Genesis 16:7-16
Jehovah Roi – He Who Sees
(The Angel of the Lord)
Sunday, May 29, 2022
“The Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” The Angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”
And the Angel of the LORD said to her,
“Behold, you are pregnant
and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
because the LORD has listened to your affliction.
He shall be a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”
So, she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore, the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:7–16).
Review: Here are four Scriptures four our study.
I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:19–20).
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18).
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12).
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:8–9).
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15).
Main Point: In the Old Testament, Jehovah God often appears to people as the Angel of the Lord. He is “Jehovah Roi,” the God who sees and who is seen.
I. The Lord often appeared to people as the Angel of the Lord. “The Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur” (16:7).
a. He was with her. “The Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur” (16:8).
b. He guided her. “The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her” (16:9).
c. He blessed her. “The Angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” (16:10).
d. He saw her. “So, she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing” (16:13).
II. Obedience is difficult: the right thing is usually the hard thing. “The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her” (16:9).
III. Hagar called on the name of the Lord. “So, she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her” (16:13).
IV. The Lord is “Jehovah Roi,” the God who sees and who is seen. “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore, the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered” (16:14).
Challenge: Are you living your life on your own, or are you living for God? Are you going through a difficult situation? Have you called upon the name of the Lord and has He saved you?
Invitation: Humble yourself, turn to God, make obedience to Him your top priority, and trust Him.