Hagar — The God Who Sees, even in the Wilderness

Scripture

“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert… And he said, ‘Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?’ … She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me.’”— Genesis 16:7, 13 (ESV)

 

Reflection

There are seasons when life leaves us wandering in our own wilderness — unseen, unvalued, and unsure of where to turn next. Hagar knew that place well.

She was brokenhearted and pushed aside by rejection. So she ran, and yet, in the middle of her escape, Scripture says something astonishing: the Lord found her.

He did not scold her. He did not overlook her pain. He called her by name and met her beside a spring — a gentle sign of life rising where none should exist.

It was there, in the most barren stretch of her journey, that Hagar discovered a truth that still heals hearts today:

God sees us.

Not from a distance — but drawing close to those who feel forgotten. He speaks worth into those who feel unworthy and restores dignity to those who have been cast out.

Hagar’s encounter reveals a God whose eyes are full of compassion — a God who sees beyond status, circumstance, or location. Even when we feel discarded, misunderstood, or invisible, we are deeply known and unconditionally loved by Him.

Centuries later, this same heart was revealed in Jesus — who looked into the eyes of the shamed and the weary, and called them beloved.

The God who saw Hagar in the wilderness still sees us today — not with a passing glance, but with promise and provision.

 

Prayer

Father, thank you for seeing me — not just what I do, but who I am. When I feel forgotten or unworthy, remind me that Your gaze is full of mercy, not judgment. Breathe new life into my weary heart, and teach me to rest in the truth that I am known, loved, and never alone.

I ask this prayer in the name of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Study Note — The God Who Sees Beyond Boundaries

Hagar’s story is both tender and revolutionary. She was an Egyptian servant — far outside the covenant line — yet she became the first person in Scripture to name God, calling Him El Roi, “the God who sees me.”

This reveals a profound truth: God’s compassion reaches far beyond every boundary and label.

Although the covenant would continue through Isaac, God still blessed Hagar, promising that she too would become the mother of a great nation. Her story whispers a truth that echoes throughout Scripture:

Grace refuses to stay within the boundaries people draw.

From Genesis to the Gospels, God continually reaches for those the world leaves out.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”— Psalm 34:18