Yesterday we learned about Jehovah~Rohi, our Shepherd Who feeds, leads and warns us. Today's description of our Shepherd goes hand in hand with Jehovah~Rohi. He is Jehovah~Jireh, our Provider.
Mrs. George writes, "Most of the compound names of God spring from a specific historic incident." We first meet Jehovah~Jireh in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. If you went to Sunday school, I'm sure you remember the story of Abraham and Isaac. (Usually told with flannel graph!) It is in this chapter that we see God provide supernaturally for his faithful servant.
1. Abraham's command ~ came out of heaven from God Himself. "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering." (vs. 1-2)
2. Abraham's response ~ was immediate obedience! "So Abraham rose early in the morning... and took... Isaac his son... and went to the place of which God had told him." (vs. 3) Mrs. George revealed that it was a 60~mile trek.
3. Abraham's son ~ Isaac had a question: As they walked along with the wood, the fire, and the knife to slay the sacrifice, he asked, "...where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" (vs. 7)
4. Abraham's answer ~ revealed his trust in the Lord. "My son, God will provide [Jehovah~Jireh] Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." (vs. 8)
How did Jehovah~Jireh provide? You know the story ~ Abraham bound his only son with rope and laid him on the altar. Just as he was about to plunge the knife into his son's heart, the angel of the Lord (Who, by the way, scholars believe to be the pre~incarnate Jesus Christ Himself) "called unto him out of heaven, and said Abraham...lay not not thine hand upon the lad, neither do any thing unto him...." When Abraham looked up, there was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns, and Abraham "...offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah~Jireh...(The Lord Will Provide)" (vs. 9-14).
I want to think on this for a moment. This story goes so much deeper than God simply providing a substitute sacrifice for Isaac. In fact, it goes even farther than Abraham's faith or Isaac's willingness.
Did you catch that phrase in verse 8? The KJV states, "God will provide Himself a lamb...." Please don't miss the significance of this statement. Most versions translate this as "God Himself will provide a lamb", (a sacrifice for that particular moment in time) but this downplays the deeper meaning of this verse.
Sisters, a thousand years later, God did indeed provide Himself a Lamb ~ through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ ~ The Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world! Not only did Abraham and Isaac meet Jehovah~Jireh, we can meet Him, too!
So, how do we know that God will provide? Mrs. George asks. "We have the promise of God (which requires it), but we also have the very nature of the Person of God (which demands it). He is all~knowing. He is all~wise. He is all~powerful. With God, to see is also to provide." I like how she further explains Jehovah~Jireh:
"In His omniscience (His complete knowledge),
God knows/sees our need.
In His power, He can provide, and
In His goodness,
He must provide
for what His knowledge and wisdom reveal
to be the true needs of His people."
Man's basic needs are: food, clothing and shelter. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus told the multitude not to worry about what to eat or drink or wear because God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the fields. He encourages and reminds them that if God cares about feeding a bird or clothing the grasses of the field that will be burnt up tomorrow, how much more will He provide for His people!
Let's not forget how Jehovah~Jireh provided for the children of Israel during the Exodus. They had guidance, food literally from Heaven, shade by day, light by night, and clothes that didn't wear out ~ for 40 years!
Mrs. George closes this chapter with a quote from Dr. Harry Ironside, a former pastor of Moody Memorial Church. He writes of God's promises:
"I shall not want...
rest, for He maketh me to lie down.
refreshment, for He leadeth me beside the still waters.
restoration, for He restoreth my soul.
guidance, for He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
confidence, for I will fear no evil.
companionship, for Thou art with me.
comfort, for Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
provision, for Thou preparest a table.
joy, for my cup runneth over.
anything in this life, for goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life.
anything in eternity, for I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Just as God saw to a substitute sacrifice to save the life of the son of his faithful servant, He will not only see our need, but see to it! Let's remember that when we see His provision, we should see to it that He is greatly praised!
"Come let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker.
Come let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker.
For He is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture.
And the sheep of His hand,
Just the sheep of His hand."
Thanks for sharing - it is so good to meditate on who God is!
ReplyDelete