“The God who sees me"

Our society often values the freedom of anonymity. We like to be able to move around without being known or noticed. It is often easier to be just another “face in the crowd” than have to build relationships, deal with conflict or think of the needs of others. This attitude “protects” us from both accountability and commitment. But it also leads to isolation and loneliness.
In the first book of the Bible (Genesis) we read about a woman who was feeling totally alone in the world. Her name was Hagar. In a complicated family situation she was pregnant with her boss’s child. It was an early attempt at a kind of surrogacy. She was carrying a child because her mistress couldn’t have any. But it all went terribly wrong. The conflict between Hagar and her mistress resulted in her running away to the desert. God met her there amidst the rocks and sand. His angel came to her and said,
“Where have you come from and where are you going?

She answered,

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai”.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count”.

He also told her that she was pregnant and outlined the personality and destiny of her son. She was blown away by this and saw God in a new way as a result. “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her;

“You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me”.
(You can read the full account in Genesis chapter 16)

In a similar way, Jesus met a man called Nathanael. He greeted him like this, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” Nathanael (understandably) asked, “How did you know me?

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you”. Like Hagar Nathanael too was amazed that he was seen and known. (John 1:43-49)

In an often impersonal and uncaring world God sees and knows each of us. What name or names do you use to describe God?