Yahweh-Yireh is the Hebrew name for God meaning the Lord will provide. To understand this name for God more fully, we need to go back to the story where we first hear this name for Him. We first discover this name for God in Genesis 22:13-14. This is quite a faith story and one that is uncomfortable to read. But I promise you there is much scripture treasure to discover through the story of Abraham and Issac and the time that God really tested Abraham's faith!
Yahweh-Yireh: The Lord Will Provide
Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.14 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 22:13-14.
Pronouncing The Name: yah-WEH yir-EH.
This is Day 6 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Understanding the Name Of God-Yahweh-Yireh:
This passage may present questions and struggles for you as you read this. I know it did for me, yet I also know this goes against the nature of God. So I went on a digging expedition to see what some biblical scholars had to say about this particular passage of scripture.
Before we read the scriptures that first show us this awesome name of God, I want to fast forward to the New Testament, to the book of Hebrews.
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”[a] 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19.
Now as you read the following Bible verses from Genesis 22, I want you to read them while knowing what is spoken of in Hebrews 11:17-19.
Sometime later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now, I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 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.”
In Hebrews 11:19, we are told that Abraham knew God’s character and power enough to trust that if God took Isaac at that moment, because of all God’s other promises about Isaac, Abraham knew God would fulfill His word even if He had to raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham was doing this difficult task with assurance in his heart. That is an amazing faith!
As you read through the book of Genesis you will discover the plans that God had from the very beginning for Issac. You will find out that when Isaac was approaching the age of40, he was praying in a field when his wife Rebekah came to him. And the Lord filled Isaac’s heart with love for the young woman who would become his wife. The two became part of the lineage of Christ.
The Lord had made promises to Abraham about Issac. Not only did God provide for Isaac’s life, but also for his future as part of God’s promise to bring Christ into the world.
Yahweh-Yireh in Hebrew:
The Hebrew verb ra'ah (from which yireh is derived) means "to see." In this case, it is translated as "provide." God sees the past, present, and future. This means that He is able to anticipate what we need and provide it.
Yahweh Yireh simply means the Lord will provide.
Here is an interesting fact: Moriah, the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Issac has been traditionally associated with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Today Mount Moriah is occupied by a Muslim shrine called the Dome of the Rock. It is thought that only a quarter of a mile from there, is the place where Jesus was crucified. It was there that Yahweh-Yireh provided the one sacrifice that would make our peace with Him.
Applying the name of God, Yahweh-Yireh to your life:
As you contemplate how this name of God impacts your life, I want to remind you of this verse,
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.
How does knowing God as Yahweh-Yireh-The Lord Will Provide affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is Yahweh-Yireh to you?
How does knowing God as Yahweh-Yireh impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Yahweh-Yireh?
Praying the Name Of God, Yahweh-Yireh:
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation-it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Yahweh-Yireh, you are praying to the God who sees your situation beforehand and is able to provide for your needs.
Let's Pray:
Yahweh-Yireh, thank you for your provision in my life. Help me to remember that in the midst of my storm that You are there, that You know my circumstances and that you have a plan. Increase my faith and help me to walk like Abraham did with You. Amen.
We will be using these bible verses in the month of January 2021 as our daily devotionals in our Restoring Beauty For Ashes Facebook Group. Come join us there and join me every day for the next 24 days here as we unpack each name of God in a daily blog and I will try and explain how to pronounce the Hebrew Names Of God too. I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage. Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Adonai-Lord, And Master.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
Here is the list of blog posts about 30 Powerful Hebrew Names Of God And Their Meaning :
Introduction, 30 Powerful Hebrew Names Of God And Their Meaning (Free Printable) HERE
DAY 1. Elohim: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 2. Yahweh: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 3. El Roi-The God Who Sees Me: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 4. El Shaddai-The All-Sufficient One, God Almighty: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 5. El Olam-The Everlasting God Or The Eternal God: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 6. Yahweh-Yireh-The Lord Will Provide: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 7. Adoni-Lord And Master: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 8. Yahweh Rapha-The Lord Who Heals: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 9. Yahweh Nissi-The Lord Is My Banner: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 10. El Kanna-Consuming Fire, Jealous God: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE