07/28/2022
Olivia's devotional from her Bible reading plan:
In today’s reading, we see that God called upon Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and we learn that God’s name is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider (Genesis 22:14).
This entire scene presents a crisis of faith for Abraham. Remember, he has waited his ENTIRE LIFE for Isaac, and now God commands Abraham to KILL the very son promised to him! To make matters even worse and more confusing for Abraham, God does not even accept human sacrifices.
If you are wondering why God does this, remember that Abraham’s faith is undergoing a test. The sacrifice of Isaac also serves as a foreshadow of the future sacrifice of God’s promised beloved Son, Jesus.
So a critical lesson on provision here: we encounter Jehovah Jireh, our Provider when there is a need to be met or a crisis to overcome. We do not typically fully appreciate the work of the Almighty Jireh when things are cozy and comfortable.
I genuinely believe this is why God allows us to experience deep distress and even the pinch of financial concerns because we would not look to Jireh without them (just like we wouldn’t see the need for a Savior apart from acknowledging our sin)!
This was the situation my family faced three years ago. Shortly after securing a new job and moving our family 1300 miles from New Jersey to Louisiana, my husband lost that job through a series of highly unexpected and irregular circumstances. The crisis that followed nearly crushed him. He fell into Christian atheism. But in the middle of all of that, Jehovah Jireh provided miraculously. My husband received a substantial check for unused vacation time from the employer that let him go, and that money was precisely what we needed to get us through until he secured a new position. We saw Jehovah Jireh provide everything our family needed.
If you struggle with deep anxiety over areas of financial provision, please hear me on this! Begin to train your mind to consider every crisis you face as an opportunity to encounter Jehovah Jireh, your Provider, just as Abraham does in today’s passage when he says to Issac in Genesis 22:8, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Abraham trusts that Jehovah Jireh will provide for their needs, and we can too!
2 Chronicles 16:9a says it perfectly, “ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
When faced with your impossible situation today - do you trust that God will provide for your needs, and show Himself strong on your behalf?
