Jehovah Jireh – Sacrifice and Provision
The God who owns everything is willing to give anything to a man who will simply do something! Jonathan Heimberg
God sees our needs. Every one of them – material, emotional, spiritual, and He is more than able to provide for them. After all, He is Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides.
The first time we see the name Jehovah Jireh being attributed to God is in Genesis 22. This portion of scripture recounts God’s instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering to the Lord. Genesis 22:1-2 (ESV) says,
"After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Take 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.'”
Abraham never imagined God would ask this of him. After all, God had made a promise to him that He would bless him and His descendants (Genesis 15:5).
Because Abraham believed that God would keep His promises (Hebrews 11:11), he trusted God and followed His instructions. He didn’t know how God would intervene, but he believed He would. When Isaac asks him about the lamb for the burnt offering, Abraham assures him that God will provide a lamb for a burnt offering. (Genesis 22:7-8). Just as Abraham is ready to offer his son as a sacrifice, the Lord intervenes and provides a ram to sacrifice on the altar instead of Isaac (Genesis 22:11-13).
Sacrifice and Provision
God asked Abraham to do the unthinkable - offer his son as a sacrifice to the Lord. Abraham loved and cherished Isaac as his son and the offspring from whom the Lord would fulfil His promise. Yet, he obeyed the Lord and was prepared to sacrifice him on the altar.
We all have things in our lives that we cherish and deem important. It may be a job that gives us a certain status and position in society. Could this job be something that we are elevating above our relationship with God? Are we seeing the status that we have as our identity instead of allowing Jehovah Jireh to provide us with His identity in Christ?
Perhaps it’s material possessions that we hold on to because they give us a sense of security. Are we perhaps seeing our possessions as our security and not the Lord, our provider?
It may be things we do to “zone out” after a long day at work. Things that take up our time, such as scrolling mindlessly through social media, watching TV or videos on streaming services. Things that may be preventing us from spending time in prayer and the word of God, so that we can hear from Him regarding our needs.
What if God asks us to give the things we cherish to Him? To sacrifice them on His altar so that He can open our eyes and see the provision He has for us. The provision that He deems good for us?
We will talk more about God’s provision in the coming weeks.
Reflection
Think about the things that may be idols in your life. Will you be obedient to Him and sacrifice your idols at His altar so that He can provide what He deems good for you?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that I may trust You to know what’s best for me. I release those things to You that are keeping me from seeing the provision You have for me. I lay them on Your altar and trust You, Jehovah Jireh, to provide for my needs. I open my hands and receive the best that You have for me. Thank You for providing for all my needs. In Jesus name, amen.
