He found her

Hagar, an Egyptian slave girl whose name means "flight" was given to Abram (later called Abraham) by Sarai, his wife (later called Sarah) to bear his child.

She was used.

Two women for one man never works (nor vice versa might I add) so conflict arose and Hagar ran away (consistent with her name).

She was mistreated and felt betrayed.

Already we can identify. But think of this…here is a slave girl, a maid, a nobody. She’s probably been considered nothing all of her life. Bound in chains longing to be set free. And now it seems her life has gone from bad to worse.

Genesis 16, verse 7 says right after she ran away from Sarai that "the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness…" Did you get that? The Angel of the LORD is the incarnate (or in the flesh) Christ. Jesus Himself. The Savior of the world. It says He "found" her.

Do you ever feel like running away?

There are many truths in this passage but this week the Lord has reminded me that Jesus knows where I am and He comes to us at our point of need. It doesn’t say she was looking for the Lord…it doesn’t even say she cried out to Him at this point. It just says she ran away and Jesus "found" her. And when He found her, he spoke blessing and peace and hope over her. And how did she respond?

It says in verse 13, t-h-e-n "she" gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," (Hebrew: El Roi) for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Hagar, this little slave girl who was a nobody gave the Lord a name. Why? Because He was no longer some distant deity. She knew Him by experience. She said, "You are the God who sees me!" He was hers, personally. He spoke and she heard Him and received His words. And when His eyes met hers a miracle happened. His eyes opened hers.

El Roi, the God who sees, sees you today. Let that sink in. He knows what you’ve been through, what you’re going through now and what will come tomorrow. He wants to fellowship with you and speak His blessing over you and me too. Open His Word. Listen to His voice. See Him as He looks at you and know that His mercy is new to all who will receive it.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise. Be thankful and bless His Name! (Psalm 100)

(This might be a good time to listen to the song below again from Hillsong Kids, "Your Eyes" - I just did...I can't wait to teach that one to Grace!)