The first personal name given to God as recorded in the Bible was given by a woman named Hagar, who was Sarah’s maidservant. The name is quite amazing as it reveals God’s character and also how much he cares for his creation. Hagar calls him El Roi - the God who sees me.
“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.”
Hagar’s story and life circumstances were not happy. She was a foreign slave under the authority of Sarah and Abraham. At the time, Abraham and Sarah had been promised by God that they would have a son. After years of waiting, Abraham and Sarah both tried to take this promise into their own hands. Hagar fell victim to one of these schemes when she was given to Abraham to have a child with him.
Hagar became pregnant and then she was abused and mistreated by the people who were supposed to protect her. She ran away, completely broken and dejected. This is where the story of her encounter with the angel of the Lord in chapter 16 takes place. Hagar is at the lowest point in her life -- used, abused, manipulated, broken, depressed, angry, lost, alone, and unprotected. This is the place where God meets her. God cares about his beloved and reaches out to her. In that moment, Hagar feels seen by God. She says, “you are the God who sees me!”
God also sees you. You are not invisible to God. He sees you and knows you and knows exactly the challenges or difficulties that you are going through. When the rest of the world looks away, shuts you down, or kicks you out, God is right there with you, seeing your pain and knowing exactly what you need.
Prayer: God, thank you for being the one who sees me. I do not have to pretend to have it all together because you know my deepest hurts and pain. Thank you for seeing me and loving me despite the brokenness that you see. When other people turn away, I know that I can depend on you.