Jehovah Jireh

I had the privilege of speaking to a group of precious ladies at a conference held in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The conference leader asked us to share with each of the ladies at our table any prayer needs in our lives. Two of the six ladies at my table shared that their husbands were out of work or were in need of a job better suited to the needs of the family. I’m sure, given the economic climate of our times, this same story was repeated at many tables in that fellowship hall.

This prompted me to ponder on this name of God, Jehovah Jireh—the Lord our Provider. We find Jehovah Jireh active in the life of Abraham in Genesis 22. Abraham has been asked by God to do the unspeakable—sacrifice Isaac, his ONLY son, the son of the promise. In total obedience, Abraham prepares to do the very thing that God has asked. He, his servants and the very unsuspecting Isaac begin the journey to Mount Moriah where the sacrifice is to be made.

When Isaac questions his father concerning the absence of a lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham, in faith, answers that God will provide the lamb. In fact, when they reach the place where the servants are to wait, Abraham says in Genesis 22:5 (NLT),

“Stay here with the donkey ... The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

Was Abraham in denial? Had God ‘let him in on the secret’? I don’t think so.

Abraham and Isaac proceed up the mountain to the appointed place and Abraham secures Isaac to the altar. Just as he draws back his arm to plunge the knife deep into the chest of Isaac, the angel of the Lord calls out to him and prevents him from slaying Isaac. Abraham has proven himself to be obedient to God and Isaac is saved. Immediately, Abraham spots a ram caught in the thicket by his horns and offers the ram as a sacrifice in place of Isaac.

In Genesis 22:14 (NLT) Abraham worships God using the name, Jehovah Jireh:

“Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the Lord will provide’). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’”

Obedience led to provision — the provision of Jehovah Jireh. God did not provide the lamb until Abraham had shown His willingness to be obedient to God regardless of the cost to himself.

• Where in your life do you stand in need of provision from the Lord?
• Is there a place in your life where you are waiting on God to provide, yet you are not being obedient to do some of the most basic things that God has asked of you?
• Perhaps you are not studying His Word or praying despite the clear commands in Scripture to do both.
• Are you tithing?
• Are you showing love and generosity to those in need?
• Are you showing respect to your husband or showing love to your wife?
• Have you forgiven those who have done wrong to you?

Perhaps His provision will only come when you step out in obedience and do the things that He asks of you; of each of us. Repeatedly in the Bible, we see this concept hold true. Provision from Jehovah Jireh follows obedience from his children.

I urge you to spend some time asking God to show you if there is a place in your life where you may need to step out in obedience in order to see God’s hand of provision.

Copyright © Leah Adams. Used by permission.