DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - Jehovah Jireh - “The Lord Will Provide.”

"Every thing that a man leans upon but God, will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through. He, who leans only upon Christ, lives the highest, choicest, safest, and sweetest life." - Thomas Brooks.

So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." - Gen 22:14.

The small boy had been consistently late for dinner. One particular day his parents had warned him to be on time, but he arrived later than ever. He found his parents already seated at the table, about to start eating. Quickly he sat at his place, then noticed what was set before him--a slice of bread and a glass of water. There was silence as he sat staring at his plate, crushed. Suddenly he saw his father's hand reach over, pick up his plate and set it before himself. Then his dad put his own full plate in front of his son, smiling warmly as he made the exchange. When the boy became a man, he said, "All my life I've known what God was like by what my father did that night." – Source unknown.

“The Lord will provide.” As we read the account of Abraham's testimony to the goodness of God, in providing a ram to take the place of his son on the altar. We realise that the Lord will provide for us also, if we will trust Him, like Abraham did. There are 3 things that trust must be made of, but before we get to that, we must understand HOW the LORD PROVIDES...

HE PROVIDES THE RIGHT THING!
“A ram.”- A substitute. Because of sin we were under condemnation, under the curse, devoted to death. Only God could provide the needed sacrifice, neither EDUCATION nor CIVILISATION could avail, but REGENERATION through the blood of God's appointed Lamb. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Gal 2:20.

HE PROVIDES THE RIGHT PLACE!
“On the mount of the Lord.”- It is very significant that on the same mount, perhaps on the very spot, where the ram was caught in the thicket that was to die in stead of Isaac, Jesus the Lamb of God was caught among the ropes and nails of the Cross, and offered as a sacrifice for our sins. That mount of sacrifice became a mount of communion for Abraham, because of the Cross; we are made near to God, the veil has been torn asunder, and we can now enter into His presence, and have fellowship with God.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. - Heb 4:14-15.

HE PROVIDES AT THE RIGHT TIME!
Just when the knife was uplifted and the death stroke about to fall, the voice was heard and the substitute seen. God's clock is never one moment behind! Some people maybe reading this as a last hope of despair. LISTEN to the voice and LOOK at the substitute Lamb that took our sin, guilt, grief, sorrow, and shame. Faith will be tried, and may be tested to the utmost limit, but He will not go above what we are able to bear, and will with the temptation make a way of escape. “Why does this happen to our faith?” Because man's extremity is God's opportunity!

At one time J. Wilbur Chapman experienced a great sorrow that nearly shook his faith. In addition, his finances were almost depleted just when it was necessary for him to take a long trip to the western United States. One of the elders of his church who was a wealthy banker came to his home to offer a word of comfort and encouragement. As he left, he slipped a piece of paper into the pastor's hand. Chapman looked at it and was surprised to find that it was a check made out to him and signed by this rich friend.

But the figures to indicate the amount of the gift were missing. "Did you really mean to give me a signed blank check?" he asked. "Yes," said the man. "I didn't know how much you'd need, and I wanted to be sure you would have enough." Later Chapman commented, "While I never had to use that check, it gave me a secure feeling to know that thousands of dollars were literally at my disposal." Someone once said, "God too has given us a signed check in Philippians 4:19 to provide for every genuine need that arises in our lives." – Source unknown.

3 WAYS TO TRUST THAT THE LORD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE!

CONFIDENTLY
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? - Rom 8:32.

EXPECTANTLY
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. - Heb 11:11.

CONTENTEDLY
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"- Heb 13:5-6.

Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God's faithfulness. In his journal he wrote:

Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply. - Our Daily Bread.

He will provide wisdom for the meek, strength for the weak, weapons for the warfare, comfort for the time of sorrow, and grace for every need. He is our provider in LIFE; He is our provider in DEATH; He is our provider in ETERNITY! HE IS JEHOVAH-JIREH!!! It's time to turn from our worldly ways, worldly crutches, worldly trusts, and make Jesus our personal Jehovah-Jireh!

Loving Father, I thank you that you are my Jehovah-Jireh, my provider. I thank you Lord that when I am in need, you have already seen that need and provided for it! Help me Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to come before your throne, confidently, expectantly, and contentedly, knowing that you will always provide, in Jesus wonderful name, I pray, amen.

GBYAY