Ravens was written in the most unassuming and unexpected way.

One Saturday morning in 2020, I was conducting a songwriting workshop for my church . We were learning about the basic building blocks of writing a song. In such settings, I would get the participants to start crafting and developing a song idea or theme as we go along in the workshop, and I typically would demonstrate by writing along with them.

On this occasion, I decided to write about provision – a familiar subject, but in a way that is fresh and compelling. I ended up writing the first draft of the verse and chorus of Ravens that day.

Some time after, I began digging deeper and reflecting on God as provider.

We often hear believers pray the name “Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider” over someone caught in financial difficulty or lack. It’s an indication of us primarily associating God as Jireh and the provider of monetary supply.

Yet when we look into the Bible, the first and only time the name Jireh was revealed was in the context of Abraham offering his son Isaac to be sacrificed. And instead of Isaac being sacrificed, God provided a ram as a substitute – foreshadowing a coming day His Son would take the place of humanity on the cross.

“He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other) things?” (Romans 8:32)

I was deeply challenged not to limit our view of God’s provision to merely the supply of resources, but the essence of a Son given in the context of Genesis 22. It took time and patience, but the second verse of Ravens was written as result of labouring and pressing in for a biblical revelation of that.

A Son was given. A Saviour provided. Jesus came as a ransom price, purchasing and securing the freedom and right for Man to experience the full and abundant life.

Through His broken body and blood shed on the cross, He provided all that we need in order to walk in fullness of health of spirit, soul, mind, and body. When we call on Jireh, we call on the One who provides more than just financial resources, but everything else – healing over sickness, freedom over oppression, assurance over fear and anxiety.

When we have Him, we have everything we need.

All that I need, You will provide
For all of my days, You will supply
This hope that I have, now and forever
All that I need, You will provide