God Sees

[Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Genesis 16:13

Pause

Hagar was an Egyptian slave belonging to Abram and Sarai. Hers was a heartbreaking story. Used and abused by her mistress, she decided to escape and head for home. Exhausted, scared, and alone, she stopped to rest beside a spring. That’s when God showed up. “Hagar,” he said.

Hagar couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard her name. She was only a slave. She was used to no one knowing her name or truly seeing her. No one cared about her well-being. At least that’s the truth she’d come to believe. But that truth was not reality.

The reality was that God saw Hagar in her deepest moment of need. He sees you, too. You might feel exhausted, scared, and all alone. Maybe you feel invisible to everyone around you. But El Roi—“the God who sees”—knows your name and where you are. He’s closer than you think.

Ponder

El Roi sees you and cares about your situation right now, right where you are. Let this truth sink into your thoughts.

Pray

Father, I know you see me. Open my eyes to see you, too.