Backstory…
As I slept: May 31st into June 1st, I was repeating over and over: “Ram in the bush.” God communicates with me fairly often on cusps, precipice, brink, hence: the night of the last day in May and first day in June. I’ve shared previously that He will do this. I don’t understand why. It is my belief that I repeated it all night so I would not forget to search it out once I was awake. I got up that morning and began to Google. I was led to Genesis 22 where this phrase is found. I opened my physical Bible afterwards and began to make notes as I sensed where God was leading with this message. There is so much to be gathered from this chapter, this moment in Abraham’s life, the aftermath of this encounter with God as Jireh, so very much. While this is so, I believe this Prophetic Word is a message for so many.
Prophetic Word…
In this season, you will know God as Jehovah Jireh, the God Who provides. GOD-Sees-to-It (Genesis 22:14 MSG) will see about you and the things and people concerning you in this season. To be ready, you must prepare your hearts. It's going to be an intense test. God is coming to test you. The promise He has fulfilled to you, the promise you've been enjoying, the promise you have loved—He wants to know if you fear Him enough to not withhold that which you love most from Him (Genesis 22:12). Place your hope in the TRUTH that He IS The REsurrection and The Life. Place your hope in Jesus, the One Who is always precisely on time. Recall the GREATER reason why He showed up after Lazarus was very dead—the glory of God…that you beloved of Yahweh, will believe in Him (See John 11).
Testimony... A few days ago, I gave a family member money. It was a larger amount than normal because they'd informed me prior of things needed, so God helped me to make a way to provide. This family member then reached out again asking for another sum of money. Y'all, I was cutting it close with my personal expenses and was pressed regarding this issue. I justified why I didn't want to give anymore but I also remembered God’s Word on giving—there are many, but here are two:
Proverbs 3: 27-28 NIV says: 27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—when you already have it with you.”
1 John 3:16-18 NIV says: 16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
This is my guide for all money situations—for ALL situations, God's Word: written or communicated. I didn't give the money the same day because I was struggling internally. I was wondering if this was what God needed me to do in THIS CASE. When I couldn't utter a prayer, I wrote God a letter. I told Him exactly how I felt and I even asked Him some questions. Once I finished writing Him this letter, I found His Peace. The real issue here had been revealed. It wasn't whether there was enough of MY money to give this family member, but whether or not I truly believed God to be Jireh: My/The Provider and also whether or not I trusted Him BEFORE I saw a way made (“ram in the bush”).
To be extra transparent, I try to map out bills to where once that was done, even if I have no money left for this pay period, my bills were accounted for. This family member asked for an additional forty dollars. I told God in this letter that I was giving Him a chance to show me that I can trust Him. For me, that took a lot! In 2019 I said to God: “Wow me.” He said to me: “Trust Me.” As you can imagine, or maybe not, it’s been quite a journey to truly trust God—my heart desires to and He is teaching me how.
Here’s the Thing…
To experience God in the ways He says He can show up, we must give Him the opportunities to do what He says He can do. This takes time and Him working in you—it takes faith.
Testimony Continued…
I didn't yet give the money, but I'd decided in my heart—I was resolved to give it. Job 22:28 NIV tells us: “What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.” The KJV reads: “Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”
Get Deep with God…
I recommend reading Scripture in multiple versions. I also recommend reading this entire chapter of The Book of Job because what it reveals is one: incredible, but two: how attainable this promise is for anyone who will believe it and do what it says. I’d also like to call your attention to the Word “light” here. When further looked into in the original language of Hebrew (H216- ‘ôr), The BLB or Blue Letter Bible as a reference will tell you this Word means many things. I will list them for you:
Light
Light of day
Light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars)
Day-break, dawn, morning light
Daylight
Lightning
Light of lamp
Light of life
Light of prosperity
Light of instruction
Light of face (fig.)
Jehovah as Israel’s light
God’s Truth in Action…
What I needed in this case was clarity, God’s wisdom, a way forward. Psalm 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a “light” unto our path. The Word here for light is also (H216) along with the same definitions and usages for this Word. God’s Word also says: “The entrance of Thy Word giveth “light”; it giveth understanding unto the simple (Psalm 119:130 KJV).” In this case where the Word “light” is used, BLB establishes it as a verb: an action. An action is occurring to give the simple (in this case, me) understanding regarding how to proceed.
God’s Word was my light that cleared out the darkness and enabled me to see, know, and understand His will regarding this situation. God's Word stands as Truth and it will be necessary that you consult Him through His Word for this season—always, really.
God Shows Out...
Before I left home to run errands, I got a phone call with an opportunity that would bless me with one hundred and fifty dollars. Y'all, one hundred and ten dollars MORE than I was asked for by this family member. God showed out!! I then left home to get groceries and while I was shopping, another fifty dollars was provided to me. I just thanked God. Little did I know when I was struggling to release these forty dollars that God had two hundred more waiting for me. Again: (“ram in the bush”).
Abraham didn't know a ram would be provided as his sacrifice instead of his promised son, Isaac, but Abraham trusted God and obeyed Him: Genesis 22:13-14 NIV: “13 Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
Really Think This Through… Has God not done enough in your life at this point for you to KNOW that you can trust Him?
Although from time to time I still struggle here, I offer you this comfort: If you disagree with a question I often ask myself, ask God for more opportunities. Organized religion has taught us to not challenge God. This however, was just a way to control us and keep us dependent on men and women who were not always following God themselves. RElationship on the other hand, reminds us that not only is He loving and kind, but He is our Father and as His children, we won't always have perfect days where we will behave like His children or treat Him like He deserves, but as our Father, not only can He handle our messes, but He can also heal us from those things that truly are preventing us from having this deeper connection with Him.
Instead of me telling you more about Genesis 22, please take time to read it for yourselves. Sit with God and have Him show you Who He is: Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides, even if in this moment what you need of Him most is His provision of understanding and wisdom to grab hold of this Word and the how to RUN with it.
Challenge
1.) Seek God to know Him. You do this by reading His Word as He is His Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
(John 1:1 NIV)”. 2.) Believe God's Word enough to call Him on it. I don't mean in arrogance. I mean, saying: God, Your Word says...so this is what I am expecting, Lord." I know this is bold, but He invites us to come BOLDLY: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16 KJV).”
3.) Believe Yahweh. Trust Yahweh. OBEY Yahweh.