The Lord Will Provide – Jehovah Jireh 

Jehovah Jireh is one of the many different names of God in the Old Testament. It is translated from the Hebrew YHWH-Yireh, which means “The LORD will provide.” Abraham used this name at a special place after God provided a ram to be sacrificed in place of his son, Isaac. 

The story is one of faith and obedience by Abraham, and one of provision and love from God. In it, God tells Abraham, in a difficult command, to sacrifice his son of promise, Isaac. Abraham travels with Isaac to the place God indicates (Mount Moriah), and when Isaac asks where the lamb is for the burnt offering, Abraham answers with a tremendous amount of faith and foresight that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering…” (Genesis 22:8). So, Abraham proceeds with building an altar and tying up Isaac.

Here, Jehovah-Jireh provided a lamb to save Isaac. On Calvary, Jehovah-Jireh provided the Lamb to save all of us.

Then, just as Abraham is ready to finish the offering, God’s angel calls out, telling Abraham to stop! Isaac’s life is spared. “Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide [Jehovah-Jireh], so today it is said, ‘It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain’” (Genesis 22:13–14, emphasis added). Abraham was obedient to God (even though it was crazy hard) and he had faith that God would provide (he considered that God could even raise Isaac from the dead to fulfill His promise if needed, see Hebrews 11:19). Then God reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham and many years later, the Temple of Solomon was built on that very spot.

This whole story surrounding the name of Jehovah Jireh presents more than just a one-time provision for Abraham. It points to God’s continual provision and His plan for humanity.

Notice that the name Jehovah Jireh means the Lord WILL Provide, which points to a future event. In many ways, this story parallels the story of Jesus. The mountain here was Mount Moriah, where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, but it also refers to Calvary, the mount where God did not spare His son. Here, Jehovah-Jireh provided a lamb to save Isaac. On Calvary, Jehovah-Jireh provided the Lamb to save all of us; “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Jehovah-Jireh; the Lord will provide. 

He will provide our daily needs (mental, physical, spiritual). And He has already provided our most fundamental need—being saved from the spiritual death brought about by sin, so we can be in a relationship with Him. May we always remember that God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider, who was willing to die to provide the sacrifice in our stead.