daily-devotionals

Reading: “And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered”—Genesis 16:13–14

These words are the reflection of Hagar, the handmaid of Sarah, when she fled from her mistress into the wilderness. In a situation of great distress, the Lord manifested Himself to her, and the conclusion she drew from it, was, as is expressed, “Thou, Lord, seest me.” This was the name she gave to the Lord. But Hagar added another reflection: “For she said, have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”—Have I looked for the Lord, when the Lord looked after me? Alas, I thought not of Him, until He called me by His grace. If we love God it is because He first loved us.

And yet another reflection: “Wherefore the well was called Beer-la-hai-roi,” that is, “the well of him that liveth and looketh on.” This became Hagar’s memorial, as if she would forever perpetuate the name of Him that looked on and regarded her sorrow. This well, this place, this sacred spot, will be Hagar’s Bethel; it will tell everyone that passes by, here the Lord worked for Hagar, and here He manifested grace to a poor handmaid.

Look at Hagar’s faith and bless God both for giving that faith, and affording an occasion for the exercise of it. Does the Lord not look on every one of His children like this? Do I, at any time look to Jesus, and He not look to me? Oh! what a volume of encouragement we get in this—encouragement to persevere in looking to Him, and in waiting for Him. Before I thought of him, Jesus was both caring and looking on me! You can safely conclude, dear Christian, that in every place, in every state, on every occasion, Jesus lives and is looking after you. Though, to your blind eye, He does not appear, He is still seeing, and following you, even when you are not seeking and following after Him. You can call the Lord by the same name as Hagar did: “Thou God seest me.”             

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2013.