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El Roi

Hello, friends! I hope your Tuesday is going great! Today, I want to talk over one of the names of God – El Roi.

I think I can speak for everyone when I say life can be a bit crazy sometimes. Right when I think I have my life under control, I am quickly reminded that life cannot be predicted. In times when my schedule seems to be too much and I don’t have enough hours in the day, there are brief moments when I feel like God is not working in my favor. Everything could go wrong in my day, and I call out to the Lord asking our favorite question, “Why?”

Other times, like in times of hardship and suffering, there are moments of feeling unseen, unheard, and alone. In my past moments of heartbrokenness, I felt abandoned by the Lord. I wasn’t hearing Him speak into my life, I wasn’t seeing miracles in my current season, and I felt like He forgot about me. When the enemy tried to convince me that I was walking my journey alone, I reminded myself of a timeless truth: God is El Roi – the God who sees me.

I came across this scripture this past week in my chronological bible reading plan in Genesis 16. This chapter unfolds the story of Abram (later called Abraham) and Sarai (later called Sarah) and their maidservant, Hagar. Sarai, Abram’s wife, was unable to bear children, so she gave Hagar to Abram in hopes of building their family through her. During Hagar’s pregnancy, Sarai built up anger and envy towards her. Hagar was mistreated to the point where she fled into the desert to escape Sarai’s treatment.

Hagar encountered the angel of the Lord while she was in the wilderness. Here, her greatest need was met – she was seen by God, and He spoke promises over her and her son’s life. Verse 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.’” This encounter with the Lord transformed Hagar’s story from one of despair to one of hope and affirmation.

This is the character of our God who sees each and every one of us. He may not speak to us directly like He did to Hagar, but you can feel His presence in everything. He paints the skies just for us. He gives us new breath every morning. He sends comfort in friends who are willing to be a vessel of His love. He gives us glimpses of His peace through small things, like a warm coffee, a hug from a friend, scenic walks, moments of stillness, etc.

Matthew 10 tells us He even knows the number of hairs on our head. How can a God who knows something so minute not see us in our heaviest needs? In the times we cry out searching for hope, He is there. In the times when we turned on Him and lived in our sin and shame, He was still there. He was there, for Hagar, and centuries later, He is there for us.

Psalm 33:13-15 says, “The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.”

Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of His to whom we must give account.”

These two verses fit so well together. God is intimately aware of our struggle. Not only does He know what we choose to share with Him, but He knows the parts of our heart that we try to hide. He is actively working in your life, even in times when you begin to think He isn’t. These verses give us perspective that God’s vision encompasses all of creation. He is truly the God who sees everything. He is the God who is omnipresent and omniscient for nothing can be hidden from Him.

I mentioned this verse in my last post because I just love it, and it is directly spoken by God; Job 41:11b, “Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.”

If you have to opportunity right now, or maybe later, close your eyes and just repeat to yourself, “Everything belongs to You, Lord, and I am part of Your creation.” Allow your heart to be affirmed by this beautiful truth. You are a part of the Lord’s creation, and He calls you His own. He calls you His child and He watches over you and He sees you.

Like any other characteristic of our Father, there is a sense of comfort that goes beyond knowing His awareness of our circumstances. His presence, His care, and His involvement in my life brings my heart to such a still place. Psalm 139 tells us that He knows our own thoughts before we even think them; He knows all of our ways. The God who created the oceans and the cosmos knows me better than I know myself – and He knows you better than you know yourself.

In times when feeling abandoned or unseen settle in your mind, take those thoughts captive and return to the truth that God is El Roi. Keeping this simple truth close to your heart offers a beacon of hope. It reminds us that we are never truly alone because God sees us and He is with us and He is loving us with a love that never runs dry. We are His creation under Heaven, and He calls us His.

The recognition that God is El Roi invites us to respond in a way that reveals the Father’s love and grace towards His children. We are able to trust because He sees and cares for us. We are able to be open because we can bring our entire self before Him- even the parts we try to hide from Him- because He already knows the darkest corners of our heart, and He understands us fully. We are able to express gratitude because His constant presence is a gift of immeasurable value.

Friend, I pray this message settles in your heart today. The Lord placed this word on my heart for myself but also for you. I hope you know that the Lord sees you, wherever you are. This is your reminder that He is active in your life, even if you don’t believe it. Refresh your mind with the affirmation that you are His creation, and He calls you His because of His love for you.

Thanks for reading!