The Lord Will Provide

January 18, 2011
Genesis 22:13-14 "Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 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."

Abraham's long awaited son had finally arrived. "Finally, my son is here," Abraham thought. Through years of Abraham's faith being pulled and stretched he thought he finally got to rest. That's only what he thought. "Abraham, go sacrifice your son, your long awaited son Isaac as an offering to Me." God told him. "What! you've got to be kidding me!" would be my words with panic in my voice. These weren't Abraham's words, though. He didn't question or delay. Instead, he took Isaac and went right away. The wood was gathered, the altar prepared. "Where is the sheep for the offering?" Isaac had asked. All Abraham said was, "The Lord will provide." Abraham tied his son to the altar, raised the knife in his hand-when all of a sudden an angel stopped his hand and showed him a ram caught in a thicket. Abraham named that place, "Yahweh-Yireh" meaning "the Lord will provide." From one faith stretch to the next, Abraham had just reached his final test of faith. Would he pass the test of loving God above all else? Even his long awaited son? He certainly did!

Dear Lord,
Just like Abraham, You promised me something too that has been a long awaited thing. My faith at the moment is being stretched and strengthened every passing day. Please, give me the faith that Abraham had, to have faith enough in You to be willing to sacrifice my most dearly loved dream, to You, and when I don't see any way of getting through the tough tasks You ask of me, let my words be, "The Lord will provide." I love You, Lord, and ask all these things in Yahweh's Name. Amen.