Where Are You, God? 30 First Encounters With Godنموونە

Day 4: Hagar - God Sees the Outcast

Have you ever felt unseen? There's nothing quite as disconcerting as feeling like nobody sees you or cares about your struggles. It leaves you wondering if even God notices you.

Hagar knew this feeling intimately. "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar" (Genesis 16:1). As Abraham's Egyptian slave, she had no voice and no rights. Forced to become a surrogate mother when Sarah jumped ahead of God's plan, Hagar quickly became a victim of abuse.

Divine Encounter in the Desert

When conflict erupted, Hagar responded by running away. On her journey, she found herself sitting alone by a desert spring, dejected and hopeless. It was there that she encountered the living God.

"And he said, 'Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?'" (Genesis 16:8). Notice that God called Hagar by name. To Him, she mattered. Her struggles had not escaped His notice, and He encouraged her when she needed it most.

From Victim to Visionary

God's tender treatment moved Hagar to become the first person in Scripture to give God a name: El Roi. "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).

Hagar's transformation is remarkable. She enters as a victim of others' schemes but emerges as a witness to God's character. The outcast becomes an oracle, declaring divine truth that reveals no one is too marginalized for God's personal attention.

Hagar and the Middle East

Hagar's story carries profound significance. Her son Ishmael became known as the father of the Arab nations, demonstrating that God's promises extend beyond Abraham's covenant family. "I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring" (Genesis 21:13). This encounter foreshadows the gospel reaching all peoples, including the descendants of Ishmael.

God Still Sees Today

God sees those who are oppressed, marginalized, and alone. He knows their pain and cares for them. There is not a single person whose plight is hidden from Him, no matter where they live or what injustice they face.

Take a moment to thank El Roi, the God Who Sees. He is making Himself known to those who wait in darkness, bringing healing to the nations just as He has done from the beginning.