HAGAR AND ISHMAEL

Living here in the ‘Show Me’ state of Missouri…and near (250 miles away from the famous Ferguson, MO, I am saddened by all we’ve been “shown” across media coverage.  It’s a picture of the heart of man, deceitful and desperately wicked, no matter what the color or race.  We all need the alien righteousness of Jesus to come in and from the inside out – transform the heart.  I see more blame shifting than anything.

I wonder if you’ve felt like I have…God, do you see this? God, do you see me?  I want to assure you of this truth – He sees.

His name is Jehovah El Roi – the God who sees.

Ps. 139:16, 23,24 “You have searched me and known me, know when I sit down, and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar, you search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways!”

Have you ever been so oppressed by the situations of this life, that you cannot see any hope? Has your life been full of tragedy, disappointment, frustration, sorrow as you face each day? Is it getting harder to believe that God is sovereignly ruling over the nation and your personal affairs?

THIS IS TRUE OF ALL OF US!    

In our darkest of times,God is plotting for His glory and our GOOD!  John Piper

In our blindness we feel like God doesn’t see us!

Have you ever felt this way? God where are you? What are you doing? Have you forgotten me? Are you hearing my prayers? I’m at the end of my rope God! We again have to teach the truth of God to ourselves…Let’s ask the question that I have asked of Him…

DOES HE ALWAYS SEE? Yes!  It’s His name = Jehovah El Roi, the God who continually Sees.

Hagar – Gen 16:7-11 “You are the God of seeing”

Moses – Exodus 3:7-9 – I have seen the affliction of my people.

Samuel – 1 Sam. 16:7 – Man looks at outward, God see the heart

David – Ps. 139:16, 23,24 “You have searched me and known me, know when I sit down, and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar, you search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways!”

Ps. 32:8; “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you!”

Ps. 33:18,19 “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in the steadfast love.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Heb. 4:12,13 “12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

TRUTH #1 – SOMETIMES YOU ARE SO BLINDED BY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO SEE HIM!

 “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” Proverbs 20:24 

TRUTH #2 – GOD IS PLOTTING FOR YOUR GLORY!

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

TRUTH #3  – GOD IS GRACIOUS AND SOVEREIGN EVEN WHEN HE IS SILENT!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)

HAVE YOU HAD THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU KNOW GOD IS SEEING?

I have had many, but sometimes I don’t put them in that category of God seeing me.  An answered prayer, his protection, his provision, his daily holding my world together in the palm of his hand. Many times I don’t see credit Him with being intimately involved in my daily life. I take credit, or give it to a human, but it is all from His seeing eye upon me and his loving hand holding me.

Hagar to Ruth, to Mary, the Woman at the well, and to me, He sees, He is in control, and nothing is in chaos or darkness to Him.

The better question is recorded in Ruth Chapter 2 raised by Ruth to Boaz… it’s a question we all need to ask God –

“ Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

We have a sense of entitlement – We expect kindness and are shocked or resentful if we don’t get our “rights”. Here we see Ruth – humble foreigner, and expresses her sense of unworthiness by falling on her face and bowing to the ground.

John Piper said, “Proud people are not amazed when they are treated well – there is no deep gratefulness, but humble people do! They are amazed at the grace they have been shown!”

Amazing Grace –

Isn’t it amazing that we can look back on those situations we have felt abandonment, and with 20/20 vision see how Jehovah El Roi was at work during the silence and we can see the plot He was weaving clearly now.

For Ruth and Naomi –

The Lord stopped the famine

He bound Ruth to Naomi in love

He preserved Boaz for Ruth –

He does see – He is the God who sees, that we can take refuge under His wings and be astonished at his grace!

Next  I will ask the question  “GOD, DO YOU REALLY LOVE ME?”

BLESSINGS FROM BAREFOOT BLOGGER

KRISTI