He Sees

Well, in writing this blog, I'm not sure whether to be funny or to simply share what I am learning about. Hopefully I can accomplish both, although I am not promising at the same time. However, I felt like sharing something I learned last night while reading through Genesis. The professor that will be guiding us around Israel and the ancient Biblical sites while I am in Jerusalem sent an e-mail suggesting what Biblical books to read to prepare for our time in Israel. As I dove into the book of Genesis I was reminded of the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. When I picked up the story Sarah had not yet had Isaac and both Abraham and Sarah were probably anxious to find out how God would indeed fulfill His covenant with Abraham. This anxiety would seem to escalate as the heir of Abraham’s rich estate would then be someone outside of his own family. Sarah became so anxious, it seems, that she gave Abraham her servant Hagar, to provide a descendent. Abraham did not seem to argue with such a proposition and took Hagar to be his wife.

So many of us focus on the richness of God’s provision for Abraham and Sarah in this story that we sometimes miss the heart of Hagar. After having conceived a child, Hagar began to feel contempt for her mistress, Sarah. Sarah was aware of this contempt and dealt harshly with her being given authority over Hagar. This led Hagar to flee, maybe feeling used and angry over conditions of her circumstance. God met her on the road as she fled. He called her out, named her son, and promised hardship for her son. God also told Hagar to go back, submit to a mistress that was harsh, and to ultimately submit to Him. Hagar’s circumstances were less than desireable, yet her response is intriguing. She calls on God in the name of Him who spoke to her and she said, “You are the God who sees me….I have now seen the One who sees me.” All it took was one interaction with a God who sees us in all of our circumstances for her eyes to be open to His faithfulness and His gracious provision. I am overwhelmed by the faith of Hagar as she returned to Abraham’s household and continued to serve amidst her circumstances. Hagar met the Lord the day she was planning to run far away from her painful life. That is also the day she proclaimed the truth of an attentive God who “sees” us in all things and walks directly with us, both before and behind every single circumstance we face. I find great comfort in knowing God is not far away and distantly cold, but is a God who “sees” me, knows me, and is aware of my past, present, and future. He commits to walking with me all along the way. I am blessed to be able to walk in His shadow, Hagar’s life is a great reminder.