Genesis 22:4-14
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide (Jehovah Jireh). And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
INSIGHT
-God has various attributes and He reveals Himself uniquely to each one of us. He is our Provider, Protector, Healer, Sustainer, Strength, Salvation and our only God. We are called to rely on His providence despite what we are going through. God tested Abraham’s faith when He ordered him to go to mount Moriah and sacrifice his only son. Given that Isaac was the son of promise who was born out of Sarah’s womb in old age, Abraham’s obedience reveals his strong faith in God. He neither questioned God nor gave excuses but went ahead believing that if God did it once, He will do it again. This is the attitude that we should have as Christians, that if God did it before, He is able to do it again. When Isaac asked his father about the lamb to be sacrificed, his response shows his firm faith in God. He said God Himself will provide the lamb of sacrifice. He knew that this entire test would result to a testimony of worship and told his servant that they were going up the mountain to worship the Lord. Abraham did not withhold the knife from his son, and when he was almost striking Isaac, the Lord provided a ram for sacrifice. Through his faith, the Lord was please for Abraham feared Him. Abraham called that place “The LORD Will Provide” for he believed that “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided”. From Hebrew 11:17-19, we see that through this test of Abraham’s faith, he believed that God could raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he received Isaac back from death. This is kind of faith that should carry us out of turbulent season such as COVID-19. Such trying times reveal the kind of Christians we are. We are called to have strong faith in God and rely on His providence. If we believe that God is able to give life and raise those who are dead, then we should not doubt that with God all things are possible and He is able to provide for all our needs.
PRAYER
Jehovah Jireh we thank You for You have been good to us Your children. You have provided for us before and we believe that You will provide for us again. Nothing is impossible with You Lord our God. Thank You for this far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. If it were not for You Lord, where would we be. You are full of mercy and love Jesus, thank You for loving us. You have promised that You will never leave us nor forsake us, we have seen Your mighty hand of grace in all things. All glory, honor, praise and adoration belongs to You Lord our God. You have redeemed us by Your blood Jesus, sanctify us and renew a steadfast spirit within us. For whatever reason we have not pleased You Jehovah including our faithlessness, forgive us merciful Father. Increase our faith in You Jesus and help us to fear You. You are preparing a table for us Your children Lord, supply for all our needs according to the riches of Your glory we humbly ask You. You are anointing our heads with Your provisions, we declare an overflow in our lives, families, marriages, churches and nation. Our cups overflow with Your goodness Lord, we thank You for Your divine provision. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. Your promises are Yes and Amen Lord, we believe in You. Amen
Genesis 21:15-19
“When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.”
INSIGHT
-Hagar watched with desperation thinking that his son Ishmael would starve to death. She sat and watched at a distance sobbing and probably though that her son would perish at the age of seventeen. The Lord having blessed Abraham and all his descendants, He could defile His word and remembered his son Ishmael as promised. He provided a well of water when they needed it most. Like Hagar and Ishmael, sometimes we get to such situations when we desperately need God’s Providence. Since we are descendants of Abraham according to God’s promise, we are partakers of his promise and most importantly the promise of eternal life through Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
God our loving Father, we thank You for Your merciful love upon us, our families and nation. You have been faithful to us always even when we have become faithless. You are our ever present help in times of need, we praise You and glorify Your holy name. Only You are worthy Lord our Father, only You are able, receive all the glory and adoration. Like You provided for Hagar and Ishmael when they were desperately in need of Your help, uplift us out of all our troubles and tribulations. We look to You only Jesus for only You are our salvation, bless us indeed and expand our territories. We cast our burdens and cares unto You Jesus for You care for us. Many are the trials that we go through but You deliver us from them all, receive all the glory and adoration. Remember those who do not have food, shelter and clothing that You may reach each one of them at their points of need. Be with all our youth loving Father especially now that they are not going to school that You may shape their future. Deliver them from peer pressure that they may not fall into the snares of the evil one. Settle their hearts as they wait on You for reopening of the schools. May Your healing virtue heal all those who are sick that they may know You more. Be with all the health worker who are responsible for taking care for those who are sick. We pray for special protection in their lives. Lead all our leaders with wisdom even as they make the required pronouncements. We declare that Kenya belongs to You Jesus. We pray that all people will be treated with respect and honor. May our boarder be filled with plenty that we may flourish at this time and forevermore. No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and no tongue raised against us in judgement shall prevail for we belong to You Jesus. Father You give us the ability to create wealth and increase us to new levels of grace. May many in our families, nation and world know You and turn to You. May the grace or our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Psalms 23:1-6
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
INSIGHT
-King David having been a shepherd before understood the intimate relationship between the sheep and their shepherd. The shepherd always ensures that the sheep are well fed, protected and lacking nothing. He brings out the analogy of God as our Shepherd and Provider. In Isaiah 40:11 we see that; the LORD will feed His flock like a shepherd and gather the lambs with His arm. In John 10:11 and 10:14, Jesus clearly speaks of Himself as the good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep and who can say, “I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” Hebrews 13:20 speaks of Jesus as that great Shepherd of the sheep, 1 Peter 2:25 calls Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls, and 1 Peter 5:4 calls Jesus the Chief Shepherd. These these scriptures and many others, Christ is portrayed as our Shepherd and we His sheep. He takes good care of us and provides for all our present and eternal needs, and assures us of everlasting life by giving His own life for us.
PRAYER
I will lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from You LORD, who made the heaven and earth. You will not allow my foot to be moved and will keep me will not slumber. Behold, You who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. You LORD are my keeper and my shade at my right hand. The sun shall not strike me by day, nor the moon by night. You LORD will preserve me from all evil and will preserve my soul. You will preserve my going out and my coming in, from this time forth and even forevermore. Lord You are my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside quiet waters, and refresh my soul. You guide me along the right paths for Your name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Your house Lord forever, and ever. Amen
2 Corinthians 9:8-9
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
INSIGHT
-As Christians, having faith in Jesus Christ assures us of His grace and blessings that abound toward us in all sufficiency and in every good work. God has promised to supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Since we are God’s stewards, He provides for our every need and calls us to give to the poor in our society. Those who give freely, their righteousness endures forever. Those who sow bountifully shall reap bountifully, and the reverse is true. The main scripture complements Matthew 6:33, which says that, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” By giving to the poor; we focus on enhancing the kingdom of God and thus we are judged as righteous. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus explains this analogy that, the rich man was cast to hell not because of his evil doing, but because he did not provide for Lazarus’ needs. The parable of the rich young ruler also explains that; when Jesus asked him to sell everything he had and give to the poor so that he may inherit eternal life, he was extremely sad for he was very rich (Mark 10:17-22). He thought he had the money but the money had him. In Mathew 25, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goat. The sheep are described as righteous for they provide food to those who are hungry, water to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, visit the sick and prisoners, thus granted access to eternal life. God has called us to freely scatter our gifts to the poor for our righteousness endures forever. God is our Provider and righteous Judge. He is Faithful and calls us to have faith in Jesus Christ, putting in works, for faith without work is dead.
PRAYER
God You are good and Your righteous endures forever. God You are our righteous and Your righteousness is everlasting. You have provided for our every need, Your love endures forever. Jesus You have called to be faithful to You, increase our faith in You. Grant us the grace to serve You better as You have called each one of us. Grant us the grace to minister unto the hopeless, homeless and lost in the society, for Your love endures forever. Grant us the grace to freely scatter our gifts to the poor, for our righteousness endures forever. Fill our hearts with generosity that we may always be willing to share the resources You have entrusted unto us; for the glory of Your name. May our alms and prayers come as a memorial of You Lord that You may bless us and increase us in all sufficiency and every good work. Grant us the grace to keep doing the work You have called us to do and share Your love to those who need us most. You have made us righteous Jesus by Your sacrifice on the cross, sanctify us with Your precious blood we humbly ask You. Thank You for Your gift of salvation upon us and our entire generations, may Your salvation reach all those who do not know You Jesus Christ. Grant us the wisdom to put in faith and works Jesus as You have called us. Bless the work of our hands Jehovah Jireh and increase our capacity to receive from You. Thank You Jesus for Your mercy and grace upon our lives. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but You deliver them for it all. Deliver us from all evil and fight for us with Your powerful right hand. Send Your angels to be a blessing to us, our families, the street families and our entire nation, and surround us Holy Spirit with Your hedge of fire, we humbly ask You. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Matthew 6:31-34
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
INSIGHT
-God is our Father and He knows what we need before we ask Him. He calls us to have faith in Him and whatever we ask Him believing that we will get it; we will receive it. By worrying about what we eat, drink or wear we cannot change the circumstances but only display our unbelief.
SUMMARY
Jehovah Jireh means God our Provider. Abraham obeyed God and journeyed to mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac as instructed. He did not withhold the sword from the boy having waited for a long time before receiving his promise. The Lord provided a ram for sacrifice and He was pleased with Abrahams faith. Like Abraham the father of faith, we are called to have strong in the Lord despite the trying times that we are faced with. Like Hagar and his son Ishmael who were desperately in need of divine Providence, the Lord did not delay but heard Ishmael’s cry. Since we are Abraham’s seed according to the promise, let us believe in Jesus Christ and we will receive our blessings now and forever more. As God provides for us, we are also called to freely scatter our gifts to the poor and our righteousness will endure forever. As we give to the needy, we acknowledge that God is our only Provider and we share His love with our neighbors. By this we also become kingdom financiers and advance God’s kingdom, and He will richly blesses us. Since we are called to seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, God satisfies all our needs according to the riches of His glory.
PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for Your love and kindness upon us. You have been good to us always, we praise Your holy name. You have protected us, sustained us, healed all our wounds and provided for all our needs, we praise You and glorify Your holy name. Forgive us our trespasses and cover us with Your precious blood merciful Father. Bless the work our hands dear Master and expand our territories. Revive our economy and water our land with the dew of heaven. Help us always rely on Your providence and become better stewards of the resources You give us. Grant us the grace to give to the poor and serve You with our gifts. Increase our faith and wisdom so that we may grow spiritually and obtain favor from You Father. Give us the grace to always remain in Your presence and may Your grace abound in us forever. Amen