Watch Me

Hagar was between a rock and a hard place. Her mistress Sarai had persuaded her husband to impregnate her, because as of yet there was no heir for Sarai's beloved husband Abram. As Sarai's maidservant, Hagar really couldn't argue with either of them, how could she? She was thought of as hired help and knew it was best to do what she was told. We have to be extremely careful how we treat people. A funny thing happens, the moment Hagar realizes, she's pregnant, she becomes indignant and begins to despise Sarai. As a lowly servant she was able to something the lady of the house could not do; become pregnant. Not to be outdone, Sarai talks it over with her husband and drives Hagar out of their home. Hagar comes to a spring of water where the Angel of the Lord finds her and begins to talk to her.

As the Angel of the Lord spoke to her, he asked her where she was coming from and where was she going, and then told her to do something that would require her to be a big girl. He tells her to go back to her mistress and submit to her. WOW! God has a way of challenging us to do what seems impossible at the time; but by His grace we can do anything. Finally, He gives her the name for the child she is carrying. I'm sure this servant girl was in utter amazement and bewilderment! The God of the universe had just stopped by to speak directly to her, at the lowest point in her life. She was beside herself! I can only imagine how she must have felt the moment she heard "HIS" voice. Is it just me, or do you become like a child on Christmas day when you know God has spoken to you? I get TOO pumped AND excited! I can hardly contain myself! After all, the enemy has sent a gazillion thoughts my way to make me feel like I REALLY am abandoned, unloved, and forgotten, and then~BOOM! A Word from the Lord! Like each of us Hagar had every reason to assume that she was by herself, and her back was up against the wall. Here she was alone, homeless, and to add insult to injury, pregnant.


El Roi~ The God Who Sees

Have you ever felt invisible? Have you ever felt like God had forgotten about you? Has there ever been a moment when you felt like you didn't matter? One of the new shows for the fall line-up is called "The Forgotten", and it the title alone could take up more than half of my autobiography. The other half could be titled "He Came Through". At some point in our lives we have felt that the God of grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness has forgotten about us. How can we not? Everyone else is getting their miracle, blessing, and breakthrough and as far as we know, they haven't EVEN sought Him in prayer or are even thinking that God is up to something in their life. They weren't even expecting a blessing. We don't ask for fortune or fame, just the small things like a job, a life mate, life's comforts, and still~ nothing. Where is God? I can only assume that Hagar felt this way.

My friends hold on! Do not despair, we are not forgotten! Hallelujah!!! I'm sure those tears Hagar was crying dried up once she realized El Roi had stopped by to see about her. Hagar called Him, "You Are the God Who Sees" and then probably was thinking aloud because she said, "Have I seen Him who sees me?" I imagine she was thinking to herself, "This is Abram and Sarai's God, not mine! But He saw ME! He came to where I was and saw ME, Hagar, the servant of Sarai. WOW! He saw ME!!! There was probably no one around for her to share in her excitement, but the fact that He saw her, was more than enough. After that life-changing experience, she COULD go back and humbly submit to Sarai, because God had seen her. Just in case Hagar ever THOUGHT about saying He had forgotten her, God told her to name her son Ishmael which means "God hears". Not only would Hagar have the precious memory that God had seen her, every time she called her sons name she would know that God hears.

Each of us can relax because He is watching us. He hears our prayers and sees our tears and has not forgotten us. Just bask in the news that for rest of your life, His eyes are on YOU. He doesn't go to sleep, doesn't get tired; doesn't get tired of watching over you. His eyes are on you. The same way God stopped by and ministered to Hagar in her darkest hour, will do the same for you. No longer are any of us forgotten because El Roi sees everything and right now His eyes are going back keeping watch over each and every one of us. As He did with Hagar He has a Word just for you, to comfort you in your darkest hour and inspire you to be all that He is calling you to be.

Genesis 16
Psalm 121: 3, 5-8