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I Am Seen

Big Idea: No matter your circumstance, you are seen by God.

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had
spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” —Genesis 16:13

Big Question: Where in my life does God see me?
Main Scripture: Genesis 16:1-15

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. ²So 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. ³So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. ⁴So 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. ⁵Then 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!” ⁶Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. ⁷The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. ⁸The 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. —Genesis 16:1-8 NLT

1.) He sees me in my hurting

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. —Psalm 34:18

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” ¹⁰Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” ¹¹And 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. ¹²This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.” —Genesis 16:9-12

2.) He sees me in my hoping

God might kill me, but I have no other hope. —Job 13:15

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. ²⁶And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! ²⁷I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! —Job 19:25-27

3.) He sees me in my honoring

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?” ¹⁴So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered. ¹⁵So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. —Genesis 16:13-15