Sunday, May 15, 2016

a God who sees

 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?" Genesis 16:13
I have developed great interest on this scripture and could not help any more but blog and brag about it. Before I write anything more, just have a look at other translations:


1Hagar named the LORD, who had been speaking to her, "You Are the God Who Watches Over Me." She said, "This is the place where I watched [the one] who watches over me." GOD'S WORD Translation
2.  And she called the name of Jehovah who spoke to her, Thou art the God who reveals himself, for she said, Also here have I seen after he has revealed himself.  Darby Bible Translation
3. 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."  New International Version
4. So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are 'God who sees,' because I have truly seen the one who looks after me."  International Standard Version
5. 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]?” 
To put the above occurrence into perspective: we all know Hagar was the Egyptian handmaiden of Sarah. After ten years of waiting for God's promise to Abraham and Sarah to manifest with no avail, Sarah decided to give Hagar to Abraham that they may conceive a child. And so it happened that Hagar conceived. 

Perhaps feeling conceited, she despised Sarah who chased her away. On her flight, the angel of the LORD met her on the way and encouraged her instructing her to return to Sarah and reconcile. The angel also prophesied about the baby in her womb and as a result Hagar responded with the words above.

Two wrongs had been done after Hagar conceived; Hagar had been arrogant towards Sarah and treated her with contempt because of her infertility and Sarah had returned the 'favor' by being harsh and humiliating her till she fled.

All these happenings did not escape the eyes of God. God was fully aware of the affliction and frustration of these women. She was aware of the barrenness of Sarah and the hardships of Hagar. For the purpose of this blog, allow me to dwell on Hagar.

Hagar was a slave in the house of Abraham. An inferior place in the house of Abraham and a foreigner for that matter. By all means she had no association with God. God was interested in Abraham and not her. Further, God was focused on the offspring of Abraham through Sarah and not Hagar. Therefore, it baffles me that God was concerned about Hagar and Ishmael. God gave the name to Ishmael which means "God hears". Because the Lord has heard and paid attention to her persecution (suffering). 

Hagar must have been perplexed that God appeared to her! God is God, and contrary to popular thought, He appeared to this woman who did not deserve it. She had sinned against God and Sarah. God shows her what she needs to do. And Hagar felt that there is a God in heaven who does not only hear but sees. Other translations; a God who watches over us, who looks after us, who sees me with understanding and compassion. A God who sees.

God sees all that we are going through. He has seen the injustice and the accusations laid before you. He has seen every dream and desire in your heart. He has seen your offering and sacrifices. He has seen your heart. Not only does He hear, he sees! In the situation Jacob found himself, it is only that God had seen his affliction. I want you to know that it was not because Jacob prayed about it but because God was watching over Him according to Psalm 34:15 (The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;) 

"Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night." (Genesis 31:42, NKJV)
It was the same case in Egypt, after the people of God had been oppressed for many years by the Egyptians. God saw the affliction and delivered them. He both saw and heard. But the idea of hearing means there had to be a cry coming from the people. However, when it comes to seeing, it is all up to God. Without you saying nothing, God can still see. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. His eyes roam to and fro all the face of the earth, looking for a man who trusts in Him that He may show His strength on His behalf.
And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. (Exodus 3:7, NKJV) 
Even Leah, acknowledged that God had seen her when she bore Reuben. Leah was having a hard time getting the love of Jacob the husband. In the midst of all these, God was still seeing.
So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me." (Genesis 29:32, NKJV)
I have God who watches over me. He also sees you. Shalom. 
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience],On those who hope [confidently] in His compassion and loving kindness, 
To rescue their lives from death And keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19