In Genesis 16 we read of a woman whose name can stir a slew of emotions-Hagar. Hagar-a servant, a scorner of Sarah, the mother of Ishmael who is the Father of the Arabs who have been sworn enemies of the Jews for all of time, a single mother who could not bear to see her son die.
Vs 11, 13-14: "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ismael [God hears] because the LORD has listened to your affliction. 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 [well of the Living One who sees me]; it lies between Kadesh and Bered."
Observations:
1. God looked beyond Hagar's reputation, condition, and lack of social economic status. He saw the heart ache, the bereavement, the fears, and the hopelessness. This same God sees your heart not just your outward appearance, your attempt to look all together, and your social standing.
2. Hagar created a name for God that would remind her of this moment-in-time when she saw one of His character traits come alive for her. She named her God to show her personal relationship to Him-"God of Seeing," and "Him who looks after me." Do you claim the character traits of your God when you pray for the unspoken and hidden hurts, disappointments, let-downs, and frustrations of life or do you put up a front with God so you "appear" to have it all together before you go before His throne. God sees you at your core, accepts what He sees, and offers so many of His promises and His character traits to help you when you realize you cannot help yourself.
3. Look at verse 15-"And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael" Hagar, upon claiming God's character trait of omniscience and omnipresent, went back to the task God had outlined for her life with her thoughts focused on "what is true." She ignored the feelings of "God doesn't see. God doesn't care. I am all alone in this trial" and instead followed Philippians 4 in thinking about what was true and real.
Summary: Life can quickly get lonely, frustrating, confusing, and disappointing. Our feelings can quickly dominate our mind instead of the truth of God's character and promises. In what areas do you need to start thinking about God's character traits instead of what your feelings are telling you? In what areas must you bring your "thoughts into captivity of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) so you can live freely in the path God has given you to walk today?
Read Exodus 2:23-25 to see once again how God sees all suffering, and to see that He is working at all times behind the scenes in ways we do not see. Vs 25-"God saw the people of Israel-and God knew."