El Roi "The Strong One Who Sees" Series

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.