Have you ever felt mistreated? Unappreciated? Lost? If you answered; “yes” the name of God that we’re looking at this week appears in a context I think you’ll identify with.
We’ll meet a woman who named a place after the God who saw her. The God who came to her when she was driven away from all that she knew because of a choice that she didn’t have full control over. While carrying a child that she probably couldn’t imagine being able to care for. All because of someone else’s impatience and insecurity.
“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me (El Roi): for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”
Genesis 16:13
Meet Hagar
Hagar was Sarai’s maid, she might have been with Abram and Sarai many years. However long she was with them she had to have known of their desire to have a child. But her mistress was past the age of bearing children.
One day Sarai came to Abram with a possible alternative to God given them a child;
“And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” Genesis 16:2
So Hagar was given to Abram as a wife. She doesn’t seem to have much of a choice in this. (Historically this kind of marriage doesn’t seem to be viewed as illegal.) In some time she conceived.
This is when the drama really started. Hagar was with child, this was something Sarai had wanted for years. This seems to have caused some envy to well up in Sarai’s heart. And to make matters worse Hagar began to treat Sarai different. She no longer had the same respect for her mistress as before. Sarai wasn’t going to take it.
“And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.” Genesis 16:5
Abram gave full authority of Hagar over to Sarai. Sarai didn’t waste any time. The Bible says that she “dealt harshly with her” and when Sarai was in the middle of this lecture or punishment Hagar fled.
God Saw Hagar Where She Was
But God saw her condition, and cared.
“And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” Genesis 16:7
God then asked her where she had come from and where she was going. When she told Him, He instructed her to return to her mistress and submit to her authority.
He went on to make a promise of her descendants being a great innumerable multitude. She was told to name her son Ishmael.
She called the place where God met with her “thou God sees me”. El Roi. The God who sees.
Hagar went back to Abrams camp and submitted to Sarai as God had told her to. And her son became the patriarch of a nation that would continue for generations to come.
“Can Anyone See Me?”
There’s a scene in the play “Dear Evan Hansen”1 where the main character, Evan, walks through his high school and looks around and feels like no one sees him.
He sings a song called “Waving Through a Window” expressing his apprehension at taking any risk. Even the risk of introducing himself to some of his classmates is too much for him. But he feels totally alone.
We live in a world that may be more connected than ever before, and yet SO many people feel totally alone. We feel like no one knows us, no one sees us.
How important it is to be seen!
Life sometimes feels like you’re being buried deep in the stuff, problems, complication, conflicts and injustices that surround you.
The recognition that you are owned for a job well done. The grade that was unfairly lower than what you earned.
Maybe it’s more physical, like sickness, or debt. Maybe emotional like the heartbreak of losing someone you love, or the hope of relationship that ends in a hard breakup, or the bitter parting of ways of a close friend.
“Why can’t anyone see me?” You silently scream to the busy, crowded world around you. You long for someone to take notice. You may not even want them to do anything about it, you may just need them to see and care.
There is no injustice, pain, loss, or barrier that misses God’s careful gaze. He is conscious of all.
God Sees You Where You Are
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12
This verse, among many others in scripture tells of God being careful to see and hear His people. But what assurance do you have of God seeing and hearing you?
This verse refers to “the righteous.” While we have no righteousness in ourselves, through faith in Jesus Christ we can make the greatest exchange in history.
“For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus, God the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
How can believers doubt God’s care when He is willing to go to such lengths to save us?
Studying and Application:
- Do you have the righteousness of Jesus?
- Maybe you have questions about what it means to be saved. Please feel free to contact me, I would love to talk to you, or put you in touch with someone who will show you from the Bible what it means to be saved.
- Practice walking with God.
- I really mean it. Go outside, go for a walk. Leave your headphones at home. Intentionally walk with God, talk to Him, seek His purpose, enjoy His presence.
- Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.
Bonus Application
You’ve seen the names of God, from God’s word. You have the foundation, the head knowledge. Now comes the good part.
Pray!
Pray to God like He cares, because you know He does. Pray to God like He can do something about the requests you bring, because you know He can.
Pray!
1 I am not recommending this play to you as wholesome entertainment. I haven’t seen this whole play, and I am not fully endorsing the views it holds. I have however benefitted from the perspective it shares on teen depression.