Jireh - A personal perspective

 - By Mufaro Mushonga-Hove

I love the musical group Maverick city. They are on my morning worship playlist as I drive to work.  I however,  do not completely resonate with their song ‘Jireh.’

The song sings, ‘’I will be content in every circumstance.” I do not want to be content in every circumstance! I want to be content because I have everything I need. I want the Lord to give me my daily bread, the whole bakery in fact!

Jireh is a Hebrew word meaning the Lord will provide. It was quoted in the Bible in Genesis 22:8. Abraham was put to what I think is the greatest test of all time by God. He was asked to take his one and only son and sacrifice him. Like a lamb being led to be slaughtered, his beloved son Isaac was led to the mountains to be sacrificed. The son asked his father that it seemed as if everything for the sacrifice was there except the animal for the sacrifice. The father replied, “the Lord will provide.” This is what has been said to be translated to Jireh. Just before Abraham pierced his child with a knife, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stopped him. He had passed the test! In what sounds from the scriptures as that very same moment, he looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in one of the bushes. He took the ram and sacrificed it.
The Lord Jireh had provided in that very same instance! The Lord knew that Abraham would need the ram at that exact moment and he had strategically placed it there. This is why I refuse to be content in every circumstance. The Lord knows what we need and he will provide at the most opportune time. Matthew 6:8 says your Father knows what you need before you ask him!
A deeper research of the Hebrew word Jireh shows that, the word has many meanings such as abundance, prosperity, success, fulfilment and enjoyment. All these words reflect plentifulness and not just the bare minimum.

David, the greatest Psalmist wrote that, “ the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!” Not wanting definitely leaves you in a position where you are not merely content of whatever is there. It is a situation where you are lying in green pastures and you are being led besides the still waters! If the Lord cares for ravens of the air that neither sow nor reap, how much more value are we than the birds? He is definitely Jireh and he shall provide exceedingly and abundantly and we shall be full and content, not with every circumstance but content in all our needs in every aspect of our lives!