JEHOVAH JIREH, ANGEL OF THE LORD

Historically, Genesis 22 presents Abraham’s greatest test. Prophetically, it points forward to another Father giving His Son as a sacrifice for sin. In the context of both these situations the divine titles used in verses 14-15 are most appropriate.

The ‘Angel of the Lord’ has already appeared at the moment of crisis for Ishmael, and, following that incident, his mother Hagar declares His name to be ‘Thou God seest me’, Gen. 16.13. Now we have a connected new title, Jehovah Jireh. Jireh is a transliteration of the Hebrew word translated as ‘provide’, v. 7, but it comes from the verb to see and could indeed be translated accordingly. However, we know that the Lord who sees, also provides to meet the need He observes, so our title is justifiably rendered ‘the Lord will provide’. He will provide for Abraham’s immediate need with a ram and, seeing our greatest need, He ‘spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all’, Rom. 8. 32.

This is Abraham’s fourth moment of crisis and by far the greatest. He had left his homeland, separated from Lot, sent away Ishmael and now is asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac whom he loved. In every case, God had provided and now, in the supreme test, He still provides. Maybe someone reading these words is in a moment of crisis? Take comfort, God sees and He will provide. After all, has He not provided for our salvation, as pre-figured in this incident?

Abraham prophesied, ‘In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen’, v. 14. This place, in the mount of Moriah, would be the same place where David would cry for mercy in 1 Sam. 24 and Solomon would build the temple, ‘the threshingfloor of Ornan’, 2 Chron. 3. 1. In both of these cases sacrifices would be made as substitutes, but they were only pointing forward to God’s perfect provision to be made at exactly the same location, for Calvary was on this very spot. There, also, a Father would give His only begotten, whom He loved. As Isaac carried the wood, Christ would carry His cross and as Abraham carried the fire and knife, God Himself would carry out judgement for sin. Jehovah Jireh has indeed provided, once and for all.