So she called the Lord who spoke to her: The God Who Sees, for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the One who sees me?” Genesis 16:13-14
There are times, in the deepest, darkest places in life, that it feels like there is no way God sees us or knows what is happening to us. But the truth is that God does see us in those places – places where if feels like He is so far away. He sees all of us individually and personally, all the moments of our lives. One of the Hebrew names for God, El Ro-I, reflects this attribute of God as it means “God Sees Me”.
A young pregnant girl in the Bible, by the name of Hagar, spoke the name El Ro-Ias she was alone in the desert. She had been asked by her owner, Sarah, to sleep with Sarah’s husband in order to provide him with a child because Sarah was unable to conceive. After it was said and done, Sarah became jealous and treated Hagar so poorly that one day she ran away. She was all alone, hungry, thirsty, pregnant, scared, and very sad. She had no one and she was in a very vulnerable position. But as He does with us every time, the Lord met her there in the middle of the dry, scorched desert.
She fled in the middle of abuse, pregnant and empty handed, and not thinking very clearly. She headed toward her homeland, Egypt. She staggered along, hoping for something or someone to come along and help her. She was hurt and alone and uncomfortable. She was desperate. It is in our most desperate moments that God shows up, because that is when it makes the biggest impact on our lives. When we see Him in the lowest moments, we remember.
The Angel of the Lord came to her and brought her comfort. He told her to return to Sarah, and that the Lord would bless her child with many descendants. She returned as the angel instructed her, but she knew that she had seen God and He had seen her. God gave her the strength to go back into a hard situation. She knew that God saw her. He saw her struggles and hard and lonely times. A second time, after Hagar had given birth and Sarah had also had a child, Sarah became jealous again and told Abraham that he had to get rid of her because she did not want Hagar’s child to get any of Abraham’s inheritance. Abraham sent them away and again, Hagar was wandering in the desert, this time with a young child. She ran out of food and water, she set her son under a bush for shade and went a few spaces away, so she wouldn’t have to see him die. But God saw her and came again. As she was weeping, He spoke to her and told her to take the boy by the hand because God was going to make him into a great nation. Then God opened her eyes and there was a well. Again, God saw and rescued her and her child. He gave her hope and a future and most of all faith.
When you feel like you are lost in the desert with no food or water, He sees you. It seems like He is so far away and must not care about us at all at these times, but this is not true. He is close and He knows. Keep praying and listening. Keep watching and waiting. He will meet you where you are when you call out to Him. He will give you the strength you need for whatever He has planned. Trust Him. Lean into Him. Watch for Him. He is there and He sees you.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Philippians 4:19
