The Man and His Son

In 2021, Maverick City Music released a powerful song titled “Jireh.” If you listen to Christian Contemporary Music, you probably listened, worshipped and maybe cried to this song a few more times than you’d planned to. The song was part of an album that eventually went on to win Maverick City Music their first ever Grammy.

The title of the song “Jireh” comes from Genesis 22 where Abraham, in recognition of the revelation he’d just received of God as provider, named a particular place “Jehovah Jireh.”

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.”

(Genesis 22:14, KJV)

The story of Abraham and Isaac is such a loaded moment in the timeline of the Bible. It marked a significant milestone in Abraham’s walk with God, foretold of God’s plan for man’s redemption, and holds many a lesson for everyone who would have a sound relationship with God.

In trusting God for divine provision and calling Him Jireh (as Abraham did), many people focus on how God came through for Abraham at the last moment, and believe He can do the same for them. But not enough people pay attention to the events leading up to and surrounding that moment of divine provision.

In the latter part of Genesis 22:14, it says “as it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” or as the Amplified version puts it, “And it is said to this day, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be seen and provided.’” It seems to me like Abraham first said “I call this place Jehovah Jireh because on the mountain of the Lord, all I need will be provided for me.” And people continued to say it as he’d said it.

These days, it seems like we focus more on the “Jehovah Jireh the provider” part than on the circumstances that would facilitate the provident Hand of God in reaching out to us with all that we need. Abraham would never have gotten that revelation of “Jehovah Jireh” if he had not obeyed God to the letter by going to the mountain of the Lord to attempt to sacrifice his only son. Abraham must have understood this, hence the need to qualify that revealed name by adding a further description of sorts.

Anyone who would hope to see Jehovah Jireh in action must understand that it is on the mountain of the Lord that all that you need will be provided. You will not experience the provident Hand of God if you choose to remain where He is not. You will not enter the revelation of Jehovah Jireh if you don’t, in spite of your fears and flesh, trust God enough to obediently follow His leading for you.

Where the Shepherd is, that’s where the provision is. And if it seems like God is asking for all you’ve got, it’s because He’s got something bigger than what you can ask or think in store for you.

Abraham’s story shouldn’t just show you how God can come through for you. It should also teach you that active obedience to the leading of God is where your provision is. On the mountain of the Lord, all you need will be provided for you. On the mountain of the Lord only.