“It wasn’t supposed to end like this,” she thought as she made a place for her dying son to rest before the inevitable happened. Her mind wandered to the first time she’d visited this wilderness. Afraid and alone, she’d been carrying the child of another woman’s husband. Life wasn’t what she’d dreamed, but slaves didn’t have the luxury of dreaming about their futures.
It was in this wilderness, however, that Hagar met God. He had called her by name and promised that her offspring would be multiplied innumerably. No one had ever really noticed her before, much less offered her hope. She was only a servant, after all. Nevertheless, she sat and conversed with the God of all creation in this inhospitable place. Hagar was so moved by His attention that “she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou, God seest me” (Genesis 16:13). Knowing she was important to God gave her enough courage to return to and serve her mistress, Sarah.
Little is known of her life after returning to Abraham’s household, but her son, Ishmael, was raised in the shelter of his father’s tent, free and lacking nothing. It wasn’t until Isaac, the son of promise, was born that an angry Sarah once again landed Hagar back in the wilderness. This time with a heartbroken teenager and insufficient provisions, Hagar wept and waited for death to come. But God could still see her.
“God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.” (Genesis 21:16-17).
It’s interesting to note that God didn’t come to her because she sought Him but because He heard the voice of her son. A son who was raised in a household that taught him how to serve the one true God. It was His cries for help and her obedience years before that ultimately saved them from certain death. Though they had been cast out and her promise seemed dead, the ‘God who sees’ recognized their dilemma and delivered them in time. They were not alone in the wilderness, and neither are you!
Whether you are a single parent doing your best but feeling like it’s not enough, or perhaps co-parenting with an unsaved spouse, remember THE GOD WHO SEES is looking out for you. Even when you’re afraid, and you feel things can’t get any worse, stay faithful and obedient. Continue in the faith and teach your children to trust God. Rest assured, He’ll be there on time!
He’s the God who sees YOU.
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