8 September 2024

EL ROI – THE GOD WHO SEES

(The Names Of God: TNOG 6)

When Hagar ran away, she went to the desert, pregnant with her child Ishmael. God took pity on her and told her to return to her mistress and then promised to bless her child and multiply his descendants. She was so thankful that God noticed her plight, and so “She gave this Name to the LORD who spoke to her: You are the God Who sees me (El Roi), for she said, ’I have seen the One Who sees me” (Gen.16:13). God not only sees but also cares for her and protects her and the child in her womb.

This Name El Roi (pronounced El Ro-ee) denotes God’s personal care and Presence. Hagar, a slave girl, felt unwanted and despised but was thankful that there is a God Who cares for her enough to visit her in the desert when she felt helpless and hopeless. Peter wrote to the Church and exhorted them: “Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet.5:7).

Even before this Name was given, God, being Who He is—a Loving God and Father, told Noah that when He sees the Rainbow He would remember His Covenant of Love which He had made (Gen.9:16). That means He sees and He cares for His Creation, and especially His children. When Israel was suffering in Egyptian slavery, they cried out to God in their pain and affliction. This is what God told Moses: “I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out...and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians…” (Exod.3:7-8).

From Heaven God saw the plight of Hagar and came down to help her. Now He sees the suffering of Israel and He said, “I am concerned about their suffering and I have come down to rescue them”. This is the God Who cares and Who acts on behalf of His children “who cry out to Him day and night” (Lk 18:7). Beloved saints, let us be assured of the Father’s Love and that He cares for us. We need to trust Him and walk in His ways and be worthy of His love and help. God is Love and He loves both saints and sinner alike.

God is particularly mindful of the poor, widows and orphans who are victimized and exploited. The OT warns time and again that people should not mistreat them or God will act against them. When He sees injustice and ill-treatment of the poor and helpless, He will come to their aid. When people exploit the poor, “the Lord will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them” (Proverbs 22:23).

The Psalmist said, “But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; You are the Helper of the fatherless...You hear, O LORD, the Desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man may terrify no more” (Psa.10:14,17-18). Praise be to El Roi, the God Who sees and cares for His people! Trust in Him O you saints! “Trust in Him at all times, O people; for God is our Refuge” (Psalm 62:8). 

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