3 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide” as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
-Genesis 22:13-14-
Beginning in April, I would like to write articles on the Hebrew Name of for God.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew name for God, YAHWEH, is also compounded with other names giving us beautiful pictures of God’s nature and character. He is called Jehovah Elohim (Jehovah God), Jehovah Jireh (God Our Provider), Jehovah Rapha (God Our Healer), Jehovah Shalom (God Our Peace), Jehovah Ra-ah (God Our Shepherd), Jehovah Shammah (God, the One Present), among many others.
Do you remember the story of a father who was asked by God to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah? His name was Abraham and his son was Isaac. Abraham’s account reads. “then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and… sacrifice him there as burnt offering….’” (Genesis 22:2).
With trembling heart, Abraham obeyed, but God provided the sacrifice. “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horn. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the place THE LORD WILL PROVIDE” (Genesis 22:13-14). The phrase we translate “The LORD will provide” is Jehovah Jireh or “God Our Provider.”
Have you discovered that God still provides for His children? Have you learned that God’s provision is enough to meet the needs of your life and that He will be with you when you go through tough times?
The psalmist presented the challenge: “Taste and see that the LORD s good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). You can prove for yourself that the same One who provided a ram in the thicket for Abraham can provide for you today.
NEXT article will be “Jehovah Rapha-GOD OUR HEALER.”
God bless and be encouraged.
Pastor Gideon Gallo