STXWM Blog

“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

Its often difficult to be patient when you are in a time of waiting or transition. Its easier to worry and fret when you can’t see the road ahead. Maybe you’re in need of direction, financial provision, or healing. Maybe you’ve been there for a really long time and its starting to feel like God is asking you to sacrifice your promise. He gave you a promise and you’ve been waiting to see it come to pass. Maybe it already did but now it seems like God is asking you to give it back, or even give it to someone else.

Abraham waited so long for a son. He and Sarah were well beyond child bearing years. Why did they have to wait until they were in their late 90s for God to fulfill the promise He gave them? But Abraham trusted God and his faithfulness was credited to him as righteousness. So why now was he asking Abraham to give the promise back? Why did he need Isaac’s life?

Abraham took Isaac to the mountain and when Isaac asked where was the animal for the sacrifice, Abraham just replied that God would provide. The Bible doesn’t say this but I imagine, as a parent, I would be scouring the hillside-searching for the provision-my spirit begging for a lamb to save my son. All the way to the top of the mountain, I imagine Abraham with tears in his eyes arranging the wood for the sacrifice. Still searching his surroundings, pleading in his heart for another way, as a he tied his son’s hands and feet.

God did provide. He sent a ram in the thicket to take Isaac’s place. Abraham was faithful, not just to the point of his own death, but to the point of sacrificing his son for God’s will.

When I read this story, I wonder, why God waited so long? He knew Abraham would be faithful. He knew how it would end. Why did he have to wait until the knife was in the air? So many people say that this was a test for God to see if Abraham would be faithful but God already knew what would happen.

What if it wasn’t God who needed to see what would happen, but Abraham? What if God needed Abraham to see His provision in that darkest moment and to see that the God who promised Isaac to him would be faithful. God does not break His promises or ask for them to be returned. What He says He will do without fail.

God has given me a promise and it seems to be taking so long (too long) to arrive but I know that my God never fails. I know that His provision is enough and that He will provide everyday. Each day I am one day closer to seeing the fulfillment of my promise.

Have you been waiting a long time? Is your heart breaking waiting for a promise that seems to be as far away now as it has ever been? Let me (and Abraham) remind you what the word says about waiting on God. “On the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.” Not only is your promise on its way, the Promise Keeper is providing for you every day while you wait and His provision is sufficient for today. Keep holding on to your promise. There’s a ram waiting for you at the top of this mountain.