he trusted the testimony of his father.  Isaac knew his father’s faith, his father’s relationship with God, he heard him pray, he heard him talk with God, he saw decisions that his father made built on faith in God; and his compliance was because of his trust in his father’s ability to hear from God. Do your children observe your relationship with God, do they see you worship and pray in such a way that builds faith in them, so that when the time of testing takes place in their life, they have the faith to surrender just as much as you do

 

Now Abraham was divinely interrupted before he would ever slay Isaac.  For the culmination of this test was built on the reality that God Himself would never require any one to sacrifice a human life, but God Himself would provide a lamb.  Jehovah Jireh was the name Abraham called this place on Mount Moriah and a saying would told through generations that on the mount of the Lord, it shall be provided.  This was a foreshadow to God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and on that same mountain, Jesus would be offered as a living sacrifice to bring atonement for all humanity to have peace and relationship with God once again.  Abraham proved his faith, his friendship with God and was credited righteousness.  He followed the orders, he passed the test, but more importantly out of his obedience and Isaac’s compliance, future generations would be blessed by the provision that God would provide Himself through His one and only son; Jesus Christ.

 

Today, no matter what test you are going through, God Himself will provide you with the grace and strength, but all you have to do is take the test to the Cross where God Himself will provide everything we need, the essential ingredient of life called grace , and at the cross offer your life with gratitude, trust and obedience; concluding in your heart that God will see to it, Jehovah Jireh will meet your needs and HIs provision will be exponentially released in the generations that are following your faith all because of the obedience of God’s one and only Son to become human and offer His life as a sacrifice so that all may have eternal life with God.