THE GOD WHO SEES

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 16:13

“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’”

OBSERVATION:

Abraham is promised a son when he was in his 80s.  Sarah couldn’t believe that she would conceive and birth a child at her ripe age.  As you read this it is almost impossible not to read this without some judgement against Sarah and her skepticism.  In order to think more practically and with a little more perspective, I think about how I would respond in this same circumstance.  The truth is that she is better than I am.  I would be just as skeptical and much less motivated.  I do think that I would believe it, nor would I desire to parent a child in my 80s.  At least she took the parenting role seriously.

Anyway, since she does not believe her ability to birth, she assigns her servant, Hagar, to be a second wife to Abraham and to become pregnant.  Once Hagar and Abraham conceive a child together the happy little family is faced with jealousy, resentment, and spite.  Sarah abuses Hagar and chases her off into the wilderness.

It is here that the angel of LORD shows up, gives her direction, gives her comfort, and makes her a promise regarding the son that she is carrying.  This is when she says the words that I am focusing on in this devotion, “You are the God who sees me.”  What an awesome story.  Hagar was a helpless pawn in this crazy scenario between God, Abraham, and Sarah.  She was a servant.  She had no say in the matter.  She was a possession.  She had no way of living, no way of supporting herself, outside of her role as a maid servant to Sarah.

She was alone and scared.  Imagine the thoughts of a pregnant single woman, in a culture that devalued women to the place of possessions.  Abraham and Sarah were simply trying to find God’s plan and purpose.  They missed the mark and Hagar gets wounded, potentially critically, in the process.  Hagar was not the purpose and plan of God concerning His promise to Abraham of becoming a father of many nations.

So God sees her.  He doesn’t overlook her.  He takes notice and account of her life.  He is aware.  He is the God who sees her and engaged himself in her circumstances.  He drew near, comforted, and directed because He saw her.

APPLICATION:

There are some times that we are lost in the shuffle here on earth.  People “more important” than us, doing “more important” things than us can walk right thru us.  In the name of ministry they can make decisions that hurt us.  It does not make them mean or bad - just a little too wrapped up in their own pursuit that they forget how it effects others.  It is just a fact and a reality.  It happens.  And when it does, God sees.  He draws near.  He comforts.  He directs.  He gives us promises that remind us of our own significance in His plan and purpose for the world we live in.  We truly perform before an audience of one.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you that you see the fearful, the broken hearted, and the needy.  You make wrong things right.  You see and you engage yourself in the happenings of my life and I am forever grateful.  Thank you Lord Jesus!  AMEN!