God who sees me

Do you think your way (life) is hidden from the Lord?  She gave this name 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."  Genesis 16:13 NIV.

Hagar was pregnant with Abraham’s son Ismael.  She had obeyed Sarah and slept with Abram resulting in her pregnancy.  Now she despised Sarah and was being mistreated out of jealousy and strife.  The tension was too great so Hagar ran away out into the desert.  She was running away from her problems.  God was with Abram….now she was in the desert…nowhere near God.

Yet, God spoke to her in the desert.  He revealed that she would have a son and he would become a father to many nations.  He also told her to return back to her mistress.

Where are you?  Let me give you some possible hiding spots when we are avoiding God.

1. Rebellion- we know about God, but we just run hard into the sin of our own choice of living.  

2. Deceitful sin – somehow we think God will overlook this sin because “it’s not that bad, it doesn’t hurt many people, and no one knows what I am thinking or doing”.

3.  Cares of the World- we have gotten so busy and life is moving so fast…God can’t keep up.  So there is little time to interact with God.

4.  Pitiful Me – life is so hard and difficult that God overlooks my situation.  “If God truly cared, was involved in my life, then I would not be going through this struggle.  No one has it as hard as I do”.

5. Religious Activity – one of the most deceptive hiding places.  We participate fully in all of the church activities.  We think our involvement puts us close to God.  Yet we never take the time to dialogue with Him.  Since we don’t talk with him, we are hoping that we can impress him with our duty in serving him.  But we were made for relationship with him first.

God is able at any moment to invade our hiding places.  He whispers, “turn back to me you sinners, I see all your sin.  Why do you stay burdened with life’s struggles, take my yoke upon you and learn from me.  If I care about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, I see all of your need and will help you.  Many things are important in life, but spending time with me is the most important.”

Hagar changed that day…not because God saw her…but she had seen the one who sees her and lived.  That personal encounter changed her life.  How would you describe the last personal encounter that you had with God?  What did He say to you?  I am sure it included something about His love for you and that He sees you.