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Key Scripture:  Genesis 16:13

Jerry Springer and his outrageous guests have nothing on the real life stories of scripture.  Surrogate mothers, adultery, polygamy, jealous wives and girlfriends, sexual harassment, slavery, deception, lying, abuse – it’s all in the Bible. 

The difference between Jerry Springer and his ilk is that where they have body guards to keep their guests from killing each other, people in the scriptures have God dropping down into their midst to teach them how He is keeping the promise of His presence.

Imagine a television talk show audience hearing Hagar’s story for the first time.  “I was given to Abram and Sarai as a slave when they left Egypt.  I had to exchange my Egyptian heritage for theirs.  At first Sarai seemed to love me but then she gave me to her husband as a concubine (audience gasps) so that I could bear a child for her.  Apparently their God had promised that Abram would have a son but Sarai was way too old to get pregnant (she was in her eighties) so she helped her God keep His promise by telling Abram to conceive a child with me.  I got pregnant and I thought that would make everyone happy.  I thought that being pregnant with the promised child raised my status and I guess I began acting haughty and rubbing my pregnancy into the face of Sarai because next thing I knew, she hated me.  Abram, that wimp, didn’t protect me but instead gave in to her complaining and told her to treat me however she wanted.  Well, Princess Sarai took him literally and didn’t just verbally abuse me but actually beat me at times.  I couldn’t take it anymore and even feared for my child’s life.  So I ran away into the desert where I thought we would die.  But something miraculous happened……the God of Abram came near and comforted and encouraged me!  He promised that He had seen my misery but that I would have a son and should call him Ishmael.  He told me to go back to Abram – that was hard.  But this God seemed to love me and know all about what I needed.  I didn’t know His name so I called Him El Roi, saying “Your are the God who sees me.  I have now seen the One who sees me.”  Genesis 16:13
         

      The talk show audience is stunned into silence…
         

The Lord God met Hagar as she wandered through the desert without hope for her unborn child or herself.  He revealed Himself to her at a painful time in her life.  He gave her words of encouragement for her unborn child and herself.  The Lords’ appearance to Hagar as she was feeling hopeless and alone showed her that He is a God who sees us.  After her personal encounter with the Lord, Hagar had the strength and hope to return to the situation from which she had run away.  She obeyed El Roi, trusting Him to keep His eyes on her and her child.

El Roi knew Hagar’s terror and helplessness.  He knew she was a victim of her circumstances yet  He also knew the taunting and disrespect she had shown toward her mistress, Sarai.  Just as He is “the God who sees Hagar” He knows our past, present and future circumstances and yet His love for us does not change.  In His love we find freedom from our past sins.      

Do you find yourself feeling like nobody sees you in your personal struggles?  Are you feeling as if you are fighting a battle on your own?  Have you been wronged by someone in your past?   Are you running from a hurtful relationship?  Maybe you find yourself with a broken heart as you grieve the loss of a loved one.   The same El Roi that saw Hagar in her misery sees you.   Our King of Kings Who is enthroned on high, comes down from His throne to touch us in His personal way.  He sees our hurts and pains.  He promises to comfort His afflicted ones and to never leave us or forsake us.  He is a God who numbers the hairs on our head.  The hope and strength that Hagar received after her encounter with the Lord is there for you. 
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them from famine.  We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust His holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.  Psalm 33:18-23

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
     Praise be to you the Lord Most High.  You are the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords and yet You are a Father Who watches over your children.  Thank you that you are a God who desires a personal relationship with us.  That you see us, not from afar, but you are in our midst. There is no place that we can go that you aren’t with us.  You know the desires of our heart, and when we delight in you, you grant them.  We are never alone, or misunderstood with you.  In you alone we find unconditional love.
                   In the name of Jesus,
                             Amen.