The Lord Will Provide / 耶和华必预备

[Dexu Xia]

The Lord Will Provide

So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.  Genesis 22:14

    My anxiety increased throughout the summer between my undergraduate and graduate programs. I love to have everything planned out, and the idea of going out of state and entering graduate school without a job made me uncomfortable. However, a few days before I left my summer job, I was asked to continue working for the company remotely. I accepted and had peace that God was taking care of me.

God provided, but it was in His timing, not mine. Abraham went through a far more difficult situation with his son Isaac. He was asked to take his son and sacrifice him on a mountain (Genesis 22:1–2). Without hesitation, Abraham obeyed and took Isaac there. This three-day journey gave Abraham plenty of time to change his mind, but he didn’t (vv. 3–4).

When Isaac questioned his father, Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” (v. 8). I wonder if Abraham’s anxiety grew with each knot he tied as he bound Isaac to the altar and with every inch he raised his knife (vv. 9–10). What a relief it must have been when the angel stopped him! (vv. 11–12). God did indeed provide a sacrifice, a ram, caught in the thicket (v. 13). God tested Abraham’s faith, and he proved to be faithful. And at the right time, to the very second, God provided (v. 14).  By Julie Schwab

Reflect & Pray

What answer to prayer has been long in coming? When have you seen God provide at just the right moment?

Thank You, Lord, for Your provision. Help me to trust that You will provide, even when it seems I’ve been waiting for so long.

耶和华必预备

亚伯拉罕给那地方起名叫“耶和华以勒”（意思就是“耶和华必预备”）。-创世记22章14节

在我大学毕业，准备念研究所的那个暑假，我特别焦虑不安。因我喜欢凡事都要详细规划，可是去外州念研究所又没有工作，实在让我不安。可是就在我离开暑期工作的前几天，公司希望我能继续为他们工作，即使人在外州也没问题。我当然接受这样的安排，而且也因为上帝的看顾，心中满有平安。

上帝早已预备，但按祂的时间，而非按照我的时间。亚伯拉罕与他儿子以撒经历更艰难的情况。上帝要亚伯拉罕在山上将以撒献上为祭（创世记22章1-2节），他毫不犹豫地顺从，带着以撒上山。在那三天的旅程中，亚伯拉罕大可改变心意，但他完全顺服（3-4节）。

当以撒向他父亲提出疑问时，亚伯拉罕回答说：“上帝必自己预备作燔祭的羊羔”（8节）。我想，当亚伯拉罕将以撒绑缚在祭坛上时，每打一个结，每将刀子举高一寸，是否都让他倍感焦虑？（9-10节）当上帝的使者阻止亚伯拉罕时，他一定如释重负！（11-12节）上帝也确实预备一只困在灌木丛中的公羊作为祭物（13节）。上帝试验亚伯拉罕的信心，结果证实他对上帝满有信心。在最恰当的时刻，最适合的时机，上帝必有丰富的预备（14节）。

主啊，感谢祢，因祢早已预备。求祢帮助我，
无论等待多久，仍全然相信祢必预备。

你为何事祷告许久，但仍未蒙应允？
你在何时，看到上帝在最恰当的时刻为你预备？