Jehovah-Jireh: Trusting the Promiser (Genesis 22)

What does Jehovah-Jireh mean?

I recently studied Genesis 22 for my Volume 3 Scripture Study and wanted to share what I learned with you all. It's an amazing chapter where we are introduced to the Lord's name—Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide). After you read this devotion, I think you have better clarity for this chapter and a deeper gratitude for who the Lord is.

The Story That Stops Us in Our Tracks

In Genesis 22 we read one of the most pivotal stories in the Bible, and honestly, one of the more confusing ones if we do not understand God’s heart behind this request.

This chapter is about a man named Abraham — a man chosen by God to be the father of the nation of Israel and the spiritual father of all who place their faith in Jesus.

Abraham waited twenty-five years to have a child with his barren and beloved wife, Sarah. When he was ninety-nine years old, the Lord fulfilled His promise and blessed them with their first and only child together, Isaac. Not long after, the Lord commanded Abraham to sacrifice this child, his son whom he loved, as a burnt offering.

At this point we begin to ask ourselves, “What? Why, God? The pagan gods require child sacrifice, not You. Not Yahweh.”

But Abraham did not respond that way. He had walked with the Lord for more than thirty years. During that time, the Lord had been shaping and strengthening Abraham’s faith step-by-step for this very moment. This request was a test of Abraham’s faith, not a temptation to sin.

Abraham’s Steadfast Trust

In faith, Abraham chose to obey the Lord immediately. He rose early the next morning and set out on a three-day journey to the place the Lord would reveal as he walked in faith.

At this point, these are the truths Abraham could rest in:

• The Lord promised to give him many descendants through his son Isaac.

• The Lord fulfilled the promise of a son after twenty-five years of waiting.

• The Lord cannot break His promise because of who He is.

• The Lord could raise Isaac back to life if needed to keep His promise (Heb. 11:17–19).

• The Lord is fully in control.

Ultimately, Abraham knew he could trust the Lord in this request because of Who the Lord is. He knew the Lord’s promise would be fulfilled because the Lord cannot lie. He knew he could obey the Lord—the ultimate Promise Keeper—because even if God had to raise Isaac from the dead, Abraham believed He would do it in order to keep His promise to His servant.

Wow—take a moment to let that truth settle in your heart. He was willing to surrender his plans and expectations for how the promise would be fulfilled because he fully trusted God’s unchanging character to accomplish His word—even through means that defied human expectation and ability.

The Moment on the Mountain

On the third day, Abraham and Isaac walked up Mount Moriah to offer the burnt sacrifice to the Lord, which was Isaac at this point. A burnt offering required the sacrifice to be killed and then burned entirely as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This was an incredibly difficult command to obey, yet Abraham trusted that the Lord would provide the sacrifice.

At the last moment, right before Abraham would have slain his son, the Lord stopped him. Through his actions, Abraham proved his faith was genuine and that he fully trusted God with all aspects of his life. At the same time, the Lord proved that He is not like the pagan gods. God did not desire Isaac’s life; He desired to refine Abraham’s faith. Abraham passed the test, and his obedience showed that his trust in God was genuine and steadfast.

Miraculously, the Lord did provide a sacrifice that day. He placed a ram in the thicket as a substitute for Isaac. Abraham's beloved son was spared. In this chapter, Abraham called the Lord Jehovah-Jireh, which means "the Lord will provide." He provided for Abraham that day by providing a ram to sacrifice in place of Issac. 

Furthermore, nearly two thousand years later, the Lord (Jehovah-Jireh) provided an even greater sacrifice: His one and only begotten Son, who died on the cross for our sins so that we could be saved. The Father did not spare His beloved Son as Isaac was spared; instead, He willingly gave Him so that we might live. The Lord faithfully provided what we did not deserve. An amazing gift from Jehovah-Jireh. 

What This Teaches Us About Faith

This chapter reminds us that genuine faith is expressed through obedience to God and His Word—even when it is difficult or doesn't align to our finite understanding. Faith is trusting in the Lord and His promises because He cannot lie, does not change, and remains steadfast in His faithfulness. 

True faith says,
“Lord, I trust You more than I trust the plan I imagined.”

As mothers, we will have moments when God asks us to surrender:

• our timeline

• our expectations for our children

• our comfort or security

• our desire to control outcomes

Just like Abraham, we are invited to entrust what we love most to God, not because surrender is easy, but because God is faithful and good. We can surrender our time, expectations, and outcomes for the Lord's will because His plans are good, pleasing, and perfect. 

A Question for Your Week

This week, ask the Lord:

“Lord, is there anything I’m holding too tightly? Is there anything I'm trying to control with a tight grip? If so, help me surrender it at your feet and entrust you with the outcome.”

And take one small step of obedience, trusting the Promiser who is always faithful.