Yahweh-Jireh→Always Seeing/Providing
Intro:
1. God’s Command (Genesis 22:1-2)
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2Then God
said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him
there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:1–2 (NIV)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know
that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV)
2. Abraham’s Obedience (Genesis 22:3-10)
a. It was Immediate (Genesis 22:3-4)
“Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and
his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told
him about. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.” Genesis 22:3–4 (NIV)
b. It Was Based on Faith (Genesis 22:5-8)
“He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and
then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 (NIV)
“We will worship and then we will come back to you.” ????????????
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was
about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your
offspring will be reckoned.” 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking,
he did receive Isaac back from death.” Hebrews 11:17-19
✓6“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the
fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together” Genesis 22:6 (NIV)
✓“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire
and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham answered, “God
himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.”
Genesis 22:7–8 (NIV)
Elohim-jireh—God Will Provide!
c. It Was Thorough & Complete (Genesis 22:9-10)
“When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood
on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then he reached out his hand
and took the knife to slay his son.” Genesis 22:9–10 (NIV)
3. Heaven’s Reward (Genesis 22:11-14)
✓“But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God,
because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Genesis 22:11–12 (NIV)
✓“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the
ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So 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.” Genesis 22:13–14 (NIV)
Yahweh-jireh—The Lord Sees/Provides
Genesis 22 isn’t merely ancient history. It’s a lesson for today.
1) If you are holding onto something too tightly, release your grip and watch God work.
2) What you release to God, He replaces with something even more valuable.
Further Examples for Today
1. God’s Will Always Requires Obedience
2. God’s Plan Is Never Fully Explained
3. Our Response Without Fail Reveals Our Theology (belief about God)
God knows what we will do. Yahweh-jireh just wants us to see the extent of our own faith
God is not out to destroy us. His tests are designed to show us the strength of our own faith.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know
that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4