DIG DEEPER - EXPLORE FURTHER

The price of impatience is costly. The theme of God sees us weaves its way throughout Abraham’s story. When Abraham named the place of miraculous deliverance Jehovah Jireh (“The Lord will provide”), he acknowledged God’s provision. Yet the idea of God being the One who Sees also appears earlier in his story, in a very different setting.

Abraham and Sarai grew impatient with God’s promise and decided to use their handmaid Hagar to bypass God’s timing. When Hagar conceived, conflict arose between her and Sarai, and Hagar fled. Alone and vulnerable in the wilderness, she encountered God. God promised to bless her and care for her, and there she gave God the name: El Roi (“The God who sees me”). Hagar was the first person in Scripture recorded as giving God a name. The reason for this encounter, however, was directly tied to Abraham’s lack of faithfulness and trust.

God restored a part of Hagar’s story. Ishmael, her son, would also suffer deeply, losing a stable home, the presence of his father, and the security of belonging. In Genesis 16, the angel of the Lord gave a sobering description of Ishmael’s life and character:

Genesis 16:11–12

“You are now pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.

He will be a wild donkey of a man;

his hand will be against everyone

and everyone’s hand against him,

and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

Abraham’s disobedience had lasting consequences. There is always a cost when we deliberately choose our own way over God’s. The cost grows even greater when we take matters into our own hands and harm others in the process.

Yet despite the loss and chaos, Hagar felt seen by God. El Roi. There is a redemptive beauty in being seen by God when you have been overlooked, misused, and taken advantage of by people.