The God Who Sees Me

Have you ever wondered if God really knows me or cares for me. Hagar the hand maiden to Abraham's wife Sarai came to just such a revelation in her life after Hagar fled into the wilderness when Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar for her attitude.

Genesis 16 5-15; 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me." 6 So Abram said to Sarai, "Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. 7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." 9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand." 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude." 11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." 13 Then she called the name of the LORD (Yahweh El Roi) who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?" 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

Now Hagar found great comfort in knowing that the Lord could see what was happening in her life. She also discovered that the God of Abram also cared for her even though she was a slave. Then she obeyed and returned to Sarai knowing that God saw her affliction and would take care of her.

We call this attribute of God omniscience. You can look in the Bible and not find this word used anywhere. But God knows everything about you and I. He even knows our thoughts and motives. He knows all about our every weakness and every sin and he still loves us.

Unfortunately many people would rather God not know what they are doing in their lives. Jesus said: John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32. Therefore, it does matter what we believe and practice in religion. We strive therefore to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. We have found that this approach is both scriptural and practical: it helps to erase all human tradition, sectarian names, manmade creeds, carnal ordinances, and earthly organizations. It provides a basis for unity for the people of God based on Christ and his word. It creates an atmosphere of trust among brothers, because in the congregation nothing is done collectively that can not be expressly found in scripture. Everyone can worship and work together in good conscience.

God knows our every thought. If we recognize our true state and are honest with God we can find forgiveness. We have a choice in life to love light or love darkness. If we love light then we will examine our motives and acknowledge our sins. God desires that we believe in him and that we recognize our own state of helplessness in our struggle against sin. 1 Corinthians 11: 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

When Christ walked on this earth some men, especially many of the Pharisees and Sadducees made a show of their religion. Matthew 6; 16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

God knows us better than we know ourselves. This why Jesus became so angry when he spoke to the Pharisees. They thought God did not know what was in their mind and hearts. Jesus called them white washed tombs in Matthew 23: 27"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

In truth God only asks us to be honest with ourselves and with Him. Jesus spoke a parable in Luke 18: 9-14; 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

The truth is none of us are righteous and all of us have sinned and we do not deserve to be in God's presence apart from the blood of Christ. Which one walked away forgiven? Of course, it was the tax collector who acknowledged his sin.

The amazing thing is God knows us with all of our faults and still loves us. God is omniscient and knows everything about us.

David understood this amazing and wonderful characteristic of God.
Psalm 139 1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

Yes. He knows our every sin and impure thought and yet he cares very much for each one of us. He cared enough to send his Son Jesus to die for us, even while we were yet enemies of God. Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Hagar recognized this wonderful attribute of God. She returned to Sarai her mistress because God told her to return even though she had been mistreated. She knew she could trust God because He is Yahweh El Roi, the God who sees me.

He is ready and able to give us whatever we need if we only ask Him. Yahweh El Roi sees you.

All references are from the New King James translation of the Bible. © 1982

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. Romans 16:16