Devotional 43: God is Provider – Jehovahjireh

When you are in need, to whom do you turn? Is your first thought or natural response to turn to God as your provider or to someone or something else?

Abraham certainly looked to God and testified of His provision for him. After God supplied a substitute sacrifice for Abraham’s son, he coined a name for God and what He did for him in that place—Jehovahjireh. Genesis 22 :13-14 says, “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 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.’” The New Testament gives us some insight into the thoughts of Abraham in the midst of doing what God asked of him. Hebrews 11:17-19 say, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”  What trust in God!

Can you testify of a place where God was your Jehovahjireh?  The Bible is full of examples of people who looked to God to provide for their needs in difficult places.  Can you think of other examples of people who trusted in God’s provision that will encourage you to greater confidence in God to supply your needs?  Let’s think about some of the areas where we should be looking to God for His provision:

• He provides a place of rest  (Joshua 1:13-15, Hebrews 4),
• He gives life (Job 33:4),
• He gives counsel (Psalm 16:17),
• He provides for the needy (Psalm 68:7-10),
• He gives power and strength to his people (Psalm 68:35),
• He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. (Psalm 113:9),
• He provides food for those who fear him (Psalm 111:4-5),
• He gives food to the hungry (Psalm 145:5-10),
• He gives wisdom(Proverbs 2:6-8, James 1:5),
• He gives light (Proverbs 29:13, Jeremiah 31:35),
• He gives good things to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11),
• He will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19),
• He gives his Holy Spirit to you (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8),
• He gives life to all things (1 Timothy 6:13),
• He richly provides us with everything to enjoy (I Timothy 6:14-19),
• He provides gifts and strength that we might serve Him (1 Peter 4:10-11), and
• He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).

Would you agree that this list covers just about every need we might have in a general way?  Everything we need really comes from God and we should praise and thank Him for his provision.

Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

With Prayer, Mark                             © November 2012

Scripture quoted: ESV – Emphasis added

Verses for our meditation:  God is our Provider

Deuteronomy 8:17-20, Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Joshua 1:13-15,  “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

Job 33:4, The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Psalm 16:7, I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Psalm 68:7-10, O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Psalm 68:35, Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel–he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

Psalm 113:5-9, Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 111:4-5, He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.  He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 146:5-10, Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

Proverbs 2:6-8, For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Proverbs 29:13, The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

Jeremiah 31:35, Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar– the LORD of hosts is his name:

Matthew 7:11,  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

1 Corinthians 15:55-58, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

2 Corinthians 9:8-15, And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Philippians 4:18-19, I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

1 Timothy 6:13-19,  I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time–he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 4:6, But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 4:10-11, As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies–in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:5, Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”