Genesis 16:7-13, “The angel of the Lord met Hagar at a spring in the desert on the road to Shur and said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress.” He said, “Go back to her and be her slave.” Then he said, “I will give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them. You are going to have a son, and you will name him Ishmael, because THE LORD HAS HEARD YOUR CRY OF DISTRESS. But your son will live like a wild donkey; he will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. He will live apart from all his relatives.” Hagar asked herself, “Have I really seen God and lived to tell about it?” So she called the Lord, who had spoken to her, “A GOD WHO SEES” (GNT)
There are times in life when you simply get dealt a bad hand and no longer want to play. There are times in life when you’ve been hit so hard, from every direction, that you have no idea where else to turn. There are times in life when you’re surrounded by so many that have hurt you that all you want to do is flee to the nearest place where you can just be alone. However, alone time is not always as bad as many make it out to be. Because often it’s not until you are alone that you truly value the presence of God.
Let’s be honest, from day-to-day, we have to deal with people (voluntarily and involuntarily), and sometimes they can push buttons that you have no reset button for!
Well Hagar had someone like that in Mrs. Sarai. And truth is, some of what Hagar got, she deserved…listen: Genesis 16:4-6, “He went in to [the bed of] Hagar, and she conceived; AND WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD CONCEIVED, SHE LOOKED WITH CONTEMPT ON HER MISTRESS [REGARDING SARAI AS INSIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF HER INFERTILITY]. Then Sarai said to Abram, “May [the responsibility for] the wrong done to me [BY THE ARROGANT BEHAVIOR OF HAGAR] be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, and when she realized that she had conceived, I WAS DESPISED AND LOOKED ON WITH DISRESPECT. May the Lord judge [who has done right] between you and me.”But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is entirely in your hands and subject to your authority; do as you please with her.” SO SARAI TREATED HER HARSHLY AND HUMILIATED HER, AND HAGAR FLED FROM HER.” (AMP)
Hagar became haughty and Sarai became harsh!
Isn’t it absolutely amazing what happens when you travel outside the will and direction of God?
So, Hagar did what was descriptive of her name, and she fled! You see, “Hagar” means “Flight”, and therefore she ‘took off’!
Genesis 16:7-14, “But the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to [Egypt by way of] Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit humbly to her authority.” Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The Angel of the Lord continued, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall name him Ishmael (GOD HEARS), Because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your persecution (suffering). “He (Ishmael) will be a wild donkey of a man; His hand will be against every man [continually fighting] And every man’s hand against him; And he will dwell in defiance of all his brothers.” Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “YOU ARE GOD WHO SEES”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after seeing Him [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me); it is between Kadesh and Bered.” (AMP).
Listen to verse 7 again, “But the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to [Egypt by way of] Shur.” (AMP) Hagar, fled from Sarai (abuse, hurt, harsh treatment etc…) and she went to the desert, the wilderness of “Shur” which means “enclosure and wall”. Isn’t that just like many of us? When we’re dealing with something painful we run and ultimately end up hitting a brick wall, enclosed and alone with our hurt and pain. We become isolated, not wanting to go out and not wanting anyone to come in. We shut down, shut others out and we shut ourselves in.
However, this is one time when an ugly situation, still holds some beauty.
Listen to this: Nantucket—is a romantic island off the coast of Massachusetts. Waterbrook—is a humble cabin in the woods in the mountains north of New York City. Long Beach Island—is a little house by the Jersey shore. See, those are places where Tom says his wife Nancy has been her most beautiful. And that’s not because she had new makeup on, or was all dressed up, or did her hair differently. No, those are just some places where they’ve gone to be alone, and where Tom finally slowed down and noticed her again. Tom will be the first to tell you that his wife Nancy is beautiful all the time, but he doesn’t notice it all the time, because he sees her best when they’re alone. And if you just happen to be alone right now, somewhat like Hagar, then let’s talk for a moment.
Genesis 16:7 tells the story of a young woman named Hagar. Maybe you remember that Abram and Sarai got impatient for God to send the son that He had promised, and Sarai was getting older and older. The baby didn’t come, so Sarai, going along with the customs of that day, suggested that Abram sleep with Hagar, her maidservant, and then Hagar would be the surrogate mother through whom a child would come. In a nutshell, they couldn’t wait for God to do it His way, so they had to figure out a way they were going to do it themselves. It’s not how God wanted it done however, but they proceeded with their own plan and as a result, Hagar gets pregnant, but Sarai gets a little jealous. And Hagar gets a little caustic herself.
Now we find her out in the desert all alone because guess what? She’s been driven there by her mistress, Sarai (not that Hagar didn’t have something to do with the treatment she received as well). However, here she is used, rejected, deserted, pregnant, and alone in the desert. At this point, she’s the picture of abandonment; all alone, or so she thinks.
Genesis 16:7, “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has HEARD of your misery.’” He goes on to describe some of what to expect from this son, and then she 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.’ That’s why the well is called Beer Lahai Roi.” Which, by the way, means “the well of the Living One who SEES me.”
It’s interesting the name of God here, “I have seen the One who sees me.” Maybe right now you’re in the desert; it’s a very lonely desert. The marriage has fallen apart, the relationship is over, the job let you go, you don’t have enough money to finish school, you’re losing the house, apartment, car, even your sanity. But believe it or not, God sees you in your loneliness, and He has heard your tears. The broken relationship, the lost loved one, the years of living alone, the collapse of your family; God sees you. He knows just how to locate you. Genesis 16:7, “An angel of God FOUND HER…” (MSG). As bad as it seems, or as bad as it actually is, neither can shield you from the eyesight of God! He sees you, and that’s the most comforting news a lonely, broken heart can receive.
Psalm 139:7-12, “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit? To be out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky, You’re there! If I go underground, You’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute – You’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, ‘Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!’ It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You.” (MSG)
It is utterly IMPOSSIBLE for you to go Unseen and Unheard of by God! He Will Always See AND Hear You!
Jeremiah 33:2-3, “This is God’s Message, the God Who made earth, made it liveable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘CALL TO ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU. I’LL TELL YOU MARVELOUS AND WONDROUS THINGS THAT YOU COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT ON YOUR OWN.’ (MSG);
Isaiah 65:24, “I WILL ANSWER THEM BEFORE THEY EVEN CALL TO ME. WHILE THEY ARE STILL TALKING TO ME ABOUT THEIR NEEDS, I WILL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS!” (MSG)
GOD SEES YOU, GOD HEARS YOU, THEREFORE BE ENCOURAGED!
Now that we know that no matter where we are, what we’ve done, how bad it hurts, God Sees Us, and God Hears Us. However, the question that remains to be answered is, “Do You See Him?” Hagar said, “I have now SEEN the One who has been seeing me.” When no one sees, when no one knows, when no one understands you, Hagar (and why you’ve fled the scene), nor do they understand your Ishmael (who is still heard of God), remember GOD SEES AND GOD HEARS YOU…EVEN YOU! But you also need to take a moment to see and hear God!
And guess where we tend to see and hear God best? You guessed it, in the deserts of our lives. The truth is, it’s not until we are stripped of all the other supports in our life, that like Hagar, we finally see the God who had been seeing us all along. The desert, where we feel most deserted, is the time and place in which we see God clearest. That’s when we dig deep into His resources; we see what He can do, when we’re out of options and back-up plans. We feel His love, and finally learn that His love is more than enough.
Listen to Paul in 2 Timothy 4:17, in varying translations:
“…no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn’t matter—the Master stood by me and helped me…I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! God’s looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!” (MSG);
“… no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God]. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me…I was rescued from the mouth of the lion. The Lord will rescue me from every evil assault, and He will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (AMP);
“…no one helped me. Everyone left me. I hope this will not be held against them. But the Lord was with me. He gave me power…I was taken from the mouth of the lion. The Lord will look after me and will keep me from every sinful plan they have. He will bring me safe into His holy nation of heaven. May He have all the shining-greatness forever. Let it be so.” (NLV).
Paul had complete confidence in God that even though no one stood by him, no one supported him, no one helped him, HE STILL HAD GOD! And God would look after him, keep him safe, rescue him and protect him from every plot and plan of the enemy. In other words, when Paul could see no one else, HE COULD AT LEAST SEE GOD! And the only way for that to happen is to “…walk by faith, and not by sight”. In fact, walking by sight is what causes many of us to go astray in the first place. We focus so much attention on who left, what they said, what they took, how much they hurt us, that we can’t see the bigger picture. We can’t see beyond the hurt and pain inflicted. But in your worst of circumstances, God is still a very present help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16, says it like this: “Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” (MSG)
God sees you, but do you see Him and all His Available Help?
I told you when Tom noticed his wife Nancy’s beauty and wisdom the most-was when there was no one else around. Then and there, he had no distractions, no one else’s voice to listen to, no one else in sight to cloud his vision, no agenda, no plan, no protocol, no position, no programs, no to-do-list, just Nancy. Well, it’s the same in a relationship with the Lord Jesus. When it’s just the two of you, maybe like it is right now, you can see Him as you’ve never seen Him before, and hear Him as you’ve never heard Him before.
I know feeling lonely and deserted is not at all the best feeling in the world. But sometimes we need that moment alone and away to get clarity. To see and hear what we otherwise wouldn’t, due to all the clutter and noise of everyday life.
Once Hagar was away and alone with her pain, the Bible says, “…While she was there, the angel of the Lord came to her…” (CEV). God saw her, but what was just as important is Hagar saw Him… “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are God Who Sees”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after SEEING HIM [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?” (vs. 13 AMP). Other translations say it like this:
“The Lord talked to Hagar. She began to use a new name for God. She said to him, “You are ‘God Who Sees Me,” She said this because she thought, “I see that even in this place God sees me and cares for me!” (ERV);
“…Truly here I have seen him who looks after me” (ESV);
“…You are the God Who Watches Over Me.” She said, “This is the place where I watched the one who watches over me.” (GWT);
“Hagar asked herself, “Have I seen God and lived to tell about it?” So she called the Lord, who had spoken to her, “A God Who Sees” (GNT)
Hagar had come to realize that God sees her, talks to her, watches over her and she’s lived to tell about it! You see that’s what we need to learn how to do. When we’ve gone off running into hiding because of the pressures and pains of life, and we find God in our desert and wilderness experience, and we See Him, and Hear Him, then we need to go and tell others About Him! Someone right now is waiting for fractured you to become whole so you can help them find their peace to piece their lives back together again, and that can only happen when you’ve come into contact with the Prince of Peace Himself. And believe it or not, but He still shows up in the desert and wilderness. He sees, He hears, now it’s time for you to See, Hear and Tell!
Lastly, the Bible says, “The Lord talked to Hagar. She began to use a new name for God. She said to him, “You are ‘God Who Sees Me,” She said this because she thought, “I SEE THAT EVEN IN THIS PLACE GOD SEES ME AND CARES FOR ME!” (ERV)
Wherever your “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…” is, know that God sees you, hears you and cares for you. Even if your ‘this place’, is a place of sorrow; grief; anger; bitterness; loneliness; brokenness; abandonment; lack; pain…God sees you, hears you and cares for you “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…”
Even if your ‘this place’ is heading to divorce court; the psychiatrist; another specialist; the unemployment line; in the midnight hour of tears…God sees you, hears you and cares for you “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…”
Even if your ‘this place’ just left the abortion clinic; the maternity ward with no baby; a place of stagnation; confusion; fear of tomorrow; low-self-esteem; rejection; suicidal thoughts; high; drunk; going to jail or just getting out…God sees you, hears you and cares for you “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…”
At dialysis; receiving chemo and radiation; struggling in rehab; in the wheelchair; on the cane; with the walker; dressed up; dressed down; and too weak to even get from under the covers…God sees you, hears you and cares for you “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…”
Are you getting this?
You are God’s Beloved, no matter where your “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…” currently has you. You cannot ever go unnoticed by God. He loves you too much to lose track of you, even when it’s you who laced up your sneakers and went running right outside the Will of God for your life. He’s still there. Don’t you see Him? Don’t you hear Him? Well, He sees and hears and cares about you, no matter what you’ve done; how many times you’ve done it; who you did it with; why you did it in the first place; where you did it; when you did it; He doesn’t even care if it was deliberate, and all your fault, your Father loves His children! And like the prodigal son’s father, your Father sees you as far away from Him as you are, and still He’s heading in your direction with arms open wide and a whole new garment of clothing to shed your past and mistakes. He’s ready to restore you, why are you delaying your own recovery? Today, take IT, and all of IT to Him, and let Him take all your staleness and grant you a fresh start. Today is a great day to begin again. Last time, you ran off with your own plans and mission. This time, stick with God, the road ahead will be so much easier!
Remember, God sees you, hears you and cares for you… “…EVEN IN THIS PLACE…”
“God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season – He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
“God sees in you a masterpiece about to happen.” (Max Lucado)
“You can only see part of the big picture, but God sees the whole picture, and He knows how to complete it.” (Author Unknown)
“God sees everything at once and knows what you are called to do. Our part is not to play God, but to trust God. To believe that our single, solitary life can make a difference.” (Zig Ziglar)
“Never forget that God isn’t bound by time the way we are. We see only the present moment; God sees everything. We see only part of what He is doing; He sees it all.” (Billy Graham)
“God didn’t make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.” (Joel Osteen)
“God hears and He sees, and you are not alone in your struggles. Remain firm and stable, for God has your deliverance planned.” (Joyce Meyer)
“Are you ready for a change? Take a look into the mirror of God’s Word and see yourself the way God sees you: as a conqueror, an overcomer, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His very own possession! Stop second-guessing what He says about you and learn how to embrace the Holy Spirit, Who is always available to help you.” (Jesse Duplantis)
“The world may see you as an ugly duckling, but God sees you as a magnificent swan.” (Matshona Dhliwayo)
“God sees us as we are, loves us as we are, and accepts us as we are. But by His grace, He does not leave us as we are.” (Timothy Keller)
“God can hear you in your chaos and He hears your whispers too…but it’s in those quiet times, when He calms your spirit, that you can hear Him best of all.” (Karen Kostyla)
“Pray. Not until God hears you. Pray until you hear God.” (Author Unknown)
“God is the best listener. You don’t need to shout, nor cry out loud. Because He hears even the very silent prayer of a sincere heart.” (Author Unknown)
“Don’t worry. God is never blind to your tears, never deaf to your prayers, and never silent to your pain. He sees, He hears, and He will deliver.” (Author Unknown)
“God hears you, even if no one else does.” (Author Unknown)
“God hears us when we call. No matter where you are in life, no matter what you need, you are never too far from God’s loving hands.” (Victoria Osteen)
“God can hear your call for help even if you can’t put your feelings into words.” (Author Unknown)
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