HE IS…The God Who Sees & Looks After Me

In my marriage, I often felt invisible, unknown, and unloved.

There are few greater aches in this life. 

Enter Hagar—the abused slave of Sarah and mother of Abraham’s firstborn son. In a state of vulnerability and loneliness, she meets God in the desert and goes on to name him, El Roi—meaning, “the God who sees me”. She was not invisible to God. She was seen and known. (Gen 16)

But that’s not the end of Hagar’s story. After the birth of Isaac, Hagar is mistreated by her mistress again and flees to the desert. As she sits weeping in the wilderness, rejected and alone, God steps near and acts mightily on her behalf—providing the sustenance she needs. (Gen 21)

Our God is El Roi–the One who sees us. We could stop right there and bask in the wonderfully kind and compassionate nature of our seeing God. But He always takes it one step further. The ESV version of Gen. 16:13 puts a lump in my throat every time I read it-

So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

God sees us! Wow! But He also acts. He doesn’t just look on us with eyes of knowing. He is moved to action. He looks after us. He cares for us. He pursues and welcomes us. 

But how? How can it be so good? 

Because of Jesus. 

The spotless, sinless, son of God hung on a cross, bearing the weight of our sin and shame. His holy Father turned his face away, causing Jesus to cry out, “My God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34). And in that moment, Christ purchased access to the Father. The curtain was torn in two, the veil was lifted. 

Because Jesus was willing to bear the weight of his Father’s turned-away face, we are now looked upon, seen, known, pursued, adopted, invited and welcomed in. Through Christ, God sees us. And more than that, He acts–He reaches down and draws us near. 

“For through him [Jesus] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household…”(Ephesians 2:18-19).

It’s just so, so good.

Seen, not invisible.

Known, not looked over.

Loved and brought near.