The God Who Provides
Pastor Ryan Hurd
Part of Come to the Mountain
March 16, 2025

Introduction

In this series, “Come to the Mountain,” we explore encounters with God in Scripture to understand His true character—not based on assumptions, but on who He reveals Himself to be. Today, we climb Mount Moriah with Abraham to meet Jehovah Jireh—the God who provides. This message challenges us to trust God even when the way forward seems impossible, discovering how He sees and meets our needs.

  • We often want the story of God’s provision to end with “happily ever after,” but God’s path can lead us through tests that deepen our faith.

Background

  • God’s Promise: God called Abraham to leave his homeland, promising to make him a great nation through a son (Genesis 17:19).
  • Isaac’s Birth: After 25 years of waiting, Isaac was born to Abraham (100) and Sarah, fulfilling God’s promise despite their old age and Sarah’s barrenness.
  • The Test: Just when the promise is fulfilled, God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, the child of promise.

1. The Test of Faith

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” —Genesis 22:1-2 CSB

  • God’s test wasn’t about loss but trust. Abraham had to believe that God’s promises would stand even through impossible circumstances.
  • The test hinges on the tension between God’s past provision (Isaac’s birth) and His future promise.

Practical Application:

  • When faced with difficult decisions, ask: How is God refining my faith through this?
  • Embrace trials as opportunities to grow in faith, trusting that God has a purpose even in the impossible.
  • Pray for courage to trust God’s promises, even when the path is unclear.

2. Obedience Unlocks Provision

So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together. Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together. When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. —Genesis 22:3-10 CSB

  • Abraham obeys immediately, trusting God to provide.
  • Hebrew word for “provide” (ra’ha) means “to see,” suggesting God sees and prepares provision.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. —Hebrews 11:17-19 CSB

  • Abraham’s obedience led to God’s provision. Even when he didn’t understand, Abraham acted in faith.

Genesis 22:8 (CSB): “Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ Then the two of them walked on together.”

Practical Application:

  • Commit to taking the next step of obedience, even if you don’t see the outcome.
  • Reflect: What area of my life needs a deeper step of faith?

3. The God Who Provides

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.” Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.” —Genesis 22:11-18 CSB

  • At the critical moment, God provides a ram, revealing Himself as Jehovah Jireh—the Lord who provides.
  • Abraham’s faith was rewarded when God provided the ram as a substitute for Isaac.
  • God stops Abraham and provides a substitute, affirming His faithfulness and blessing Abraham’s obedience (vv. 16-18).

Practical Application:

  • Trust God to provide when you surrender everything to Him, knowing He is faithful to His word.

4. Six Aspects of God’s Provision

1) God Is Faithful to His Promises

  • By providing the ram, God ensures His covenant with Abraham remains unbroken, proving His trustworthiness.
  • God keeps His word, ensuring that His plans come to fruition.

2) God Tests to Refine, Not to Destroy

  • Tests deepen our faith and prepare us for greater trust.
  • God provides the ram to show that trials deepen faith, not break it.

3) God Provides in His Perfect Timing

  • The ram was already in the thicket, ready when Abraham needed it most. God sees ahead and provides right on time.
  • Be patient and trust God’s timing—He has already prepared what you need.

4) God Blesses Obedience

  • Abraham’s obedience unlocks God’s provision and abundant blessing.
  • Blessings follow steps of faith and trust.

5) God’s Provision Is Perfect

  • What God provides is exactly what is needed.
  • The ram was exactly what was needed. Yet, like the Israelites in the wilderness, we can take God’s provision for granted and love the gift more than the Giver.

6) God’s Provision Is Complete

  • God’s ultimate provision is through Christ, the perfect sacrifice.

Practical Application:

  • Reflect on how God has provided for you in the past.
  • Trust that God’s provision is always timely and perfect, even if it’s not immediate.

Conclusion

On Mount Moriah, God revealed Himself as trustworthy and faithful—Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He is the same God for us today. Step out in faith, trust His provision, and watch Him work in ways you never imagined.

Reflection Question:

  • What is one area where I need to trust God to provide?

Closing Prayer:
“Lord, help me to trust You as Jehovah Jireh. Strengthen my faith and teach me to walk in obedience, believing that You will provide in Your perfect way. Amen.”

Take-Home Challenge:

  1. Identify one area where you’re struggling to trust God’s provision.
  2. Pray daily for faith and courage to trust Him fully.
  3. Share a testimony of God’s provision with someone this week.