Thankful Thursday - God's Provision

...And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh. (The Lord will provide.)

Genesis 22:14 (KJV)

I've probably read this story over a hundred times in my life, yet I'm still struck by Abraham's obedience. But today I'd like to focus on Jehovahjireh - our Provider! In a world filled with so many ways to provide for ourselves, it's so easy to forget that we need to rely on God. If we're not careful, the ways in which we provide for ourselves can become the very thing that causes us to stray from our true Provider. We can easily become distracted and prideful in thinking we can provide for ourselves and don't need God.

Today as I read this, I thought about Abraham's faith in God. He knew God well enough to know that God was going to provide for him no matter the outcome...whether that meant comfort for the death of his son Isaac, or an offering to take his son's place. Either way, we see no resistance on Abraham's part to trust in God.

God provided in a mighty way for Abraham (and his son) that day. He still does today. We're not sacrificing burnt offerings anymore, but is there something you need to lay on the alter and trust God with today? Maybe it's an issue over your finances. Maybe it's an issue over your children. It could be a number of things. Whatever it is that you need to lay before God, take the time to lay it on the alter and give it to Him. He will provide. It may not make sense right now, just as it didn't for Abraham I'm sure, but give it to God and ask him to provide whatever it is that you need for today.

Genesis 22:1-14

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 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."

Lord, thank you for being our Provider, Jehovahjireh! I am so grateful that you love us enough to provide for our needs, whatever they may be. Help us to trust in You in all things. In Jesus name, Amen!