Genesis 12-22 tells most of Abraham’s story. It begins with Abram of Ur being called by God out of the land of Haran. Abram is given a promise by God that if he would follow God, he would have many descendants. The story unfolds until we get to the lineage of Rebekah, whom we know will be the wife of Isaac. As we read this passage, there are two main themes that we find in the text. The first theme we discover is the idea of the person of God as Yahweh-yireh. This means “the Lord will provide.” It speaks to the fact that God provided everything Abraham needed. The second theme we find is that of Abraham’s faithfulness to God. Although not perfect, Abraham was faithful to God and God blessed him because of his faithfulness.
God is Yahweh-yireh. He is the great Provider. He first provided Abram with a promise. If he would leave his home and follow God, God would provide for him a legacy. At this time Abram had no children because Sarai’s womb had been closed. As they traveled in foreign lands, God provided for the protection of Abram and Sarai from the Egyptian pharaoh. Although Abram and Sarai tried to fulfill God’s prophecy on their own, God still provided the promised son to them. God gave to them new names under His covenant with them. God gave his protection when King Abimelech took Sarah for his own. When Abraham was tested by the sacrifice of Isaac to the Lord, He knew that God would provide in that as well. He told Isaac “God himself will provide the lamb” (Genesis 22:8). God had proved His own faithfulness in providing for Abraham.
God had demonstrated His provision to Abraham’s family members as well. God provided for the protection of Lot when he taken as prisoner. He sent Abraham and his 318 men to rescue Lot and gave them victory over those who had taken him. He provided direction and a safe place for Lot during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by sending His angels to warn Lot to leave the cities of the plain. God provided protection for both Hagar and Ishmael. When Hagar had run away from Sarah, God had seen her and provided for her. When Ishmael mocked Isaac, he and his mother were both driven from the presence of Abraham, God provided for them. God is Yahweh-yireh. The Lord will provide.
Not only do we see God’s faithful provision to Abraham, but we also see Abraham’s faithful obedience to God. When Abram received the Word of the Lord, he went and did as the Lord commanded. When Abraham received the sign of the covenant, he went and did as God had commanded him. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him, Abraham responded in obedience. Genesis 15:6 records that “Abram believed the Lord and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Righteousness means rightness with God. Through his belief in God and God’s Word, Abraham was credited righteousness. Abraham’s belief in God’s Word was evident in his obedience to it.
It is also important to note is the interesting connection with Egypt established in Genesis. Abram and Sarai had been in Egypt and had dealings with the pharaoh. Hagar was an Egyptian slave. Ishmael was part Egyptian and part Hebrew. God prophesies to Abraham that his offspring will be aliens in a land for four hundred years. We know from Exodus that this nation would be Egypt. There is a foreshadowing here of what is to come. Yet even in that, God would provide a savior for His people. That is Who God is. He is Yahweh-yireh.
God provides. In the story of Abraham, God provided what Abraham needed each step on his journey. He even provided for Lot, Hagar, and Abraham’s other son Ishmael. Abraham had seen how God had provided for him and it gave Abraham courage in God to act on what God told him to do. Since God had always been faithful to provide for Abraham, Abraham was able to be faithful to do what God asked him to do. God will provide for you as well. He will give you what you need, but He also wants you to be obedient to Him. When you see how God provides for you, it makes it a little bit easier to obey Him because you know that He will take care of you.
When the Lord appeared with His angels to Abraham in Genesis 18, Abraham immediately knew that it was the Lord. He immediately got up and began serving Him. Due to his relationship with God, Abraham immediately recognized the Lord, even though He was with two other men. Is my relationship with God strong enough that I would immediately recognize Him and jump to serve Him as Abraham did?
Joel McReynolds 
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