So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them.
Genesis 1:27, NRSV
I’ve often wondered about this God who created me in His image. Who is He? I guess that’s a question many of us have asked at different times in our lives. One day, not too long ago, I decided to search the Bible to find out just who God really is. I found that the best way to answer this question was to look at the character of God through names people gave Him because of something He did for them or because of how they saw Him act in a given situation. From my readings I’ll share with you a different name of God that has given me strength and joy.
I’ve been through trials, and once the question came to mind: Where is God? Does He see me? Does He know I’m suffering? Then in Genesis 16 I found the name that Hagar, an Egyptian slave, gave to God. Hagar ran away from her mistress Sarai who was treating her harshly. You know the story: disobedience on Abraham’s side and Sarah’s part gave birth to a situation that should never have been. But in her distress and pain, God did not forsake Hagar. He met her near a desert spring and gave her a promise for the future of the child she carried. Overjoyed that the God of Abraham came to her and gave her a promise, she called him El Roi – “The God who sees me.”
Amazing! Hagar was not one of God’s chosen. She was a pagan. Yet He saw her distress and visited her and gave her comfort and hope. He saw her. Does God see me in my distress? Oh, yes He does. He sees me and loves me and promises me that He who made me in His image will never forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).
An old hymn says, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” Today I praise God for His watch care. No matter what my situation, He sees me. He is my El Roi, and He sees you too. In times of discouragement and distress, you are not alone. There is One who watches over you. Remember, “The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind. From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth – he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds…. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him… to deliver their soul from death” (Psalm 33:13-19 NRSV).
Love out Loud ©2010 Review and Herald Publishing Association