JEHOVAH-JIREH- THE LORD SHALL PROVIDE!!
B.R.: GEN. 22:7-14
Gen 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Throughout the Word of God names were given to children that had special meaning and significance. Sometimes a person’ s name would be changed or a name would be given to him, either by God or by someone else, indicating a significant change of life.
Adam means "red earth," indicating his being created by God from the dust of the earth.
Jacob means "cheat, supplanter;" but God changed his name to Israel, which means "prince with God."
Moses means "drawn forth." He was named that because Pharaoh’s daughter drew him out of the water.
In the Bible, the name given to a person said something about that person.
The same thing is true concerning the names of the Lord OUR God.
No single word in human language is sufficient to serve as a name for our God.
There are several words or names by which he has made himself known. The names applied to God in Scripture describe his glorious character,
reveals his great attributes, and displays his redemptive purpose.
The first revelation of God is found in Genesis 1:1-"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." The name of God given there is "ELOHIM." "Elohim" means "to worship."
This is the name of our God. He is THE WORSHIPPED ONE.
He is the only object of true worship, praise, adoration, and trust. The word "Elohim" is given in the plural, though it refers to One God.
The significance is obvious. We worship One God who is three distinct Persons in One glorious Being, God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
I John 5:7: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Another name of God is "EL" or "ELI." In Genesis 12:7-8 the Lord appeared to Abraham, and made a covenant with him.
A covenant is an agreement or promise usually between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action.
Abraham built an altar there and called the place "Beth-El," which means "the house of God."
This is the word our Lord used, when he cried out in Matt. 27:46:
"Eli, Eli, lama sa-bach-tha-na?" that is to say, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?".
This name, "El", means "strong, or Mighty God." It tells of Gods power.
God also revealed himself to Abraham by the name "SHADDAI," which we translate "Almighty"
Gen. 17:1: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
"Shaddai" means "God all-sufficient." It expresses more than the power of God alone.
It expresses the power and sufficiency of God to bestow his grace and fulfill his promises.
El-Shaddai is God is able to save,
God is able to do his will,
God is able to shed his blessings upon his people.
In Isa. 6:3, He is called "THE LORD OF HOSTS".
This name tells us of God’s dominion and power over all his creatures. The Lord of Hosts has "his way in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?"
In Genesis 15:2, Abraham called upon God by the name "ADONAI," to give him the promised covenant seed." "Adonai" means "the Cause," or "the Support."
Truly, Adonai is a suitable name for our God. He is the original cause of all things (Rom. 11:36). And our God supports and maintains all things (Heb. 1:3). And he upholds his saints with the right hand of his righteousness (Isa. 41:10).
The word translated "GOD" in the New Testament is "Theos." "Theos," God, is one who is holy, who sees all things and knows all things, and disposes of all things.
God who is light is perfectly holy. He sees all things with perfect clarity. And he disposes of all things as he will.
These names of God tell us that God is:
infinite,
eternal,
almighty,
self-existent,
self-sufficient,
glorious and holy. This great God is a God to be feared, worshipped, and obeyed. He is a consuming fire, unapproachably glorious.
Is there not someone to stand between us and God?
Is there not One with holy hands and a pure heart who has never lifted up his soul unto vanity, who can approach God in our stead, and stand before him to plead our cause?
There is a Substitute, who is himself God! He is constantly revealed throughout the Scriptures.
God’s redemptive name is JEHOVAH. The word "Jehovah" means "Savior" or "Deliverer"
Ex. 6:3: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
God in Christ is God mighty to save!
Jehovah, essentially means "to be." And our Lord Jesus Christ declares that he is the One "which is, which was, and which is to come".
Rev. 1:4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood He is the eternal God of salvation, redemption, and deliverance.
The Jews had such reverence for this name that they would not allow it to be spoken in common conversation, read aloud, or even written.
When the scribes would write the word Jehovah in copying the Scriptures, they would bathe themselves before writing it.
We ought to highly reverence the name of our God. "This glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD" is not to be taken in vain, used in common speech, or spoken with any vanity.
Ex. 20:7: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who taketh his name in vain".
But there are still other names that I want to share about our God…Your God…The God Almighty…He is called:
Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord Will Provide
Genesis 22:14
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Pay no attention to those who teach that it is never God’s will for his children to suffer, or that all suffering is an indication of God’s displeasure toward us.
If you read Genesis 22, the message that this chapter is saying is: TRUE FAITH MUST BE PROVED BY TRIALS.
Here the Holy Spirit has recorded Abraham’s most severe trial.
Abraham was the friend of God. But, in God’s wise and good providence, Abraham was called upon to endure the most heart-rending trial any man ever had to face in this world, other than the Man of Sorrows.
Faith must be proved; and it is proved only when it is put to the test. HOWEVER, THE PRIMARY THING TO BE SEEN IN THIS CHAPTER IS NOT ABRAHAM’S TRIAL, BUT GOD’S PROVISION FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS SON UPON THE MOUNT.
The Lord God provided a ram as a substitute to die in the place of Isaac. And there Abraham raised up an everlasting memorial to his God.
Verse 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."
The name by which God revealed himself to Abraham, "Jehovah-jireh," may be translated in three ways.
It could be translated
"The Lord will See,"
or "The Lord will Provide,"
or "The Lord shall be Seen."
Jehovah-jireh expresses the idea of God seeing and of God being seen. For God, to see is to provide.
You know how we sometimes say, "I will see to it," when we mean, "I will take care of it….That is the meaning here.
Jehovah-jireh, ruled Abraham’s heart even before he spoke it and established it as a memorial in the place where God provided a substitute for Isaac.
It was faith in Jehovah-jireh that sustained the old patriarch’s heart throughout this ordeal.
Faith in Jehovah-jireh, the Lord who will provide, enabled Abraham to render the prompt and unswerving obedience that is recorded in this chapter.
Many things must have crossed Abraham’s mind which might have caused him to disobey his God. As he took that painful journey to Moriah, he must have had many questions about his wife Sarah,
his relationship with her,
the promises of God that were wrapped up in Isaac, his son,
and the response of his friends and neighbors to his act of slaying his son in the name of God.
But the old man strengthened his heart, as he went up to Mt Moriah.
Determined to obey God, regardless of cost or consequence, Abraham said to himself, "The Lord will see and the Lord will provide. He will not break his promise. He will not alter his word. Perhaps he will raise Isaac from the dead. But even if he is doesn’t do that, my God will justify my obedience and vindicate his command.
His name is Jehovah-jireh." This name of God, Jehovah-jireh, silenced every unbelieving thought and carnal objection.
Do not miss the practical application of this to your own heart. If you believe God, if you follow the Lord’s bidding, he will see to it that you will not be ashamed or confounded.
Rom. 10:11: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
If you have a great need by following his command, the Lord will see to it that you lose nothing by your obedience.
If difficulties rise like mountains before you, so that your way seems to be completely blocked, your God will see to it that the way is cleared.
Walk in the way of obedience and, as you walk, every obstacle will fall before you.
Gal. 1:16: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Confer not with flesh and blood, and the Lord will make a way for you to do his will.
The Lord will see us through the way of faith and obedience, if we are willing to walk in it. He will see to our way, if we dare to walk in his way.
Pro. 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
"The Lord will see and the Lord will provide." That is what Jehovah-jireh means.
This was not the first time Abraham had used such language in speaking of God.
In verse 14, "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh," because he had seen it to be the truth. This was something he had experienced for himself.
The ram caught in the thicket had been provided as a substitute for Isaac. Not only had the Lord seen, but according to the promise made to Abraham’s faith, the Lord had provided as well.
Even before he knew how this trial would end, Abraham believed God, trusting him to provide what was needed.
Rom 4:20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Gen 22 vs 7 says Isaac said, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"And Abraham answered with confident faith in his God, "My son, God will provide!" And in due time, God did provide.
Gal_6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Then, in verse 24, Abraham honored God, repeating the words he had spoken to his son, with only one change. Instead of using the ordinary name for God, he used his covenant name, Jehovah. He said, "Jehovah will provide."
As these words were spoken by Abraham concerning Isaac and his substitute, they were also a direct prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Substitute whom God has provided for sinners.
He was, by the Spirit of prophecy, saying to us, as God provided a substitute for Isaac, so he will provide a Substitute for all his covenant people in whom the Lord will be seen.
That Substitute is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He was also telling us that, as God provided for him in his time of need, so he will provide for all who trust him.
The God of Abraham lives today!
Heb_13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
In the hour of Abraham’s great need, when there seemed to be no possible way of escape, the Lord appeared for him and was seen in the mount.
So it shall be with us. We shall be tried and tested, but in the hour of our utmost need our God will see us.
Seeing our need, he will provide for us. And he will be seen in the provision he makes.
The name of our God is Jehovah-jireh. He is worthy of absolute trust and confidence.
The Lord, Jehovah, is our preserver and our provider. Let this truth be firmly fixed in your heart.
God’s provision for Abraham and Isaac typified the far greater provision of his grace, by which all believing sinners are delivered from sin and death.
And God’s provision for us in Christ, by his death at Mt. Calvary, has given us the sure guarantee that all our necessities, both carnal and spiritual, shall be provided by him for both time and eternity.
