“I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him and restore comforts to him.” Isaiah 57:18
A few years ago, on New Year’s Eve, my husband and I sat on the front pew of our church with our son. The service had ended, folks had already headed home and we were still there talking. You see, he had answered the invitation and told our pastor he needed to be saved, but he couldn’t get it resolved in the standard two verses of the hymn, so we stayed.
What he struggled with was the reality that he personally was a sinner. He understood Jesus died to save us from our sins. He knew that everyone was a sinner. But that jump to “I am a sinner,” was tripping him up. Finally, after multiple explanations (including ones with Legos), it all clicked.
However, even after we embrace that amazing reality that Jesus Christ loved personally, individually, and died to give us life, we still get tripped up by the same kinds of ideas.
- We grasp that God loves us. We aren’t quite as certain when we say, “God loves me.”
- We know God hears our prayers. But yet, we often leave our knees wondering if God heard us that time.
- We believe God has a plan, but looking around for evidence that our situation fits in it often leaves us empty.
When all those questions play against a backdrop of modern society where it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle or reduced to just a number, it’s hard not to wonder if God doesn’t just lump us in with all the other believers. But the evidence shows God sees and knows us personally.
Take Hagar for instance.
In Genesis 16, Hagar is a pregnant slave (carrying her master’s baby) on the run because her mistress suddenly turned into the psycho mistress of the underworld. She had been used and betrayed by those in authority over her. She was Egyptian by birth, a slave, and now a fugitive. The chances of finding any help were slim and becoming slimmer with each scuff of the sand beneath her feet.
But God saw it all.
When God addresses her in verse 8, He says, “Hagar, Sarah’s maid …” He knew exactly who she was, and her situation. He deals with her personally. Before He leaves, God gives Hagar some guidance as to what to do next and He makes some promises to her. Because of this meeting, Hagar gives God a name, The-God-Who-Sees, because, she explained, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”
You’d think after an amazing encounter like that, her faith would be rock solid for the rest of her life. But Hagar is real. She forgets. Soon, she’s busy trying to make a life for herself and her son. Then she gets kicked out. In her desperation, God speaks to her again, calling her by name. He provides reassurance, direction and hope (and water in the desert).
While you might argue that of course God took care of Hagar, she’s in the BIBLE! Then I would argue that it would be pretty impractical to lug around a book containing the details of everyone God heard, cared for and provided for. In Scripture He gave us enough examples to prove His character. Then we rest our faith on that.
Rest assured, the God Who Sees also sees you. Personally.