Thou God seest me

Genesis 16:13

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?

Hagar is a woman of the Bible that few of us have intimate familiarity with. However, her story is one of beauty and is infused with spiritual comfort and application. For Hagar was an Egyptian—a Gentile who came to know and love God. Her communion with God and God’s communion with her betrays this splendid truth. She was taken into Abraham’s house, and having become Sarah’s maiden, she eventually was given to be one of Abraham’s wives. And God allowed her to conceive a son, who was named Ishmael. But immediately when news is given that she will have a son, Sarah, embittered by her own barrenness, becomes hard and unkind towards her servant. Therefore, Hagar flees to the wilderness.

The beauty of the story commences with these words: “And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness.” See verse 7. The Lord knew exactly where she was! He saw her in her distress! He was acquainted with her grief! He sought her in the wilderness! And is it not so with all of us? For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. He looks after His own. He loves His own. He sees His own!

After the angel had spoken to Hagar and told her to return to her mistress and submit herself under her hand, and had graciously blessed her unborn son, Hagar named “the Lord that spake unto her.” And she called His name, “Thou God seest me.” What a glorious name! What a divine accolade! What an amazing and holy appellation! What a powerful and comforting statement! Thou God seest me! When no one else does. When I am alone. When I am afraid. When I am destitute, desolate, and discouraged, Thou art there! When I am lost in the wilderness; when I am at my wit’s end, surrounded by the barren wilderness and the dry landscape, Thou God seest me!

My dear friend, take great and everlasting comfort in these words, for the Lord always has His eyes upon His own; they are over the righteous. God sees you! God hears you! God cares for you! God knows the situation, the quandary, the distressing state of mind, body and soul. He is there! He will find you by the fountain of water, and then, as He did with Hagar, will show you the once invisible fountain is there for your nourishment and strength. He will furnish a table in the wilderness. Listen to Him! Look for Him! Let Him show you where the fountain is. For there is no wilderness too great, no desert too dry, and no circumstance too bitter, that He cannot provide the fountain of His blessing in the midst of your barrenness. For Thou God seest me!

“Heavenly Father, we thank you that, as in the life of Hagar of old, you are here with us, seeing us, knowing us, and caring for us. If you see the sparrows, there can be no doubt that you see us. Remind of this continually when we find ourselves in barrenness and desolate places. There is a fountain there for us, flowing for our refreshment. Help us to find it! Show it to us! Enliven us! Quicken us! Invigorate our weary souls! For we know that Thou, God, seest us! We praise Thee for this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”