Understanding Jehovah Jireh 1

By Sam Etatuvie

Devotional Reading: 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.” Genesis 22:14

A name means more than just a means of identification, it describes a personality. Names encapsulate experiences, functionalities and operations. The names of God were mostly given in relation to experiences men had that revealed several dimensions of how God functions. Today we will begin to examine the name ‘Jehovah – Jireh’ in order to seek understanding of this dimension of God’s functionality, using Abraham’s journey to Mt Moriah in obedience of God’s request of a sacrifice.

The text accounted Abraham’s journey to Mt Moriah in obedience to God’s request for the sacrifice of his Son Isaac. In verse 14, Abraham gave a name to his encounter; naming the place Jehovah-Jireh. What does this name mean? “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.”(Vs. 14 KJV)

The name Jehovah-Jireh is a compound word comprising of two names ‘Jehovah’ or ‘Yaweh’ and ‘Jireh’. Yaweh is the exclusive personal name of God used in the Old Testament. Although there are other names as Adonai (Lord) and Elohim (God) which describes function and structure, Yaweh is the personal name God gave Moses in Exodus 3:14. ‘Jireh’ on the other hand means ‘To see, examine, observe, perceive’. Therefore, Jehovah-Jireh speaks of the God that sees or examines. However, one should note that the common interpretation of Jireh as ‘provider’ is not based on the literal interpretation but on the contextual application in Genesis 22.

Knowing Jehovah Jireh being the God that sees, as well as the God that provides, shows us that the Jireh dimension of provision comes as a reward from examination rather than the fatherly outpouring of daily bread. It is the principle based operation known as the fruit of obedience. This does not in any way negate God’s benevolent nature of being the loving father that provides for his children, rather is shows another dimension of God the rewarder of the obedient. Remember, he is both Father and Judge. Let us therefore seek to understand the principles, apply them, and enjoy the fruits of obedience.

Prayer and Confession:
Jehovah Jireh, teach me your ways in Jesus name. My spirit is enlightened by the Lord, I recieve from the Holy Ghost the knowledge of God. I am walking in it’s realities and reaping the fruits.

Further Reading: Genesis 22:1-29
Reading Old Testament Stories: Esther 7-10