Genesis 16:1-16
Purpose: To open our minds to God's total awareness of everything.
Aim: I want the listener to live every moment aware of God's presence.
INTRODUCTION: Where do you go when you are being mistreated? What do you do when you are being treated unfairly?
Our human nature is to try to "help" God when things get difficult. Abram was now 85 years old and it has been ten years since God had promised that he and his wife, Sarai would have a son. Like Sarai, when it seems that God is not fulfilling His promises we are tempted to try plan "B". We must be careful, though, that we don't decide how God must do things in our lives.
When we depend on ourselves, people see what we can do and we can say, "Look what I was able to do!" When we depend on God, people can see what He can do and they can say, "Look at what God did!" Which one do people say about you?
The problem is that we often have to wait a long time before we can see God working.
Genesis 16 gives us a story that shows us how we can live our lives so that God can do great things through us. If that is what you really want in your life then today's message is for you. [ Picture of a castle] Solomon said: Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe. (NAS)
Let's learn how we can find complete peace and safety in our God, even during a long time of suffering.
Since God is always the answer to our every question, let's begin with what Hagar learned after she met with God.
Vs.13 I. What does the Name El Roi mean? "a God who sees"
A. God is all powerful "El"
EL means "Mighty strength" or "the Strong One." It is the singular form of Elohim that we studied earlier.
B. God is all seeing "Roi"
According to Strong's Hebrew dictionary this word means "to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider."
So Hagar learned that Yahweh is "The Strong One who Sees"
There is not one fragment of outer space where God does not exist. God is even present in the atom. Colossians 1:16--17 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (NAS)
If God is "The Strong One who Sees" then:
What Does God See?
This is just a sampling of what God can see.
God sees every place
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place... (NAS)
God sees every thing
God is not only everywhere, He is completely aware of everything. Hebrews 4:13 and there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (NAS)
God sees every heart
Psalm 44:21 ... For He knows the secrets of the heart. (NAS)
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NAS)
God sees our every action
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths. (NAS)
God sees both good and bad
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good. (NAS)
Vs.1-7 II. El Roi Sees us when we are Rejected "the angel of the LORD found her"
Hagar ran away from Sarai, but then ran into God.
Vs.7 "The Hebrew word for 'found' refers to 'finding' someone or something that is lost or misplaced. Certainly Hagar must have felt both 'lost' and 'misplaced'. Alone in a barren desert wilderness, pregnant with a child because of another person's willful desire...but she was not alone and the 'Angel' found her. This is where He often finds many of us - alone and in the wilderness. But rest assured He will find you. And He knows all about our past as well as our future." [1]
Shur means "wall" so in a sense Hagar had her "back against the wall" as we would say when we are in a difficult, stress filled situation.
Hagar was in despair, hopeless, weary, and alone. She was a woman in a male dominated world, pregnant, rejected, cast out after being used, and feeling like no one cared about her and that no one understood--and yet El Roi went after her and spoke to her.
Vs.8a III. El Roi Sees us as we Really are "Hagar, servant of Sarai"
Job 34:21 "For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. (NAS)
Psalm 139:1--3 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. (NAS)
Vs.8b-11 IV. El Roi Sees us as Individuals "where are you going?"
Notice that in these four verses God uses the word "you" or "your" eight times.
Look again at verse 13 Genesis 16:13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?" (NAS)
A child in Burma was permitted by his parents to go to a Christian school in order to learn to read. The child began to question his faith in the idols which troubled his parents. So the father took the boy to one of the largest temples where the fragrance of incense filled the air. There he showed him the glittering images covered with gold and silver ornaments and surrounded by flowers and candles.
'Here,' said the father 'is a god you can see! The Christians cannot show you their God.'
'Yes,' said the child, 'we can see your god, but he cannot see us. We cannot see the Christian's God, but He sees us all the time!'" [2]
Vs.9 V. El Roi Sees what is best for us "Go back...submit to her"
No matter how unsafe God's will may seem, it is always the right thing to do. Romans 5:20 ...where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (NAS)
Many look to a better neighborhood to be their refuge, instead of looking for that in God. Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the ¬¬¬day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. (NAS)
2 Samuel 22:2--3 He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. (NAS)
Vs.10-12,14-16 VI. El Roi Sees the Future "I will...you will"
Vs.14 "The name of the well means 'The well of One who lives and sees me.'" [3]
Vs.15 Ishmael means "God hears."
Since God can look down the eons of time and see everything, then He also sees everything we say or do.
Isaiah 46:9--10 "Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; (NAS)
Vs.13 VII. El Roi is our Savior "the LORD"
We know that Jesus is El Roi because He knows all secrets: Romans 2:16 ... God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (NAS)
We know that Jesus is El Roi because He is: Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (NAS)
VIII. What Should the Name El Roi Teach us?
A. All our sin is committed in full view of the I AM
Ezekiel chapter eight records a frightening vision that God gave to Ezekiel about the sins of the leaders of Israel.
In his vision Ezekiel saw a figure appear before him who seemed to blaze like fire. A hand from this person reached out and grabbed Ezekiel by the hair lifted him up into the sky. He was taken to Jerusalem and told to look northward where he saw the altar gate.
Ezekiel 8:6--10 And He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations." Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. He said to me, "Son of man, now dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. And He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here." So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. (NAS)
Ezekiel 8:12 Then He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.' " (NAS)
CONCLUSION:
"It may be a secret sin on earth, but it is open scandal in heaven." Lewis Sperry Chafer
[1]Online resource: www.preceptaustin.org/el_roi_-_god_who_sees.htm
[2]Online resource: www.preceptaustin.org/el_roi_-_god_who_sees.htm
[3]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Obedient, 58 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
