Outside of my kitchen window hangs a bird feeder. I enjoy watching the various species that feed there. One of my favorites is the male cardinal, with his vibrant red coat of feathers, who frequents our feeder. One morning recently he visited as I sat having my quiet time: he stayed a minute or more and occasionally looked in my direction. It appeared that he was checking to see if I could be trusted. I sat very still, the observer being observed.
In Genesis 16, we read about Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Abram’s wife, Sarah. It was at Sarah’s suggestion that Abram had impregnated Hagar to bear a child on Sarah’s behalf. After Hagar conceived, she began to disrespect Sarah, whose harsh treatment of Hagar caused the maidservant to run away. We find Hagar in Gen. 16:7 near a spring in the wilderness near Shur, conversing with “the angel of the Lord” who tells her to return to the mistress and to submit to her. The angel then delivers a prophesy regarding Hagar’s unborn child. Hagar’s reaction to the conversation is found in Genesis 16:13.
“So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are (El Roi) a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me” (“
who sees me
”).
What a great reminder this passage is that our Father God sees us at all times, even when we are running away, and that he is taking care of us. How awesome it is when we begin to see him, not just in the Scriptures, but in the way he looks after us through unexpected provisions and encouragements from people whose lives intersect with ours. Most importantly, we see him through the Holy Spirit’s revelation of God to our spirit at just the times we need his gentle touch.
How about you? Do you have regular sightings of our Father’s activities in your life? Do you see the one who sees you?
Marcy Alves
Extended Scripture: Genesis 15-16, ESV
