Genesis 16 is the full story of Hagar, but I want to focus only on verses 11
and 13-14. The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant,
and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord
has heard of your misery.” She [Hagar] 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.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi…

Beer Lahai Roi means, “well of the Living One who sees me.” Hagar was a servant in the house of Abraham, the servant of Sarah, his wife. She fled into the wilderness after being treated harshly. Alone, pregnant, and afraid, in one of the most difficult times of her life, she was not looking for God, BUT God was looking for her. God saw her in her distress, a “seeing” of limitless love. After He let her share her heart with Him, she said, “You are El Roi, the God who sees me”. She is the only person in the Bible to give God a name, and He gives her the name for her son. Why? Because the name Ishmael in Hebrew translates to “God will hear” or “God listens.” From that moment on, every time she would look at her son or call his name, she would be reminded that God hears her.

There are times in your life when you go through situations that are hard and difficult. You wonder, “Lord, where are you?” You struggle and feel like the Lord really doesn’t care. As you cry out to the Lord, have you noticed there are times when you run into someone, and it annoys you because you just want to be left alone. But this person takes time to speak into your life, comfort and love and peace! Have you noticed in some of your darkest times that your phone suddenly rings? You look at your phone and groan, “Lord, I need you NOW!” Someone felt impressed to call you and check on you! Maybe you say, “Yes, but where was God? Doesn’t He care? Doesn’t He know what I’m going through? Why doesn’t He show up right now?” Again, your phone rings and you don’t want to be bothered! As in the story of Hagar, God sent an angel to speak to her for Him, to comfort her and to give her guidance and direction in a time she was lost and overwhelmed! God speaks through people. When you got saved, did the Lord Himself show up to lead you to into repentance to accept Him? Or did He send someone to you?

I know from personal experience, times when I was in a bad place and crying out to the Lord, and suddenly my phone rings from someone I haven’t heard from in a long time. My first reaction is “No! I’m not in the mood for you!” But often I came to realize the Lord had sent them! It reminds me of a story of a man trapped in his home during a monumental rain. The waters kept rising. Soon the man was in his second story window watching the water rise. He prayed, “Lord, please rescue me!” Some guys with a ladder showed up and said, “Come down the ladder and we will get you to dry ground,” but the man said no. Later a man in a boat came up to his window and said, “Get in! I’m here to help.” The man said, “No, I’m waiting for the Lord to save me!” Next the man was on his roof and a helicopter came and the men called out, “Climb into the basket and we will save you!” The man again said no. The man drowned and showed up in heaven where He asked, “Lord, didn’t you hear me? I cried for help, but You didn’t come so I drowned!” The Lord said, “I heard you! I sent a man with a ladder, a boat, and a helicopter but you said no! I tried everything to help you!” This is important: when you cry out to the Lord for help, don’t decide ahead of time how the Lord will help you! Take who he sends to you! And you will thank God more often than complain to Him!

It is in a personal encounter like Hagar’s that we see God and in seeing Him, we know Him and understand His love for us. He is the Living One, the living water who gives us life and sustains us. Seek God, and you will encounter Him in such a way that you feel seen and feel known. God sees me and hears me. God sees you and hears you. Because He absolutely loves you!

-Emil Liko 7/10/26