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:
1. Hagar 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 afterseeing 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
I stood to give my first sermon in church in the year 2002 in our local church. Little did I know, that God had deposited something special in my heart and spirit; "the grace to understand His Word". The young me was eager to search in the scriptures on various subjects as I yearned to feed my hungry soul with the Truth. In a series of many sermons that quickly followed, I spoke with the help of the Holy Ghost about a subject I entitled "the remnants".
This blog is inspired by that sermon.
Today is another day. Deep down I realize we are getting closer to the coming of the son of man. And as the day draws nigh, my attention cannot help but notice the growing depravity and open transgression of divine order among our generation. Even among the people who are of the household of God; your ears will itch at the things they do.
For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Ephesians 5:12
Young children are more familiar with all manner of wickedness than ever before in the history of mankind. Their innocence robbed so early. The teenagers cannot be contained any more. It is the most dreadful possession for a parent to have; a teenager.
It is almost impossible to find righteous men and women, young people who fear God, young children who are devotional. Churches are full of masses who only attend to clear their consciences and socialize. It is a thing of the past for young men and women to preserve their purity to honor God in their marriage. Even married people consider it a norm to have 'mpango wa kando'. The pastors are inspired by WIIFM; it's a business for them and all they care about is their belly and fame.
However, since the creation began, God has never lacked a man to stand before Him. He has always had a remnant: a people who have not bowed to foreign gods or corrupted their hearts.
1,600 years after Creation
This is the approximated number of years after creation that the flood began. But those were terrible times. Angels took daughters of men as their wives. The earth was full of corruption and violence. But in the midst of this chaos, God had a remnant.
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6: 5 - 8
Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
I Alone Am Left
This was Elijah's view after all the predicaments that had befallen him. It was natural of him to think that he was the only one standing for God in a nation led by idolatry by Jezebel. But God revealed to Him the remnant. In the midst of a kingdom that was corrupt and given to worshipping idols, the LORD revealed to Elijah a mighty hidden army who were on God's side. Elijah did not know about them until then.
"Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18
It is Not Age that Matters
Consider the case of Eli's sons who were priests. The bible clearly says they were corrupt and did not know the LORD. They dared so much wickedness to the extent of taking forcefully the offerings and sacrifices from the people and laying with women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:17
Although it seemed as though priesthood would come to an end and the honor due to God by way of Sacrifice and Offering will be shoved aside, God had a man.
But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 1 Samuel 2:18
The Invisible Army
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Romans 11:5
In 2016 also, there is a remnant. God has reserved for Himself a people. Thousands and thousands of men, women, young people who are sincerely and truly devoted to Him. Men in whose lips there is no deceit. An army that prays day and night. They are invisible. They may not stand in the pulpit for you to know them, but they are among the remnant. In the lambs book of life, their names are written. God knows them. His eyes are upon them always.
They walk and are led of the Holy Spirit. Sealed and marked for redemption. They are different from the world and have no desire to imitate it. They are set on pilgrimage, desiring a better home and city. They have dipped their robes in the blood of the lamb, that they may wear them white in the marriage feast of the lamb.
They are a prototype of psalms 1. They walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor do they stand in the path of sinners, Neither do they sit in the seat of the scornful; But they delight in the law of the Lord, And in His law they meditate day and night.
Although they are appointed to face fiery and severe persecution from the enemy, still God shall cause them to triumph. Do not forget, were the days not shortened even the elect may not stand.
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Mathew 24:22
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Psalms 20:6
God will do anything, (including shortening the period of tribulation), for Him to have a remnant.
Will you be the last man standing? Are you among the number? Are you among the remnant?
