Jehovah Jireh
Context
Abraham had many dramatic moments in his life, but one of the most dramatic moments must be found as recorded in Genesis 22: 1 – 19. This text captures the account of how God had instructed Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. While it is not recorded in the text, we can imagine that the dominant thought which must have gone through Abraham’s mind as he heard these words from God was: “Why did God want Isaac as a sacrifice?”
Abraham and Sarah had waited 25 long years for Isaac. Isaac and his descendants was to be the special line with whom God would establish His covenant (Genesis 17: 18-19). This special line eventually became the nation of Israel. Since Isaac had to be alive to have children to continue Abraham’s line, it did not seem logical for God to want Isaac to die as a burnt offering. God’s earlier promises seemed now to contradict his latest instruction to Abraham. Such a command from God must have been puzzling to Abraham as it defied all human logic.
However, Abraham chose to believe God instead. His faith told him that God would work things out, one way or another, even if He had to raise Isaac up from the dead (Hebrews 11: 17), he would fulfil His promises to him.
Exercising his faith, Abraham obeyed without delay. He took a three-day journey to the land of Moriah, went to the right mountain, took Isaac, bound him, laid him on the altar, and was just about to deal the death strike with the knife when the Angel of the LORD stopped him from doing so. At this moment, Abraham realised that God had provided a ram for the burnt offering in place of his son.
The personal and theological significance of the event
This event obviously had great personal significance for Abraham. His faith and his obedience to God were severely tested, and he had passed the test with flying colours. However, this event also had great theological significance because it foreshadowed a future event when God would one day provide the sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of the world. He would provide the Lamb of God (John 1: 29), His own dearly beloved Son. Just as Abraham had bound Isaac and lifted His hand to slay His Son, one day God would allow the Lord Jesus to be nailed to a cruel cross, except this time, there was no divine intervention to prevent His death. The Divine One Himself would execute full judgment for the sins of the world against His own Son on the cross until He breathed His last breath.
Who can forget the heart-wrenching words written by Isaiah the prophet?
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…” – Isaiah 53:5
“And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all…” – Isaiah 53:6
He was indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, as John the Baptist declared (John 1: 29), who was to be sacrificed that he may bear our iniquities. Within the events of Genesis 22 was a clue to God’s grand plan of salvation which He would one day bring to pass. Abraham named the place “The-LORD-Will-Provide”, or Jehovah Jireh. One day, God Himself would provide the ultimate sacrifice – His own Son – that we may have salvation (Isaiah 59: 16).
If I may ask you to reconsider the question posed in the first paragraph of this article, what would be your answer? That God continues to provide for our physical needs is not something we take for granted. However, God has also provided for our deep and dire spiritual needs. We were in sin and in need of someone to bear those sins for us. God has provided His own Son as a sacrifice for sin. The things that the Lord Jesus bore for us as stated in Isaiah 53 – He did not deserve a single strike or blow! They were all done that we might be saved. God is indeed the One who provides – and the greatest thing He could ever provide is what He has already given – the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. As we look upon God’s grand plan of salvation, may we find ourselves in awe of God for being our Jehovah Jireh – the One who provides for all our needs!