The God Who Sees

She seems to be a person of no value. Probably given to Sarai by Pharaoh as a penitence for unknowingly claiming Abram’s wife for his harem, she was accustomed to being traded as a commodity. Given away by Sarai to her husband Abraham to try to fulfill a seemingly unanswered promise, she is again a pawn in the plans of others. After being impregnated by Abram, her former owner becomes jealous and devious. The father of her child fails to stand in her defense. She has had enough.

Hagar runs away. Hurt and abused, it seemed no one valued her for who she was…a person created in the image of God. Others simply saw her as a tool to receive what they wanted.

But at a cool, refreshing water spot in a desert, God showed up for this simple, pregnant woman with a message just for her. He noticed her struggles when nobody else did. He saw her for who she was – a human, a mom-to-be, a woman worthy of having her own family tree. And Hagar worshiped, “You are El-Roi (The God Who Sees Me).” (Genesis 16:13)

May you always remember, in times of isolation, in moments of distress, when your heart is broken, He is still El-Roi!

Duke Stone
After 40 years in full-time ministry, I try to see how the little things in life speak big things about God. This blog is an attempt to share with you the many ways I see the love of God in the ordinary things of life.