“You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139: 6

So far, it has been a week of a big God. Today, we will look at a small moment and the God who was in it.

First, a brief recap: Ten years had passed since God had promised Abram, a wealthy shepherd and future father of Israel, that he would have an heir. Nothing had happened and the biological clocks were ticking. Sarai, Abram’s wife, came up with a logical conclusion to the problem; Have Abram father the next generation through Hagar, her young Egyptian maid. Abram agreed. Hagar likely didn’t get a vote. However, after Hagar became pregnant by Abram, it began to dawn on her how her fortunes had improved. In an unwise move, she acted contemptuously toward her barren mistress. Sarai complained to Abram who said. “Do whatever you want.” The resulting mistreatment by Sarai caused Hagar to flee to the desert.

An angel came to Hagar as she was lying by a spring of water, exhausted and hopeless. The angel asked her where she had come from and where she was going. Hagar replied that she was running away from her mistress. The angelic being told Hagar not to be afraid, but to go back and submit to Sarai. God would be with her and her child and make from him a great nation. Then this:

She [Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God [El Roi] who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me. That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered (Genesis 16:13,14).

What a glimpse of heaven! Right now, we are all on a step-by step journey of faith. But one day, in a dimension we have not yet experienced, we, like Hagar, will see the One who sees us, and experience the fullness of the love with which we are already loved.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am full known (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Nancy Shirah