Hearing And Seeing

by N. Kernaghan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Category: General | Apr 1999

In Genesis 16 we read the sad account of Hagar, the bondwoman of Abraham and Sarah, who, goaded by the severe persecution of her mistress, fled from her presence into the wilderness. There, by a 'fountain of water', she met the angel of the Lord, who told her to return to her mistress. How remarkable are the words, '...she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou art a God that seeth' (Gen. 16:13). What a revelation to this poor Egyptian slave!

Our feelings of pathos are naturally aroused as we follow the banishment of Hagar and her son Ishmael in chapter 21, with all the adverse circumstances that led to the necessity on Abraham's part in taking this action. On the previous occasion, she had been a desolate woman, alone; but now she was an outcast, a lonely mother with a teenage son who was dying of thirst. In her dire need, Hagar's only thoughts were of the approaching death of her son. 'Let me not look upon the death of the child' (Gen. 21:16). Had she no remembrance of the seeing God of her past experience, or His promises concerning Ishmael? God without doubt saw her tears, but He heard the lad. A God that seeth, El roi, yes, but also a God that heareth. Also, a well, not a fountain, supplied their need. How very significant!

Possibly, we shall not experience the anguish of heart that Hagar knew, but how often, when trials that appear insurmountable overtake us, and we are at a low ebb spiritually, do we say, 'What can I do? To whom can I go?' Beloved, God sees, God hears, God cares. He knows our every weakness. The answer Peter gave to the Lord's question was, 'Lord, to whom shall we go?...' (John 6:68). He has said, 'I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee' (Heb. 13:5). We so easily lose sight of this truth, and trust to our own resources, which ever fail.

Hagar had come to know the One who sees, and also the One who hears, and she received the wonderful revelation of future blessings in her son, Ishmael (Ps. 139:23).

N. Kernaghan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Apr 1999
General