Jehovah Jireh Revisited....

With our recent weeks of financial crisis and stock market down turn - I am praying that this post falls fresh on you... Next week or maybe even this weekend I will post about Shophet meaning "Judge." He is the provision for us, we have nothing to fear for our hope is in the Lord.

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14 So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.
~Gen 22:14 (AMP)~

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Jehovah Jireh, literally the LORD will see (to it). The name is the combination of two Hebrew words, Strong's 3068 YHWH, (Yehovah) and 7200 (ra'ah). Please see the following definitions from the Hebrew Strong's Dictionary:

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From the Bible Experience 4 - Talking Strongs Bible Dictionary - WORDsearch Corp
STRONG's Hebrew REFERENCE: 3070

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Transliteration: yhwh yirʾeh
Phonetic Pronunciation:yeh-ho-vaw' yir-eh'
Root: from and
Cross Reference:
Part of Speech: n pr loc
Vine's Words: None
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Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV: Jehovahjireh 1 [Total Count: 1]
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from (Yehovah) and (ra'ah); Jehovah will see (to it); Jehovah-Jireh, a symbolical name for Mt. Moriah :- Jehovah-jireh.
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See Also: STRONG'S REFERENCE 3068 (YHWH)

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Hebrew Word: ‏יהוה‎
Transliteration: yhwh
Phonetic Pronunciation:yeh-ho-vaw'
Root: from
Cross Reference: TWOT - 484a
Part of Speech: n pr dei
Vine's Words: Lord
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Usage Notes:
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English Words used in KJV:
LORD-6510, GOD-4, JEHOVAH-4, variant-1 [Total Count: 6519]
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from (hayah); (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God :- Jehovah, the Lord. Compare (Yahh), (Yehovih).

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See Also STRONG'S REFERENCE 7200

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Hebrew Word: ‏רָאָה‎
Transliteration: rāʾâ
Phonetic Pronunciation:raw-aw'
Root: a primitive root
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2095
Part of Speech: v
Vine's Words: See (To), Perceive
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Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
see-879, look-104, behold-83, shew-68, appear-66, consider-22, seer-12, spy-6, respect-5 perceive-5, provide-4, regard-4, enjoy-4, lo-3, foreseeth-2, heed-2, misc-74 [Total Count: 1313]
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a primitive root; to see, literal or figurative (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative) :- advise self, appear, approve, behold, × certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, × indeed, × joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, × be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see (-r, -m, one another), shew (self), × sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, × surely, × think, view, visions.

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From the Lexical Aids: Complete Word Study Old Testament, AMG Publishers
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REFERENCE 3068 - Yehowah: The covenant name of God most prominently known in connection with His relationship with the nation of Israel; also known as the Tetragrammaton. It was never pronounced by the Jews who generally substituted synonyms such as ʾadhōnāy (136). The name is found with reference to God's dealings with men before the flood (Genesis 2:4, 5; 6:3), during the patriarchal period (Genesis 15;1; 27:7; 49:18), as well as during the period of the Law (Exodus 20:2, Deuteronomy 6:4).

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REFERENCE 7200 - Rāʾah: to see; to see intelectually (Job 3:16 [cf. 33:28]), to look; to look at, view, inspect, regard; to perceive (Deuteronomy 4:28; in the sense of hearing, (Genesis 2:19); to feel; to experience (Jeremiah 5:12); to understand; to learn; to live to see; to enjoy (Isaiah 44:16); to show oneself, appear, reveal oneself; to show; to ascertain (Genesis 16:4), to verify (Genesis 26:28); to make one feel or know; to cause to enjoy; to gain understanding (Isaiah 52:15); to be fully aware (in life, Job 4:8); to have a position of trust (2 Kings 25:19); to examine, investigate (Genesis 11:5); to supervise (Genesis 39:23); to attend to (2 Samuel 13:5); to select Genesis 41:33); to observe; to imitate (Judges 7:17); to discover (Judges 16:5). See the Greek horáō (Greek 3708 NT). The Qal participle means seer, prophet, vision, oracle. According to 1 Samuel 9:9ff., this word had been used from ancient times. It is applied to Samuel (1 Chronicles 9:22; 26:28; 29:29) and other prophets (2 Chronicles 16:7, 10). The three words for the functional prophet are found in 1 Chronicles 29:29: rōʾeh (Hebrew 7203), nāvīʾ (Hebrew 5030), chōzeh (Hebrew 2374). "Seer" communicates the means by which a prophet communicates with God, the means by which the revelation was received (1 Samuel 9:9) in relationship to vision (Isaiah 27:8). Rōʾeh is the alternative term for nāvīʾ. Nāvīʾ stressed the objective or active work of the messenger og the Lord in speaking God's Word.

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Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies, Hendrickson's Publishers includes this definition:

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Jehovah, a name applied to God, and rendered LORD in our version, seems to have an especial reference to the purpose of redemption revealed to our first parents after the fall. The promise that "the seed of the woman should bruise the serpant's head" led to the expectation of a Redeemer to come. Eve gave expression to her faith in this promise on the birth of her first-born in saying, "I have gotten a man Jehovah," using the future tense of the verb (to be), Jahveh, or Jehovah; which term became the name used by the Church in future ages of their hope in the promised Saviour. Jehovah in the [Septuagint] is rendered Κύριος, the title subsequently used of Christ in the New Testament; Jireh, to look; to look out anything for oneself, to provide, to choose.
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NOTE: We will be looking at Jehovah next week, and studying mostly from the Strong's and Vine's.
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Vine's definition for See (to), Perceive is:
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verb: rāʾah - (7200) - to see, observe, perceive, get acquainted with, gain understanding, examine, look after (see to), choose, discover." This verb occurs only in Moabite and all periods of Hebrew. It appears in the Bible 1,300 times.
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Basically rāʾah conotes seeing with one's eyes: Isaac's "eyes were dim, so that he could not see" (Genesis 27:1). This is its meaning in Genesis 1:4, its first biblical appearance. The word can be used in the sense of seeing only what is obvious: "... For the Lord seeth not as a man seeth..." (1 Samuel 16:7). this verb can also mean "to observe": "...And there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women that beheld while Samson made sport" (Judges 16:27). The second primary meaning is "to perceive," or to be consciously aware of - so "idols neither see, nor hear" (Deuteronomy 4:28). Third, rāʾah can represent perception in the sense of hearing something - God brought the animals before Adam "to see what he would call them" (Genesis 2:19). In Isaiah 44:16, the verb means "to enjoy: "...I am warm, I have seen the fire." It can also mean "to realize" or "to get acquainted with": "When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth..." (Ecclessiastes 8:16). The rebellious men of Jerusalem tell God they will not "see sword nor famine"; they will not experience it (Jeremiah 5:12).

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This definition goes on to say that the word can also mean to know intuitively, to experience, or to see intellectually in the sense of living.
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I want us to take the time today to seriously peruse all the definitions. While we have been taught that Jehovah Jireh means "the Lord will Provide" it can mean so much more to us if we stop looking at it as a provisional statement and begin to look at it as a relational statement. As we view the verses today, please take the time to relate to God.
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I also want to make the point that in the Hebrew transations that I consulted, the term yireh is specifically related to the fact that God is seen by Abraham. It is the seeing that is important, the perception of God that Abraham came away with. I evaluated copies of the Pentateuch and the entire translation of the Hebrew text for the Old Testament in two different translations found that the translation was the same, the terms Yireh or Jireh indicates that the Lord is seen, not an emphasis on the provision but the Lord who is seen through it. That is why Abraham called that mountain - On the mountain of the Lord, He will be seen. (loose paraphrase)
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The Bible Knowleged Commentary - Old Testament, Walvoord and Zuck, Victor Books has this to say:
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22:9-14. God's intervention - so dramatic and instructive - showed that He never had intended for Abraham to go through with the sacrifice (child sacrifice was not be practiced in Israel) but that it indeed was a test. The Angel of the Lord... stopped Abraham just as the patriarch took in his hand the knife to slay Isaac! Now God knew that Abraham would hold nothing back and that he did in fact fear God. To fear God means to reverence Him as sovereign, trust Him implicitly, and obey Him without question.
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A true worshipper of God holds nothing back from God but obediently gives Him what He asks, trusting that He will provide. The key idea of the entire passage is summarized in the name Abraham gave to the place: YHWH Yir'eh, the Lord will provide (or, "see"; v. 14). The explanation is, On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided (or, "seen," yērāʾeh, v. 14; cf. v.8). This is the basis of the truth often repeated in the Old Testament: The Lord was to be worshipped in His holy mountain by the nation. "Three times a year all the men [of Israel] are to appear [yērāʾeh, "be seen"] before the Sovereign LORD" to worship Him, bringing Him their offerings and sacrifices (Exodus 23:17; cf. Deuteronomy 16:16). The Lord would see (rāʾah) the needs of those who came before Him, and would meet their needs. Thus in providing for them He would be "seen."
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Okay...now we have taken in a lot of INFORMATION! So, just breathe and think. If you need to come back to this after reflecting on it a while, do it. I know I must. Ask God what He wants you to see about Him, let's stop right here and pray.
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Lord, show us who you are through this study. Reveal yourself to us as the God who sees our needs and meets them. Be personal with us, be real and fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we may have Spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear and may gain wisdom as well as understanding. You are our God and we love You. We ask You to bless us with Your presence today. In Jesus Name I pray all that I have asked for... may Your will be done in our lives. Amen.

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Now, let's look at the context of the one time Jehovah Jireh appears in Scripture: Genesis 22:14. READ Genesis 22:9-14. Abraham is being tested by God. He has been told to take his son to a place God would show him and there sacrifice the child of promise, Isaac. Imagine the angst of Abraham as his flesh warred with what he knew about God. If God indeed was requiring him to sacrifice Isaac, then Abraham trusted God would provide a better way. Just what he had done when he released Ishmael and his mother to the desert only a chapter earlier in this saga. On the journey, Isaac is aware they are going to honor the Lord in sacrifice, he just has no idea that he is the intended sacrificial offering. I love what the Bible Knowledge Commentary says, "He never intended for Abraham to go through with the sacrifice." In other words, God wanted to know if Abraham believed God because He was God or because he had been given Isaac. In our lives, do we trust God because of what we have received from Him or because of who He is? Provision or Relationship?

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Let this test of faith settle on you a moment. Abraham and Sarah longed for children all their lives. Then God delivers a magnanimous promise for delivering to them a child, a seed of many nations, they initially try to help God out, but in His wisdom, God finally makes good and Sarah, in her old age, gives birth to Isaac: A precious child of promise. They have what they longed for, prayed for... believed God for - now they are going to treasure this child, raise him up and they are going to teach him about God so he can carry out the promise God has placed over his life. In this portion of Abraham's journey God is asking Abraham to trust Him completely without reservation. Do you trust God completely without reservation?

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In my own life I had to learn to where my son was concerned. In the final year of his life - nothing was making sense, my prayer requests did not add up to my reality and then in May, 2005, I received the impression that I was about to lose my son. It was as if God was saying, "It's coming. You cannot change it, but will you trust me anyways? Will you stand on my promises even in the very circumstances that frighten you the most? Will you love me in spite of what you see, feel, touch or understand?" I had to cry out yes, to thank Him in the midst of suffering and know that the God I worshipped was bigger than the devestating loss I may have to face. And I did: I praised Him, I believed Him and I cried out to Him - I trusted Him beyond my reality. I testify today, without my relationship and close intimacy with God, I could never have walked through this season of my life. Living out the worst confessed fears of my adult life: outliving one of my children. Our God is faithful. Abraham knew that and he trusted God in spite of the reality that he was about to face.

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Now let's look at how this name of God is evidenced in other passages of Scripture:

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READ Deuteronomy 15:4-6 (AMP) "But there will be no poor among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess, 5 If only you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to do watchfully all these commandments which I command you this day. 6 When the Lord your God blesses you as He promised you, then you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you."

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Okay, consider how this fits into the definitions we have learned today. Jehovah Jireh is a term derived from two words: Jehovah - the covenant name of God, revered by the Jews. It was a name that signified a personal relationship and connection to God. And Ra'ah. Ra'ah indicates vision, seeing or perception. He is our God who sees to our every need. He anticipates them, sees us in our need and makes provision to meet it. Under what Conditions? "If only you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your God (relationship), and do watchfully all these commandments (obedience)." God does not want our allegiance because we appreciate what He does for us, He wants a loyalty from His children born out of blind trust and relationship. He does not want us to observe the Law without basking ourselves in His glorious love. He wants our obedience to be a natural response to our devotion to Him. His provision is there - He provides for all that inhabit the earth, but special blessings await those who come into relationship with Him, allow His Word to penetrate their hearts and consume their minds and flow from their lives in obedience, trust and love. God is a benevolent, giving God. He sacrificed everything for our sakes, He promises blessings beyond measure - but, we have to be tuned into His voice and living our lives reflecting the relationship we have with Him for it to bring Him glory. The evidence of God's provision makes Him seen. (Bible Knowledge Commentary.)

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READ John 1:29 (AMP) "The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look, there is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" [Exodus 12:3, Isaiah 53:7]

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God as the provider who sees and meets all our needs. In the passage from Genesis 22, God provided a substitutionary sacrifice to take Isaac's place - a ram. The sacrifice represented the coming Messiah who would make the final sacrifice once and for all. Until Jesus' death on the cross, substitutionary atonement had to be made. Unblemished lambs and others livestock were sacrificed to redeem the unclean and to atone for sin. Think of that... When John made this statement he was saying, "Look, this is the man our fathers and our father's fathers have been waiting for... God's provision is here, the Lamb is provided to atone for our sins completely." Once and for all - the price was paid. Jesus made the way for all who will come to Him and acknowledge Him as God's provision for our sins. Again, what does it require to receive this provision - entering into a relationship with Him, listening for His voice and submitting our lives to Him out of love and gratitude for the grace He offered. We have only to receive it. Look up Exodus 12:3 - this is the account of the Passover. The lamb slain so that death would pass over the house of Israel when the plague of the Firstborn swept through Egypt. A sacrifice provided to spare the lives of God's children. That is who Christ came to be for us, provision for redemption. Think of this: the plague of the Firstborn brought death to all of Egypt's firstborn children. Adam's sin brought death to all who were born to God's firstborn of mankind. Yet Jesus came as Mary's firstborn to be the "Firstborn" [to God and] "of many brothers [us]..." Romans 8:29 (emphasis mine). Think that over... Jesus is God's provision that we may be His brothers. GLORY!!! Glory, she cried... All the Way HOME!

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READ 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (AMP) "Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. 13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He[can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."

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Are you taking and soaking all of that into your sweet spirit, one of the most dangerous conditions of the Christian existence is our tendancy to become prideful in our walk with the Lord. We walk in obedience, we learn His ways and then we gain confidence not in Him, but in ourselves. Think of that - this passage in verse 12 is a warning - those who believe they have their feet planted on firm ground - solid rock actually- must still be careful. Why? Because the mighty fall, that's why. Proverbs warns us that Pride goes before the fall, and when our confidence is in what we have done to earn God's favor over what God does to get us out of our pit of sin then we run the risk of not only falling ourselves but taking a few others down with us as we go. Temptation comes to all, no one is spared. Jesus was tempted in the desert - He had to cry out to God in the Garden of Gethsemane to gain strength to face the agonizing death of crucifixion. When we are tempted we must turn to God, rely on Him as the provision for our times of trial and trouble. We cannot rely wholly on our own understanding or track record, we must continually be renewing our mind with the provision of His Word and trusting in the provision of His sacrifice - believing Him for grace to endure the deepest trouble and love to overcome any sorrow. God is our source, our provider - everything is filtered through His hand of grace. He provides the way of escape, but we must be patient to watch for the opening to follow His lead.

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Provision is not a problem for God. He wants to restore His provision to us, but that will not come apart from a trusting relationship where we seek intimacy and obedience as true worshippers who come before Him in reverence and humility desiring that the Lord will be revealed through the provision He has made in our lives. "Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and temble for the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it." Jeremiah 33:9 NKJV
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Do we trust in God for the things in our lives or for who He is? How is our faith when He asks us to sacrifice, to give up for His sake? What happens when the trouble comes - when we run out of money before month... how do we spend what He provides and what does it reflect back to Him? Have we taken provision for granted and do we approach the Throne of Grace with an attitude of entitlement rather than an attitude of gratitude?
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Today as we close, I want to show you a glimpse of the provision God has made for us in Christ. Read through these Scriptures as you Weigh the Word today and note the ways that God has met our need by example in Jesus Christ.
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From the New King James Version

Hebrews

Chapter 2
We must guard against inattention and neglect of God's message through His Son

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1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

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2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,

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3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

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4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

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5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.

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6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?

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7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.

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8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

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9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

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10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

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11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

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12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."

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13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."

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14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

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15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.

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17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

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18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
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Hebrews 7:25 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

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Romans 8:27 "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

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Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.'"

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When we begin to see everything in our lives from the perspective of God's provision, we begin to recognize how vast and how imcomparable our God truly is. All His answers are Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ. Whatever your need is, Jesus came to meet it - to free you from it and to show you that God is about more than the things He provides, He is the provision Himself.

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(Whew! YOU MADE IT! This was intense today! I pray you were blessed indeed!)