Bible Points

There is a popular song called “Jireh” that is sung by many churches during their worship time.

Wikipedia reports that “Jireh” is a song performed by American contemporary worship bands Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, which features vocals from Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine. It impacted Christian radio in the United States on April 1, 2022, as the lead single from their collaborative live album, Old Church Basement (2021). The song was initially released as a promotional single on March 26, 2021.The song was written by Chandler Moore, Chris Brown, Naomi Raine, and Steven Furtick.

The word “Jireh” in this song comes from Genesis chapter 22 where Abraham is called by God to offer his only son, the son of his old age, the son promised to him by God, to continue his posterity, the son through whom all the world would be blessed (Genesis 12). How could God keep His covenant promise with Abraham if He was now telling him to offer Issac as a blood sacrifice?

As Abraham raises his knife to kill Isaac, God (pre-incarnate Jesus) says, “Abraham, Abraham! Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:11-12)

Notice what happens the next verses, a ram appears and is caught by his horns in the thicket. Abraham offers up that animal in the place of his son. Verse 14 says, “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.””

In the Hebrew language “The LORD Will Provide” is Jehovah-Jireh, more appropriately transliterated Yahweh-Yireh. When God says, “I Yahweh will provide”, what does He mean? Is He saying here in this passage of Scripture that He will provide all we need? Is He saying that He will be our Genie from heaven, giving to us whatever we ask of Him? No, He is pointing to the time that will come in the future when He will send His Son Jesus Christ to die as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Genesis 22:8; John 1:29, 36; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:6, 12:11, 13:8).

“Jireh” is only part of the compound name of God in Genesis chapter 22. He is Yahweh-Jireh. We just don’t focus on what He does…provide…we worship His for who He is…His character. Yahweh also means, “I am who I am” or “I will be what I will be” or perhaps even “I am the One who is.” (Exodus 3:14-15). The name speaks of the self-existence and self-sufficiency of God. All others are dependent upon Him for life and breath and existence. He is dependent upon no one. In the New Testament, speaking of Himself Jesus said “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58–59).

When God says in Genesis 22, “Yahweh-Jireh”, He wasn’t referring to our temporal wants or even needs; He was referring to our eternal need of salvation from sin. And so He provided His only Son Jesus as God’s Lamb (John 3:16).