In God's Eyes - Pt 3

So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:13-16 ESV). You may think it strange for me to cite Hagar as an example of how God used women in history; however, as we shall see, she was an essential part of his redemptive plan. Our reading today is really just a small part of the whole story. You should read all the chapter and some following it. But, for simplicity sake, remember that Hagar was Sarah’s slave girl. Her sole purpose in life was to complete the commands of Sarah. I don’t envy Hagar. Because her mistress had never become pregnant, Sarah added a new feature to Hagar’s job description. She was to have sex with Abraham and provide her with a son. While such sexual relations were culturally permissible, there certainly was no romance and love between Abraham and Hagar. Hagar did become pregnant, but things got worse rather than better. Hagar looked on her mistress with contempt, and Sarah’s jealousy got the best of her. Abraham finally threw his hands up and said to Sarah, “Do whatever!” Sarah made Hagar’s life miserable, and eventually Hagar ran away. She was alone, penniless, and frightened. However, at an oasis the Lord God of Abraham revealed himself to Hagar. He spoke words of comfort and promise to her, and then told her to return to Sarah. This is the impact of our reading today. Here we see Hagar “named the Lord . . . El-roi” (“the God who sees”). This is the only time in the Bible where a human being gives God a new name. And it comes from the lips of a woman, and a slave at that. In a patriarchal society this would not go unnoticed. Hagar teaches us a vital truth: that in our struggles, pain, and suffering, God sees us. And we are not alone. It would be easy to simply dismiss this knowing the tension and conflict between the two step-brothers throughout history. Even today we see this conflict played out in a horrendous fashion. But God has seen the end. The children of Ishmael play a pivotal role in the course of history, especially with the Jews. Ultimately they will used to show the Jews their Savior, Jesus Christ. They will be turned back toward God through these people. Hagar becomes the channel through which God brings the calamity of the end times to bear against the Jews and they are then shown the error of their unbelief. “God sees” all of this long before it happens. It suits his purpose to from beginning to end simply because he is sovereign and has chosen to display his grace in this way. There are no people created without purpose; not even a Hagar. You may feel insignificant and disposable. You are not! God sees!