In the book of Genesis chapters 16 and 21 we meet Hagar and Ishmael.
Hagar is the only person in the Bible who gives God a name. Haggar is the only person man or woman in all of scripture who calls God by a name. Abraham named the place where God met his need. Jacob named the place where God met his need but Haggar names God El Roi - God who sees me.
Haggar is caught in Abraham and Sarah's mess because what they are trying to do is what many of us try to do and let's run ahead of God to get blessings that he didn't intend.
Hagar had so many things going against her. She was a slave, a foreigner, and hated by a woman in power. Her son was in fact the patriarch’s first son, but, even by God’s account, was not the son chosen to carry on God’s covenant. She was an outsider in every way. And yet, God treats her with so much favor and kindness. So much so that she gets the privilege of being the only person in the Bible who gets to name God, even though she isn’t even a Jew!
Ishmael means “God hears.” Genesis 16:11 tells us that God commanded “You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.”
People want to be seen, people need to be seen because to be seen is to be significant to be seen is to be safe because when somebody sees you they are acknowledging your personhood they are acknowledging that you have needs you have desires you are somebody created by God.
She does not deserve her suffering but God takes her suffering and redeems it.
God sees you. He sees you when your heart is broken he sees when you can't see your way forward. He sees when you've been slandered and lied about. He sees when you're broken and wounded. He sees when you can't seem to make it another week. He sees when you're tired, when you're crying and nobody knows it.
Hagar is chased away by Abram and Sarah she's out in the wilderness by herself afraid alone but in her despair in her loneliness God sees and God comes to her and says “Where are you going. Where are you coming from?”
She said; “I'm running away from my mistress.” and God says to her go back to your mistress and obey get back under her command because your mistress is not the one taking care of you and Abram is not the one taking care of you, “I’ll take care of you.” He says go back, submit yourself to your mistress. God taught Haggar that He is omniscient - God is in full possession of total knowledge. God knows everything. He sees everything. God is interested in you just that much. God knows me and you personally and not only does He know you personally but He knows you perfectly, you are never out of range of God's eyesight God sees you.
Dr John S. Mangram of Bishop College was once asked by Dr Harry S. Wright; “What is it about God that terrifies you?” To which the reply came; “The same thing about God that terrifies me is the same thing about God that makes me love Him - His eyesight. His eyesight terrifies me but His eyesight also makes me love Him. He sees everything, that terrifies me, but He sees everything and that makes me love Him.” *
My prayer for you, today: Heavenly Father, I pray for, each and every person reading this or listening to this: thank You for reminding us that You see us. That you care for us. That You love us unconditionally. I ask Father that those who do not know Your intimate love yet, will get to experience it and come into a saving relationship with you, in Jesus Name. Amen Stay blessed and keep your eyes fully focus on Jesus, knowing that He sees you always.
Notes: *The God who sees you by Re. Terry k. Anderson Lilly Grove Baptist Church
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Wednesday Meditation
Join us for our Wednesday Meditation form the Word of God, right here! Each week, we read a chapter of the Bible, staring with the Gospel of John from the 2nd of August 2023. You may download the Mp3 clip, below, read along, watch it onYouTubeor simply listen to the reading of God's word as you lie in bed and fall asleep...