Jehovah Jireh - Reading Genesis 22:1-14 'The Lord will provide'
Abraham’s faith in God was severely tested when God told him to offer his son Isaac to Him as a burnt offering. Having waited for twenty- five years for the fulfilment of Isaac’s birth as an heir to a great kingdom, Abraham must have had many questions in his mind, yet he obeyed God.
On the way up the mountain Isaac asked ‘where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ verse 7
Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son’ verse 8
The KJV version states God will provide himself a lamb, which is exactly what He did at Calvary.
As Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me’ Genesis 22:12. God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. Abraham called the name of the place The Lord will provide
How amazing that God gave His Son to be our substitute. He provided Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, what amazing love for us! ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life’ John 3 v 16.
Christ gave His life so that we who receive Him as Saviour will live forever. John 5:24 ‘has passed from death to life’ John 1:29 ‘Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not. Thy compassions, they fail not
As thou hast been Thou forever wilt be
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Extracts from song by Chris Rice