photo #7733817

"GOD'S EVER WATCHFUL EYE" "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?" (Genesis 16:13) (brackets mine)This 16th chapter records a family conflict between Sarai and Hagar with Abram was caught smack dab in the middle of that whole female warfare. You'll recall in the preceding chapter where Abram had suggested adopting his slave as his heir, God reassured him that his heir would be a son of his own (Genesis 15:2-4).But after ten years in Canaan, Sarai was still childless. Weakened in faith, she suggested that Abram obtain his son through their slave-girl Hagar. This was not God's way, but it followed an accepted custom among the people of the region. All legal rights over the child belonged to the wife, not to the slave-girl, though the wife had no right to expel the slave-girl. However, when jealousy arose between Sarai and Hagar, Sarai enforced her rights with such bitterness that Hagar fled (Gen. 16:1-6).Hagar was probably high tailing it for her home country when she was met by the angel of the LORD. We hear the LORD telling Hagar to return and submit to Sarai, adding that the son to be born to her would himself become the father of a great people. He would be named Ishmael and would grow into a tough, independent desert-dweller (Gen. 16:7-12). Hagar was so amazed to think she had heard God speak and lived, that she addressed God by a special name in acknowledgment of her extraordinary experience (Gen. 16:13-16).To be sure, God's perfect eyesight is carefully watching His fleeing and His fearful children at all times. As He intervened in Hagar's life, promising her a future and hope for her son, we as well are encouraged by the fact that God sees you and I wherever we may be, noting our trials, and will guide us, and offering us a bright and blessed future.Years ago, I remember reading a story where a house caught fire one night and a young boy was forced to fearfully flee to the roof. His father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms calling out to his son, "Jump! I promise I will catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the little fella could see were the flames, the smoke, and the darkness of the night. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept calling, "Jump! I promise I will catch you." But the boy cried out, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters!" The boy then leaped into his father's waiting arms because he trusted in his daddy's promise.Now folks, often we're just like that young boy when that nasty ole devil with his fiery darts tries to corner us with fears and doubt. All we can see right then is the smoke of his sinful suggestions and the darkness of his diabolical deceit. We look to God for a way of escape which He has faithfully promised. 1 Corinthians 10:13 guarantees us declaring that grand truth saying, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."Friends, many is the time we're unsure and we cry out to the LORD, "I can't see you." But like that concerned daddy for his child, our ever-present Heavenly Father is right there with His outstretched strong arms of safety. and He keeps calling out, "But I can see you and that's all that matters!"