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.” Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-Jireh the Lord will see or provide. This Hebrew word ‘ra’ah’ of which this title is a derivative is used many different ways and is translated into many different words. Here is a summary of the ways the word is translated in the scriptures.
access (1), advisers* (2), appear (21), appeared (43), appears (4), approve (2), became aware (1), became visible (1), become visible (1), behold (9), choice (1), consider (13), considered (1), display (1), displayed (1), distinguish (1), encountered (1), enjoy (1), enjoy* (3), examined (1), experience (1), exposed (1), face* (2), faced* (2), find (1), gaze (2), give attention (1), gloat (2), heed (1), indeed look (1), keep on looking (1), look (71), looked (59), looked and saw (1), looking (5), looks (11), make an inspection (2), make me see (1), makes an inspection (1), noticed (1), observe (1), observed (5), observing (1), perceive (2), perceived (2), presents (1), provide (3), provided (2), public (1), regard (2), regarded (2), regards (1), remained alive (1), saw (310), search (1), see (410), see as a sees (1), see plainly (1), seeing (5), seemed (1), seen (153), sees (32), select (1), selected (1), show (24), showed (15), shown (19), shows (1), sleep* (1), stare (2), staring (1), supervise (1), surely seen (1), take into consideration (1), take heed (1), tell (1), think (1), understand (1), view (1), vision (1), visit (1), watch (2).
As we can see the concept of perception is more prevalent that our current idea of provision. I was always taught the title meant provision only. There is a lesson in this title. The theologians have pondered over this scripture for centuries and have made many suppositions as to the meaning. I will include one such supposition. If you want to dive deeper I’d encourage you to look it up on biblehub.com and read for yourself.
Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament says this..
“From this interposition of God, Abraham called the place Jehovah-jireh, “Jehovah sees,” i.e., according to Genesis 22:8, provides, providet; so that (אשׁר, as in Genesis 13:16, is equivalent to כּן על, Genesis 10:9) men are still accustomed to say, “On the mountain where Jehovah appears” (יראה), from which the name Moriah arose. The rendering “on the mount of Jehovah it is provided” is not allowable, for the Niphal of the verb does not mean provideri, but “appear.” Moreover, in this case the medium of God’s seeing or interposition was His appearing.”
To me this shows the faith of Abraham and that to him …if God ‘saw’ him it was enough. Abraham had the patience to wait for God’s provision because he knew God was aware of his situation. How are we when we need provision from God? Do we have the faith and patience in those situations just knowing God sees our need, and that He will provide in His timing? Paul’s advice is brought to my mind when he tells the reader to be ‘content’.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Philippians 4:12
Paul’s ‘secret’ is found in verse 13 which so many take out of context and misuse it in it’s meaning. His spiritual strength comes from his intimacy and time with Jesus. He has proven this reality in his own life for his faith and revelations were tested and tried many times, just as Abraham’s faith was tested in this instance.
We’re in the ‘yoke’ with Him if we join Him in His endeavors and ‘walk with Him’. But He is leading the way, not us. He doesn’t do our bidding, we do His bidding. He is the Master we are his faithful servants / friends.
So many seem to think that God will provide whatever they want. I’ve seen so many bastardizations throughout the years of sitting in ‘church’ and listening to preachers / sermons of this concept of ‘God providing’. What a disciple must learn is which way His Master is going and learn to follow Him.
I heard this saying many years ago and it has stuck with me since…
God’s work, done in God’s time, will never lack God’s support.
How many “church” building projects are funded by banks and the world? Is God’s arm too short of providing the needed finances in the ‘time of need’? Many will say “God provided the bank, to supply the need.” Really? They all need to study the scriptures a bit deeper as to what the concept of the lender is, and how the lender then becomes the master over the borrower. How many ‘churches’ are subject to a worldly master because of the loans they have committed themselves to?
Be careful who you subject yourself to .. by becoming their ‘servant’ by borrowing from them. ie. Credit cards balances etc. Do you trust God to provide for you? Do you really believe He sees your need? To what level? This area of ‘provision’ is a severe and deep one in all of our lives. It touches every aspect of our earthly lives.
How do we know what to do exactly in every circumstance? What is the Holy Spirit directing you to do?