The God Who Meets You

Monday, January 16

The God Who Meets You

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

I was recently reading a synopsis of Hagar and her relationship with God as reported in Genesis 15 and 16. The author says Hagar is only studied as means to an end, meaning as a part of Abraham’s story. Outside of her role in this story Hagar tends to get a bad press, but it was not her fault that Sarai encouraged her husband not to wait any longer for the promise that God had given to him that he would have a son. Although Abram had believed God for this promise, and we are told that this was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), they initially decided to take matters into their own hands. Abram slept with Hagar, who became pregnant, and this resulted in a breakdown in the relationship between Hagar and Sarah as Hagar’s son Ishmael ultimately became a problem. So, Hagar fled into the desert.

Hagar’s name means ‘flight’, and it comes from the same root in Hebrew as the word for ‘refugee’. But even in the place in the desert to which she had fled, God saw her and met with her. He spoke into the future of her son, Ishmael, and encouraged her to return. However, it was in this dark and desolate place, God met Hagar and asked her where she had come from and where she was going.

Hagar was so impacted by her meeting with God that she called Him ‘The God who sees me’ (Genesis 16:13). How encouraging for us all that we have a Heavenly Father who sees us in any and every situation, and He hears our cries. Even in our darkest moments, He sees us and meets with us there. God knows about our troubles and griefs and wants to take them in hand. Let’s commit ourselves afresh to Him today so that He can do this.

Prayer for today: Lord, thank You that You see me and You always hear me, even when I am alone in a desert place. Thank You that you consider my troubles and griefs and want to take them in hand. I commit myself afresh to you now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.