El Roi is the God who sees. We have been focusing a lot on God’s sovereignty and here is another example of God’s name bearing his true character.
Genesis 16: 13-14 (Hagar) gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen [c] the One who sees me.”
Background
Do you remember Hagar? She was Sarai’s maidservant. Sarai didn’t believe that she would get pregnant and so to help God fulfill His promise to Abraham she insisted Abraham sleep with Hagar. Hagar bore Abraham a son, Ishmael, and he became the father of the Arab people. But Sarai was jealous of Hagar and so she mistreated her and Hagar fled, while she was pregnant. It is while she was fleeing that she saw the God who sees her.
And this God who sees, what did he tell her to do? I think it is an important point, often missed in this story. . .that the God who sees and knew her misery told her to go back and face the situation–not to run away. Why would a God who is all loving tell someone to go back and submit to abuse? In Hagar’s case, it was because he is El Roi. . .he saw her misery and was going to see her through it. He was going to turn what was meant for evil, into something that brought glory to Himself.
Royal Family Kids’ Camp
My husband and I had volunteered at a camp for abused and neglected children for several summers during the first few years of our marriage. My heart broke for the children we met there. All of them had suffered horrific abuse or neglect. I think of my own children and I can’t even imagine being so angry inside as to physically or emotionally abuse one of them. How is it ever possible for these kids to have whole lives?
I believe the beginning of healing is through knowing this God who sees. This God who sees will bring good for his children even out of the most horrible situations. I don’t say this easily or casually, but faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit, will allow you to see El Roi and to trust in His purposes for you.
El Roi blessed Hagar that day. He told her her descendants would be numerous and fill the earth. This is, a common blessing throughout the old testament and in fact is essential to God’s covenant with Abraham. But I think on a deeper level, Hagar was blessed as well, the see the God who sees her, El Roi.