In this message, we look at the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 and 21 and the powerful name she gives God: El Roi, the God who sees me. In the middle of the desert, overlooked and alone, Hagar encounters a God who finds her, sees her, and hears her. Her story reminds us that God is not distant from our pain or unaware of our circumstances. Even in the moments when we feel unseen or forgotten, God is present, attentive, and inviting us to trust that His provision and care are already within reach.
Hagar fled into the desert trying to escape pain and mistreatment, unsure of where she was going. Yet Scripture says the angel of the Lord found her at a spring in the wilderness. Before she arrived at the place she ran to, God was already there waiting for her. This reminds us that even when we feel lost or far from God, He is the one who moves toward us first.
Hagar was someone society overlooked, a servant, a foreigner, and someone with little voice or power. In the middle of her isolation, she encounters God and declares His name El Roi, the God who sees me. To be seen by God means being fully known and still deeply loved. When we realize that God sees us with care and attention, we no longer have to live striving for the approval of others.
Years later, Hagar again finds herself in the desert, this time with her son and without water. In her desperation she turns away, unable to watch him suffer, but Scripture says God heard the boy crying. Even when Hagar could no longer face the situation, God was still listening and responding. The same is true for us today. God hears our cries and draws near to the brokenhearted.
1. Hagar names God El Roi — the God who sees me in one of the most painful moments of her life. How have difficult seasons shaped the way you understand God’s character?
2. Many of us spend a lot of energy trying to be seen, valued, or validated by others. Where do you notice that tendency in your own life, and how might believing that God truly sees you change that?
3. When Hagar was overwhelmed, the well God had provided was already there, but she couldn’t see it until God opened her eyes. Have you experienced a moment where you later realized God was providing or present in ways you couldn’t see at the time?
4. If we really believe that God sees people with compassion and attention, how should that shape the way we see and respond to others in our community, friendships, or church?
Brooklyn Message Audio
