# 133 The One Who Lives and Sees

The Book of Genesis Day 133 Ge 16:11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." 13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?" 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. Note the capital “A” in Angel of the Lord. This indicates what theologians call a theophany, that is, a manifestation of God. These manifestations occur several times in the Old Testament and are meant to show God’s personal interest and involvement with people and events. THIS IS NO ORDINARY ANGEL! He is the Pre-Incarnate Christ! The Angel lets Hagar in on a little secret. She is going to have a son, and she is to name him Ishmael, which means, “God will hear.” God will hear what? God will hear, and in fact has heard her affliction! This should tell us a little bit about what Hagar was going through with the ill treatment she was receiving from Sarai! In fact, the word “affliction” here is the same one used when God acted to deliver the Israelites from the harsh treatment they were receiving from Pharaoh in Egypt! This should also tell us something very important about the character of God! God will hear affliction! Therefore, we should stay away from afflicting others, and if we are experiencing affliction we ought to ENDURE, confident that God hears! God hears, God knows of our afflictions, and in His time will deliver us! Hagar, excited about her encounter with this manifestation of the Living God, gives Him a name! She says, “”You are the God who sees,” and calls the well, Beer Lahai Roi, which means , “well of the One who lives and sees me.” You can catch the chilling awe in her response as she says, “”Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” (A rare privilege granted to few!) It’s almost too much to comprehend! She has had a personal encounter with the God who sees, the God who knows exactly what’s going on in her life! The God who saw and knew of her affliction! He heard her inward cry for relief and assures her that everything will be okay! The same God who knows all and sees all, meets her where she is at! No wonder she is overwhelmed, and no wonder she is able to go back and face Sarai and Abram!. This same God who knows all and sees all will be with her! Did you know that this same God who knows all and sees all, desires to have encounters with you too? You will find Him in the pages of the Bible. He wants you to approach Him through the Ultimate Theophany, the”Post-Incarnate,” Lord Jesus Christ! It is His desire to speak to you and he does this through His Word. Heb 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The more you read His Word, the more you will realize that it is the well of Beer Lahai Roi, the well of the one who lives and sees you, and speaks to your every need. By the way, this is kind of a good news/bad news word for Hagar. She will have a son, but, “He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." This was the beginning of the ongoing struggle between the Arabs and the Jews that continues even to this day. Pray: Lord, I ask that You would let those know who are enduring affliction, that You have not forgotten them. Show them that You hear, You see, and You know.