YHWH Yireh: Genesis 22:14

So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:14 ESV)

And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said: “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.” (Genesis 22:14 HCSB)

Derivations

  • YHWH: from the Hebrew word “havah”, meaning “to be” or “being”. Closely associated with the Hebrew word “chavah”, meaning “to live” or “life”
  • Yireh: From the Hebrew root word ra’ah, meaning to see, to see to it, to provide (prevision/provision)

The Lord Will Provide

Abraham had a dilemma. After what he had lived through so far, he finally had faith in God, great, unquestioning faith. But this day, God asked Abraham to do the unthinkable.

The story behind YHWH Yireh

  • Elohim tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1)
  • Isaac was Abraham’s only son, of miraculous provision and promise
    (Genesis 21:1-2, Genesis 22:2a)
  • They journeyed to the mountain (Genesis 22:2b-4)
    • Mount Moriah, based on the same root Hebrew word “ra’ah”
    • The mountain on which Jerusalem (and the temple) was to be built
  • Isaac questioned Abraham (Genesis 22:7)
    • Where is the lamb?
  • Abraham knew God had a plan as he followed God’s command
    • Provide a substitutionary lamb (Genesis 22:8)
    • Raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19)
  • After many faith failures, Abraham was poised to act on his faith
    (Genesis 22:9-10, James 2:21-23)

YHWH Yireh and The Lamb and “the rest of the story”

  • The Angel of the Lord speaks (Genesis 22:11)
    Remember, The Angel of the Lord is not merely any angel, but a theophany (the appearance of God in a visible form to a human being), or preincarnate manifestation of Jesus.
  • The Angel of the Lord called Abraham’s name (twice)
  • The Angel of the Lord stops Abraham (Genesis 22:12, Romans 8:32)
  • YHWH Yirej/Jehovah Jireh provides the substitutionary lamb (Genesis 22:13, John 1:29)
  • The Lord has provided, The Lord is providing, The Lord will provide

God continues to do the unthinkable. He provided for Abraham, and in so doing, provided for us.

  • To know God’s provision, there must be unquestioning obedience
  • To know God’s provision, there must be unwavering faith
  • To know God’s provision, there must be unceasing submission

Praying to God by Name

From “Praying the Names of God” by Ann Spangler

YHWH Yireh (Jehovah-Jireh)

Reflect On:    Genesis 22:1-14

Praise God:      For his loving provision in your life.
Offer Thanks:  For the way God has provided for your spiritual, material, and emotional needs.
Confess:            Any tendency to live as though God’s grace is cheap.
Ask God:           To help you obey him without hesitation or compromise.

Reflect On:    Genesis 22:9-12

Praise God:      Because he is highly exalted, glorious beyond our understanding.
Offer Thanks:  That God has pursued a relationship with you.
Confess:            Your tendency to shrink back when God asks something difficult.
Ask God:           For the grace to make the necessary sacrifice.

Reflect On:    Genesis 22:15-18

Praise God:       Because he delights in blessing his people.
Offer Thanks:   For the blessings you have received because of Abraham’s obedience.
Confess:             Any tendency to attribute God’s blessings to yourself.
Ask God:            To help you experience the connection between obedience and blessing.

Two Hymns based on Jehovah Jireh

 THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

Tho’ troubles assail
And dangers affright,
Tho’ friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The LORD will provide.

The birds without barn
Or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting,
Shall ne’er be deny’d,
So long as ’tis written,
The LORD will provide.

We may, like the ships,
By tempests be tost
On perilous deeps,
But cannot be lost:
Tho’ Satan enrages
The wind and the tide,
The promise engages,
The LORD will provide.

His call we obey
Like Abra’m of old,
Not knowing our way,
But faith makes us bold;
For tho’ we are strangers
We have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers,
The LORD will provide.

When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fill us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Tho’ oft he has try’d,
This heart-cheering promise,
The LORD will provide.

He tells us we’re weak,
Our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek
We ne’er shall obtain;
But when such suggestions
Our spirits have ply’d,
This answers all questions,
The LORD will provide.

No strength of our own,
Or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known
The Saviour’s great name;
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide,
The LORD is our power,
The LORD will provide.

When life sinks apace
And death is in view,
This word of his grace
Shall comfort us thro’:
No fearing or doubting
With CHRIST on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The LORD will provide.

John Newton
“John Newton’s Olney Hymns” p 19

Jehovah-Jireh, The LORD Will Provide

THE saints should never be dismay’d,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For when they least expect his aid,
The Saviour will appear.

This Abraham found, he rais’d the knife,
GOD saw, and said, “Forbear;”
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life,
Behold the victim there.

David seem’d Sauls certain prey;
But hark! the foe’s at hand;
Saul turns his arms another way,
To save th’ invaded land.

When Jonah sunk beneath the wave
He thought to rise no more;
But GOD prepar’d a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.

Blest proofs of pow’r and grace divine,
That meet us in His word!
May ev’ry deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the LORD.

Wait for his seasonable aid,
And tho’ it tarry wait:
The promise may be long delay’d,
But cannot come too late.

William Cowper
“William Cowper’s Olney Hymns”, p 28

 

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