Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees;
For she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Genesis 16:13
Genesis 16:1-15
Abram and Sarai were impatient senior citizens who couldn’t wait for God to fulfill His promise of providing them with a son. He told them four times that Abram would have descendants. (Gen. 12:2, Gen. 12:7, Gen. 13:14, Gen. 15:4)
It was customary for barren women to have children through their maidservants. When Sarai decided on this plan of action using Hagar’s womb, she didn’t ask her servant’s permission. Sarah forced her Egyptian maid to sleep with her octogenarian husband. Is there any wonder why Hagar despised her mistress after that? Although a child was conceived in the pairing, Sarai’s decision to forsake the will of God would lead to long-term consequences that are being felt in the world today. The plan may have been a success in Sarai’s eyes, but when she knew Hagar was pregnant, she got angry and mistreated the girl. The Bible doesn’t mention the type of abuse, but it could have been physical, verbal, emotional or a combination of all three.
That’s when Hagar decided to go back to Egypt. Hagar, whose name means “stranger,” had probably been ill-treated her entire life. After all, she was just an Egyptian slave, a gift from Pharaoh to Abram and Sarai. (Gen. 12:16)
While in the wilderness on the way to Shur, the Angel of the Lord found her. The “Angel of the Lord” may refer to a theophany of the preincarnate Christ. (cf. Gen18:1-2, 19:1; Num. 22:22, Jud. 2:1-4; 5:23: Zech. 12:8) (Allen P. Ross, "Genesis" in Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J.F. Walvoord and R.B. Zuck, vol.1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 56-57.)
Here’s what we discover:
The Lord knew where she was. Genesis 16:7
The Lord knew who she was. Genesis 16:8
The Lord had instructions for her. Genesis 16:9
The Lord gave her hope. Genesis 16:10
The Lord named her child. Genesis 16:11-12
Hagar responded in faith. Genesis 16:13
God sought Hagar out because He valued her. This was a first for someone who had been invisible and abused. Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”
God’s instructions to Hagar were clear: return to Sarai and submit to her authority. This was the first time Hagar ever heard from God. The Egyptian gods did not speak, see or hear. Psalm 135:16-17 says: They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see, they have ears, but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Hagar obeyed. When she returned to her masters she had great news: God sees and hears! What a rebuke to them. The God of Israel, their God, appeared to their Egyptian slave! The name of her unborn child was proof. Ishmael means: “the God who hears.” God changed Hagar’s story and changed her from a slave to a matriarch. She is the mother of the Arab nations.
Just as the God of the universe saw an unwed, pregnant female slave in the wilderness, He sees you. So if you have been belittled, ostracized, criticized, humiliated, rejected or ignored, the God-who-sees has seen your distress and your heartache. It is comforting to know that God also knows who your enemies are.
Jesus sees broken and hurting people and offers them redemption and an opportunity to rewrite their stories. As Christ followers, we are to be the hands, feet, ears and eyes of Jesus.
The God who Sees (El Roi) is also the God who loves. Psalms 34:18 says: The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. It’s up to us to respond in faith. Allow Him to break into your story and change the direction of your life.
Prayer to El Roi, the God who Sees:
You are awesome and mighty in power and You rule over all. Nothing on earth escapes your notice. I am a sinner, saved only by Your grace and the precious blood of Jesus Christ. If I have wronged anyone and have sinned against You, please forgive me and give me the strength to turn from my wicked ways. I am thankful for Your goodness and mercy to me. You know my circumstances. You even know the person who is mistreating me. Be the calming force in the midst of my pain. Be the Comforter and Healer of my soul. Lead me through so that this situation can result in my good and Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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