“You-Are-The-God-Who-Sees”
Have you ever lost your way, created your own chaos, said, and did the wrong things, felt abandoned and broken? You are not alone, nor without hope. For The-God-Who-Sees has seen and heard it all and understands all our trials, and struggles. “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3, CSB) The word of the Lord further, says:
He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities…” (Psalms 103:10-11, CSB) The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9, CSB)
Such a state as this, is clear in the story of Hagar the Egyptian maidservant and her mistress, Sarah, the wife of Abraham. (Genesis 16:1-16)
“The Angel of the Lord found her [Hagar] by a spring of water in the wilderness,” after running away from her mistress, Sarah. (Gen 16:6-8) For Hagar had allowed the pride of her pregnancy to fill her heart and mind with arrogance and self-importance which caused her to sneer at Sarah for being barren and unable, at that time, to borne an heir to Abraham. There Hagar sat, broken in spirit, and consumed with the thoughts of her own misdeeds, inappropriate actions, and mean-spirited words. It was there in those quiet moments of truth that, the Angel of the Lord found Hagar crying in the wilderness. The Angel of the Lord knew all that had transpired between the women. And He met Hagar where she was and spoke to her words of mercy and compassion; told her of things to come; and gave her specific instructions.
The Angle of the Lord told Hagar three things:
- “Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hand” (Gen. 16:9, NKJV). To return and submit meant Hagar had to repent of her misdeeds and humble herself under Sarah’s authority. She had to make things right with her mistress. As difficult and humiliating as it may have been, Hagar obeyed the Lord’s command. For “To obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.” (I Samuel 15:22, CSB)
- “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count… You have conceived and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael.” (Gen 16:10-11, CSB) The Lord revealed His plan for Hagar and her descendants. Ishmael was not the “promised child” of the covenant God had made with Abraham. However, God, also, had a plan to bless Hagar and her seed, through Ishmael, the son she would borne to Abraham.
- “The Lord has heard your affliction.” (Gen 16: 11, NKJV) The beauty of this encounter was that God saw and heard Hagar’s suffering cry and condition and manifested Himself to her through the Angel of the Lord. When she realized that it was the Lord she was speaking with, she said, “You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees…Have I also seen Him who sees me?” (Gen. 16:13, NKJV) What a revelation for Hagar, to realize that she was in the presence of the Lord and speaking with Him. He had come to her rescue and comforted her with His words of truth, His presence, and His promises. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:22, NIV)
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for never leaving us alone, even when we are at our lowest point, feeling our deepest despair, abandoned, or at a pivotal point in a crossroad. Thank you, Lord, for seeing and hearing our humble cries and for coming to our rescue when we are afflicted with suffering and in unimaginable pain. Lord, help us to always remember to humbly repent and submit ourselves to You, in loving obedience; to trust Your plan for our lives, and to know that Your Holy Spirit lives and abides within us, to help, guide and sustain us. For, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.” (Psalms 34:15, CSB) For, “YOU-ARE-THE-GOD-WHO-SEES!” (Gen. 16:13, NKJV) Praise God!!! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.