- Scripture: Genesis 16:1–16:16
- The Anchor: “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'” – Genesis 16:13
Yesterday, we talked about God’s promise to Abram of his own child, and today’s passage takes place probably ten years after that promise was given. Sarai thought it would be a good idea to give her maidservant, Hagar, to Abram so that she could bear a child for her and do some surrogate stuff. This was sinful on Sarai’s end because she should have trusted God’s plan from the beginning, and Abram was also at fault for not staying strong in his faith and committed relationship to Sarai. Once Hagar became pregnant, it elevated her status above Sarai, so Sarai got pretty mad and blamed Abram for it. Hagar ran away, but an angel of the Lord found her and told her to go back, promising that her son would also become a father of many offspring. Hagar declares that God is a God of seeing, and that He truly sees the afflicted.
In this passage, we see the sins of Abram and Sarai. I admit, ten years is a REALLY long time to wait for a promise, and I doubt I would be able to wait that long either, but Abram and Sarai should have stayed strong in their faith, knowing that God would fulfill His promises eventually. Sarai and Abram were becoming desperate, and they tried to take matters into their own hands, when we should really give God the steering wheel.
Like the past two passages, this one also gave me a specific vibe. This is an Adam and Eve type of vibe because they were sinning and then blaming each other for the sins. Sarai pointing the sin back to Abram was an Adam-type move. Although we see this in the Bible and look and laugh, we do this so much in our own lives. We blame each other for our mistakes. I want to start owning my sins and learning and repenting from them.
Our God is a God of seeing. When Hagar was running away from Sarai, God saw her. In the same way, God sees us in our current condition. Sometimes, we seem really happy on the outside, but we really hurt on the inside, and God sees that. Even when things are going great in life, God sees us so that we can confide in Him if we have anything to talk about or anything on our minds. When we are afflicted, God sees our struggle and our need for Him, and He acts on that. Our God sees us in our present condition, and He has sympathy.
Reflection
- Abram and Sarai got tired of waiting after ten long years and tried to take the steering wheel from God. When you are praying for something or waiting for a situation to change, how hard is it to keep trusting God’s timeline instead of trying to force your own solution?
- Sarai blamed Abram for a situation they both caused, echoing how Adam and Eve shifted blame in the Garden. The next time you make a mistake—whether at home, with your amazing friends, or at school—how can you practice instantly owning your actions and repenting rather than looking for someone else to blame?
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are El Roi—the God who sees me. Thank You that You see straight past my outward appearance, understand when I am hurting on the inside, and look on my life with sympathy. Help me to stop shifting blame, own my actions, and leave the steering wheel of my life completely in Your hands. Amen.