JEHOVAH-JIREH – THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

In this post we will begin to look at the names of God expressed as a compound with the name Yhwh or Jehovah.  The first one is Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide.

Genesis 22:14 “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.”

The Hebrew entry for Strong’s actually defines it as, “Yhwh will see (to it).”  In context, Abraham is naming the place where God had called him to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Abraham didn’t hesitate at God’s command, but you know he couldn’t have understood why God was asking him to do such a thing.  God had promised to fulfill His covenant with Abraham to make him a great nation through Isaac.  Abraham’s faith was not dependent upon his understanding of “why” but the revelation he had been given of “who.”  I believe this incident must be the source of the saying, “Where God guides He provides.”  As the writer to the Hebrews stated, Abraham fully believed that God would keep His covenant with him to the point of raising Isaac from the dead if necessary.

Hebrews 11:17–19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

God will do no less for any of His children than He did for Abraham.  He will always supply our need when we are serving Him in accordance with His will.

Psalms 34:10 “…they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

The problem most of us have is in understanding “need” from His perspective rather than ours.  Those needs include clothing, food and drink.

Matthew 6:30–33 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

It is significant to note that His promise of provision is to those that “seek the LORD” and “seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Those needs include so much more than just material provision.  They include being able to overcome the temptation to sin…

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

 

… being able to learn from the scripture and apply its truth to our lives…

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

…being able to answer false accusers who would persecute us for our faith in Jesus Christ…

Mark 13:11 “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”

…being able to withstand the attack of the devil and other evil spirits.

Ephesians 6:11-12 &  16 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places….Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

It is important to consider the whole of scripture as we think on God’s provision.  Sometimes it is part of God’s purpose for His children to suffer and endure a time when it appears to us that God is not meeting one’s need—e.g., Job and Lazarus.  We need to remember that sometimes God meets our need by putting us through the refining fires of His testing.  Sometimes He meets our need by allowing us to leave this life and enter eternity in His presence. His primary focus is providing for our eternal spiritual well-being—our greatest need.