REVIEW ELOHIM – Creator & Sustainer JEHOVAH – Self-existent LORD EL ELYON - God most high ADONAI – Lord and Master EL SHADDAI - God Almighty EL SHADDAI - God Who See Me EL OLAM – The Everlasting God OUR LESSON TONIGHT

Don’t Worry, Trust God

Genesis 22:1–2 (KJV) 1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

INTRODUCTION JEHOVAH JIREH is first used in connection with the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith. God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God’s command struck right at Abraham’s heart. He was asking for the thing Abraham valued the most. A burnt offering was literally “ an ascent," because it went up in smoke as an example of complete surrender to God and exaltation of Him.

But Abraham immediately obeyed God. He left early the following morning for Mount Moriah with Isaac and two servants. After cutting the wood for the burnt offering, they started for the land of Moriah, about 50 miles away. On the third day, Abraham saw the place where God instructed him to go in the distance. The mountains came into view clear at a distance of about 3 miles. At this point he tells his servants to wait while he and Isaac go on.

Genesis 22:5-6 (KJV) 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Complete Biblical Library Commentary (CBLC) states: Isaac, the son of promise, bore the wood for his impending sacrifice. Isaac was probably about 20 years old at this time. Abraham carried a large knife and a container full of live coals… Isaac saw something was missing. There was no lamb for the burnt offering.

Genesis 22:7-8 (KJV) 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Our workbook says: When Abraham reaches the top of the mountain, he prepares to worship by building an altar and arranging wood on it. He then ties Isaac, lays him on the wood, and picks up a knife to sacrifice him … This is perhaps the greatest act of faith in the Old Testament because Abraham knows God’s promises to him are all wrapped up in Isaac...

Abraham’s fortitude in faith was based upon his past experience. He had seen how God had provided for him all throughout his life. God had been faithful and protected him against the king of Egypt. God had given him peace in the family squabble with Lot. God had shown favor in the situation with Abimelech. His trust was in God’s promises.

Hebrews 11:8–9 (KJV) 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

No one knows what was going on in Abraham’s mind. But even though he did not know or understand “how,” he was certain of the “WHO!” Isaac was the son of promise and through his seeds the nation would be blessed. So, if Isaac died, God’s promise would be nullified. This could not be. So, somehow, some way, God had to provide.

Genesis 22:9 (KJV) 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

CBLC says: When they reached the top of the mountain … Abraham built an altar... Then he arranged the wood on the altar, tied up Isaac, and laid him on the wood… Isaac must have submitted with faith in God and confidence in his father. A 20-year-old young man surely could have resisted a 120-year- old father if he wanted to.

Genesis 22:10–11 (KJV) 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

The repetition of calling the name “Abraham,” shows a sense of urgency. The actual sacrifice of Isaac was not the passing of the test; it was Abraham’s willingness to be obedient. That is, to give back to God, his most prized possession. From Abraham’s perspective, God had given him Isaac, so he was only giving God what was His.

Genesis 22:12 (KJV) 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

The phrase “now I know” has been used to challenge that God is omnipotent. Scholars offer many explanations. It is best viewed as “now I see the proof that you honor me above everything else.” The entire ordeal was a test. One that was designed to reveal the depth and loyalty of the faith of Abraham. He chose to serve and obey God.

Genesis 22:13 (KJV) 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

CBLC noted that: God provided a ram to be offered in Isaac’s place. This added a picture of substitutionary sacrifice which meant the saving of Isaac’s life. It also made the experience a more complete type of the sufferings, atoning death and resurrection of Jesus.

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

God provides a sacrificial ram as a substitute for Isaac. In response, Abraham names the place YHWH yir'eh (Literally, “Yahweh will see”). The narrative immediately adds “it shall be provided,” a descriptive reference to the ram. Since the ram was God’s substitute upon “seeing” Abraham’s faith, “provided” is an appropriate translation.

Philippians 4:19–20 (KJV) 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God’s provisions are often conditional. Our workbook says: This is a very inclusive promise. However, we can only take advantage of this promise if we know God as JEHOVAH JIREH Then it goes on to say: Knowing God as JEHOVAH JIREH dispels our worry by enabling us to trust God in at least two ways...

TRUST GOD By Giving Him All YOUR PROBLEMS

Psalm 50:14–15 (KJV) 14 O ffer unto God thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the most High: 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Jeremiah 2:12–13 (KJV) 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Psalm 145:15–16 (KJV) 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; And thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thine hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

TRUST GOD By Giving Him FIRST PRIORITY

The Workbook: At times all of us have our "Isaacs" that … take God's place as number one in our lives. From time to time all of us must go to our "Mount Moriahs,"...willing to sacrifice things that are squeezing God out of first place in our lives. You will never know God as JEHOVAH JIREH unless He is number one in your life. How do you know what is number one in your life? You must examine at least two things:

OUR CHECKBOOK Luke 12:34 (KJV) 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. OUR CALENDAR Exodus 20:8 (KJV) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

WHAT’S YOUR “ISAAC?” LET TAKE IT TO MOUNT MORIAH