JEHOVAH-JIREH! You might be saying WHAT does that mean? Or maybe you’ve heard that name and know all about it. At any rate, this week before Thanksgiving is a great time to understand as much as we can about this name … one of the Names of our God! Jehovah-Jireh means “THE LORD WHO PROVIDES” … and it literally means that God sees and that He will see to it – whatever it is that we need to have provided. So many times in our lives, my husband and I have literally asked for and claimed the provision of Jehovah-Jireh. And believe me when I say that over and over, God has seen exactly what we needed … and He miraculously provided it! The first time this Name is revealed in scripture is in Genesis chapter 22, where the story of Abraham traveling to the land of Moriah with his son, Isaac, is recorded. What a heart-wrenching test God puts before Abraham when He asks him to take his beloved son and sacrifice him as a burnt-offering on a mountain that He would show him when he got there. And that mountain wasn’t just a short hike away – or even several hours away … but three days away on foot. Can you imagine the agony that Abraham experienced in his heart and his emotions as he put one foot in front of the other? At that point, I would be so thankful that the journey was going to take three days rather than three hours, for the sake of having more time with my son before the time of sacrifice. Could I, would I, actually be able to follow through in obedience? I’m sure a million memories rushed before Abraham’s eyes as they walked and talked together. Even in these final steps to the place of sacrifice, new memories were being made that Abraham would forever hold close to his heart. The servants traveling with them must have hung back at a short distance, giving this dad and son the opportunity for that desired one-on-one time together. But as I read and study this portion of scripture, something tells me that in those hours of inner struggle as Abraham moved forward, step by step, one of two things had to have occurred – and perhaps, both. One, with each step his heart must have laid down another piece of his human, fatherly yearning to keep his son … until by the time he reached that mount, he had come to grips with the acknowledgement of true and full surrender. “Yes, God, if this is what You are asking me to do, though I don’t understand – I will offer my precious son up to You as a sacrifice; all I ask is for the strength to carry it out with a right heart before You. You’ll have to be there with me and help me. On my own, I’m not sure I can bring the knife down on my son.” Second, Abraham had to have gotten beyond that place in his heart, otherwise there would be no rhyme or reason why he would tell his young servants upon their arrival at “the place” to “stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” In his intimate soul-searching on that three-day journey, evidently God gave Him not only a peace that passes all understanding … but an assurance that if he was obedient, God would intervene and provide ALL that Abraham would need from God, whatever that may be. We may never know fully all that Abraham sensed or knew or experienced. But either he believed what he was telling his son, or he was just cushioning him from the truth of “who” the sacrifice really was. Exactly how WOULD you tell your son who you loved so much that God had asked you to offer him as a sacrifice? The son, being intelligent, saw that everything necessary for the sacrifice was there – but the sheep, and he questions his dad, “where’s the sheep for the burnt offering?” To which Abraham confidently replies, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.” And yet what Abraham does next is the most stirring of all … he keeps on walking with Isaac. He continues to make all the preparations for the sacrifice – even to the point of bringing the knife into place to kill his own son. And as he begins to bring the knife down, an angel of God stops him, and as Abraham looks up, he sees the ram that God provided for the burnt offering. At that moment, Abraham names that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). And then the angel of God speaks God’s reward for total obedience: Abraham’s children would flourish beyond counting – like the stars in the sky and the sand on the beaches; Abraham’s descendants would defeat their enemies; and moreover, all nations on earth would find themselves blessed through Abraham’s descendants because he obeyed God! That’s Abraham’s story of God’s provision! Well, just one of his stories! What’s your story about Jehovah-Jireh this Thanksgiving? Be sure to tell it to all who will listen: that “God has seen to it that your needs have been provided for” ~ and then thank God over and over for His love, His provision, and most of all, for the sacrifice of HIS precious Son on that altar called Calvary.
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS SUNDAY will be the last day to receive donations for our THANKSGIVING PROJECT for the homeless and hungry. We can provide a delicious hot Thanksgiving meal for $1.92, plus the gospel message, through the Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul. Let’s remember the needy & lonely while we are planning our bountiful meals . . . and through our love and giving, give them a glimpse of Jesus in action! Can you spare $2.00 to share?!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to many in our church family: Tina, Sierra, Connie, Christian, Deondre, and also, belated wishes to Harold! Belated Anniversary wishes to Joel & Laura, as well! May God bless each of you with an incredible year to come!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND:
- 10:00 a.m. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with the entire service centered around “thanksgiving” – Psalm 103!
- 11:15 a.m. – THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON for everyone (no Sunday School classes this week) – plan to bring a special dish to pass for this yummy church feast, followed by Communion and a Thanksgiving devotional!
- NEXT TUESDAY – ALL JR/SR HI YOUTH will be meeting at the home of Pastor D and Debbie from 6:30-8:00 p.m. for a great time of learning, fun, and snacks! Let’s live out our faith in every day ways! Invite a friend!!!
- NEXT SUNDAY – Pastor Doug will be starting the new unique Christmas series of messages; and lots of awesome times are being planned for worship and fellowship throughout the wondrous Christmas Season! We will also resume our Sunday School classes next week!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- Prayer makes all the difference in the world! It brings peace and answers; freedom and deliverance; healing and health; joy and happiness; contentment and provision, and everything we can ever need! God loves having us come to Him and to enlist His help in every area of our lives! How we thank God for His special touch of healing in Mary; for His hand upon the Bucholz family as the date of their move approaches; for His provision for the ministry of Elevation North (we thank each of you for giving so faithfully and generously!); we lift up LaFawn as she undergoes tests; and we are bringing before God an urgent unspoken request. Let’s stand together on God’s promises that He will do His best for us – and in us; & let’s THANK Him for being Who He is!
- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “If we learn how to give of ourselves, to forgive others, and to live with thanksgiving, we need not seek happiness. It will seek us.” (Unknown)
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
