The God Who Sees

 

    “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also seen Him who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

From the worst day to the best day, God sees the happy and the sad. He gives us strength for sadness and hope for the future. Great is the faithfulness of God to see us through the best and worst circumstances. 

    When we look around and see the suffering + sorrow in our world, we find the desperate need to cope. Hagar is a wonderful example of this thought. Her story started long before we have a record of her. God knew her from the time she was conceived to the moment she was born. He fashioned her after his hands. 

    In many ways, Hagar goes unseen. She is Abraham and Sarah’s maidservant. As an Egyptian, she is seen as lower class. Sarah offers her to Abraham when Sarah realizes she cannot conceive a child; without Hagar’s consent. Hagar’s position demanded so much from her. To Abram and Sarah, Hagar was a nameless possession. Even though she heeded Sarah and bore Abraham’s child, she was despised. She was cast out of her own home and abandoned by her employers. Hagar was caught in a mess that was not her choice. 

    With this situation, God brought good. Abraham and Sarah had stepped ahead of God and tried to find their own solution. However, Hagar ended up suffering. When we try to do God’s job, on our own + with our own needs in mind, we will always end up hurting someone else along the way. Our intentions may be good, but our actions will always have consequences.

    God doesn’t leave Hagar alone. We see his hand upon her life.  In fact, when Hagar is at her lowest , reaching out for help – God is right there beside her.  

    The Angel of the Lord appeared to her, and his first word was “Hagar.” He called her by name. Not only did he see Hagar in her desperation, but he knew her name. 

    The Lord encourages Hagar to name her son Ishmael because God had heard her.  Hagar calls the Lord a unique name, El Roi - which means the God who sees. In fact, this is the only time that this name is found in the Bible. Hagar recognized that the Lord saw her right where she was at. He saw the mess she was in, and he cared enough to come to her. 

    When we think of Hagar, we think of a servant. However, God looks at the heart. God saw a broken, hurting woman who was searching for an escape.

1 Samuel 16:7c says, “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 

    Later in Hagar’s life, Sarah forces Hagar and Ishmael to leave. While in the wilderness on their journey, her son comes near death. The Lord appears to Hagar once again. He provides her with water in the dry desert and hopes for her thirsting soul. Surely her life had not turned out the way she had planned, but He is the God who sees. He had seen her every step of the way and provided for her and her son through it all. 

    Perhaps your life has not turned out the way that you had planned either. The circumstances of life have left you feeling desperately alone and helpless. There is hope. Our God is the God who sees. He knows your name, and he will see you through the darkest nights. He hears your burdens and he sees you exactly where you are. His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, if you will let Him lead. No matter how dry the desert is or how dark the night is, he will be faithful to provide. We are never alone because El Roi is the God who sees.

“Our God is the God who sees”