How Can I Find the Blessings Of Jehovah-Jireh?

In Genesis 22 we see the first reference to Jehovah Jireh, which means the LORD who provides.  There is a lot of teaching today on how to walk in the favor and blessing of the LORD.  To know God as Jehovah Jireh, my provider.  In this chapter God is teaching us how to know him as Jehovah Jireh.  First you must know that God is moved by our faith more than he is moved by our need.   The cycle that we catch ourselves in is that we draw back when we have a need.  We quit loving, quit giving, quit doing what we should be doing because we take that need and put it right in front of our face so that it is all that we can see or think about.

In Abraham's life, he had a need.  He had no son by his wife Sarah who was barren.  In their old age when they were past child baring age she gave birth to a son and they named him Isaac.  They now had a son, but he was their only son.  When we have something, but we don't have a lot of it, we often consider ourselves poor, nothing to 'spare'   Because Abraham and Sarah only had one son they were over protective of him.  Isaac was the most important thing to Abraham.  After all he only had one son of promise from God - Isaac.

When we start to think, I don't have much money, just a little, we are in the same position that Abraham was with Isaac.  For instance if you don't have much food, just a little, that food becomes more valuable and precious to you.  You are more protective of it, and thinking about it more often.  When we don't have many friends, just a few, we are more possessive of those friends, because we don't have many.   What we have or better said DON'T have magnifies in our mind when we are lacking in that area.  We tend to be over protective of what we do have because of our lack.

As a test of his faith and devotion God ask Abraham to lay Isaac down and offer him as a sacrifice to God.

22:10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham:and he said, Here am I.

12And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.

13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Abraham didn't know God as Jehovah Jireh until he laid down the most precious thing in his life, Isaac.  You cannot know him as Jehovah Jireh as long as you are giving and doing out of your surplus or EXTRA.  For instance, we say I will give in the offering WHEN I CAN.  I will do some work for the LORD, WHEN I CAN.  I will go to church WHEN I CAN.  As long as you are keeping the BEST of your life for yourself and only giving your EXTRA to God you cannot KNOW  him as Jehovah Jireh!  There are people that are wanting God to give them the blessings of Abraham, but they are only giving God the 'left overs' of their life.  Their left over time, their left over finances, their left over energy, their left over thoughts...

When Abraham was willing to take the most important, valuable thing in his life, the very area where he was lacking and give it to God then he knew God as Jehovah Jireh.  It is just as Jesus said, If you will lay down your life, you will take it up again, but if you hang on to your life you will lose it.

Where is your lack?  What is the most precious thing in your life?  Can you give this to God?  When you do, you will know him as Jehovah Jireh and the blessings of Abraham will flow to your life.