The purpose of God in revealing His names in a personal way is for us to know Him in the personal way that He relates to us in the specific situation we may be facing! Such specific revelation helps us to discover His all-encompassing capacity to deal with any situation and deliver us particularly in times of distresses and extreme testing. The whole purpose of the Genesis 22:1-8 testing is wrapped up in verse 7, which asks the question, and the answer provided in verse 8.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:7-8

The answer to any situation we face is in God who sees the problem and will provide the solution. Such is the recognition that the solution remains with Him, and an assurance that He will come through for us. Hebrews 11:19 tells us Abraham believed that God would raise his son from the dead, but it was not time for the prophetic event, Isaac was as good as dead; but God did not allow it.

On one hand we see a dramatic illustration of faith and obedience to God, on the other hand we see a dramatic illustration of submission and obedience (to parental instruction). Both submissions–that the Father knows best. The all-encompassing wisdom of our Father whose eternal grace assures continual provision. The Lord sees, the Lord provides (Matthew 6:32). Yes, He sees the needs and provides the answers.

After the heart-wrenching test came the confirmation of the covenant to the beneficiary, and the inheritors of the covenant.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:10-18

Nothing comes our way without it first having His approval and if He approves it, it must have a divine purpose. Every test is a choice between the blessing and the blesser. What choice do you make?
Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele