Jehovah Jireh

Scripture – Genesis 22:9-14: When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Several years ago I heard someone say, “God asked for Isaac, but He wanted Abraham.” This certainly demonstrated that God had him. I cannot comprehend all that was going on in this scene. I go back to the faith of Isaac. He was old enough to have run away. Unless Abraham knocked him out, Isaac had to cooperate. Abraham’s response to the angel’s call is still as open-ended as at the beginning: “Here I am.” We sing little chorus sometimes at Bethel called, “Jehovah Jireh.” That means, “The Word Will Provide.” It comes from this story.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will remember Abraham as I look at my children today. I will remember his faith. Does God have me at this level? Have I really released them to Him? I’m not sure. I just hope I don’t face a test like this.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, I’ll say right now I’ll do whatever you want. You know I’m telling the truth. You also know me. Help me give you more of who I am. Teach me to trust you as Abraham did. You are my Provider.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.