Jehovah Jireh, God Our ProviderSample

“Jesus. Allah. Mohammed. Buddha. What you believe doesn’t matter, so long as you are sincere.”

I want to strongly and firmly dispel the falsehood of this notion as we continue our exploration of the great name of God, Jehovah Jireh.

What we believe very much DOES matter. Hitler was sincere in his convictions, as were the murderous despots Stalin, Mussolini, and the terrorists that have murdered tens of thousands throughout history. They were genuine, and the outcome was disastrous.

In today’s reading in Hebrews, Abraham believed that God could even raise Isaac from the dead if Abraham had been called upon to sacrifice him on Mt. Moriah. And the proof of his faith is found in the passage in Genesis 22:5 when Abraham tells his servants, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go over yonder and worship, and WE will come back to you.”

In using the term “we,” Abraham believed that Jehovah Jireh could provide a way for Isaac to return with him.

When Isaac asks where the offering is, Abraham repeats this notion in verse 8, saying, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Again, Abraham trusts in Jehovah Jireh’s provision of the offering.

Notice that Abraham does not deny that there is a real need. He is not in denial. Despite the crisis, Abraham has faith in Jehovah Jireh to provide for that need, EVEN IF it means raising Isaac from the dead.

Believers, we should not be in denial, and yet we should believe Jehovah Jireh can provide for us! When my husband and I had only been married for a few weeks (now nearly 25 years ago), we learned that we had been wrongly named in a frivolous lawsuit. Given that I had been a victim of identity theft only a few months before, I completely crumbled. Was all lost? Were we financially ruined before our lives together had even begun? Why would God allow this?

We took our burden to the Lord, got legal advice, and God defended us. The lawsuit was dropped. Through this experience and others like it, I am learning something about my relationship with God. When faced with circumstances that cause me to fear in the area of provision, I am learning that what I believe about God matters. He delivered us through that lawsuit, He will deliver us through the next crisis, and He can do the same for you. God IS mighty to save. He IS Jehovah Jireh, my Provider.

Each new crisis deepens my faith in the one true God of the Bible, in Jehovah’s Jireh’s ability to provide for my every need.