“Jehovah-jireh”

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” (Genesis 22:14)

The name by which God revealed himself to Abraham at Mt. Moriah, Jehovah-jireh, might be translated by three expressions: “the Lord will see”, “the Lord will provide” and “the Lord will be seen”. However the name is translated, it expresses the idea of God seeing and being seen. For God, to see is to provide. By this name, Jehovah-jireh, the Triune God, the Lord Jehovah assures us that he sees our needs and faithfully provides for our needs, and that he will be seen in the provision he makes. How this name of our God ought to encourage our hearts to trust him and to trust his wise and good providence! — But the thing that inspired Abraham to raise up this memorial to God’s honor was the substitution of the ram to die in the place of his son, Isaac, and Isaac’s deliverance from death by that substitute. Jehovah-jireh is a name of our God which describes his saving grace in Jehovah-Jesus, our ever blessed Christ.

The Lord will See

Jehovah-jireh means “the Lord will see.” — Our Father, from eternity, saw the need into which we would fall by the sin of Adam in the garden and by our own iniquity, transgression and sin in time. In infinite wisdom, mercy and love he provided his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our Substitute in the covenant of grace. When the fulness of time was come, God met our need by sending the Lord Jesus to die at Calvary. Then, when by his Spirit the Lord God created a need in our hearts for Christ, causing us to seek him, he gave his Son to us. Today, by his free grace, God gives his Son to all who need him. — Do you need him?

The Lord will Provide

Jehovah-jireh means “the Lord will provide.” — Jehovah-jireh was Abraham’s testimony to the goodness and grace of God in providing a ram to die in Isaac’s place. We use this name for the same purpose. It is our testimony of praise to God for providing Christ to be our Substitute. Jehovah-jireh also implies that our God, who gave us his Son, will freely give us all things in his Son (Romans 8:32).

The Lord will be Seen

Jehovah-jireh also means “the Lord will be seen.” — “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” God is seen in the sacrifice of his dear Son at Mt. Calvary. And God shall be seen in the face of his Provision, Christ Jesus, upon Mt. Zion in heaven. All this was included in Abraham’s prophecy. All who see God in Christ, the crucified Substitute, who died in our place upon Mt. Calvary, shall see God face to face in Christ Jesus, who is himself Jehovah-jireh! — The Lord who will see, — the Lord who will provide, — the Lord who will be seen!

Don Fortner

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