Post 10: Revisiting the Thankful for the Many Names of God series!

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.”

Genesis 22:13-14

Yahweh-Jireh [yah-way-ji-reh], The Lord Will Provide, was first spoken by Abraham when God provided a ram for sacrifice in place of Isaac, Abraham’s only son and the child of the covenant God made with him to be the father of nations¹. This name of God is also written as Jehovah-jireh meaning “Jehovah will see (to it)” because God saw to it that Abraham had a ram to sacrifice and that His covenant with Abraham was not broken². To read more about what happened on Mount Moriah visit Genesis 22.

Though this name for God only appears once in the Bible, it is of immeasurable importance. God’s request that Abraham sacrifice his son is one that is difficult for most of us to understand. If you are a parent, you know how incredibly tortured Abraham must have felt faced with choosing to lose his only son, whom God had given to him in his old age, or keeping his son and disobeying God. Abraham chose to obey God and his faith is revealed as he tells his son Isaac that God Himself would provide a lamb (v.8). What’s most significant for us though is that Abraham did not call the mountain “The Lord Provided”, but instead called it “The Lord Will Provide”.

You see, God had already provided Abraham with a new name and a new purpose for living (Genesis 17). Then, God gave Abraham a son despite how old he and Sarah were (Genesis 21). Next, God gave Abraham a command, which he followed, and God provided a way for Abraham to be obedient and still show his immense faith in God (Genesis 22). Abraham recognized a pattern of provision and trusted that God would always provide.

What does this name mean for us?

First, it means that we can look to God’s pattern of provision as a foundation for our hope and trust in Him, starting with His provision of a lamb just as Abraham stated. You see, just as God provided Abraham with a ram to sacrifice on that mountain, God provided a spotless lamb as a sacrifice for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

The name, The Lord Will Provide, demonstrates Abraham’s faith in God’s everlasting (El Olam) ability and desire to “see to it” and God showed Abraham’s faith to be well-placed.

Sweet friend, we can trust in God’s provision because Jehovah-jireh will see to all of our needs as well.

We need only look at the character of God, shown to us through His names, to see the magnitude of His provision:

• Elohim – He has the power to provide all we need.
• El Shaddai – His provision is all sufficient.
• El Elyon – His provision is of the highest quality because He is the Most High.
• El Olam – His provision is everlasting.
• Yahweh-Nissi – His provision can be a rallying point to draw others to Him.
• Yahweh-Shalom – We can have peace knowing He will provide.
• Yahweh-Sabaoth – His provision is available to all because He is Lord of all (Pray for the needs of those unbelieving loved ones, friend! God will provide!)
• Yahweh-M’kaddesh – He has provided Christ to make us holy; He will continue to provide all we need to be sanctified, to dedicate ourselves to Him.

Truly, truly He is the Lord Will Provide! There is nothing we could ever need that He cannot supply. His goodness is everlasting! His provision unfailing. Beloved, if you have a need, our Lord will see to it!

Lord God, Yahweh-Jireh, Your provision is perfect in placement and time, quality and quantity! Your pattern of provision gives us hope for the future. Forgive us Lord when we fret or fuss over our wants and needs, when we fear that following You may leave us with less in our finances. Remind us Lord when we are forgetful that You are the Lord Will Provide. May we be found faithful as Abraham was faithful! May we trust wholly in Your provision knowing You will see to all our things!

References:

1. Got Questions. 2022. What are the names of God and what do they mean? https://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-God.html
2. Blue Letter Bible. 2022. Strongs H3070. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3070/kjv/wlc/0-1/