Genesis 22:14
14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Whether we sit down at a table, on a blanket or bench by the shoreline, on a giant rock overlooking the rocky Wyoming landscape, or on the floor of a tent in the wilderness – all of us at one time or the other have considered the blessings that we have been given or experienced. I think sometimes we offer prayers of thanksgiving out of habit, such as at a meal. Not that the thanksgiving is insincere, rather it could seem a bit rehearsed. You've heard those prayers. Perhaps you also pray in that manner. But what if we stop and think about the provider. I am pushing the 'thinker' beyond the providing parent or neighbor or friend or even you and me; let's scale the heights of provision all the way to the mountain of YHWH.
You more than likely have heard or read about Abraham of the Bible who was tried by YHWH. He told Abraham to take his son Isaac, his only son, the son he loved, to the land of Moriah to offer him on the altar as a burnt offering. Can you imagine that moment? He had to have all kinds of images running through his mind. This same YHWH had met with him prior to Isaac’s conception and revealed to Abraham that he was going to father a son at 100 years of age (let that sink in a few moments), and through him, Abraham would become a Father to many nations. So Abraham tosses down his bow and walks away from YHWH, mumbling choice words under his breath, right? On the contrary, Genesis 22:3 says Abraham rose early in the morning, split firewood, saddled his donkey, took a couple of young men and his son Isaac and headed to the place YHWH commanded him. Hopefully you know the rest of the story.
So what does this have to do with thanksgiving?
Abraham had so much faith in YHWH that he absolutely knew there would be only one outcome in this situation; Abraham was going back down that mountain with his son and the unscortched firewood he had split just three days prior. And he did just that! YHWH took him to the outer limits of no turning back, and then intervened at the exact moment of unwavering faith.
Is that not the most incredible act of trust?
Can you hear the songs of thanksgiving coming from a very old man and his young son?
I would like to think they danced.
And then YHWH did something else. YHWH honored Abraham for his faith.
Genesis 22:18 tells us:
18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
Faith brought about obedience and obedience brought provision.
Some use YHWH as if our Qadosh One (Set-apart One) is a slot machine arm, raining pennies from heaven. He has the authoritative power to do that if he so chose, but more than pennies, He desires our trust. These people fail to see that YHWH is to be revered. The scripture uses the word "feared".
Malachi 3:16-18 reads:
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
17 “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
I would rather have my name written on His scroll of remembrance, than all of the gold and silver on this planet.
Follow YHWH Yireh in obedience and see if He does not keep his covenant with you, and make specific provision for you.
He is our Provider
♡
YHWH Yireh
We do not deserve you, but somehow you love us so very much.
I cannot begin to imagine putting my life into the hands of another.
There is only One.
You are that
One
for me.
You are that
One
for all of us
if we will just
Believe.
