It’s so nice to receive a message from someone you haven’t heard from or seen for a long time. “Just thinking of you,” or something similar. Not only is it a nice surprise. You know you matter to them. You are significant to them. Suddenly your day becomes brighter and lighter.
The above sentiment is a small example of what Hagar must have experienced when God reached out for her, especially as she faced one of the worst moments of her life.
Sarai’s personal slave, Hagar is believed to have become the property of Abram and Sarai when they lived in Egypt. She lived a long way from her native homeland in a foreign country away from familiar people, customs, traditions and gods.
As a slave, Hagar would have no say when Sarai decided to have a child by Hagar. Hagar became pregnant by Abram. Our 21st-century minds struggle to understand this action, but this form of surrogacy was acceptable in ancient times. However, Hagar’s pregnancy caused friction in the household. Hagar took the opportunity to look down on Sarai. Sarai blamed Abram, even though the plan had been her idea, and then she mistreated Hagar so badly that she ran away.
God, however, found Hagar.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:7-8).
A messenger from God came to find Hagar. The word used for “found” means “to succeed in reaching.” I love that God went out of his way to find Hagar. This abused, insignificant, foreign woman mattered to him.
Hagar had run away, so she probably left home with nothing. A spring would have provided water to quench her thirst in the desert and keep her alive. With an unsure future, God showed up.
Perhaps God showed up because she was carrying Abram’s baby. But, her baby would not be the child through whom God would fulfill his promise to Abram. However, God still gave her hope and a future. She would have a son and would be the mother of many generations. Not because of Abram but because “the Lord has heard your cry of distress.”
The angel told Hagar to name her son Ishmael, which means “God hears.” Hagar would have a constant reminder that God heard her cries.
Hagar is so surprised and in awe, she gives God a name he had not been known by, El Roi, the God who sees me.
I don’t know what your situation is today, but I hope you will be surprised by God, that you will know he sees you too.
Maybe your life and the future seem bleak at the moment, like a desert. Perhaps you wonder if God even cares what you’re going through. Maybe you are holding onto anything that you hope will see you through.
God is reaching out for you too, with a message that he hears your cries and has a future for you. That future comes through his own Son, Jesus. Hold onto him, and you too will be able to say “the God who sees me.”
Ask God to show himself generous and gracious to you today, so you too can say “You are the God who sees me.”
Pray
