Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will provide (22nd Jan 2012)

 

Scripture Readings: Genesis 22:14~19

14. 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."

15. The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time

16. and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

17. I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,

18. and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

19. Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

 

 

 

Sermon: Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will provide

You know this story very well. one day, Abraham who believe in God very well listened to God's calling. "Here I am!" He replied with gladness. But God called him to sacrifice his only son Isaac there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains. By His unacceptable calling, he prepared to go to the Moriah mountains as soon as he woke up with his only lovely son Isaac, and two servants. To Moriah mountains they took three days. I don't know Abraham's mind as he knew all. Anyway, he went to Moriah mountains with his only son, Isaac, left two servants. While going up, Isaac asked Abraham "Father? where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" At that time, Abraham kindly said to his son, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering."

In the moment he offer his son by sacrifice, God stopped him to sacrifice Isaac. And then God told him " Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Then, Abraham and Isaac saw a ram caught by its horns for sacrifice prepared by God. By the ram they sacrifice to God, then Abraham called the place, " Jehovah-Jireh" "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." After this, Abraham received God's promise; "more blessings to you and your offsprings"

When I heard about this story in Sunday school, I thought God was cruel and strange. because Abraham got a son by God as 100 years old, and then he was very glad to get a boy, Isaac, the appointment of God was made. However, why God gave him back from Abraham? Why God loved to tease Abraham? By some records of researching the ancient periods, there were often human sacrifice for gentile gods. But by biblical texts for instance, Levities 20:3 "I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name." GOD HATES KILL PEOPLE TO SACRIFICE!! LIKE THIS. This God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? If He wants to know his faith, only this way is the best to know? He is almighty to know all things of the world, even to each minds of people.

Why? why on earth God did to Abraham?

A famous novelist Park wanseo was a Christian. She suddenly lost his son by traffic accident. The accident was happened after few days when his husband died by a cancer. She cried out "why! God! Why!" Day by day, her mind was ruing and ruing. one day, she changed her prayer, "please give me a word, a word. God!" After this, she said that she could feel his touching and healing.

Now, when God called to him "Abraham! Abraham!". He said twice in verse. 1 & 11; "Here I am," he replied. Concentrate on the word "Here I am" two verses' situation are totally different. In vers. 1 Abraham expected God's another blessing. In vers. 2 He had to kill his son for God. Here the important point is Abraham's attitude was not changed. Without any waves, he sincerely replied to God. This is the faith which God loved. Even Shown as verse 4, without any words, he looked up and saw the place in the distance. The moment must be the most painful to go with Isaac who didn't know anything. Nevertheless, he believed in his future by God. He was not dwelling on his sight. He deeply trusted in him. Some said Abraham could anticipate in God's saving Isaac. I did not think so. He even did not expect anything about his boy. He really trust on God. Look at the vers. 8, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering".

His sincerity is appeared to us. He entrusted God with all his heart. He seems like this "oh Lord! my life is not mine, mine are all yours. why I am here, because of you. whenever I faced to the difficulties, at that time I could not do anything, you save me."

Yes! it is. we know well about life story of Abraham. He tried to believe in God very well. But he got a big mistake to have an unappointed son, Ishmael. At the last, he drove out Hagar and Ishmael. Moreover, he deceived a Pharaoh and the King Abimelec into being married with Sarah who was his wife as a sister. Why? he was afraid of killing him by his wife's beauty. At that time he was just a leader of small tribe. He did not have any power even if the kings wanted his wife, he should give her to them. He could not help it. No body helped him. Who solved his troubles? Who saved his life? only one is God the Lord. HE KNEW THIS POINT VERY WELL. HE WAS NOTHING TO DO EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED A LOT. BY THOSE EXPERIENCES, HE REALIZED HE BELONGED TO HIM. God admitted his core faith "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

What God wanted to know by Abraham? God wanted to know that Abraham fear God by all his owns. For this, He made Abraham and Isaac to see a ram caught by a horn. Instead of Isaac, the ram was sacrificed. No body anticipated in the fact. But God prepared all amazing things whoever did not know.

Therefore, Abraham call the place, "Jehovah Jireh“ The Lord will provide on the mountain of Jehovah.

In this point, it strikes to us that this kind of person like Abraham have no choice to receive heavenly blessings in any moments of sufferings. Let us read the text of Psalm 146:3~5

3. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

4. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Abraham's hope was not Isaac, money, and the loving. His hope was God Almighty. So he can give his life to God. OWING TO ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE & FAITH, ABRAHAM RECEIVED MORE BLESSINGS TO HIS LIFE & HIS DESCENDANTS.

In fact, till now his descendants had been blessed. See a people of Isarel. For 2000 years, they were scattered without any countries. But now Israel was founded in 1948, in spite of many attacks of islams and the palestine, they have been a strong country even the size is small. 25% of the intelligent are from the Jew, the Jew's power can not be ignored in this world. In history there have been so many people to disappeared. How a people can survive for 2000yrs? By the faith of Abraham. the faith led to this blessing. Because of Abraham, they had been blessed for a long time and will be blessed forever more.

This is the faith of Jehovah Jireh.

We always said "we believe in God. Please help us. please make us be happy." but what about our faith?

In this year, I hope you and I receive this faith as a blessing. And so we achieved all hope and wishes by prayer and faith to God.

Let us pray, God of Jehovah Jireh. Thanks for waiting for us with all preparations. With our little faith we can not get your all. Please forgive us and give me a strength like Abraham. We want all we have to you. We want to give our live to you. In Jesus' name we pray Amen.