Jehovah is one who sees needs ahead of time and, ahead of time, makes provision for them.

1. 1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, " Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

2. 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.

3. 5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

4. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. Gen. 22:1-8

5. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided." Genesis 22:14

6. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14 (KJV, ASV)

7. Jehovah is one who sees needs ahead of time and, ahead of time, makes provision for them.

8. What does “providence” mean?

9. Noun Acts 24:2 by your providence reforms are being carried out Rom 13:14 make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Verb Rom. 12:17 Provide things honest in the sight of all men 2 Cor. 8:21 Providing for honest things 1 Tim. 5:8 If any provide not for his own forethought" (pro, "before," noeo, "to think"), Vine

10. Etymologically, the root word means `to foresee,' with a corresponding word, `forethought.' The two words imply a future end, a future goal or purpose, with a plan for attaining that end...This is providence: providing by forethought for the achieving of a purpose...Divine providence has come to refer to that foresight and forethought, preservation, care and government of God which enable Him to bring about a desired end." Homer Hailey, Florida College Lectures, 1975, p. 53

11. Foresight, however, implies more than seeing in advance. It also implies anticipation, so that steps are taken either to meet a need which is seen or to lead to a result which is envisaged or planned. It is in this sense that pre-vision becomes pro-vision. The provident person is the one who makes arrangements to deal with contingencies or to reach established goals. ISBE, 3-1020

12. In common use the word meant `to see ahead and thus to make plans and preparations for what is thus anticipated,' or as we would ordinarily say, `to provide.' Thus the term providence, though it literally (etymologically) means `foresight,' usually has the connotation of `forethought,' `foreseeing care,' `prudent management and oversight." • Jack Cotrell, What The Bible Says About God The Ruler, p. 9

13. Does God still intervene in human affairs as He did with Abraham and Isaac?

14. DEISM belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind.

15. Does God still intervene in human affairs as He did with Abraham and Isaac? If not, then at what point in human history did He stop and why?

16. How do we know God did, and still does, work providentially?

17. God has intervened in the universe and revealed His will.

18. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21

19. Fulfilled prophecy If it can be demonstrated that men foretold coming events and people, centuries before they occurred or lived, then it must be the case there is an intervening Supreme Being

20. Deut. 18:18-22; Isa. 44:6-8; 46:11 • Cyrus • Isa. 44:24-45:2 • Alexander the Great • Dan. 8:21-22; 11:3-4

21. The nature of God You would expect him to be active on our behalf. Imagine parents who brought children into this world but then sat back and did nothing on their behalf.

22. 1-Creator and sustainer of all life Col. 1:17 • 2-Loving care, 1 Pet. 5:7 • 3-He is righteous and just Rev. 6:9-11. • 4-Absolute Lordship 1 Chron. 29:11-12 • 5-All authority Rom. 13:1 • 6-Omniscience Ps. 139:2 • 7-Omnipotence Psalm 147:5 • 8-Omnipresence Jer. 23:23-24 • 9-All-wise Rom. 11:33

23. Exhortations to pray Why are told to pray and given examples of prayer in which God was requested to both hear and answer prayer if, in fact, He will not answer by intervening?

24. Eph. 3:20; 1 Pet. 3:12 2 Kings 6:15-18; Ps. 6:8-9