The story of Hagar in Genesis 16 and 21 is tragic on so many levels. She was the Egyptian slave of Sarah, wife of Abraham. As a slave, she had no rights of her own. Sarah made a huge mistake when she sent her husband in to Hagar so that Hagar might produce a child she was unable to have (even though God had given them His promise of an heir). Hagar got pregnant with Abraham’s child. Not-so-good circumstances developed until Hagar ran away and ended up in the wilderness. She was alone, dejected, and abandoned. No where to go. No roof over her head.
She was scared. She cried. No one wanted her. The woman she had served for years had changed. In fact, she treated her harshly. But it was in that place, God sent an angel to comfort her, strengthen her, and give her advice. And in that moment, she said, “You are the God who sees.” Hence, she tells us of a name of God… El Roi, the God who sees. As God revealed to her His name, she came to know the One who was with her.
I think we often feel like Hagar. Maybe you’re the only Christian in your family and they think you’re crazy. Or perhaps you are the only one in your circle with conservative values and you feel all alone. Or maybe you have lost a job, a friend, or a spouse and you have felt abandoned, unworthy. Or could it be that you feel misunderstood, misrepresented, and mistaken. Maybe important people in your life have turned their back on you. That happens more than we could know. Or possibly you are wandering in the wilderness, trying to make sense of your life.
As Hagar was reminded, we are too… God sees. God sees you no matter where you are, what’s going on, or how far you’ve drifted. God sees the struggle, the pain, the wounds, the fear, the discouragement. You are NEVER alone. God’s eyes are on you. And like Hagar, He will send help. He will never leave you there for long. Why? Because He loves you so much. I believe that when we come to know this name of God, we really come to know Him. And here’s another thing we should keep in mind… God also sees our prodigal. He has not abandoned them. I hope this encourages you today as it did for me.