God hears

God hears. 

Sees.

And makes a way through the

desert. 

When there seems to be no way.

Hagar

Hagar runs away. Mistreated by her mistress, Sarai. She escapes, into the wilderness.

And the angel of the Lord finds her by a spring. 

He asks, “Where have you come from and where are you going?” 

It’s not like he doesn’t know. But these simple questions give Hagar a chance to speak. 

He listens.

Then tells her about what’s to come. A son, yet to be born. And she is to name him Ishmael. Because God hears her cry. 

Ishmael means God hears.

God sees

She obeys when he tells her to return to her mistress Sarai. 

But this Egyptian slave gives God a name that day. She calls Him El-roi—God sees me.

And we know the word of her encounter with God spreads. 

Because they name a well after her testimony. 

Beer-lahai-roi. 

Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.

God hears

Years later, Hagar wanders in the wilderness with her son.  Until the waterskin dries up. Depleted. Like her.

Her son is crying. Dying. 

And she weeps. Loudly. Alone, so she thinks.

But He is the God who hears God hears. Ishmael.

“What’s the matter?”

“Don’t be afraid, for God has heard….”

And her eyes. Blinded by desert sun and sorrow. Numbed by the scene of abandonment after blessing. Blurred in the flow of tears. Suddenly open. 

She sees a well. 

And fills the waterskin. 

Gives the boy a drink. And he lives. 

Reveal Your truth

Today, other Hagars thirst. Living in harsh wilderness. Disappointed by hopelessness.

And You are the God who sees. The God who hears.

“What’s the matter?”

You care about their struggles.

“Don’t be afraid.” 

You care about their fears.

“God has heard.”

You are listening to the heart cries of the lost and thirsty who cannot see the Well of living water.

Reveal Your truth in their desert, Lord. Send more of Your people into wilderness fields. To those who have never heard.

What about you?

How have you experienced God at work as the One who sees? The One who hears?

Related posts

The One who sees me – Unexpected altar – Crisis – 

Genesis 16 – Genesis 21:8-21 – Genesis 24:62 – Genesis 25:11