DOES ANYBODY SEE ME?
She 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.”
Genesis 16:13 (NIV)
My wife loves to search the beaches for shark teeth. She’ll spend hours looking through the sand and surf for the discarded teeth from Chondrichthyes. (I bet you didn’t know that was the official name of sharks, but you can call them fish if you want!).
I’ve gone with her occasionally, and here is what I notice. My eyes apparently do not work very well because I miss many of the teeth that my wife finds. I walk right past a tooth, and she comes behind me and sees it. I glance at the beach while she has laser vision. Why is she able to see these teeth while I cannot? Because she values the teeth more than I do. They are treasures to her. I can take them or leave them. They’re fun to have if I find them. She loves to find them.
Genesis 16 tells the story of Abram, Sarai, Hagar and Ishmael. Abram is promised an heir from God through his wife, Sarai. Ultimately, Sarai grows impatient waiting on God and suggests that Abram have a child with their handmaiden, Hagar. Eventually, Ishmael is born to Hagar and Abram, but Sarai mistreats them. Hagar runs away with Ishmael into the desert. Everyone has forgotten about them. No one comes looking for them.
However, the Angel of the LORD looks for her, finds her, speaks to her, and helps her. Hagar responds that the Lord is the one who sees her. Her encounter changed her life.
Like the shark’s teeth my wife values, Hagar is valued by the Angel of the LORD. We are valued by the Lord. He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins so we could live in eternity with Him.
APPLICATION: Pray about important people in your life. Find a way to let them know they’re important to you. Let them know that you see them.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for making me valuable in Your eyes. Thank You for looking for me and finding me. Help me see myself the way You see me. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?