Dr H Reflections

Who Looks After Us?

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” – Genesis 16:13

Genesis 16:7-14

The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the LORD has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”

So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”).

The Universal Need for Care

The longing to be understood, accepted, and cared for is a fundamental human trait. Across cultures and societies, people seek connection and support, especially in times of vulnerability. Some individuals possess a natural ability to care for others, often referred to as caregivers in American English or carers in British English. These individuals are natural empaths, offering emotional or physical care and support to those in need.

Caregivers come from all backgrounds. They can be complete strangers, as illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan, or they might be close friends, family members, or guardians. What’s notable about caregiving is that it is not something the recipient earns. Often, it is the person’s need for help that causes the caregiver to step in, showing compassion and selflessness.

A Dysfunctional Family and a Desperate Plan

The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar in the Old Testament provides a vivid example of human need, flawed decisions, and the consequences of failing to trust in God’s promises. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was barren and unable to have children, a source of deep sadness and shame in the ancient world. In that cultural context, a woman’s worth was often tied to her ability to bear children, and Sarah’s inability to conceive left her feeling like a failure.

Despite the Father’s promise that Sarah would provide Abraham with an heir, years of waiting caused her to doubt. She mistakenly believed she could no longer trust the Father to fulfill his promise. She had a better idea. She decided to take matters into her own hands, influenced by the cultural norms of the Ancient Near East. Sarah proposed that her handmaiden, Hagar, serve as a surrogate mother. Hagar would bear a child for Abraham, fulfilling the promise of an heir, even if Sarah herself were not the biological mother. An heir is an heir. She allowed the cultural practices of the day to influence her choices,

As Gordon Wenham explains, “It was a serious matter for a man to be childless in the ancient world, for it left him without an heir. But it was even more calamitous for a woman: to have a great brood of children was the mark of success as a wife; to have none was an ignominious failure. But wealthier wives preferred the practice of surrogate motherhood. The mistress could then feel that her maid’s child was her own and exert some control over it in a way that she could not if her husband simply took a second wife.”

Sarah’s decision, however, was short-sighted. She failed to consider the emotional and relational consequences of elevating Hagar from a lowly slave to a concubine, a quasi-wife. The tension between the two women was inevitable, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control.

The Fallout of Sarah’s Plan

When Hagar became pregnant, the dynamics in the household shifted dramatically. Hagar began to treat Sarah with contempt, and Sarah, in turn, became enraged.

Genesis 16:4-6: “When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, ‘This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant, she treats me with contempt.’ Abram replied, ‘Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.’ Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.”

The envy and jealousy that erupted between Sarah and Hagar led to resentment and outright hostility. Hagar became the victim of Sarah’s indignation and harsh treatment. Though the details are not fully described, the situation became so unbearable that Hagar fled into the wilderness, alone and afraid.

Hagar’s plight was dire. She was a pregnant, unwed woman alone in the desert, with no one to care for her or provide support. Her circumstances seemed hopeless, and she likely felt used, abandoned, and forgotten.

REFLECT & PRAY

As Charles Stanley notes, “Hagar had to learn that as children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. God does not want us to run away from our problems, but to face them with His help.”

Father, we all long to be cared for. As children of the King, we need the support and love of others who seek our best. Thank You for being the ultimate carer, the One who sees us in our need and provides for us in ways we cannot imagine.

INSIGHT

Hagar’s Encounter with the God Who Sees

Hagar’s story takes a remarkable turn when she finds herself alone in the wilderness, fleeing from the harsh treatment of Sarah. She felt the weight of her hopelessness pressing down on her, but she was not alone. The Father was watching over her, and in her moment of despair, He intervened with a wake-up call.

The Father sent His messenger, an angel, to meet Hagar in her dire predicament. The angel’s gentle yet probing questions were designed to make her pause and reflect: “Where have you come from? Where are you going?”

Genesis 16:8-10: “The angel said to her, ‘Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?’ ‘I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,’ she replied. The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.’ Then he added, ‘I will give you more descendants than you can count.’”

Hagar’s response reveals her state of mind. She admitted to running away in answer to the first question, but she did not respond to the second. Perhaps she had no clear destination and was wandering aimlessly, filled with fear and uncertainty about her future. However, the angel provided her with both reassurance and guidance. He promised her a future filled with hope and purpose, declaring that her descendants would be too numerous to count.

The God Who Sees

Hagar’s reaction to this divine encounter was extraordinary. It marked a pivotal moment in her life. She shifted from feeling invisible and insignificant to being seen, valued, and dignified. The unseen God became profoundly real to her. She realized that the Father had been watching over her all along, recognizing her anguish and hearing her cries.

Genesis 16:13: “So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.’”

Hagar, who had felt invisible, alone, and insignificant, now understood that the Father sees, hears, and cares deeply for her. She gave God a name: El Roi, meaning “the God of seeing.”

El Roi carries rich and layered meanings. It can be translated as “the all-seeing God,” “the God who sees me,” or “the God of my seeing.” As Sarna explains, “When God ‘sees,’ it is, of course, that He shows His concern and extends His protection; when Hagar ‘sees,’ she experiences God’s self-manifestation.” This encounter transformed Hagar’s understanding of her worth and her relationship with the Father.

Rising to Meet Challenges

Hagar’s story reminds us that even in the most challenging circumstances, the Father is present, offering hope and guidance. Her experience illustrates that the trials we face are neither random nor meaningless but are opportunities for growth and transformation.

As Bill Halsey, Jr. once said, “There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.” Similarly, in the Father’s kingdom, challenges are the wellspring of spiritual growth. Today’s struggles are marvelously transformed into the strength and confidence needed for tomorrow.

A.A. Milne’s words from Winnie the Pooh also resonate in this context: “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” In the Father’s kingdom, these truths are magnified. Through His strength, ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges.

A Personal Name for the Father

Hagar’s naming of God as El Roi is unique in the Old Testament. She is the only person, male or female, to give God a name based on her personal experience. This act reflects the deeply personal nature of her encounter with the Father.

If you were to name the Father based on your own experiences with Him, what would that name be? Hagar’s story invites us to reflect on how the Father has revealed Himself in our lives, through His provision, protection, guidance, or love.

God’s Ever-Present Care for the Forgotten

Hagar’s story reminds us that even in the most desperate situations, the Father sees and cares for His children. Although she felt abandoned, Hagar was not alone. The Father’s care extends to the vulnerable and the outcast, offering hope and provision amidst despair.

Hagar’s journey from despair to hope demonstrates the Father’s unwavering care for children of the King. He sees us in our struggles, hears our cries, and gives us the strength to face life’s challenges. In the wilderness of life, we are never truly alone, for the God who sees is always with us, guiding us toward His purpose and plan.

The story of Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham highlights the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of taking matters into our own hands. Yet, it also reveals the Father’s unwavering, steadfast care for His children, even in their most vulnerable moments. In a world where everyone longs to be cared for, the Father remains the ultimate source of compassion, provision, and hope.

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© Dr. H 2025