Mensa Otabil - El-Roi
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We’re still looking at the names of God, and today we look at the name of God, El Roi. In Genesis chapter 16, verse 13, it says, «Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, 'You are the God who sees, ' for she said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me? '»
El Roi is the name of God, and it describes Him as the Seen One or the One Who Sees. Hagar, Abraham’s maid, was the one who called God by that name and recognized Him as the God who sees. The story of Hagar is very fascinating. Here is a maidservant who was led into a relationship she didn’t ask for; her mistress, Sarah, introduced her to Abraham, and the relationship developed, resulting in her becoming pregnant.
Now, because she is pregnant, she is being mistreated, and so Hagar runs away from the home of Abraham under the control of Sarah. She feels abused and misused, thinking, «I didn’t ask for this; you got me into trouble, and now you are mistreating me for it.» So Hagar finds herself pregnant and alone in the wilderness, probably near death. She lies by a well or a spring of water, and the angel of the Lord appears to her, speaks to her, encourages her to go back, and talks about the child she is carrying. Hagar is so comforted and ministered to by this encounter with God that she says, «God, I thank you that you see me.»
Why did Hagar say that God is the One who sees? Because she thought she was abandoned, and that her suffering was unnoticed by God. So what does it mean when we say God is El Roi, the Lord who sees? First, it means that the Lord sees what happens to us. Many times when we are mistreated, we feel God doesn’t see it, that He doesn’t see what’s going on, that He has left us or abandoned us. But Hagar noted that in spite of everything she went through, God saw her. God has not turned His sight against her; He recognizes her pain and difficulties.
It’s important to know that God recognizes and sees our pain; He sees how we are mistreated, He sees what we go through, and we must never go through life thinking God doesn’t see what we’re experiencing. He is El Roi; He is the God who sees. Secondly, the Lord sees where we are. Hagar was in the desert outside of the home of Abraham. If anything, Abraham is the one who has a covenant with God, and so if she is in Abraham’s house, she would be seen. But even when she leaves Abraham’s house, God still sees her. God sees us where we are, no matter the location. There is no place you can go on this planet or beyond, in any part of creation, where God will not see you. He sees you even when nobody else does.
Thirdly, El Roi means the Lord sees the future we do not see. Many times, we look at the future and wonder what it holds. That’s what Hagar is pondering: «With this pregnancy by Abraham, after being mistreated, what future does this child have?» God says, «I not only see you and where you are, I see your child and the future of that child.»
God speaks about the future of that child and promises great things for him. The Lord is the One who sees; He sees our pain, He sees our suffering, He sees where we are, and He sees the future we cannot. There are things God sees about you that you do not see, but He is the Seeing One. He is El Roi, the Lord who sees our pain, sees where we are, and sees the future we do not see.
Today, just trust Him that He sees you and will take care of you. Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are the One who sees. You see where I am and where You are taking me. I trust You with my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.