El-Roi - The God Who Sees
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Introduction
Introduction
Let’s do a quick review. So far, we have studied several names of God which include the following.
Elohim - The Triune and Covenant God
El - The God of Great Power
El-Shaddai - The God Who Pours Out Both Blessings and Judgments
El-Elyon - The God Who is the Most High and the High Priest of All Who Believe
El-Olam - The God of All Ages
Now, we are moving to the next name under His Name “El.” It is El-Roi.
Show chart again and fill in the space needed for El Roi
For this name, we once again return to the life of Abraham. In particular, we go back to the account of Hagar. If you recall, Hagar was Sarah’s handmaid. And, as we noted last week, Abraham and Sarah got ahead of God. God promised to give Abraham an heir through which all the nations would be blessed. However, both were passed the age of childbearing. In their minds, this was a big problem. How then could they possibly have an heir? Now, keep in mind, Abraham and Sarah are still learning to trust God. They have not learned that God is the God of the impossible.
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
By the way, let’s not be too quick in our judgment of Abraham and Sarah. We must learn the same lesson. I know from my own personal experience that I often think something is impossible. It is then that I jump into problems solving mode. I come up with all kinds of way to make the impossible possible instead of trusting the God of the impossible. The funny thing is my solutions never work out for my good. However, God’s solutions always end up benefiting me greatly. When it is all said and done, I find that I have fallen into the same trap as did Abraham and Sarah. I make a mess of things. It is the reason we must learn to rely on Him, obey His word, and trust Him for the rest.
Now, let’s get back to the story of Hagar and God’s name, El Roi.
Look with me in your Bibles at Genesis 16 and we will read the entire chapter as it tells the story of Hagar.
1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
So, as you can see from this story, Hagar was placed in a difficult position. Sarah promotes her from slave to mistress. I think it is interesting that Sarah is the one taking the initiative here. In fact, she is the one who Scripture records “gave her (Hagar) to her husband Abram to be his wife.”
There are two things here that go against God’s Word.
First, Abram did NOT do his duty as the leader of his home. In fact, this scenarios reminds of the Adam and Eve and their sin in the Garden of Eden. The wife is the one taking actions contrary to God’s law. Yet, the husband says nothing but simply submits to his wife’s lead resulting in sin. In both instances, the men gave into their own lusts. Adam ate the fruit filling his belly. Abraham engaged in a sinful relationship for his own pleasure. The lesson learned is this. Men must not fail in their responsibility as leader’s of their homes. Whenever a man (husband, father) stops being the spiritual leader, the door opens for all kinds of sinful actions to occur. It is extremely important that men maintain a close relationship with God and strive to be obedient leading their wives and their children.
Second, the Biblical mandate of one husband and one wife was disobeyed. God established from the very beginning that one man is take one woman to be his wife and they are to be one flesh. You can see that in Genesis 2. It was until the days of Lamech (Genesis 4:19) that men began disobeying this directive from God. Lamech was the first to take two wives. From that moment on, men believed it was okay to have polygamous relationships. Something that God never condoned and still does not condone even today. Even though Abraham became a great man of faith, he too disobeyed God in this manner.
Now, what happens when people of faith of lean on their own understanding and abandon the Biblical principles established by God? The answer is nothing good.
15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Things went from bad to worse. Sure enough, Hagar sleeps with Abraham and a child is conceived. In doing so, Sarah, who, by the way, is already not living according to God’s wishes, becomes jealous.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.
Now, Abraham is forced to choose between two wives, Sarah and Hagar. Do you see who things go badly for those who do follow God’s commands?
What was Abraham’s response?
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
The phrase “dealt hardly with her” means that she inflicted a great amount of unhappiness and distress upon Hagar. It so much sorrow and distress that Hagar ran away. She couldn’t handle the stress of being Sarah’s presence any longer.
7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
Isn’t great to know that Lord always finds us? Our God is a gracious, merciful, and loving God. He seeks out His own to comfort and encourage them.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Returning to the story, the angel of the Lord encourages her to return to Sarah, submit to her, and gives her a great promise. Her son, just as the promised son, would also be a great nation.
It is then that we see Hagar’s reaction and find the name of God, El Roi.
13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
She proclaims God, Elohim, as the “God (who) seest me.” Thus, El-Roi means the God who sees.
Now, remember, the name “El” denotes power. Thus, God is powerful enough to see all who are in need of Him.
One of the other interesting things I see in this account of Hagar is this. She fled from Sarah’s presence. God found her, she was not seeking Him. She was just running as far as she could away from Sarah’s hateful actions.
God Sees People Who Need of a Savior
God Sees People Who Need of a Savior
One of the great verses of Scripture states the following.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
God has plan for fallen men long before men were even created. It is a plan we see in place when man sinned.
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The seed of a woman did indeed bruise the head of the serpent inflicting a mortal wound when Christ arose victorious from the grave.
Every time God looks down upon men, He see men and women who need a Savior. For instance, note Christ’s reaction when He was traveling among us.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Even with Hagar, God saw a lost soul in need of a Savior. What does He do?
7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
I am reminded of the story Christ told about the lost sheep.
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
I am thankful for a God who sees our need for a Savior. He sought us out. He did everything necessary for us to escape an eternity without Him. He provided a means for our redemption and then adopted us into His family. For that reason we can cry with the prophet when he proclaimed the following.
Isaiah 12:2 (KJV 1900)
2 Behold, God (El) is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord (Yahweh) JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
And, then note this last point and we are done.
God Sees His Own in All Kinds of Circumstances.
God Sees His Own in All Kinds of Circumstances.
How would you describe Hagar’s circumstances?
As you look over the prayer sheet, would you agree that there are many listed there with varying circumstances?
All of us here this evening have all kinds of things swirling around us. Some might be facing loneliness, hateful people, a bleak outlook of the future, health issues, financial challenges, and many such circumstances. Yet, in the midst of all those burdensome issues, God sees, knows, and desires to help.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Even in the darkest moment and the loneliest hour, God remember His people.
14 But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, And my Lord hath forgotten me.
15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, That she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, Yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; Thy walls are continually before me.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Hagar is a great example of how much God loves and cares for His own. I hope that you will leave here tonight remembering that He is El-Roi, the God Who Sees.