My Provider

Psalm 111:9 (NIV) He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever— holy and awesome is his name.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) …but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

My ladies and I are reading "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart" by Elizabeth George. This is a study of Psalm 23. In Chapter 2 Elizabeth George looks at Psalm 23:1b - "I shall not want".

We meet Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD will provide in Genesis 22. It is a familiar story where Abraham is asked by God to take his only son Isaac and offer him as a burnt sacrifice. Abraham’s response is immediate obedience. When Isaac asked his father about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham response is found in Genesis 22:8 (NIV) Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. And just as Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son, an angel called out to him to stop. As Abraham looked up, he seen a ram that was caught in the bushes. Genesis 22:14 (NIV) So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Yes, God did provide the sacrifice just as Abraham said he would.

How comforting it is to know that God sees our needs and He provides for them! You may ask how I can know for certain that the LORD will provide.

Elizabeth George in this chapter says “We have the promise of God (which requires it), but we also have the very nature of the Person of God (which demands compliance) … with God, to see is also to provide.”

Some of our basic needs are food, clothes and house. God tells us in Matthew 6:25-28:

(NIV) 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies and He will also feed and clothe us.

We read how the children of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness. During that time, their shoes and clothes never wore out. God, Jehovah-Jireh, provided manna for them new every day. They did not lack anything – for forty long years! We too can count on our Jehovah-Jireh to be our provider in everything!

Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD will provide, has worked in my life and in my family’s life many, many times. When my first baby was born, we were struggling financially. Through a lady in our church, the LORD provided diapers. When we had car trouble, He provided a vehicle. When I needed a job, He provided one and it was perfect. When my husband has gone on mission trips, He has provided financially. Jehovah-Jireh has indeed been my provider through the years and in so many ways!

I like what Elizabeth George says: “Jehovah-Jireh denotes our loving Shepherd sees our needs and sees to our needs. And when we see His provision, we need to see to it that He is greatly praised!”

We must always remember to give all praise to God who is our Jehovah-Jireh, our provider!

Here is one thought provoking question the author asks at the end of Chapter 2. Take a moment and ask yourself this question:
1. If you’re facing a seeming impossible situation now, how does the thought of Jehovah-Jireh, “the LORD will provide”, encourage you?

In what ways has the Lord provided for you? In what ways do you need Him to provide?

I want to remind you that no matter what you are facing today, no matter how big or how small, God wants to be your provider! Call out to Him and trust Him to do it! His time is not our time, but He always comes through!

Let’s Pray. Father, I thank You that You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider! Thank You for all that You do in my life and in my family’s life. Thank You for always coming through for us. I ask that You will show Yourself Jehovah-Jireh in the lives of those reading this. You know what they have need of today. Thank You Father for being our Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ps.  I shared this post on Heart to Heart with Holley.

Blessings,