God Will Provide

Q: What does the Bible say about God's provision?

The Bible teaches that God will provide for all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). The Bible emphasizes the profound truth that God will provide for His people. In Genesis 22, we see Abraham's faith when he confidently tells Isaac, 'God will provide.' This statement encapsulates the assurance believers have that God knows our needs and is faithful to supply them. Jesus underscores this in Matthew 6, where He reminds us not to worry about earthly needs, asserting that our Father knows what we need before we even ask. This divine provision encompasses not just physical needs, but spiritual needs as well, highlighting God's comprehensive care for His children.

Q: How do we know God will provide for us?

We know God will provide because of His past faithfulness and promises in Scripture. God’s provision is rooted in His character and historical actions throughout Scripture. Hebrews 11:17-19 illustrates Abraham's faith in God's promise, where he believed that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God could raise him from the dead. This faith in divine capability underscores why believers can trust in God's provision. Furthermore, the assurance that God provides is echoed in Philippians 4:19, which states that God will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory. Therefore, through both past examples and scripture, we find firm assurance that God will indeed provide.

Q: Why is knowing God will provide important for Christians?

Knowing that God will provide is vital for trust and peace amidst life's trials. Understanding that God will provide is crucial for Christians as it nurtures a profound trust in His sovereign plan. Life presents countless trials, and knowing that our needs will be met by God helps alleviate anxiety and fosters peace during turbulent times. Romans 8:28 reassures us that all things work together for good for those who love Him. This knowledge not only encourages perseverance through trials but also deepens our relationship with God as we learn to rely solely on Him. Additionally, it empowers Christians to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing they are supported by a Father who cares for them deeply.

Q: What can we learn from Abraham's faith in God's provision?

Abraham's faith teaches us the importance of trusting God even in difficult circumstances. Abraham's faith exemplifies the depth of trust required to rely on God for provision, especially in overwhelming situations. When instructed to sacrifice Isaac, he demonstrated unwavering belief that God would fulfill His promises (Genesis 22:1-2). This act of faith reflects a profound understanding that God's plans are unfailing, and His provision comes in every scenario, including the most dire ones. Hebrews 11:17-19 illustrates that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac was rooted in the belief in God's power to resurrect. Therefore, Abraham's faith should encourage believers to trust God's provision in their lives without reservation, reinforcing the truth that God is indeed Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider.

I'd like very much for you to
open your Bibles with me today to the book of Genesis. I'm going
to be speaking from Genesis chapter 22. Now, here's the title of
the message while you're finding the scripture, Genesis 22. I'm
speaking today on this subject, God will provide. God will provide. Now, I would
like very much if you have a Bible close by. I'd like very much
if you'd turn to Genesis chapter 22 because I'm going to be referring
several times to this passage of Scripture. There are several
verses I want us to look at very carefully on the subject God
will provide. Now, if you look at verse 1 of
chapter 22, it begins this way. And it came to pass after these
things that God did tempt or test or try Abraham. After these things, God did test
or try Abraham. Now, most of us would think that
through all these years that Abraham had been tried severely
enough. The Jews talk about the ten great
trials of Abraham. God put this great man of faith
through many trying, difficult times. And the Jews record and
talk about the 10 trials of Abraham. Can you name them? First of all,
God called him away out of his father's house when he was about
75 years of age. He had to leave home, leave his
friends, leave his family, leave all of his relatives and go to
a land God would show him. And then the second trial is
he really had no certain land or dwelling place at all. He
lived in tents. It says Abraham dwelt in tents
with Isaac and Jacob. And then there was a confrontation
with the king Abimelech. You remember Abimelech wanted
Sarah and he would take her away from Abraham. And he had a real
conflict there with Abimelech. And then he had trouble with
Lot, his nephew, and Lot's herdsman. And he gave Lot the well-watered
plains, and Abraham headed for the mountains. And then there
was the intercession for Sodom. And then there was a battle with
the kings. You remember when he had to rescue Lot and bring
him back, and he had that battle with the kings. God gave him
the victory, but it was a great, difficult, trying time. And then
there was a test of great riches. The kings wanted to make him
rich. And Abraham was tried in that fashion. They offered him
so much of this world's goods and he said no said I've lifted
my hand to God and I won't take a thing from you and then there
was Ishmael's birth and Ishmael the trouble with Ishmael when
Ishmael despised Isaac you remember that when the conflict was between
the Hagar and Sarah and Ishmael and Isaac and Abraham had to
go through that and then finally he had this completely cast Ishmael
out and Send him away from home and and the trial after trial
after trial after trial God sent into the life of this man of
faith and now this and it says after all these things after
all of these trials and difficulties and heartaches and problems God
did Test Abraham again, and here's the most difficult trial of all
the one I want us to look at today the most difficult trial
of all. God said, Abraham, Abraham, and
he answered, here am I. He said, Abraham, take now thy
son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee to
the land of Moriah, and there you offer Isaac for a burnt offering. upon one of the mountains that
I'll tell you of. Abraham, take your son, your
only son, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and
there offer him as a burnt offering unto me upon the mountain I'll
tell you of." Now this is the most difficult of all Abraham's
trials, the most the most heart-rending trial of all. But I tell you
this, now you listen to me, faith will be tried. If it's God-given
faith, if it's saving faith, if it's genuine faith, it will
be tried. It must be tried. It has to be
tried. You know, Peter said this, he
said, count it not strange when your faith is tried. It's not
a strange thing, it's expected. God will try the faith that He
gives us. faith in Christ. It's not a strange
thing. It's to be expected. And James
says this, count it joy when you try. Peter says, don't think
it a strange thing when you try it. And James comes along and
says, count it all joy when you fall into different trials and
temptations because God's trying your faith. And then Paul says
this, Paul wrote in Hebrews, whom the Lord loves, He'll try. He'll chasten. He'll discipline.
He'll put them through difficulties. Whom the Lord loves, He'll try.
And he says this, also he adds this, if you're without trial,
then you're not a son of God. Every son of God, whom the Lord
loveth, He chasteneth. And every son, God will try him. So Peter says, don't think it's
strange. It's expected. And James says,
Be happy about it, because if God loves you, He'll trial you,
He'll chasten you. And I tell you when you ought
to be fearful and disturbed, if you're without trial, because
if you're without trial, then you're not a son. You see, faith
must be tried for several reasons. Listen to these. Faith has to
be tried first to reveal the genuineness of it. How do you
know you believe if your faith is never put to the test? How
do you really know? How can you be sure that you're
trusting God if you never have any difficulties or problems
or troubles or trials? So trials reveal the genuineness
of faith. That's what God said to Abraham
when he offered up Isaac. Now it's clear that you love
me. Now it's evident that you love
me because you haven't withheld your only son from me. So that's
evidence. See, faith must be tried to reveal
the genuineness of faith. Secondly, faith must be tried
to strengthen it. To strengthen it. If you don't
use a member of your body, like if you don't use your arm, if
it stays in a sling all the time, after a while, you won't be able
to use it at all. But the more you use it, the
more it strengthens. And the more faith is tried and tested
and the more you have to depend upon the Lord and look to the
Lord and wait upon the Lord, the stronger faith becomes. As
it's tried, it's strengthened. That's right. And then faith
must be tried to give it patience. Tribulation worketh patience.
We learn to wait on the Lord by waiting on the Lord. You see
that we learn to wait on the Lord by waiting. We learn comfort
by being comforted. That's where we get our comfort,
when we shut up to Him. Totally, we have no arm of flesh
to lean on, no one to depend upon, no one to whom we can look.
We look to Him. And we learn patience and comfort. And then fourthly, faith must
be tried so we can help others in their trials. He said, you
comfort... Now listen to this, listen carefully.
You comfort one another with the comfort wherewith you've
been comforted. You see, now you people who have
lost children, you can comfort someone who loses a child. You
people who have lost a husband or wife, you can say, I know
where you are and I can help you. You people who have gone
through great sickness and suffering, When someone else comes along
and goes through that same valley, you can say, I understand where
you are and I can sympathize with you. How can you sympathize
with them? Because you've been there. You
weep with those that weep because you've wept. You rejoice with
those that rejoice because you've rejoiced. You give comfort and
strength to those who need it because that's where you got
it from God. So faith has got to be tried.
It's not... These preachers talk about happy
all the time and God wants you to be rich and healthy and happy
and hope to do that. They don't know what they're
talking about. All of God's people must be tried. But our Lord's
grace is sufficient for every trial. That's what he told Paul. He said, My grace is sufficient.
Now, Abraham, take your son, whom you love, and take him down
there and offer him as a burnt offering. Well, when Abraham
heard these words, I kind of put myself where he is And I
know a lot of thoughts went through his mind. For example, he must
have thought, how can I kill my own son? How can I put a knife
in the heart of my own son? How can I burn his body like
a lamb on a fire? What am I going to tell Sarah?
What shall I tell Isaac when I put him on that altar? What
will my servants think? My neighbors, what are they going
to say? Why is God doing this to me? Haven't I been through
enough? Haven't I given everything? No. He may have thought those things.
Those things may have raced through his mind. He was human like you
are and I am. But all of those thoughts were
overruled by one fact. He believed God. He believed
God. Whatever God required of him,
whatever God demanded of him, he believed God. And he knew
that Isaac was his heir. And if he took the life of Isaac,
God had to raise him from the dead because the Christ would
come through Isaac. And Abraham knew that. And he
believed God. He knew that all things, all
things work together for good to those who love God, who are
called according to His purpose. And so when God told him to take
his son, His only son sacrificed him. It says in verse 3, look
at it. Abraham rose up early in the
morning, took two of his servants, gathered wood, cut wood for their
altar, sharpened his knife, sharpened his knife he was going to use
on his son, started on his journey. And for three days and three
nights, you can see Christ all the way through this. Take your
son, your only son, whom you love. God so loved the world,
he gave his only son, his only begotten son. This is my beloved
son. Three days in the heart of the
earth. Abraham, for three days, God
left him to his thoughts. God didn't speak to him again.
God commanded him to act and never said another word. For
three days, this man journeyed towards Mount Moriah where he
would offer Isaac. And then in verse four, it says,
and he lifted up his eyes and saw that mountain, the mountain
of God. Now here he stands at the foot of this mountain. Here
he stands, Abraham and his son, Isaac. Isaac, we used to say
down south in Alabama, was a good size boy. He wasn't a little
fella. He was a strapping young man.
And here he stands with Isaac, his beloved. And here stands
the two servants. And here stands the donkey. with
the wood on his back. And they're standing before the
mountain of God. And verse 5 says, Abraham took the wood. Abraham
took it and laid it on his son, put it on the back of Isaac.
Good-sized boy, he carried that wood up that mountain. And Abraham
took the fire. You see, they had the fire on
a stick, I guess soaked in something, some flammable liquid. And he
took the fire in this hand and the knife in this hand. And the
wood was on the back of Isaac and he said, the scripture says
here in verse five and six, Abraham turned to the servants. Now you
listen, this is faith. He turned to the servants and
said, you men wait here. The lad and I are going up the
mountain to worship God and we'll both be back. We'll both be back. Oh, for a faith that will not
shrink, though pressed by many a foe, that will not tremble
on the brink of any earthly woe. How, preacher, how can you explain
this faith and confidence of Abraham? Paul explained it for
us in Hebrews 11. In Hebrews 11, verse 17, just
jot that down, look it up later. By faith, Abraham, when he was
tried, and I mean tried, offered up Isaac. You see, he didn't
offer him up. He did in his mind. He did in
his heart. He did. Yes, he did. He offered him up. He didn't kill him. He didn't
burn his body. God stayed his hand, put a ram in his place.
But as far as God was concerned, Abraham's willingness constituted
the act. And if you could ever learn that,
and I could ever learn it, willingness, willingness. I may not have a
lot to do and a lot of gifts or ability, but willingness. God looks on the heart, not on
the outward countenance. It's where the heart is. It's
where the will is. And Abraham was willing. He offered
up Isaac, listen, accounting that God was able to raise him
even from the dead, whereby he received him in a type. Yes,
he did. took Isaac off that altar and
put the ram in his place. He received him as if he's risen
from the dead. You see, God told Abraham that
Isaac would be his heir. And Abraham believed God. God
told Abraham that he must get rid of Ishmael. No one to fall
back on. There's no Ishmael down the road.
If Isaac's dead, there is no heir because Ishmael's gone.
Abraham burned his bridges. Everything was in Isaac. His
trust was in Isaac. And when he put Ishmael out,
he went down the road, he's saying, I believe God, it's all in this
son. That's the way Christ is. It's not Christ plus my church
membership, it's not Christ plus my works, it's not Christ plus
my morality, it's not Christ plus my preaching, it's Christ.
And the Ishmaels are put out. The child of works, the child
of human effort, the child of human ability. My faith and confidence
is in the miracle child, Christ Jesus. Isaac and put Ishmael
out, burned his britches. It had to be Isaac. And he knew
it had to be Isaac. He believed God. And God promised
him a family. He said, took him out one night
and said, look at the stars. That's how many seeds you're
going to have. Count the sands of the sea showing. That's how
many seeds you'll have. That's how many people God will
have. Abraham believed him. He believed God. And he believed
God and started up the mountain, willing to sacrifice his son. Well, look at verse 7. The Son
speaks now. You see, Isaac was a good-sized
young man, and he's carrying this wood. And he looked over
at his father, and his father had the fire and the knife, and
he's carrying the wood. And naturally, here's what he
asked, My father, behold the fire and the wood. Where's the lamb? Isaac knew
you couldn't worship God and can't worship God without a lamb. without the blood. It's the blood
that maketh atonement for the soul. Without the shedding of
blood, there's no remission. God said, I've given you the
blood upon the altar to make an atonement for your soul. It's
the blood that maketh atonement for the soul. Isaac knew that.
Isaac knew about Abel's offering. Isaac knew about those things.
His father taught him well. He was well taught in this matter
of coming to God. To come to God, you must come
by a blood sacrifice. Sin demands death, and there
must be death. You see, he knew Cain made the
greatest error of all, trying to come to God by his works.
And God rejected Cain's sacrifice and accepted Abel's because Abel's
was a blood sacrifice. And when Abel brought the blood,
Abel was saying, I'm a sinner who deserves death. And this
lamb is dying, the innocent for the guilty in my place and shedding
his blood. And God accepts me on behalf
of Christ through his blood. And so Isaac says, where's the
lamb? Where's the lamb? All of this
is to illustrate the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ for
the remission of our sins. Now, here I'm coming to my point.
You say, finally. Yeah, finally. But this other
is important. Now, you get this. And Abraham
looked at his boy, at his son, and he said, my son, my son,
here are five words to live by. Here are five words that are
foundation to foundation basis of real faith in God, saving
faith. My son, God will provide. My son, God will provide. I want you to dwell with me for
a few moments on those words right there, just a few moments.
I believe that these five words sum up the faith of this man
who is called the father of believers. My son, God will provide. When
he left his home, God will provide. When they offered to make him
rich, he didn't take it. God will provide. When Lot took
the best land, God will provide. When he told him to send Ishmael
away, God will provide for him. God will provide for him. God
will take care of him. When he started up the mountain
to sacrifice his son, he said to his son, God will provide
I believe these words apply not only to the salvation of our
souls and the forgiveness of our sins, but I believe that
these words apply to every need of the believer. My son, God
will provide. He's our provider. He's our father.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, why do you take thought, anxious
thought, worry for tomorrow, what you're going to eat, drink,
and wear? The heathen seek after these
things. Your Father knows you have need
of these things. And He clothes the lily of the
field that is today and tomorrow is cast into the oven. And God
takes care of the sparrows that are sold for just practically
nothing. Will He not much more feed and
clothe you, O ye of little faith? Ask, and it shall be forgiven
you. God will provide. I believe if you can enter into
what these words mean and believe them and comprehend the depth
of them, You'll know and have the gospel. My son, God will
provide. You just remember these words,
Jehovah-Jireh. In fact, Abraham built an altar
right there at that place and called it Jehovah-Jireh. The
Lord will provide. That's all I need. My son, God
will provide. Why don't we use words like that
to our children and our grandchildren and our friends? When you see
them doubting and fearing and afraid and so careful and just
say, my son, God will provide. He always has and He always will. Nothing good will He withhold
from them that love Him. But my God shall supply all your
need. And I say this when I read that
and quote it, not your wants, or my wants, but my needs, according
to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Oh, God will provide. You know, the first reference
is to the sacrifice for sin. God will provide the atonement,
the burnt offering. My son, God will provide himself
a lamb for a burnt offering. And God did provide the lamb.
God provided the lamb in the place of Isaac, but God provided
the lamb in the place of the sinner. The Lord Jesus Christ
is the lamb of God, the lamb slain before the foundation of
the world. In the fullness of time, God sent forth his son,
made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were
born under the law. God provides the lamb. My son,
God, listen to this whole sentence. My son, God will provide himself. a lamb for a burnt offering.
And God provided that lamb. That's what John the Baptist
said when he pointed to Christ. His disciples were standing around
him. He pointed to Christ, John 1, 29. He said, behold, the lamb
of God, the lamb of God, the lamb of God's choosing, the lamb
of God's anointing, The Lamb of God Almighty is ordination.
Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
My son, God will provide." Our Lord said one time, He said,
Abraham saw my day. He rejoiced to see my day. He
saw it and was glad. That's when Abraham saw the day
of Christ vividly. Don't you worry, Isaac. God will
provide a lamb. But now there's something else
here. God will provide Himself a Lamb. Himself is the Lamb. That's right. The Lamb of God
is none other than God in human flesh. My Son, God, will provide
a Lamb. And God will provide Himself
the Lamb. God was in Christ reconciling
the world unto Himself. That's right. In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
That's right. And the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth. He is the Lamb. But watch this third thing. This
is so significant and so important to know the gospel. And Abraham
knew it. Abraham said these things. Isaac
said, where's the Lamb? CAN'T GO TO GOD WITHOUT A LAMB.
AND HIS FATHER SAID, MY SON, GOD WILL IN DUE TIME, IN THE
FULLNESS OF TIME, PROVIDE A LAMB, A LAMB, THE LAMB, THE SUPREME
LAMB. GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF THE
LAMB. HE'LL BE THE LAMB. AND GOD WILL
PROVIDE, LISTEN, FOR HIMSELF A LAMB. Do you know that the death of
Jesus Christ was not poor to us? Christ didn't die on that
cross to get us to feel sorry for Him. He died on that cross
toward the Father as a sacrifice for our sins to enable God to
be just and justify the ungodly. The soul that sinned shall die.
That's God's law. That's God's justice. That must
be done. The soul that sinneth shall surely
die. I will not clear the guilty, God says. I will not clear the
guilty. So God provided a lamb for His
law. He provided an obedient man for
His holiness, His righteousness. He provided a sacrifice for His
justice. God provided for Himself a lamb,
a lamb. And God raised Him from the dead
too. He died before the Father, like the Old Testament priest
went into the Holy of Holies, no one there but Him, alone,
once a year, not without blood. And that sacrifice was put on
the mercy seat to God. And Christ died for our sins
and reconciled us to God. And this will apply to everything
in your life. My son, I'll say it to you again
and again, God will provide. He will provide. In this life,
In the life to come, today, tomorrow, He'll provide for this program.
That's the reason I don't close asking you to send in money or
buy something. God will provide. My God will
provide. My son, God will provide. You want this tape, here's the
address. Send $2 and we'll mail it to
you. Until next Lord's Day at this
same time, may God bless you.

God Will Provide

What does the Bible say about God's provision?

How do we know God will provide for us?

Why is knowing God will provide important for Christians?

What can we learn from Abraham's faith in God's provision?

Sermon Transcript

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God Will Provide

What does the Bible say about God's provision?

How do we know God will provide for us?

Why is knowing God will provide important for Christians?

What can we learn from Abraham's faith in God's provision?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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