Jehovah-Jireh: The One Who Sees (and Provides)

 

 

 

 

Jehovah-Jireh: The One Who Sees (and Provides)

Do you ever feel just plain invisible? Some days feel as though life has moved on for everyone else on the planet. I sometimes stand in the middle of situations swirling all around me: ministry scenarios, family activities, church gatherings, and community events. Yet, at times it feels like I’m standing in the center of a whirlwind of activity and motion…but I’m standing still, and no one even notices my presence. It’s in those moments that this name of God, Jehovah Jireh, takes on new meaning for me.

Jehovah Jireh is translated from YHWH-Yireh, meaning “the Lord will provide,”. This is one of the more popular names for God, and we most often hear this name as Jehovah, My Provider. But it’s so much more than that. Jehovah Jireh might be better translated as “Jehovah: the One Who Sees”. What does He see? The answer to that is quite simple really. He sees everything that concerns me both in the present moment and in the future to come.

This name for God first appears in Genesis 22, where we find a story about Abraham that causes us to really stop and think! You may remember that Abraham had walked with God for many years, and had been given a promise that he and Sarah would have a son, and that his descendants would be numbered more than the stars or the grains of sand on the beach! In the preceding chapters, we learn that Sarah was barren, and many events ensued, culminating in the conversation God is having with Abraham in Genesis 22.

This story begins with Abraham receiving startling new instructions from God regarding the son of promise, Isaac. “Take Isaac, your only son, whom you love, and sacrifice him on the mountain I will show you.” – Genesis 22:2. (The word, “sacrifice”, used here means “a whole or burnt offering.”)

This passage presents many questions and struggles for us, because it feels so contrary to the nature of God as He has shown Himself thus far. From the words that God used, Abraham knew clearly what God was asking of him! There was no question in his mind about the fact that God was asking him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering! How could he possibly do this when Abraham and Sarah had waited for years and years to see this baby, who was the embodiment of every covenant God had ever made with them?

Up to this point, Abraham had followed everywhere God had led him, obeyed every command, left his family and country of birth, lived in the desert for many years as a nomadic tribe…and believed God to fulfill His promise. Finally after nearly 40 years of waiting, the promised son is born, and now THIS! How could God possibly ask this of Abraham? (Have you ever asked God, “How could you do this to me?”)

And, yet, what do we see? Without questioning God’s command, Abraham sets out early the next day with Isaac, two servants, and everything they would need for the sacrifice…except the offering. Little did Isaac know at that point that he himself was to be the offering! That part came later….

The Scriptures don’t tell us much about the inner thoughts of either Abraham or Isaac, or what they were feeling as they journeyed up the mountain. Remember that by this time, Isaac was no longer a small child; he was a strong young man who apparently trusted his father! We do see later in Hebrews 11:19 that Abraham knew God’s character enough to believe that He was fully able to raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill the promises He had made. Apparently he had transferred those beliefs and values to his son.

At the last moment, when Abraham was fully prepared to sacrifice Isaac, he was stopped by God Himself. Talk about last minute rescue! Caught in a thicket was a ram for the sacrifice that God had already provided. Genesis 22:14 – “So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.’”

Abraham called the place “God will provide,” but the word there is so much more than our English communicates. “Provide” in Hebrew can also mean “see to it,” which is similar to the name a woman named Hagar called the Lord in Genesis 16:13 – “The God Who Sees.” This Hebrew word can also mean “perceive” or “experience”.

When Abraham refers to God as Jehovah-Jireh, he isn’t just saying simply “God provides.” He is saying something much more deeply personal. He is saying “You see and experience all this need of mine and make provision for it ahead of time.

This story of deep trust and obedience brings some powerful things to bear on our situations living as widows or singles. During those times when we feel invisible, we can trust that God sees and experiences every need that we have. This combination name of Jehovah-Jireh paints a picture of God as a watcher, an investigator, and a provider. We can draw comfort from knowing that He has explored every aspect of the needs that will be present in my life, and He has already made provision for them. He examines our situation with great care, and provides for us the best solution in every case.

This name has profound meaning and significance in the context of God’s provision. He is portrayed as a reliable and compassionate provider who is fully aware of our needs. “The Lord Will Provide,” is more than just a promise of material supply. It speaks to us of God’s omniscient care and His promises to meet all our needs – physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Living with this assurance allows us to release the weight of worry. We can trust that Jehovah-Jireh knows what we need, even when we face our most challenging times of uncertainty and difficulty. Living alone, maybe for the first time, presents many situations that seem impossible: things I’ve never done before, things that I don’t know how to do, decisions that seem overwhelming. And yet, we learn from Abraham that it’s possible to live with a Jehovah-Jireh mindset, trusting God to provide according to his timing and methods, providing the best possible solutions for us.

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome here or you can email me at sheryl@freshhope.us. If you’re looking for a new purpose and a pathway to move ahead, please consider joining one of our Refocusing Widows groups, either in person or online. You can register at www.refocusingwidows.org/Groups. We look forward to meeting you!