The Strong One Who Sees Me
Genesis 16:13
[Hagar] gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
It was a bad idea. Sarah could not have children. She decided to give her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to her husband, Abraham, to be his wife. Abraham complied. It was a bad idea followed by a bad decision. When Hagar became pregnant, Sarah despised Hagar even more and blamed Abraham for the situation. Sarah treated her maidservant so badly that Hagar ran for her life.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. He told her to return to Sarah and then gave instructions that Hagar's child-a son-should be named Ishmael, which means "God hears." In response, Hagar gave this name to the Lord-El Roi, which means, "The Strong One who sees me." With amazement and gratitude Hagar said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Don't miss the personal pronoun. God is not a god who looks down only on groups of people. Hagar reminds us that God is "the God who sees me."
Maybe you are feeling a lot like Hagar. You have been rejected, mistreated, left alone, abandoned. You feel like you are fending for yourself in the desert. The desert is a dry place, spiritually and emotionally. But please remember this: You are never alone. You serve El Roi. He is the God who sees you. He is well aware of your situation. He is right there with you. Take comfort in knowing that you are never out of his sight. You are never out of his care.
The Strong One who sees me,
Look down on me today. I feel alone. I feel lost. I am in a dark place. Remind me that you are with me. Remind me that you will never leave me. Work in my heart and in my circumstances. Allow me to experience your presence. Give me the reassurance that you are the One who sees me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
[Hagar] gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
It was a bad idea. Sarah could not have children. She decided to give her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to her husband, Abraham, to be his wife. Abraham complied. It was a bad idea followed by a bad decision. When Hagar became pregnant, Sarah despised Hagar even more and blamed Abraham for the situation. Sarah treated her maidservant so badly that Hagar ran for her life.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. He told her to return to Sarah and then gave instructions that Hagar's child-a son-should be named Ishmael, which means "God hears." In response, Hagar gave this name to the Lord-El Roi, which means, "The Strong One who sees me." With amazement and gratitude Hagar said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Don't miss the personal pronoun. God is not a god who looks down only on groups of people. Hagar reminds us that God is "the God who sees me."
Maybe you are feeling a lot like Hagar. You have been rejected, mistreated, left alone, abandoned. You feel like you are fending for yourself in the desert. The desert is a dry place, spiritually and emotionally. But please remember this: You are never alone. You serve El Roi. He is the God who sees you. He is well aware of your situation. He is right there with you. Take comfort in knowing that you are never out of his sight. You are never out of his care.
The Strong One who sees me,
Look down on me today. I feel alone. I feel lost. I am in a dark place. Remind me that you are with me. Remind me that you will never leave me. Work in my heart and in my circumstances. Allow me to experience your presence. Give me the reassurance that you are the One who sees me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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