The God Who Sees

by Brittney Chan

“And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me…”

Genesis 16:13

“I found you! I found you!” my almost three-year-old niece exclaimed, running full-speed ahead to tackle me. Her look of pure joy was one I hope I’ll never forget. She tightened her arms around my neck as I bent down to embrace her, as if she planned on never letting go. I’d spent the last week working at a hospital in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, but that had probably felt like ages to her. 

Her eyes were still wild with excitement when she finally pulled away. “I see you, Aunt B!” she said so matter-of-factly, placing both of her small hands on the sides of my face. She knew exactly how to make me feel like someone important. I mattered to her. And my absence was noticeable, too. 

A few months ago, I was studying the story of Hagar’s encounter at the well of Beer-lahai-roi in Genesis 16. I’d been asked to speak at my church’s ladies retreat and knew, almost immediately, that this was what I was supposed to talk about. I made it a point to study the context, the history, the geography…I wanted to know the full story, which is filled with so much grace and, truly, the intimate kind of love that God has for us. I was going to get it across to the audience. I had high hopes for this class, but the day of the retreat came…and I flopped! Or at least that’s how I felt. (Hopefully that wasn’t entirely the case.) 

Let’s take a chance on it and have a quick recap…

We all know that Abraham and Sarah were promised to be the parents of a great nation. But when God’s timing didn’t line up with theirs, they took matters into their own hands and employed a surrogate. [Enter Hagar.] Everything was going according to (mainly) Sarah’s plan, but there was one thing they didn’t account for: the raging jealousy that crept in when Hagar started living out the promises that God had given to Sarah, not Hagar! 

So Hagar, who’d been elevated from a “maid” status to “mistress” of the camp (surely this was an upgrade in clout) was banished from her home. She was cast out into the wilderness and had no choice in the matter. Where was she to go? Who would care for an unwed, expecting woman who’d been kicked out of the security she’d come to know and love? Her life was hopeless. She was worthless. 

Almost as if His intention was to disrupt that train of despair: God showed up, by way of an angel, to minister to Hagar. And I really wonder if she felt in that moment the same way I did when my niece clung to me and her love washed over me. All I could think was: “This is it. This is that feeling I wanted so hard to convey.” 

“I see you, Hagar!” Whew! Do you understand what that simple validation does for a person who’s been wandering in the wilderness without a thread of hope? It’s obvious that this was an emotional encounter for her because God says, “I’ve heard your afflictions.” I see where you’re at, Hagar, and I won’t leave you there.

Before it’s all said and done, Hagar becomes the first person recorded with the privilege of naming God. Because of this, we can call Him, “El-Roi”, the God who sees. 

Wherever you are, whatever you’ve done, whatever you’re facing…I want you to be sure of this one thing: God hears your cries. And He sees you. Take courage from the redemptive truths found in this story: you are important, you matter to God, He notices when you’re missing, and you’re not abandoned.

God, 

Thank You for being the Rock we can stand on in our time of trouble. You are the sustainer of life. I ask, expressly, on behalf of the person reading this today: silence the lies that aim to isolate them and make Yourself known to them in a powerful way. Be the God who sees their affliction and hears their cry! Give them an encounter with You today that will change the total trajectory of their lives. 

We believe You are faithful and able. 

Amen.