In Genesis chapter 22 God told Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, and sacrifice him as an offering. As always, Abraham obeyed the Lord Who had given him his son by miraculous measures. As Abraham made the 50 mile journey to Mount Moriah, Isaac asked where was the lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham replied that the Lord would provide. When they reached the location of the sacrifice and Abraham prepared to follow the Lord's direction, God stopped him. He had shown his trust in God and proved that he would not withhold anything. Abraham looked and saw a ram stuck in the bushes, so he sacrificed it to the Lord and named the place The Lord Will Provide - Jehovah-Jireh.
How do we experience God Who Provides?
In the book of Matthew, Jesus taught his disciples about prayer. He said to pray, "Give us today our daily bread." Many of us repeat this prayer as part of what we call The Lord's Prayer. By praying it we acknowledge that God provides and we trust Him to provide us with what we need everyday. Matthew 6:11
Later, as He taught his disciples, Jesus told them not to worry about what they would eat or drink or what they would wear. Those who don't know God the Provider worry about such things but God's children are to seek His kingdom and His righteousness and let Him provide. Matthew 6:31-33
Jesus did more than talk about His provision, He showed it when He fed four thousand people with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. His disciples, thinking only in their limited human terms could only think of sending the people away to fend for themselves. I am like the disciples. I must stop trying to understand His provision in human terms. God provides super-naturally. Mark 8:1-3
As Jesus approached Jerusalem before His crucifixion, he said the He longed to embrace the people but they were not willing. Matthew 23:37 I am like those people, too. How often I reject God's offer of provision, thinking that I know how to provide for my own needs better than the One who created me.
Trusting God to provide is not easy. Worrying and scheming and agonizing over problems comes more naturally. The prophet Isaiah said that those who trust in the Lord will benefit from renewed strength, run without growing tired and soar like eagles. I pray for the Lord's help to start changing these old habits now. I want to trust that God will provide and experience Jehova-Jireh.
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