Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 18 – The God who Sees Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children by her.” Abram heeded Sarai’s voice. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD (Jehovah) judge between you and me.” 6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” When Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. 7 Now the Angel (Mal’ak, mal-awk) of the LORD (Jehovah) found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 The Angel (Malak) of the LORD (Jehovah) said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” 10 Then the Angel (Malak) of the LORD (Jehovah) said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they will not be counted for multitude.” 11 The Angel (Malak) of the LORD (Jehovah) said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and you will bear a son. You will call his name Ishmael because the LORD (Jehovah) has heard your affliction. 12 He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” 13 Then she called the name of the LORD (Jehovah) who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God (El)-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. God’s names: Jehovah – Self-existent, Eternal El – God Malak – Messenger God’s character: The God who sees. Omniscient People often want to give a helping hand, especially when it wasn’t asked for because they think they know the best way to make things work. When they do, they mess things up worse than anticipated. The LORD told Abram he would have an heir and his seed would be as numerous as the stars. Sarai thought the only way to make that happen was to give her maid to Abram as his wife so she could have a child through her. It worked. Hagar conceived and despised Sarai and fled from her harsh treatment into the wilderness. The Angel of the LORD found Hagar in the wilderness and told her she would have a son and the name she should call him, Ishmael, meaning God will hear. You know two things in this chapter. One, the Angel of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Son of God. In every case where you see Angel capitalized, He comes as God’s messenger. Two, you know He’s God’s Son, because Hagar calls Him God—the God who sees her. God is omniscient, seeing everything you do. Though Hagar fled from Sarai to the wilderness, she could not flee from God. David often declared that God saw him. Psalm 139:1 (For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.) O LORD (Jehovah), You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD (Jehovah), You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. God told Hagar to return to Sarai and submit to her. When you abandon your task, God will tell you to go back to it and submit to those in authority. When you do, God will make certain everything turns out as it should. Let’s pray: Father, You see me and everything I do. Help me submit to those in authority over me and bless me as I bless You with my submission. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 5 February 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me