The
ancient Israelites were not so different from us today. They would forget
their connection with God and then try to handle situations or problems based
upon their own, limited, human understanding. When that did not work and they
found that they could not get out of the trouble themselves, when all else had
failed, they turned to God. in desperation. Sound familiar? The good news is
that each time they turned back to God, they saw how God worked in them and
through the situation to bring a positive solution. With their new awareness
of how God worked through them, they developed a new name for God. which
reflected that activity.
We
have progressed in previous discussions from God in the absolute named Elohim
to God individualized or Jehovah, from the feminine aspect called El Shaddai
to God the Father known as Adonai. Now we look at the compound name for God,
Jehovah-Jireh. Since it is formed with the name Jehovah, which is the Christ
in you, it represents one of the ways Christ works through you. Jireh is from
a Hebrew root word which means "to see." Not as we do when we see horizons,
which are as far as our eyes can see, nor when we see limitations, which are
as far as our minds can see. God-sight is not limited in these ways. This
seeing which Jireh represents is hindsight, insight, and foresight—awareness
of all things at all times, past, present, and future.
Jehovah-Jireh appears in an unusual story in the Old Testament, one that
confuses and even disturbs some readers who do not know what to make of it.
This story is about Abraham and the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. The story is
not original to the Hebrew people but is taken from a Sumerian legend and is
found in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The legend is an example of
Eastern mysticism and as it begins, Abraham is in an altered state of
consciousness experiencing a dialog with the Lord. God asks Abraham to take
his only son, Isaac, to a mountain and there sacrifice him as a burnt
offering. Abraham is the father of the Hebrew people and represents faith,
faith like we all have which is sometimes in God and sometimes in something
else. Remember, faith is something you always have because it is one of the
twelve divine faculties. The question is always where is it invested, in the
presence of God or in God’s absence?
Now
Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah when both were very advanced in years.
Isaac was "the apple" of Abraham’s eye. Abraham might better have said that by
using an Eastern idiom, "you are my eyes." To Abraham, Isaac was the greatest
thing in his life. Isaac’s name even means "laughter, joy, he who laughs."
Abraham’s only son would be the most difficult thing for him to give up.
Imagine in your own life, you’ve become interested in a spiritual path and
gotten the idea that there just might be something to this spiritual stuff.
You accept some spiritual ideas and concepts and begin to grow in spiritual
understanding and then discover there are things to let go, to release. The
important principle is that we are never required to sacrifice or let go of
something that leads to our highest good. We only need to release what no
longer serves us and what keeps us from progressing into an even fuller and
more satisfying life experience.
A
key to this story is that Abraham, who represents faith, says to his
companion, "Stay here...I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come
again to you." There is no question that Abraham believes both of them will
return. He brought wood; he even carried fire with him, but no lamb. Isaac
asks, "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" "God will provide himself
the lamb for a burnt offering, my son," Abraham answers. God will provide.
Abraham does not know how it will come, but he knows God will provide what is
needed. And so Abraham ascends the mountain. This represents a raising of
consciousness to God. We transcend the problem and place our trust in the
inner power of God to bring about the right and perfect outcome. In this state
of awareness, our needs are met and we are shown the means whereby the perfect
result is accomplished. Abraham trusted God enough that he was receptive to
guidance and saw that what he needed was at hand and at the perfect time.
So
often what we need is right at hand and yet we do not see it. Only when we
release our reservations and limitations and throw the whole weight of our
faith upon God do we see what we need to see. At the end of the story we are
told, "Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will see (Jehovah-Jireh);
as it is said to this day ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be seen’
(Jehovah-Jireh)." Jireh has been rendered "provided" in many translations with
a footnote to an alternate reading as "seen." What is first seen through faith
is provided in actual experience. God individualized within you as the Christ
sees what you need and provides it at the right time and in the perfect way as
we remember this aspect of God which works for us and through us.
You
do not have to know how to heal yourself or beat your heart or any of the many
concerns and needs that you have. Like the woman with the hemorrhage who
touched the hem of Jesus’ robe, we only have to reach out in faith and
remember God’s presence within us, raise our vision from sight to insight and
see the salvation of the Lord. God knows what you need before you even ask.
And remember, you are never required to give up anything of real value and
joy, but only what no longer serves your highest good. Have faith in God to
provide as you walk toward your good and you will see your future now.