The names of GOD, "El Roi"

The name of GOD we are covering today is "EL ROI," translated as "GOD of Seeing." This refers to God's sovereignty, in other words, his supreme authority over all. There is absolutely nothing outside of God's control. Keep that in mind as we read through Genesis chapter 16.

Let's read Genesis chapter 16: 1

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar.

We have three characters. Abram, whom GOD promised uncountable descendants and the land of Canaan. Sarai, the wife of Abram. Lastly, Hagar was the Egyptian maidservant/slave of Sarai. At this time, Sarai and Abram were over 70 years old, and Sarai had yet to bear children, which was considered essential during these ancient times.

Let's keep reading.

2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

At this time, Abram may have been willing to wait for the divine promise given to him by the Lord. In Genesis Chapter 15, GOD tells Abram that his offspring will be comparable to the number of stars in the sky! At this time, it would have been considered normal for Sarai to offer her servant, Hagar, to Abram to obtain a child for herself. Sarai was barren by all human reason and calculations. Many doctors today would consider childbirth at 70 years of age to be almost impossible.

This can be seen as a moment of weakness by Abram and Sarai. Human efforts and works meant to accomplish the promise already made by GOD! GOD spoke everything into existence. Shouldn't we know that our efforts are useless in the face of an Almighty GOD?

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3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Abram and Hagar have a child. Remember, Hagar is a servant of Sarai; she would not be considered equal or someone with a higher status or authority over Sarai. Hagar conceiving Abram's child didn't change that. Nevertheless, Hagar looks at Sarai with "contempt," Meaning to regard someone as inferior or less than others. Sarai was unable to bear children; Hagar did. This would, of course, lead to conflict.

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5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!”

Sarai's plan went rotten after Hagar became pregnant, and her attitude shifted towards Sarai. The plan was for Hagar to produce a child for Abram and Sarai, a common social custom at that time. Sarai blames Abram and calls out to the LORD, seeking justice for the recent events that had taken place. We will see, however, that GOD often rejects our ideas of a "good plan" and other social customs, no matter how common they may be.

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6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

Everything is a mess. Hagar's conceited attitude, Sarai's anger, and the lack of trust in the promise to Abram from the LORD. Sarai is given authority to abuse Hagar, leading to her run away. We see a family with no heir, angered by the transgressions of another, as well as a servant who is forced to flee due to the abuse of her mistress.

On Wednesday, Pastor John's sermon talked about the fall of man in Genesis. It is easy to see the parallels in this chapter to what happened in The Garden of Eden. Adam listens to Eve and takes a bite of the forbidden fruit after falling into the temptation to doubt GOD's Word Instead of trusting in the promise from the LORD.

"Sin is man's rebellion against the authority of God and pride in his own supposed self-adequacy."

P. E. Hughes, "Fall," ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 360.

This caused them to flee and hide from the LORD and eventually be exiled from the Garden. Of course, that lack of trust led to our separation from God.

I can relate to this because I have fallen to the temptation to be my comforter in the past. I struggle with pride and "fear of man." I have tried repeatedly to be the captain of my ship, foolish enough to believe that my life is my own and that I don't have to answer to anyone but myself!

I have, too, been angry like Sarai. Blinded by rage to the point of using violence against another image bearer. Like Sarai did to Hagar.

I have also shown contempt for others like Hagar, believing that somehow, others are less than myself. That is because I have what someone doesn't; it somehow makes me better than them.

I have also doubted GOD's promises to us in His Word.

Also, I have been dealt harshly with. I have had friends and family that have abandoned me. I have had wounds from those I trusted.

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7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.”

Hagar fled and was alone after being abused by Sarai. I can only imagine what she must feel, but I'm sure she feels...

Alone, hurt, betrayed, abandoned, hopeless, sad, depressed, angry, the list goes on. I, too, have felt that way, and many of you may have too at some point, maybe even now.

Remember, these emotions and events can be traced all the way back to the root, which is sin—man's rebellion against the authority of God.

But what man intends for evil, GOD intended for good.

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9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”

11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

“Behold, you are pregnant

and shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael,

because the Lord has listened to your affliction.

The LORD hears our affliction. Our GOD is present and hears our pain and suffering. The sadness, anxiety, depression, abandonment, loneliness, anger, hopelessness, and hurt we feel, GOD hears our cries! GOD speaks to Hagar in the wilderness, an Egyptian slave, after she was abused and fled away from her mistress. Hagar is alone with no family, little to no money, status, or home. Yet, in this passage, you see our Almighty GOD, the King above all Kings, the Holiest of Holy, comforting and redeeming Hagar.

Our GOD is not distant. The height of HIS throne does not blind HIM from our affliction. HE hears Hagar's suffering, and HE hears our suffering, too. Hagar will bear a son, and her offspring will be multiplied to a number too high to count!

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12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,

his hand against everyone

and everyone’s hand against him,

and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

Ishmael and his descendants will be like a wild donkey. Picture a rodeo where you see the horse or bull kicking and trashing around, trying to get the dude off of him. That's Ishmael and his descendants. The Ishmaelites will live close to their kinsman but be hostile towards them. These prophecies later come to fruition as you continue reading through scripture. Genesis is a great read!

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13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Our GOD is a GOD of seeing, "El Roi."

That is what "El Roi" means. GOD of seeing, or GOD who sees me.

HE sees our affliction, and HE hears our suffering. HE sees all, everything. HE sees the good we do in HIS name, and HE also sees our deeds done in darkness. Absolutely nothing is hidden from the LORD.

Beer-lahai-roi means the well of him that lives and sees me.

Our GOD is intimately involved with our lives. God sees the troubles you face in life. You are not alone; our GOD is ever-present. HE is not beyond our reach. GOD wants nothing more than to comfort and have a relationship with you. Call out to the LORD, cry out to HIM. HE is the one who comforts and restores. The evil you face in life, GOD will bring out good, all for his glory. As children of GOD, we experience his love, mercy, comfort, and kindness.

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Psalm 27:10 KJV 1900

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up.

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Our GOD sees us, and HE cares for us.

When you look on social media and see a thief or criminal on the run, the police are unable to find them and bring them to justice. The criminal may foolishly believe that they got away. Our GOD knows and hears, and our GOD, El Roi, sees. They will face the LORD on the day of judgment.

Psalm 94:1–11 CSB

Lord, God of vengeance— God of vengeance, shine! Rise up, Judge of the earth; repay the proud what they deserve. Lord, how long will the wicked— how long will the wicked celebrate? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. Lord, they crush your people; they oppress your heritage. They kill the widow and the resident alien and murder the fatherless. They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.” Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise? Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see? The one who instructs nations, the one who teaches mankind knowledge— does he not discipline? The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind; they are futile.

The plans of man are futile and pointless. GOD is sovereign over everything.

We have all fallen short of God's Glory. You and I have sinned and broken the Ten Commandments. "El Roi," the GOD who sees, has seen our deeds done in darkness. We have sinned just like Abram, Sarai, Hagar, Adam, and Eve. If we were to stand before a Holy GOD on judgment day, we would be guilty. GOD would justly send us to hell.

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

For the wages of sin is death...

Our story continues, however. "El Roi," the GOD who sees, saw fit to rescue us from hell. He sees us in our brokenness, despair, in the pit of sin, and wickedness. He sees us lost and alone but finds us in our wilderness. Saves us with the blood of JESUS CHRIST, which was shed on the cross. JESUS paid our fine on that cross so we can have eternal life and a relationship with our Holy GOD.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Let us receive that free gift from GOD and not rely on our own works and plans. Like Abram, Sarai, and Hagar did. Let us believe and trust in the promise that GOD, "El Roi," has given us.

(Close in prayer)

QUESTIONS

Small Group Questions, May 23, 2024

Read Genesis 16:1-2

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Sarai had no children and felt pressured by social customs to take matters into her own hands rather than trusting in the Lords promise.

- What are some ways society or people may pressure us to disobey God?

- How should we respond to those socieital pressuress?

- Do you ever struggle with being patient?

Read James 1:2-4 NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Why does it seem so difficult to be patient?

A man needs above all to be saved from what is the root of all sin—his self-will and his pride.

Andrew Murray

Read Genesis 16:4-5

4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

What sin did Hagar commit against Sarai? How did Sarai respond?

Read Genesis 16:7-10

The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”

Why would God address a runaway slave girl by name and converse personally with her in the desert?

Read Genesis 16:13

13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

What are some of the ways GOD has looked out for you?

How can we pray for you?

(Closing prayer)

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