Dear Friends,
You may be familiar with some of the various names of our heavenly Father as revealed in Scripture. Some of them are Elohim (God, Mighty Creator), Yahweh Yireh (Provider), Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace), or Yahweh Rophe (The Lord Who Heals). Today, I want to introduce Him as El Roi (The God Who Sees Me).
El Roi appears only once in the Bible, in Genesis 16, and was spoken by Hagar, an Egyptian servant of Abraham and Sarah, after a powerful encounter in the wilderness.
When Abraham and Sarah were in their 90’s they still had no children and no heirs. In those times, it was common practice for an infertile wife to offer her maid in order to keep the family name alive. So Abram agreed to sleep with Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and she conceived. However, after Hagar became pregnant, Sarah began to mistreat her, so Hagar fled into the wilderness. Alone and pregnant, Hagar encountered the Angel of the Lord, who comforted her and promised that her unborn son, Ishmael, would have more descendants than could be counted. Overwhelmed that God had noticed her in her suffering, Hagar declared, “You are El Roi,” saying, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (v13)
The name El Roi reveals a tender aspect of God’s character: He sees the overlooked, the hurting, the outcast. It’s a reminder that no one is invisible to Him—not then, not now. Especially when you’re in a difficult season, El Roi is the God who notices, who cares, and meets you right where you are. Often, it can be easy to think God has forgotten us, or that He simply doesn’t see us. But like Hagar, the Lord can open our eyes to see the blessings He has placed all around us.
POINTS TO PONDER
1. God’s Omniscience: El Roi affirms that God is all-seeing and all-knowing. He is aware of every detail of His creation and the lives of His people. This attribute of God provides comfort and assurance that nothing escapes His notice.
2. God’s Personal Care: The encounter between Hagar and the Angel of the Lord illustrates God’s intimate involvement in the lives of individuals. Despite Hagar’s status as a servant and an outsider, God sees her distress and intervenes with compassion and promise.
3. God’s Faithfulness: The narrative of Hagar and Ishmael demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His promises. Even when circumstances seem dire, God remains true to His Word, providing guidance and hope for the future.
4. God’s Inclusivity: The account of Hagar, an Egyptian, highlights God’s concern for all people, regardless of their ethnic or social background. El Roi is not limited to a specific group but is the God who sees and cares for all humanity.
5. God Sees to Our Needs with Daily Blessings: We can often take small blessings for granted. The fact that we’re breathing, and most of us have food to eat today and water to drink…are all blessings. We can see God’s daily blessings if we truly choose to look. God doesn’t always have to move mountains. He graciously provides our necessities, such as safe shelter and food, even in times when we cannot provide them for ourselves.
But the Lord doesn’t just see us where we are right now; He sees our future! And in order for us to enjoy that future, some things must change! This change begins deep within us and works its way outward. When people asked Jesus a question, it often didn’t appear as though He was giving them the correct answer. Some people were confused by this. But Jesus was answering the question behind the question—He always dealt with the roots of the problems rather than answering them on a surface level. Listen, there are hurts, wounds, distortions, and issues deep within all of us that need to be addressed and corrected so that our lives can flourish. If we let Him, Jesus will both bring to light and help us address those things that are preventing us from enjoying the fullness of life that He died to give us. Let me share a personal example of how the Lord acknowledges us when we cry out to Him. He doesn’t just hear us but helps us change so that we can enjoy more of His goodness!
“I HAVE NOT PASSED YOU BY!”
Near the tail end of the Brownsville, FL revival around 2005, I traveled with a group of ladies to a three-day conference held there. Each day, the sanctuary was filled with women from all over the country, hungry for a refreshing touch from God! For the first couple of days, I waited quietly in the services for the Lord to speak to me, but I grew increasingly disappointed because I couldn’t connect with Him. It was as if I were sitting on the sidelines, watching and waiting for my name to be called.
On the last morning of the conference, a friend suggested we skip breakfast and head to the sanctuary to pray before the service began. I was desperate to connect with the Lord, so I eagerly agreed! I recall how we walked side by side down the center aisle of the auditorium. I saw a small group of ladies praying in the altar area. Then it happened! When my knee touched the floor, the Lord’s powerful and audible voice shook my innermost being. “I have not passed you by!” He declared. Upon hearing that, I just crumbled to the floor and remained there until the end of the service.
During that time, the Lord began to show me a wide variety of time wasters, ambitious good ideas, and numerous little loves that competed for my time and affection for Him. Realizing I had drifted away from Him, I repented.
This happens to all of us! The enemy is so cunning and crafty, like termites eating away at the foundation of a house; he goes to work in the secret places of our minds, slowly and methodically eroding our godly passion, all the while inserting lies that lull us into spiritual sleep.
I share this story to let you know that the Lord hasNOT passed you by today! He sees you right where you are and hears the longing of your heart. You see, Jesus doesn’t just listen to your prayers; He hears the deep longings and cries within your being. You could say He hears the cries behind the cries of your heart! However, to meet your desires, He may need to remove some destructive thought patterns, motives, and behaviors, so that His goodness and blessings can flourish in your life.
Think of your soul as a garden. Weeds don’t ask permission to grow in between the precious fruit and vegetables! It just happens! That’s why we, as the gatekeepers of our soul and watchmen on the wall of our mind and heart, must daily guard from bad seed getting into our soul and causing havoc. In other words, what we watch, listen to, or engage in through our eyes and ears can be either healthy or detrimental to our soul (our garden, our life!) Just as our bodies reflect the nourishment they receive—whether healthy or junk food—our minds and hearts mirror what we take in. Filling ourselves with the Word of God (reading, listening, and practicing it) brings strength and clarity, while absorbing worldly and misleading information shapes us in ways we may not intend. What we choose to consume ultimately determines what we reflect. It’s really OUR CHOICE!
Look at how the Lord pleads with us in Proverbs 4:20-26 to listen and heed His good, sound counsel…
“Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.
So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life. Avoid dishonest speech and pretentious words. Be free from using perverse words no matter what! Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions. Watch where you’re going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness.” (TPT)
We must CHOOSE WISELY! We cannot afford to allow ourselves to take in lies, or even half-truths (one-sided opinions). We need to take in TRUTH so that we can live healthy and successful lives! This is what the Lord tells us to do in Isaiah 55:2-3…
“Why spend your hard-earned money on something that can’t nourish you or work so hard for something that can’t satisfy? So listen carefully to me and you’ll enjoy a sumptuous feast, delighting in the finest of food. Pay attention and come closer to me, and hear, that your total being may flourish. I will enter into an everlasting covenant with you, and I will show you the same faithful love that I showed David.” (TPT)
It’s all in the blueprints of the Bible! The Bible is the eternal Word of God. It is always relevant and teaches us how to think and live successfully!
If you spend some time reaching out to Him in prayer, Jesus has promised to turn aside for you and show you how personal He is. He will strengthen you, help you focus on what’s most important in life, and restore your hope and joy!
In His Loving Name,
Life With Father Ministries
GOD’S PLAN FOR ETERNAL SALVATION
God loves you and desires a personal relationship with you now and forever. The problem is that one thing separates you from a relationship with your heavenly Father—sin. You and I sin whenever we fail to live by the Lord’s holy standard. (Romans 3:23) Furthermore, Romans 6:23 explains that the penalty for sin is death—separation from God in hell forever. No matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves or eliminate our sins. We can’t earn our way to heaven by being good, attending church, or being baptized. (Eph. 2:8-9)
Understanding how helpless we are because of our sins, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to save us. Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life and then died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8). Three days later, He rose from the dead, showing that He had triumphed over sin and death once and for all. If you have never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior—if you have never asked Him to lead you into a life of goodness and joy, you can do that right now! You can tell Him in your own words or use this simple prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Romans 4:25 says, “Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that he had made us right with God!” I understand that my salvation is not based on my works but on the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and wash me clean of all evil and filth. I put my faith and trust in Jesus as my only hope for living eternally with you in heaven. I ask you, Jesus, to be my Savior and my Lord. Help me now to live a life of integrity that honors you. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me eternal life! Amen.