Genesis 22:14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

This is a rightly famous verse from a rightly famous story. That Abraham would be told to sacrifice his miraculous son Isaac shocks us even today, but he followed through in faith, and God provided a substitutionary sacrifice. The story is remarkable for Abraham’s faith, for Isaac’s obedience, and for God’s provision. Of course the whole story is a foreshadowing of God providing His Son as a substitutionary sacrifice for us. As Paul so rightly pointed out, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) This is a glorious truth, but some who are focused on the material have twisted it to insist that God will satisfy our every whim, if we just get our faith right. There’s an irony to that, because if our faith actually is right, then we will trust God enough that the material won’t really matter! God provides our every need, down to the air we breathe, but we are called on to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) If we aren’t doing that, we don’t really know what we need! Abraham didn’t know he needed a ram to sacrifice in place of Isaac, but he knew he needed to obey God, and God honored that.

I haven’t been called on to sacrifice a child, but I have been called on to sacrifice things that were very dear to me. I will never forget that time, in August, 1981, when I was praying as I took a walk in Chatham, Virginia. What I had thought was an open door to return to Japan had closed, while at the same time I was not making a go of it as a freelance photographer. In complete honesty and surrender I said, “Lord, You’ve given me these two dreams of returning to Japan and of once again supporting my family through photography. Since You gave them to me, they are Yours, and I give them back to You. May Your will be done.” On September 15th, I arrived back in my home town of Fukuoka, and a month later my wife and children had joined me here in Omura, and we’ve lived here for the 31 years since then. However, the Lord gradually lifted the desire for photography from me, though not completely, and my darkroom became a computer room. More recently, He has allowed me to have a couple of photo exhibits in the City Gallery, but the drive to be paid is gone. I have learned that God is indeed the Provider, but I need to trust Him to know what I need better than I do, and that His grace is indeed sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Father, thank You for Your patience with me over the years. I have at times been very slow to learn! Thank You that our pensions will be kicking in shortly, giving us more financial cushion than we’ve had before. You know my tendency to spend whatever is at hand, or even before it is at hand. Help me indeed listen to You as to what we need and when and how we need it, as a good steward of Your provision, advancing Your kingdom for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!