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.” – Genesis 16:13
Hagar was a servant girl that Abraham and Sarah brought back with them after they sojourned in Egypt, which should not have occurred in the first place, because the Lord had Abraham living in the promised land. I digress from the key point I want us to consider. When Hagar bore her child, she was ill-treated by Sarah and Abraham and was driven away twice — this being the first occasion, when Ishmael was still young. She was desperate, not knowing where to go, she had run out of water in the wilderness and had given up on life and was hopeless. The Lord appears to her and shows her a well which she calls “Beer Lahai Roi” which means “well of the Living One who sees me”.
I am sure that most of us, though we are surrounded by people, situations, relationships, and busyness, at some point feel this way and the question arises: “Lord, do you see me?”, “Lord, do you see my circumstance?” And the answer is always “Immanuel” for the church and even for ones that have not yet accepted the Lordship of Christ — it is that the “Lord sees you”.
We were watching a documentary called “He calls me daughter” (good watch!) and there was a verse (John 17:23) that hit me between the eyes. Though I had read these verses before, something in my heart was freed, I was elated and relieved at the same time, more than elated or relieved, loved. The Father loved me as much as He loved His Son? And then I found this other verse (John 15:9), Jesus loved me as much as the Father loved Him? Wow! I had not fully realized or understood it. Ponder, wonder at the marvelous love of Christ.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” – John 15:9
I in them and you in me–so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:23
We hear the benediction read often from Numbers 6:24-26: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
We are reminded that the turning of our Father’s face toward us, cost Him turning His face away from His beloved begotten Son Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life willingly, obeying and loving His Father and us. And the cry of the Author of Life that He borrowed from David in Psalm 22:1 reminds us of the cost.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” – Psalm 22:1
He sees us and he loves us more than we can ever imagine — embrace it, share it, let it overflow in our lives.
Share with someone today or this week the love that God has for you and for them!
Donald Thampy serves as an Elder at GRC.