Jehovah-Jireh -- a place that reminds us it’s going to all be okay 

In Genesis chapter 22 when Jehovah God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac, right there he saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he offered it instead of Isaac. Abraham viewed this ram as Jehovah’s provision, so he named the place Jehovah-Jireh. The footnote on this verse points out that this means “Jehovah Will Provide; Jehovah Will See to It.” Not Jehovah Did Provide,” but “Jehovah Will Provide.” The name doesn’t just memorialize a past event; it anticipates future acts. This is beautiful evidence of Abraham's faith and also of Jehovah's character ... and it strengthens our conviction that when we step out in obedience and faith regardless of the cost, without delay, Jehovah will provide exactly what we need, when we need it!! He can do the unexpected, and with style. It’s great to meditate on all the Jehovah-Jireh moments we have personally experienced. This will feed our faith for the future.

The key is to step out in faith and obedience. Abraham did what Jehovah asked him to do even though he didn’t know how it would work out. What Abraham did when he was told to sacrifice Isaac: “So Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took two of his servants along with him and his son Isaac. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and then he rose and traveled to the place that the true God indicated to him.” (Genesis 22:3)  Verses 5&6: “Abraham now said to his servants: ‘You stay here with the donkey, but the boy and I will go over there and worship and return to you.’ So Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took in his hands the fire and the knife.” Verses 9&10: “Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac hand and foot and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.” How many VERBS are in this scene? Abraham took immediate action. And then Jehovah provided. He didn’t provide the ram until Abraham had shown his willingness to be obedient regardless of the astronomical cost to himself.

So no matter what, we’re going to be okay. Sometimes things look grim -- we’re suffering day in and day out because of a problem, a situation that seems hopeless, something gigantic that weighs on our mind and heart. But if our faith moves us to obedience, we’ll see Jehovah provide exactly what we need at just the right time. It might not be as obvious to us as that ram was to Abraham, so we might have to pray and ask for Jehovah to help us recognize his provisions. The gift might not come wrapped in the wrapping paper we like, so we might have to pray and ask Jehovah to help us gratefully accept his provisions even if we don’t necessarily like what we see. But we can be confident that he will provide. He will see to it.