Hagar: The God Who Sees
Day 4, Week 3, Beautifully Surrendered: A Love God Greatly Study
Today’s Reading: Genesis 16 and 21:1-20 (SOAP – 16:13)
So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!” Genesis 16:13 NET
My Observation:
Who Was Hagar?
- Hagar was the Egyptian slave girl to Sarah
- She became the slave wife to Abraham because of Sarah’s impatience for the child God had promised them
- As a result of Sarah’s impatience Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Abraham’s son
- Through her plight she came to see God as El Roi, the God who sees ‘me’.
What We must not miss
It’s easy to read Hagar’s story and get lost in our thoughts or conversations and judgements about Sarah and Abraham actions … how they didn’t trust God … how they acted on their own … how Abraham could have taken a slave wife, and why in the world Sarah would give him another woman (cultural acceptance or not) … how Sarah complained about Hagar … and eventually insisted that Hagar and the child be sent away … and the list goes on – BUT we must not miss how God used it all! He used it not only to fulfill His promise of a child to Abraham and Sarah – BUT God revealed Himself to Hagar as El Roi – He was no longer just the God of her masters but He was the “One”, whom she saw and the “One” who saw her”. On top of that, He not only rescued Hagar and her son but He promised to be with her son as he grew. What a comfort Hagar must have found in this promise in the midst of her aloneness and desperation.
How Then Should We Live?
Sarah and Abraham offer good lessons in “trusting God”, not going ahead of Him, not forsaking His ways for our desires, and not playing God (trying to do or make happen what He promised). BUT GOD, through Hagar, reveals to us the importance of listening for and to Him, of being attentive to what He says, taking comfort in His Words, and seeing Him for who He really is. We must learn to listen for Him and to know Him as the God who sees us. He should not be just another god, like the gods Hagar would have known as an Egyptian. No, He must become personal to us so that, like Hagar, we will be able to say: “You are the God who sees me,”; and if we are wise we will mark the times (places, incidents, and ways we have seen or heard Him) just as she did when she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”. These markers or remembrances will become our testimonies of faith. Their memories will strengthen us when life presses in and perhaps be an encouragement to others we know along the way.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 1:4
Your turn
What’s your take-away from Hagar’s story?
Prayer Response:
Blessed be Your Holy Name God! You are the God who sees me! You know my name! You hear me when I call. You see me when I’m hidden away or when I’m hurting or afraid. You hear me wherever I am! You are with me and You are always doing what you said You would do, and You are always working everything together fo the good of those who love You and are called according to your purpose. In this I trust and find my strength!