Genesis 16 is the only place in scripture where God is referred to as El Roi. This is the account of Sarah’s maid, Hagar. God appeared to Hagar in the midst of a difficult situation and spoke a blessing over her. Because Hagar recognized this was God speaking and He had understood her circumstances, she named Him, El Roi (the God Who sees).
Genesis 16:13 She gave this name (El Roi) 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.”
God is still the God Who sees.
Proverbs 5:21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
Because God is omnipresent (everywhere at all times), and has the ability to see all things, He is able to guide and direct us through every situation we encounter.
Psalm 121:5-8 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
What a beautiful promise and sense of security we have knowing the Creator of the universe is watching over us.
God is able to examine every area of our heart.
Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the Lord, search and examine the mind, I test the heart,
To give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
Psalm 44:21 If we had forgotten the name of our God 21 Or stretched out our hands to a strange god, Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
The thought of God being able to see into the depths of our hearts can be daunting. Not even the most “secret” thought or desire is hidden from Him. However, if God was unable to see into our hearts, He would not be able to expose the wickedness that lies hidden there. Once our sin is revealed, we have the choice to repent (change our thinking) and be transformed. Because our sin keeps us in darkness and separates us from God, let the following be the prayer of our heart:
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 and see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Today I heard my pastor talk about this name of God. I've been a christian all my life and have read Genesis 16 before, but today I realized that El Roi came over me in the hardest and saddest time of my life.
ReplyDeleteA few months ago my dad's surgeon called me to inform me that my dad's liver cancer had metastasized to many parts of his body. I literally cried myself to sleep listening to the book of Psalms. As I was in the state of falling asleep, but at the same time aware of where I was in bed, there was a silhouette that came from the ceiling and hugged me. I got up terrified and confused. I knew something super natural had happened, but was scared to speak about it with my husband or anyone for that matter. I was filled with the peace of God and was happy He embraced me. It took me a few weeks to finally confide in my husband about that incident. I didn't want him to think that I was losing my mind.
So today's message made me relive this experience and I just want to share it with everyone.