Sermon by Pastor Sunil Kumar
Names are not important only to us it’s important to God also. The 2nd commandment of God says not to use the name of the Lord your God in vain. Many places in the Bible, God reveals his character through his Name. Today we’ll learn about one such character of God: Jehovah Jireh which means God is my provider. God revealed this name to Abraham first when he was about to sacrifice Isaac.
It all starts when God promises Abraham to make him the FATHER OF NATIONS. But the problem begins when the God doesn’t fulfil the promise even when days became weeks, weeks became months, months became years and so much so that he reached the age of 100 years when the fulfilment of the promise was almost nil. Finally, when God fulfils the promise after a desperate long wait, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his one and only promised son as written in Genesis 22:1-2 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Though it was the most difficult ask from a father, Abraham chose to obey God. So, Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (Genesis 22:3). According to the Indian ritual, during a funeral, even though we are in great pain, we need to estimate and buy the amount of wood needed to burn the dead body. Similarly, Abraham had to estimate and cut wood amid pain for his only child who was still alive. Abraham was in a dilemma whether to ask God to extend the time or to ask God to make this painful time move fast. Abraham’s obedience against his desire was actually his worship to God. His worship wasn’t about music or songs to God instead it was his tears that he offered in the pain of losing his one and only beloved son.
Worship is something that costs us the most like our time, our emotions or anything that pinches us. Anything that doesn’t cost us is not worship instead it’s an entertainment. The entire process of Abraham from his home till the mountains would have been the most painful and weakening time knowing that He was about 100 years old and will never be able to get another child or see the fulfilment of God’s promise. Satan would also have put a lot of doubts in his mind, yet he chose to obey God against all his will and desire.
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So, both went together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”. (Genesis 22:6-7) The question asked by Isaac was something very serious because he would have seen his father going through pain and agony.
Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. According to verse 19, there was no concept of resurrection at the time of Abraham. He never had the example of Lazarus who was raised from the dead, yet he chose to sacrifice his son.
Abraham was 100 years old weak man while Isaac was a strong young boy who could easily over-power him. But looking as his father’s helplessness, Isaac gave into his father’s desire. (Genesis 22:9-14) When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “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.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 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.” (Jehovah Jireh)
And that’s how God provided a ram and revealed Himself as a Father who understands and as a provider who provides at the right time. The rest is history that God went on to make Abraham the father of nations and till today we remember him for his pure obedience with God.
Abraham teaches us that God is real that He cares, He provides, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
