El Roi - the God who sees

Awhile ago I listened to a podcast series by Beth Moore on the names of God.  I learned so much from her teaching; she delves deep into the Hebrew words.  To try and wrap God up into a name or many names, is really impossible; but to focus on His attributes as He has revealed Himself in Scripture gives such a deeper understanding of just some of Who He is.  

With all that's going on in the world around us; there are so many things I'm thankful for about who God is; He is in control, He is loving, He is all-knowing, all-wise...but the name that keeps coming back to my mind is this one...El Roi; the God who sees.  Hagar declares this name of God when God meets her at her lowest; wandering in a desert, alone, pregnant, abused and abandoned by those she belonged to, in a foreign land.   I was recently reading another blog and it was pointed out that Abraham and Sarah never refer to Hagar by name in Genesis 16.  Moses gives us her name but Abraham and Sarah only refer to her as "my servant" and "your servant".  Yet, in verse 8 the very first word God says to her is her name; Hagar.  He knows her by name and cares for her; at her deepest time of need God is there and He promises that her child will grow and prosper; "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude" ~ Genesis 16:10.  Verse 13 says "So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing." for she said.  "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me."  She understood that God seeing her was not a one time thing.  God had given her promises and He would look after her and faithfully fulfill those promises.  You see, the other name for God given in this verse; here translated as LORD, is Yahweh; the covenant God of Israel. The name He gives when making a covenant or promise.  

Hebrews 6:13 says "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself."  Genesis 12:7 is the verse referred to here in Hebrews and if you look at that verse the name given for God is also translated as LORD and is the Hebrew word Yahweh.  

Hagar, an Egyptian slave, is seen by God and He promises to look after her.  How much more are we; His children who have His Spirit living in us, seen by Him.  When things seem overwhelming; He is there,  He has not forgotten you...He sees you always; and He sees everything that is going on around you.  When all seems out of control, God is not!  

I was blessed by this song today and hope you are too; it's a bit longer than a traditional song but it also includes spoken word and is such a beautiful reminder that El Roi has been working throughout history and is still at work today.  HE SEES YOU!