THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014
Genesis 22:14 “…And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh…”
SCRIPTURE READING: GENESIS 22:9-19
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And 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 in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
REFLECTION: Each time God called Abraham, the Patriarch replied in the Hebrew tongue-- “Hineni.” We translate the word, “Here am I,” but it ought not to be interpreted in the physical sense alone. There is a far deeper spiritual significance: “Look through me. I am available.”
When God called Abraham to make the sacrifice of his Son, Abraham replies, “Hineni” “Look through me!” When Isaac asked his father about the sacrifice, Abraham replies, “Hineni” “Look through me!” When God holds back Abraham’s knife wielding hand, Abraham cries, “Hineni” “Look through me!”
Men of faith and integrity are willing for God and other men to “Look through them.” They have nothing to fear for they have made themselves wholly available to their God. Would we dare say to / God, “Look through me”?
Abraham’s faith, evidenced by His obedience and his willingness to sacrifice his nearest and dearest, would favor him with God’s promise, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” And God kept His promise! The Apostle Paul tells us, “the blessing of Abraham came to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14).
Living, active faith not only blesses us, it makes us a blessing!
Moses, the inspired author of Genesis tells us, “Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” (Genesis 22:14). Jewish translations read, “In the mount where the LORD is seen.”Realizing that it was at this very place, 2000 years later, that the Lamb of God would suffer and die, Abraham’s title was most fitting. Certainly this is a mount “Where the LORD is seen!”
And there is one more facet of truth that shines from that gem, “Jehovah-Jireh!” It is sometimes translated, “The LORD will provide.” Now the meaning is complete. “The Lord is seen! And the Lord is seen as our provider!” He provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. He provided the Lamb of God as a sacrifice for my sins, and for the sins of the whole world! “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!”
PRAYER: OurFather, which art in Heaven, how thankful we are that you are not hidden, but you are seen and known as our great provider When we needed an example, you came to us. When we needed understanding, you showed us. When we needed a sacrifice, you sent your one and only Son to die for us. When we needed your sanctifying and sustaining presence, you sent your Spirit. “All we have needed thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy Faithfulness!” We pray that today you will “Hineni”—literally “look through us. With the Psalmist we pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23,24). In Jesus’ name.Amen Our Father &c.
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