Monday, May 7, 2012

Jehovah-Jireh (the LORD will provide)

This divine title or name is found in Genesis 22:1-14 - the story of Abraham's testing whereupon God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering.  Old Testament sacrifices were a representation of the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.  No doubt, God revealed to Abraham on this particular day His plan for the redemption of mankind.  I believe it was on that day that Abraham rejoiced to see the day of the Lord Jesus (Jn. 8:56).  And just before Abraham was about to slay his son in v.10, the angel of the LORD called out unto him and restrained him from slaying his beloved son in v. 11.  Afterwards we read in verses 13-14:
"[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. [14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."
In v.14 we find that Abraham recognized God as "Jehovah-jireh."  This name means "the LORD will see or provide." Centuries later on that same spot the "land of Moriah" God was going to provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering (v.8).  Abraham rejoiced because he was able to prove to himself and to all that God was the supreme ruler or his life.  He also rejoiced because he was able to keep and further nurture his beloved son Isaac (whose name means laughter - what a joy children are to their parents, if they are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord).  He rejoiced because on that day, God revealed to him that He was going to send His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our redemption, pardon and vicarious atonement.  Abraham rejoiced to see that God Himself was going to come down from Heaven, and take upon Him the form of a servant to be offered up as a sacrifice that could satisfy the just demands of a Holy God.  In the gospel there is so much to rejoice about.

But what exactly did God provide?  The Bible says, God will provide Himself a lamb (v.8).  In v.13 Abraham looked and found behind him a ram (a male sheep).  It was that ram that he sacrificed in Isaac's stead.  Isn't wonderful that when the Lord Jesus came on the scene to begin His public ministry He was identified as "The Lamb of God" (Jn. 1:29).  When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He was the sacrificial lamb.  Interestingly, the Lord died on the same day the paschal lambs were sacrificed (read Luke 22).  The future is bright for us who have repented of sin and self, and trusted in Christ as Savior.  It is because of His blood that we have the forgiveness of sins and enjoy the future glory of eternal life with God (see Eph. 1:7).  Because in eternity future it is the Lamb that will sustain us, and wipe away our tears (Rev. 7:17), it is the Lamb who will make war and win (Rev. 17:14), it is the Lamb to whom the bride of Christ will be forever united to (Rev. 19:9), the temple will be no more for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it (Rev. 21:22), in eternity future there will be no need of the sun, for the glory of Heaven is the Lamb Himself who is the light (Rev. 21:23) and no one is admitted there whose name is not written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev. 13:8,  21:27).

Amazing, that God is Jehovah-jireh, the LORD will provide.

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