Jehovah Jireh!

God has blessed me with yet another job.

Yes, a second job!

I am more excited and grateful than any words can express. When it rains blessings, it pours!

A few months ago, I had applied to teach at a private Christian school just down the road from our house. My brother, who currently attends there, informed me of their lack of any kind of a performing arts/drama program, so I decided to give it a go and see if they were interested in starting a program of that sort.

Several weeks later, Mom met with the upper school administrator to discuss my brother's upcoming academic schedule. She mentioned my application and expressed interest in discussing employment opportunities with me. We talked the next day, and I was hired(!). "I don't normally hire people without laying eyes on them, but I feel that I can make an exception for you."

The school faculty has been dwindling over the past several weeks. Some have answered the call to full-time mission work outside the U.S. Others have resigned due to various circumstances. There is a real need for additional faculty members, and God has seen fit to bless me with the opportunity to help meet that need.

The school doesn't have the resources or space for a drama/performing arts program, but I will be able to blend my performance training with my interest in teaching, my love of storytelling, and my heart for children all into one job. How exciting is that!

This week is "planning week" for the faculty and staff. We have been meeting every morning to iron out as many kinks as we can before school starts Monday morning. The closer Monday gets, the more excited I become. I can hardly wait to see what the Lord will do during this school year.

Just a few short weeks ago, I was unemployed with an ever-shrinking list of ideas of where to apply for work. Now I have two incredible jobs with tasks the Lord has gifted me in, working in a Christian environment with coworkers and bosses who are strong in the faith. I never imagined my job search would end in such a way. God certainly "is able to do exceedinly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20)!

As I mentioned before, we are working to get all the last-minute details together to prepare for the beginning of the school year next week. Please pray for us as we do so. Pray that the Lord will use us to help these children and teenagers to learn and grow, both spiritually and academically. Pray that we won't lose sight of the big picture as the school year gets underway and things become hectic.

Looking back at how the last few weeks have unfolded, I am reminded that God is Jehovah Jireh, "the Lord Who Provides." It is encouraging and comforting to see how He has manifested that Name through the circumstances He has providentally orchestrated to provide these blessed opportunities for me.

In Matthew 6 and Luke 12, Jesus illustrates the loving provision of Jehovah Jireh and tells us how we are to respond to this loving provision.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
{Matthew 6:25-32}

  

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
{Luke 12:22-30}

 Jehovah Jireh knows His children have needs, and He always provides for them. Always.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

{Philippians 4:19}

Jehovah Jireh has blessed me beyond measure by providing for me in a truly incredible way, and I praise Him for it.

. . . and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:10b

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God, Our Shepherd

Edited by Myrna Moore

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 

{Isaiah 40:11}

The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 

{John 10:4}

 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

{John 10:11}

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 

{John 10:14}

I lay down my life for the sheep. 

{John 10:15}

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Names of God: El Roi

"The God who sees" or "the God who continually sees." 

  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth... {2 Chronicles 16:9}

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; {Job 28:24} 

The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.  {Psalm 33:13}

 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. {Proverbs 5:21}

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.                          {Proverbs 15:3} 

 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD.            {Jeremiah 23:24}

The thought that God always sees us can be comforting and frightening at the same time. It's certainly nice to know that God sees when we're doing something that pleases Him or when we're being mistreated. But what about when we're choosing to act in a way we know dishonors God?

Let's examine both of these responses to this name of God through the lens of Scripture, starting with the "negative".

For his [God's] eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. {Job 34:21-22}

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. {Hebrews 4:13}

Nothing we do is overlooked by God. He sees everything.

He sees you when you witness to an unsaved friend, coworker, neighbor, or family member. He sees you when you are cross with your parents and when you are unkind to your sibling. He sees you when you decide to dishonor Him by putting harmful substances into your body and when you choose to use your body for immoral purposes. None of our actions escape God's notice. We cannot hide certain actions or pick and choose which deeds we want God to see. He sees all of them.

Because of Christ, your sins have already been paid for, but you will stand before God and give an account for everything you did on earth - good and bad.

Now, let's examine the "positive" side of the idea that God always sees us.

Abraham and Sarah desired a child. After decades of waiting, Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands.

Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. {Genesis 16:1-3}

Abraham listened to Sarah's advice, and things took a turn for the worse.

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. {Genesis 16:4-6}

 Hagar met someone she didn't expect after she fled from Sarah.

And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; {Genesis 16: 7-14}

Her encounters with El Roi, the God who sees, didn't stop there.

Several years later, Sarah conceived and bore Isaac.

And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. {Genesis 21: 8-11}

Hagar was forced to flee again, this time with her son.

"Hagar and Ishmael Perishing in the Desert"
by Gustave Dore

 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. {Genesis 21:14-16}

El Roi, the God who sees, saw Hagar's distress.

And the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. {Genesis 21: 17b-19}

El Roi, the God who sees, saw the Israelites' bondage in Egypt.

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey... {Exodus 3:7-8}

El Roi, the God who sees, does not see as humans see.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. {I Samuel 16:7}

God sees you. Every part of you. Inside and out. Are you living your life in a way that brings Him glory and gladdens His heart as He watches you?

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Names of God: Jehovah-Jireh

"The Lord our Provider" or "the Lord who provides." Not "the Lord our Sometimes Provider" or "the Lord who might provide if he feels like it." He has promised to always provide for the needs of His children.

The Bible records many, many examples of God's provision. God promised to provide a son for the childless Abraham. Abraham's barren wife, Sarah, miraculously bore Isaac several years later (see Genesis 15-18 and Genesis 21 for the full account). God rescued the children of Israel from their multiple centuries of bondage in Egypt and provided for their material needs as He led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land (see Exodus for the whole story). God used ravens to provide for Elijah's material needs while he hid from his enemies (see I Kings 17:2-6). God worked through Elijah to provide food for the widow of Zarephath and her son (I Kings 17:7-24). The list goes on and on.

Seeking to try Abraham's faith once again,God told Abraham to give Isaac back to the Him in the form of a burnt offering.

Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee to the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains, which I will tell thee of {Genesis 22:2}.

If you are a parent, you can imagine the incredible pain Abraham must have struggled with when God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. He had waited so long for God to fulfill His promised provision of a son, and now it seemed that God was going to remove this precious child from him.

Nevertheless, he obeyed.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass [donkey], and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God told him {Genesis 22:3}. 


Notice what he says when Isaac asks him about the sacrifice.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering {Genesis 22:7-8}.


What incredible faith in God's provision!

Right as Abraham is about to kill Isaac on the altar, a heavenly presence identified as "the angel of the LORD" (v. 11) stops him.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing to him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. {Genesis 22:12}.


Because of Abraham's faith and obedience, God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in place of Isaac.

God promises to meet any need we have.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. {Philippians 4:19}

However, sometimes what we think of as "needs" are really just wants. This raises a very important question: How do we distinguish between a need and a want? Paul answers that question in a letter to Timothy.


But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment [clothing] let us be therewith content. {I Timothy 6:6-8}


What need do you have today? Perhaps you have unpaid bills, an empty pantry, a threadbare closet, or a bank balance in the red. These situations can easily dishearten us and cause our faith to falter in God's promises to provide for our needs. Remember that God is bigger than any need you face. He is Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord YOUR Provider. 

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