God Sees Your Anguish
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
-- Genesis 16:13
Hagar was a maidservant. Her wishes, her desires, were never even considered. She was to do as she was told, keep silent, and be happy about it. No one likes to be in that invisible place.
God had promised Abram that he would have a son. Abram’s wife Sarai couldn’t see how that could possibly happen so she gave her servant Hagar to her husband Abram. I realize that was a common practice during that time but it just seems so cruel. And it shows a total lack of faith in God.
Sarai’s plan worked. Hagar did get pregnant and bore a son, Ishmael. This was not the heir God had promised. That heir would be Isaac, a son Sarai would give birth to in her old age. But, in the meantime, Sarai came to despise Hagar for becoming pregnant -- even though it was what Sarai said she wanted.
Isn’t it funny how that happens sometimes? We know exactly what we want and how to get it. Then we do get it and find out it wasn’t what we really wanted after all. It’s just so much better to wait for God to show His Glory that to barge ahead with our own plans.
Nowhere in those plans did Sarai consider Hagar, the person. Can you imagine being given to your boss’s husband so that, hopefully, you’ll become pregnant and have a child your boss will then claim as her own?
A distraught Hagar ran away -- and God heard her cries. He sent an angel to her and, encouraged, she returned to Sarai and Abram.
Have you ever been in a situation where no one heard you? Have you ever been trapped in a relationship where your thoughts and feelings didn’t matter to anyone? Have you ever talked and talked only to realize that the other person hadn’t heard a word you said? Literally. Because you weren’t important enough to listen to. It hurts, doesn’t it?
God knows. He hears. He sees. Even though we may sometimes feel our lives don’t matter, they do. Because our lives matter to God. Even though no one else listens, God hears our words and knows our hearts. He cares about our tender feelings and about the injustices we endure.
Just as God cared for Hagar and Ishmael, He cares for you and me. God provided water and shelter for them and He’ll provide for us too. Don’t ever let the enemy make you believe that you are alone, that no one cares. God is with you. He knows. He hears. He sees.
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