The God Who Sees Me  

The Angel of the LORD said, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her authority. I will greatly increase your descendants so that it will not be possible to count them all. You will give birth to a son. You will call him Ishmael because the LORD has heard your affliction. He will be a wild man. He will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. He will live in conflict with his brethren.” 

—iBIBLE Episode 11

Scripture reference: Genesis 16

It had been years since God had appeared to Abram and called him out of the land of Ur to go to a land that He would show him, and ten years since Abram and his household had entered Canaan. As much as Abram’s faith is to be commended in following the Lord and trusting in His promises thus far, this story shows how that even when we have faith, there can always be temptation to take matters into our own hands instead of waiting on the Lord.

In ancient times, it was customary that a servant could bear children on the behalf of those who ran the household. We see this custom play out in this instance with Sarai and Hagar. Hagar was given to Abram so that Sari could bear a child through her. Instead of telling Sarai to wait and trust the Lord’s promise, “Abram listened to what Sarai said” (Genesis 16:2). After ten years of waiting, they believed that this was a reasonable path forward for an heir.

Hagar therefore conceived a child with Abram, and she began to look on Sarai with contempt (Genesis 16:4). Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled into the wilderness. This young slave woman was now pregnant with her master’s husband’s child, and she was alone in a frightening place. As a slave, she had no inheritance to support herself, and she had nowhere else to turn to.

This young slave woman was now pregnant with her master’s husband’s child, and she was alone in a frightening place. As a slave, she had no inheritance to support herself, and she had nowhere else to turn to.

But the Angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness. First, the Angel of the Lord told her to go back and submit to her mistress, then He spoke words of hope. The Angel of the Lord promised that her descendants would be numerous—so numerous that they could not be counted. Her son would be Ishmael, “because the LORD has heard your affliction” (Genesis 16:11). Ishmael means “God hears.” He would forever bear the name Ishmael, testifying to the mercy God showed to his mother.

Further, the Angel of the Lord said, “He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen” (Genesis 16:12). Unlike his mother, Ishmael would be free from slavery. He would have his own identity, his own dwelling place, and his own kinsmen. But this would come at a cost. He would also experience conflict.

Hearing these words of promise, Hagar responded, “You are the God Who sees me. Now I have seen the One Who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). Here, she recognized that the Angel of the Lord was God Himself! God had so much care and concern for her, that He came and met her in her most trying time, the time when she was the most alone.

Throughout Scripture, God makes promises to His people and provides for them in their need, despite what the culture or circumstance would seem to “allow” by human standards. Hagar, in God’s eyes, was not merely a slave, but a daughter. And her unborn child, a son—a son who would be blessed and increase in number. God would still bring to pass the promise that He made to Sarai and Abram, but He would not leave Hagar and Ishmael without help.

Our Response

There may be times in our lives when we feel utterly alone. We may even fear for our future, not knowing how God can work things out and make our circumstances okay. And yet, we see from God’s interaction with Hagar that God cares for each of us individually and meets us where we are to bring us grace and mercy. The author of Hebrews writes:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:15–16

Jesus knows what it’s like to feel weak and rejected. God can sympathize with us in our own weakness and bring comfort.

Our present circumstances do not determine our worth. God alone can do that. We have been engrafted into His family through faith in Jesus Christ. This adoption as firstborn sons—the ones who will inherit everything that God has to give—reveals our undeniable, incomprehensible worth (see Ephesians 1:5).

As we look around and see others who may be suffering with difficult circumstances, whether it be unplanned pregnancy, a difficult family situation, job loss, food insecurity, or any number of things, as God’s people, we can be the “hands and feet of Jesus,” bringing to them help and hope. Just as the Angel of the Lord met Hagar in her fear and doubt, we can bring the comforting words of God to His people as they struggle.

And even though this situation was borne from Abram and Sarai’s human solution to the problem of not having a son yet, God still worked through their weakness and brought good through it. One day, Ishmael’s offspring among the Gentiles would have the same opportunity to repent and trust in Jesus in order to be engrafted into the New Covenant alongside Isaac’s offspring. Together, those who have faith and trust in in Jesus Christ for salvation will inherit eternal life.

Prayer for This Week

Most merciful Father, thank You for seeing us. Thank You for abiding with us in fear, in doubt, and in our suffering. You are the One Who sees us as we truly are: Your children. We pray for enduring faith and patience as we wait on You in our seasons of frustration. Grant us the ability to see Your work in our lives and help us to thank You for all good things. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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