The God Who Provides For Us
Genesis 22:1-14 (ESV):
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him,
“Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Introduction: Yosef’s coin bank
We cannot talk about giving without first acknowledging the boundless gen erosity of our God. Giving is always and ever the fruit of an antecedent work of divine grace. As Sam Storms so beautifully puts it, “God is always and ever the reservoir, and we are merely the pipes through which His blessings flow.” This profound truth is vividly illustrated in the story of Abraham. God blessed Abraham with a beloved son, Isaac. When God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham did not withhold him back. Instead, he obeyed God’s command, viewing this act as an act of worship. This nar rative teaches us that giving is not a burden to a grateful person. It is, in fact, a response to God's overwhelming generosity and grace.
God made Himself known:
1. El-Elyon – God Most High (Gen. 14:19)
2. El-Roi – The God Who Sees Me (Gen. 16:13)
3. El-Shaddai - God Almighty (Gen. 17:1)
4. El-Olam – The Everlasting God (Gen. 21:33)
5. Jehovah-Jireh – The God Who Provides (Genesis 22:9-14)
I. The Testing of Faith
“After these things, God tested Abraham…” (v. 1)
“TAKE your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and GO to the land of Moriah, and OF FER him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (v. 2)
In Genesis 22:1-14, we encounter a pivotal moment in Abraham’s journey of faith. God tests Abraham by commanding him to offer his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. This test was not just a trial of obedience but a profound examination of Abraham’s trust in God. Despite the seemingly incomprehensible demand, Abraham demonstrates unwavering faith. He rises early, prepares for the journey, and sets out to obey God’s command without hesitation. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac reflects a heart fully surrendered to God, holding nothing back.
II. The Triumph of Faith: Abraham’s confidence in God
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac” (Heb. 11:17)
“He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” (Heb. 11:19)
As Abraham raises the knife to sacrifice his son, an angel of the Lord calls out to him, halting the act. God acknowledges Abraham’s faith, declaring, “Do not lay a hand on the boy... Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12). At this moment, a ram is provided as a substitute for Isaac, showcasing God’s provision. Abraham’s faith triumphs as he experiences God’s faithfulness and provision firsthand. This story teaches us that when we trust and obey God, He provides for our needs in ways we could never imagine.
Application:
A. God has provided for us, and we are saved.
Just as God provided the ram for Abraham, He has provided for our salvation through Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him grants us eternal life, and we are saved by His grace. This foundation al truth reminds us that God’s provision is not limited to physical needs but extends to our spiritual well-being. We are recipients of His abundant grace, and our salvation is a testa ment to His provision.
B. God has provided for us so that we can serve others.
God’s provision in our lives equips us to serve others. As we reflect on Abraham’s obedience, we are reminded that our faith should lead us to acts of service. God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Our talents, resources, and time are given to us with a purpose – to serve and glorify God. Let us, therefore, use the gifts we have received to build His king dom and serve those around us.
C. God has provided for us so that we can share with others.
Finally, God’s provision calls us to share generously. In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul highlights the
grace of giving. He encourages the believers to give consistently and propor tionately, reflecting the generosity of Christ. Our giving should be motivated by love and gratitude, recognizing that all we have comes from God. Con sistent giving ensures that our resources are used wisely and faithfully, while proportionate giving acknowledges that we are stewards of God’s blessings.
John Flavel states, “The providence of God is like a Hebrew word – it can only be read back wards.” Has God provided for you? (Testimony: The places where God has provided).
Grateful believers are:
1. Committed to planned, proportionate, and plentiful giving.
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” (1 Cor 16:2)
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[a] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor 9:7- 8)
2. Confident in God’s promise to provide.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Je sus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Conclusion:
Christ, the Fountain of Blessing
As we conclude, let us turn our eyes to Jesus Christ, the fountain of all blessings. He is the ul timate example of selfless giving. The Apostle Paul writes, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Christ gave His life for us. He laid down His life for His sheep, and He calls us to follow His example. Will not what Christ has done inspire you to do the same? As we reflect on His sacrifice, let us be moved to give gen erously, consistently, and proportionately. Let our giving reflect our faith and obedience, hon oring the God who provides for us in every way. May we, like Abraham, trust in God’s provi sion and respond with hearts of gratitude and generosity. Beloved, let us go forth with a re newed commitment to giving inspired by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.