See The God Who Sees

Genesis 16:13
New Living Translation

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, "You are the God who sees me." She also said, "Have I truly seen the One who sees me?"

The story of Hagar seems so far removed from our current world and society, the life of Abraham and Sarah and the way they were trying to arrange their family are not how we do it today. However, I am not going to try to understand the cultural norms of several thousand years ago. What I would like to do is find little nuggets of truth, comfort, and relevance for me and you today.

This particular scripture is about when Hagar was being used by the aforementioned couple to try to do God's job for him. (And if that isn't relevant...but that's not the point of this...) Based on her relationship to Sarah, it doesn't seem like she probably had any choice in the matter. She was going to do what she was told. She seems to have had a mind of her own, though, which is why she ended up in the place where God saw her. 

Putting our cultural differences aside, and just focusing on the story as told, Hagar was being used for someone else's advantage and convenience. Maybe she was willing. Maybe she felt like if she was "good enough" she would be treated better and included. Did she feel like the situation would make her part of the family? Respected? 

My guess would be that she did not get that respect, which is why she started her attitude with Sarah. When Sarah retaliated, Hagar ran away. She had done what she was told to do, helped make someone's dreams come true (however inappropriate) and yet had been discarded. Not needed. She must have felt pretty invisible. 

And this brings me to the beauty of this whole story. God saw her. He knew who she was, where she was, and what was going on in her life. In my own modern take on it, He said, "I see you and I got you." 

I've taken a little liberty here, of course, and a little imagination to help us see the God who sees. I have had my experiences of feeling invisible. Feeling like I'm just a convenience. A means to and end for someone else. Have you? It hurts, for sure. I sometimes get an attitude about it. 

I am reminded by Hagar's story to lift my eyes up to the One Who Sees. To be reminded of how He looks at me. I want you, as well, to be reminded. Let's not let the situations and people who make us feel like we are invisible or just a means to an end cloud our view of Him - the One Who Sees. Like Hagar, we can receive His care and blessing, and be in awe of Him. See Him! He sees you.