LENT 1 – Feb. 21, 2021 – Gen 22:1-18
“GOD PROVIDES”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Genesis 22. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- In our text for this morning, we are provided with a critical piece of information. It is a principle that is commemorated by Abraham with a Name. The Hebrew word is “Yahweh Yirah.” It is only found in this chapter of the Bible. It is a combination of the proper Name of God – Yahweh, and a verb, “rawah,” which means “to provide,” or “to see to it.” Hence, it’s meaning is “The Lord will provide.” This is the Name Abraham applied to the place where he was to sacrifice his son Isaac, in this test from God – “Yahweh Yirah.”
- Earlier Abraham had told Isaac “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering.” And so He did – the ram caught in the thicket. Isaac might have assumed, “Well, yes, God does does provide for everything.” But Abraham’s statement goes far beyond the thought that God “generally” provides all things for us. He meant specifically that whenever we are in dire need, whenever there is no way for us to survive, that God will provide just what we need!
- This principle – that “God will see to it, God will provide” – is also seen in our other two readings. We begin with the Gospel Lesson where we see that:
I. God Provided Not Only The Sacrifice To Spare Isaac’s Life, But His Own Son As The Sacrifice Which Saves Us
Gospel Lesson: “A voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
A. He Overcame Sin And Temptation For Us, In Our Place
Heb. 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
B. He Laid Down His Life For Us, For Our Sin
1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us.”
Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
1 Pet. 1:18,19 “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
C. He Has Risen Again In Victory Over Death, For Our Victory
Rom 6:9 “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.”
Rom 7:4 “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”
Rom 8:11 “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.”
Statement: The testing of Abraham, his faithful response and his faithful assertion of “Yahweh yirah,” points to what God had planned to do for us from the foundation of the world in His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This has now been accomplished, as the New Testament Scriptures assert over and over again. He has provided us with forgiveness, eternal life and salvation! He has restored us to God!
Application: So we too are invited, as was Isaac, to rejoice that “GOD PROVIDES,” especially when it comes to our redemption from sin and our eternal salvation! This is the critical thing – what we simply cannot provide for ourselves! But God sees to it, the Lord provides! Thanks and praise be to God!
Transition: The result of Abraham “passing” this test was further promises and blessings from God: “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of His enemies, and in your Offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” It is the same for us, dear friends in the Savior:
II. In The Gift Of His Son, Jesus Christ, God Also Provides Us With Every Good And Perfect Gift
Epistle Lesson: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
A. He Has Provided Us With The Gospel And Faith Toward God
Epistle Lesson: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
B. He Gives Us Steadfastness And All Spiritual Blessings
Epistle Lesson: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when He has stood the test He will receive the crown of life.”
Ephesians 1:3 ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
2 Tim. 3:16,17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
C. And God Provides Us With Many Earthly Blessings As Well
Rom. 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
Matt 6:31-33 “ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Statement: You see clearly then, what Abraham knew, what Abraham asserted and confessed to Isaac, and what Abraham acted upon! “GOD PROVIDES,” Yahweh yirah! And especially those things which we cannot provide for ourselves, when we are in a pickle – like Abraham was in his test – then “GOD PROVIDES,” the Lord will see to it!
Application: So let us rejoice, as Abraham must have when he spotted the ram caught in the thicket. Let us look around at all that God has provided for us! But most importantly let us look at Christ, and see the great gift that God has given to us in the sacrifice of His own beloved Son on the cross! Here the greatest provision of God has been bestowed upon us – forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal salvation! And let us remember also: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
Conclusion: Perhaps there are some ways that can help us remember that “GOD PROVIDES.” One way is in our mealtime prayers. Another way is to pray the Lord’s Prayer with conviction – “give us this day our daily bread.”
Our sinful nature is such that it fears for the future, fears that we must do everything, provide for everything. Let us hear Jesus again: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
When we fear and fret, are anxious and worried, we sin against God Who has promised us these blessings. When we do so we hear the voice of Jesus calling to us as well: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” His forgiveness is always there for us!
Yahweh yirah! “GOD PROVIDES.” Thanks and praise be to God, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.