“Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14)
The names of God have a very special place in my heart because by His design they so aptly describe His character and personal care for each and every person He creates. The name found in Genesis 22:14 is ÿhvah yir’eh, which we would pronounce Jehovah Jireh in English. Jehovah is a composite word, which is taken from a simpler form that is found in Exodus 3, “I AM THAT I AM.” So whenever you see, in most translations, LORD with all caps it is Jehovah, the self-existent God. Jehovah is the God that is, was, and is and is to come; He is the God of time, He is outside of it, and He controls it. God is separate from His creation, which includes time. Jireh means to provide or will provide. Contained in the Hebrew word form are two ideas, one is to see or look upon another and the other is to provide. Therefore, the great I AM who needs nothings and provides everything looked upon Abraham, saw his need, and provided for him.
The year was 1975, we were so poor that we lived in a 4 flight walk up (52 steps) that overlooked the garbage and nothing else. I was working as a driving instructor, we were expecting a baby, and could not afford to provide for much of anything. As time progressed I would spend time in prayer and say to myself and God, you are faithful so somehow and someway our needs will be met.
Recently, I had given my life to Jesus Christ, received a new set of values, and a desire to please the Lord with all of my life. My wife and I began to witness to friends and people we knew and in most cases were out and out rejected. Jesus did say after all, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).
On one extraordinary day we received a visit from some friends that had been particularly hostile toward our testimony of Jesus Christ. However, they came bearing gifts. We received a crib, many clothes, food and other assorted items. In short we received everything that we needed from the most unlikely people. The words, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows” from Psalm 23 never had more meaning for me than on that day. We never saw them again. I call the name of that place THE LORD PROVIDED.
In the strictest definition of a miracle whereby God enters into time and space and performs the impossible, such as bringing water from a rock, dividing the Red Sea, or raining down bread from heaven the previous account does not match. However, if we define a miracle as God entering into a person’s life and circumstances so that something abnormal happens and God provides providentially through a secondary source for one of His children, then my wife and I experienced a miracle. I think that most people would agree that in general men and women do not treat those who offend them with generosity and abundance. For this reason I can say that the name of my first home and/or child could aptly be called, THE LORD PROVIDED.
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