Yahweh Yireh - God my Provider

When I think about God, the first thing I think about is what He does for me. Is that selfish?

As I meditated and pondered on the question "who is God to me?" Jehovah Jireh, my provider kept resonating in my mind. This name for God is found in Genesis 22:14. God provided a ram for Abraham when he was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac. "Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means, "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." Genesis 22:14

On the outside of the chapel at Northview there is a plaque that says "Christ our Provision", inside the chapel is an amazing stained glass window of Abraham receiving the sacrificial ram from God. It is a moving tribute to this scripture.

I am very blessed to have a wonderful earthly father. It is easy for me to understand God's love and provision because of my dad. My dad is a very honest man, he has modeled a life of discipline. When I was a child I was disciplined with love. My earthly father was a good provider. I feel extraordinarily blessed. My earthly father has made it easier for me to understand my heavenly Father. There are so many people who have not been so blessed.

A couple of weeks ago I read Romans 11:33-36 in my quiet time. I really embraced this because I was thinking about "who is God to me". I paraphrased it, here it is just as I wrote it in my journal that day...April 6, 2011...

It is impossible to understand His decisions and His ways... God's greatness in unimaginable. His riches, wisdom and knowledge are great. So great, that human minds can't understand His decisions and the way He moves. No one knows the thoughts of God. He doesn't go to anyone for advice. He doesn't owe anything to anybody. Everything exists through His power and because of His creation. All things are intended to give Him glory. And He is my Yahweh Yireh.