John Stanko

Did you ever wonder what Jesus meant when He made this statement?

"Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56).

What did Abraham see when he saw Jesus' day?  For the answer, we must go to Genesis 22 and look at the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac.

As Abraham had the knife raised to obey God's command to sacrifice Isaac, a voice from heaven stopped him.  Abraham was commended for his obedience and then an interesting thing happened.  Abraham looked over and saw a ram caught in the thicket.  He took that ram and sacrificed it in place of his son, Isaac. 

Most people would only have seen a ram, but Abraham saw, in my opinion, the day of the Lord to which Jesus referred. Abraham saw the ram and realized that the ram was there as a substitute sacrifice for Isaac.  God opened his eyes to see that one day God would provide a sacrifice for all mankind through the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  It was at that point that Abraham gave God the name Jehovah Jireh, which means "the Lord will provide."

Most have taken this name to mean that God will provide for our needs.  While God does meet our needs, that isn't what Jehovah Jireh means.  It refers to seeing what God is doing for Himself, for His own purposes.  It is so critical that we see and understand, as best we can, what God is doing in any given situation. For that to happen, He must open our eyes to see reality from His perspective.

I don't want to see a ram when there is more to see and understand.  That's why I always pray, "Lord, open my eyes to see what I'm not seeing.  Don't let me miss your purpose in this present situation."  Do you need to pray that prayer where your family, relationships or business are concerned?  If you do, then you're in good company, for we all need to do that.  Don't put it off another day.  Ask and believe that you will see.  Then you will join with Abraham in seeing the day of the Lord, a day to which most others around you are blind.