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Probably one of the first names of God taught to me as a child was Jehovah Jireh, God our provider.  I never quite understood the depth of that name as a child, but then again, we think everything just appears.  We never really understand how life works until we ourselves are living it.

I remember when I first came to know the Lord, I thought Well now I don’t have to worry about a thing. God’s got me. He knows what I need and want. I’m all good.

That’s true, in a sense. But what happens when we are in need and don’t see provision happening immediately? What happens when our perceived microwave provision doesn’t pop in on time to save the day when we feel it should.

The thing about God being our provider is knowing that HE KNOWS what we need and WHEN we need it.

Genesis 22 speaks of Abraham’s faith. God tells Abraham to take the son he had prayed for and offer him up as a burnt sacrifice on the mountain of Moriah (vs 2).  In obedience, Abraham got up that next morning, gathered the supplies, saddled his donkey and took two men along with his son Isaac where God commanded him.

Three days of traveling and they get within eyeshot of the place. Abraham tells the two men to wait there while he and Isaac go to worship, “…and we will come back to you” (vs 4).

Abraham then takes the wood, the fire, the knife and Isaac and heads to the place.  Even when Isaac asks him where the lamb for the burnt offering was, Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (vs 8).

Once they arrived at the place, Abraham built the altar and placed the wood.  He bound Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood.  Just as Abraham stretched out his hand with the knife to slay his son, an angel appeared and stopped him.  The angel told Abraham not to harm his son and that he had shown himself faithful to God (vs 12).

Abraham looked up to see a ram caught in a bush. He took the ram and used it for his burnt offering.  He called that place The Lord Will Provide (vs 14).

The angel of the Lord came back with a message for Abraham:

“By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 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. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (vs 16-18)

Y’all, we all spend our days living out the very words God speaks to us and over us.  Whether we spend minutes, days, hours, weeks, or years, we go from one word to another. My pastor once said, “When you feel like you’re looking for the next word from God, remember the last one and stick with that one until the next word comes.”

Abraham was given a word.  A command from God.  Did he like the word? No. Did he want to fulfill the word? Of course not! This is his son that he prayed long and hard for! So why do it?

Abraham had an intimate relationship with God.  He understood God’s ways were greater than his and God’s thoughts higher than his. Abraham knew if God was asking him to do something this hard, God would provide.

Because Abraham’s confidence was in the God of love, he was obedient even against his own heart and mind.  He was ready to do what God asked of him regardless of how it made him feel or what he saw. He had such a confidence in God’s love that he knew God wouldn’t allow him to go through with it. He also had so much confidence in God’s provision that he was willing to play along until the very end, just for God to once again show Himself strong as Jehovah Jireh.

How many times does God ask us to do things that are seemingly impossible?  Things that we can’t even fathom like walking away from a relationship, a job, letting our children fall and learn lessons, or even saying no to an opportunity we swear is life changing.  We can’t for the life of us understand why God is asking us to do these things and toggle between anger and hurt trying to decide if we will be obedient or just go with our hearts.

But because God is love, we can walk confidently knowing He wants and has the best in store for us.

Because God is Jehovah Jireh, we can rest assured that He WILL provide ALL of our needs.  Not according to what we think or want, but according to HIS riches in glory.

Because God is our Provider, we can step out in blind obedience knowing God ALWAYS provides what we need in the timing we in fact, need it.

Because Abraham had that relationship with God, he knew even the craziest of commands would be provided for and worked out for his ultimate good.

My prayer this week is that we will come to know God personally. That we will see Him as our Father who knows all and sees all.  That we will learn to listen for God’s voice, for the voice of a stranger we will not hear or accept in our hearts and minds.  Constantly reminding ourselves that if God can feed the birds of the air and clothe the lilies of the field, surely He will take care of us, His children.

My prayer is that when God speaks, we listen. When He asks of us, we freely give. When He instructs, we obey.  Not because we’re scared. Not begrudgingly. Not kicking or complaining.  Not doubting or giving guidelines to how and when it should be done.

That we will do as God leads no matter the cost, knowing God WILL provide in whatever way He deems fit.  And however way that is, my prayer is that we will learn to be content and grateful.

Finally, my prayer is that in all things, we would remember the word of the Lord to Abraham in verses 16-18 and use it as a reminder of what happens when we trust the Lord to be our Jehovah Jireh.

Because He is Jehovah Jireh, we truly are All Good.

Until next week,

Be Blessed!

LadyWhipp