EL-ROI: The GOD Who SEES, Pt. 2

Genesis 16:13; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D.Min.
July 28, 2019

1. You need to realize GOD knows WHERE you are and WHAT you’re going through. (vv. 7-8, 11, 13)

Genesis 16:7-8, 11, 13 (NLT) – The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. . . . . 11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the LORD has heard your cry of distress. . . . . 13 Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

Found (v. 7) – māṣā; properly to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; i.e. find or acquire; (cause to) find.

Heard (v. 11) – shāmaʿ; to hear intelligently, attentively, and carefully.

Sees (v. 13) – roʾî; sight, whether abstract (vision) or concrete (a spectacle). Look to, (that) see. A masculine noun meaning sight, an appearance, a spectacle. It is used in reference to God’s ability to see.

2. You need to realize GOD is strong enough to BLESS you ANYWHERE (v. 7-11)

Genesis 16:7-11 (NLT) – The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the LORD has heard your cry of distress.

Return (v. 9) – shûb;

Submit (v. 9) – ʿānâ;

Genesis 16:1-6 (NLT) – Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) 4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The LORD will show who’s wrong—you or me!” 6 Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

Give (v. 10 – Multiply [KJV]) – rābâ;

3. You need to _ God is the one who can _ whatever you _
(v. 13b)

Genesis 16:13 (NLT) – Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

Seen –

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT) – “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”

Psalm 33:13-14 (NLT) – The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. 14 From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.

Proverbs 5:21 (NLT) – For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) – Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Matthew 19:26 (NLT) – Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Philippians 4:19 (ESV) – And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Questions to Consider

1. What do you think about the practice of surrogate mothering?
2. When have you had a scheme that you concocted backfire on you?
3. What did Sarai tell Abram to do in light of their childlessness? (Gen. 16:1-2)
4. How did Sarai respond after Hagar became pregnant? (Gen. 16:4-6)
5. Why is it sometimes hard to trust God?
6. When have you been tempted to take ungodly steps to achieve a godly goal?
7. When are you tempted to take shortcuts?
8. Why do people sometimes blame other people for problems they have created?
9. What lessons can be learned from the advice God gave to Hagar?
10. Why is it hard to forgive people who have hurt or mistreated us?
11. Why is it sometimes difficult to trust God and His timing in our lives?
12. In what area of your life in which you find it difficult to trust God will you ask Him to help you trust Him?