The-God-Who-Sees
It has been an eventful few days. Leaks where there have never been leaks. Opinions being shared in every way with placards and posts, with anger and hope. Some scared to share what they think and others screaming at the top of their lungs. In times like this, I ask, “How shall we pray?” There are obvious things to pray about, but I, like many of you, want to listen and hear how Father God wants us to pray.
Many of those who are upset about what has been leaked, don’t know the Father. They may have never heard the amazing “good news.” They may have never heard how much they are loved by Him. They may have known about Him but felt abandoned by Him in their time of need. The church may have hurt them or abandoned them or may appear hateful and uncaring. How do we pray?
They may have bought into the lie, “I need to look out for myself, because no one else will.” They may be picking up an offense for a friend or family member. A young friend of mine posted on Facebook, “I’m not pro-murdering babies.” The post proceeded to give all the hard circumstances women can find themselves in and put a woman’s name with it. I’m pro Sally who finds herself in a very hard circumstance. It listed twelve women’s names tied to hard circumstances that women can find themselves in. How do we pray?
Today I was reminded of Hagar. (Genesis 16: 1-13) What a hard circumstance she was in. She worked for a couple who were frustrated. They were promised an important child but couldn’t bring him forth. As many of us have done in light of unrealized prophetic words, they resolved to make it happen. Sarai told her husband Abram that he should try to conceive with Hagar. Hagar had no voice in the decision. She was told to go to Abram. She did and found herself pregnant which caused Hagar to despise Sarai. Sarai complained about this to Abram and he gave Sarai permission to “do to her as you please.” Sarai dealt harshly with her and so Hagar fled. Hagar alone in the wilderness was visited by an Angel of the Lord. (Many scholars believe it was Jesus himself who appeared to her.) She was given counsel. It was not an easy way out. After receiving His direction, she declared His name “You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees.” God’s names are an indication of how He manifests. For example, “The God of all comfort” manifests comfort or Jehovah Jireh manifests provision. Is this how we need to pray? Lord manifest yourself as “You-Are-The- God-Who-Sees.” Significantly, when Hagar called God this name she said, “Have I also seen Him who sees me? When those who feel trapped in a bad situation, wandering in the desert, know they are seen by the Lord, they then see the Lord for who He is.
We are not going to win many to the truth by debating, but if we pray that Father God would manifest himself as “The-God -Who -Sees”, then they will not only know they are seen, but maybe like Hagar, will see Him.