And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:13)
Abraham puts the altar to use. Just moments after God stops him from sacrificing Isaac, Abraham looks up to see a ram that “just happened” to be caught in a thicket behind him. Perhaps the ram had been there all along, and Abraham and Isaac didn’t notice. Maybe God put it there once Abraham obeyed.
Abraham’s earlier statement to Isaac of God’s providing the sacrificial lamb proved truer than Abraham could have known. Hebrews 11:19 tells us that Abraham was “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Abraham didn’t expect God to give him a substitution for sacrifice; he expected Isaac to die and God to raise him up.
Isaac seemed destined to die as a sacrifice to God. While Abraham fully expected God to resurrect Isaac, God had a better plan in mind. He instead provided a ram in Isaac’s place. In a sense, Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead, for he had already determined to give him up. Isaac was saved from death and, in a way, raised into a new life because God sent something else to die in his stead.
The ram is such a beautiful picture of Christ, the Lamb of God, dying in the place of mankind in payment for their sins. By His grace, God provided this ram for the sacrifice. It is obvious that God never intended for Abraham to kill Isaac. The real sacrifice God desired came from Abraham’s heart.
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. (22:14)
This place becomes a sacred, holy place to Abraham. He gives it a name to honor God’s provision: Jehovahjireh, the LORD will provide, or the LORD Who provides. This is truly a fitting name for a place that would always hold great meaning for Abraham and for Isaac as well.
The mountain’s name seems to develop into a saying which lasted at least until the time of Moses’ penning of Genesis, for Moses writes in verse 14, “as it is said to this day…” Clearly, Isaac taught it to his children, who passed it to their children, and so on. Later in Genesis, Jacob names the place of his dream Beth-el, meaning “house of God.” Jacob likely learned the naming of important places from his father.
Jehovahjireh, the LORD Who provides.
Everything belongs to God. All things come from Him, and we must acknowledge that all things are God’s possessions. Those who obey what God asks of them can trust that God will provide His best for their needs. We may never be wealthy, and things may not come to us in the timing we believe to be best. However, God promises to take care of His own. Trust in these promises today:
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed…Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:3 and 5)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:23-25)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
God’s greatest provision for us is His Son, Jesus Christ, as our atoning Sacrifice. If you have never accepted God’s gift of salvation in Christ, please click here for the Bible Way to Heaven.