The God Who Sees

The book of Genesis is as raw as they come. We see the whole wheelhouse of man’s depravity exhibited throughout this introductory book: murder, deceit, adultery, incest, envy, pride. All manner of wanton wickedness is laid bare for the modern reader to see. There is also the corresponding judgment on the part of God against those made in his image. There is the expulsion from Eden, there is the worldwide flood, the confusing of the languages, the fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. In this primal setting all pretenses are put aside and the true natures of things are laid bare. God is holy and mankind is lost in the effects of sin and death.

While much of the plan of God is still hidden in the dim light of early revelation, we nevertheless see aspects of God’s character that should cause us to wonder at His goodness and grace. There is the promise for redemption after the fall through the seed of the woman, the provision of the ark for Noah and the animals, the calling of Abram to a distant land. There is justifiable judgment, yet there is also marvelous grace.

One example I am struck by is God’s treatment of Hagar in Genesis 16. In many ways, Hagar is a victim of the sin that typifies much of Genesis. Abram and Sarai use Hagar to be the solution to the flaw in God’s promise. Certainly, God’s promise would come true, but it would require the adoption of a cultural practice to fulfill: the building of a family through a servant, when circumstances required. Hagar is taken as Abram’s second wife and she conceives a child. This would be the vehicle by which God’s promise would come true.

Yet too often the wisdom of man results in abject folly, and we see here yet another example of the downward spiral of sin. This is what happens when the plan of God is doubted, expanded on, stretched to cover something it did not originally intend to cover. In her fertility Hagar despises her mistress Sarai, Sarai blames Abram and mistreats Hagar, and Hagar flees to the desert. She is pregnant and she is alone. She has no provision for herself or her soon to be son.

Furthermore, God had never covenanted with Hagar. God had never chosen her to be the one through whom the whole world would be blessed. That was Abram. The blessing would come through him and Sarai, a point which is made clear in the next chapter. Hagar is an Egyptian. She is a slave. And while she surely was used and abused, her despising of Sarai proves she was not entirely innocent of her consequences. What possible hope could there be for a mistake like Hagar?

But in Genesis 16, in the middle this bleak book we see a glimpse of the heart of God. Verse 7 says “The angel of the Lord found Hagar.” He tells her to return to Sarai, and gives her a promise of numerous descendants through her son Ishmael--“for the Lord has heard your misery.”

It is evident that God’s promise to this slave girl meant something to her. A chord within was struck, for she gives the Lord a name, saying: “You are the God who sees me, I have now seen the One who sees me.” The well nearby is then named, “Beer Lahai Roi” which means, “well of the Living One who Sees me”. The name of her son, Ishmael, means “God hears”.

God sees and God hears. What a message to take to heart! His wrath is evident, his judgments who can stand? Yet, He remains the One who sees me. The One who without any obligation sees the misery of a human scheme gone wrong—shelters her, makes a promise to her, and returns her to her master. In the chapters to come, more grief will transpire from the Hagar blunder; the domino effect from Abram’s decision reaches even our own day. Nevertheless, in Hagar’s misery God saw her and He kept His promise to her.

For those destitute among us, those products of unfortunate circumstances, those done wrong by evil men, those forsaken and alone—God is still the one who sees. His eyes follow your grief and your pain, His ears hear your cries in the night. He offers you far greater promises than Hagar ever received. He offers you what is most precious to Him, His only Son Jesus—that you might have life abundant. He calls you to be His child, promising to never leave you nor forsake you. He offers you an eternal inheritance, which will not spoil fade. Whatever happens in this life you will have one Friend who will not desert you. In him you can know a joy that is unspeakable and a peace which passes all understanding.

“Look unto me,” He calls out, “and be ye saved.”