Genesis 22: 9 -14 (NIV) "9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Have you ever loved someone so much that your every breath is full of them? Let's take this story back a minute. Abraham and Sarah prayed for a child. The desire to have a child was so great, Sarah sent her handmaiden, Hagar, into her husband so that he would have a son (Ishmael - Gen 16). It was her hope that she would have the promise through this woman. But, when we step out of God's will and into our own, we create unnecessary problems. Hagar, became prideful of the fact that she had done something for Abraham that Sarah couldn't. The child didn't belong to Sarah as she had hoped. This child, this son of Abraham, was Hagar's son. Thus an animosity was borne between the two women. The woman with the child vs. the woman with the promise of a child. This was a situation Sarah created because she chose not to wait on the promise. Isaac, born to Abraham and Sarah after Ishmael, was the fruit of the promise. He was the provision that God spoke of in Genesis 15.
Often, we get in our own way. We want what we want NOW!!! Its like a two year old throwing a tantrum in the middle of the store. I was recently out shopping and heard a little one yelling at the top of his lungs. Why? He wanted a toy. His mother said no. She didn't waiver from her no so he kept yelling. What I loved about the entire scene, is that she let him. She kept on shopping getting the necessities and he kept yelling. She didn't loose her temper. She didn't become flustered. Many of us would have taken him into the nearest bathroom and spanked his behind. But her example was what God does for us. He gives us grace when we throw our tantrums. He doesn't loose his temper (note: God can loose His temper and let's pray we are never on that side of Him). He doesn't give into our demands because we are causing a scene. He keeps on loving us despite our spoiled ways. When God provides us with love, we receive it as it is unconditional. When God provides us with grace, we thank Him as it also brings peace. Yet, when God says no, we have a fit.
Jehovah Jireh doesn't always provide what we want. BUT, He always provides what we need. I remember being asked a question once - what would you do if the Lord gave you a million dollars right now? Could you handle it? I am reminded of the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 15. A wealthy man gave 3 of his servants each a bag of talents (gold) according to the man's ability. The servant with 5 bags doubled his bags as did the one with two bags. But the one with one bag, hid his money in the earth. If God were to give you a bag of talents - what would you do with it? Would you know what to do with it? Now, go back, the Word says that the wealthy man gave each servant according to his ability.
We all have abilities, talents, skills, etc. What are you doing with yours? Are you using it for the upbuilding of the kingdom thereby doubling what God gave you? OR are you burying your talent under fear and hiding it for no one to see afraid of what they may say or do. God provides for us not to keep to ourselves but to share with the world according to His will.
What God has provided, allow no one to steal from you or make you afraid to use it. Use what the Lord has provided to you!
Be A Blessing and Not Just Blessed
- Nakya