In writing about El-Roi in “The Character of God,” R. C. Sproul said:
“There are many things in my life that I do not want to put under the gaze of Christ. Yet I know there is nothing hidden from Him. He knows me better than my wife knows me. And yet He loves me. This is the most amazing thing of all about God’s grace. It would be one thing for Him to love us if we could fool Him into thinking that we were better than we actually are. But He knows better. He knows all there is to know about us, including those things that could destroy our reputation. He is minutely and acutely aware of every skeleton in every closet. And He loves us.”
While there are most certainly times in my life when I would prefer to believe I’d be better off if my God weren’t El Roi, it simply isn’t true. El Roi defines God as one who see all, hears all, and most of all is in total control. He sees not only what we have done, and what we are doing, but he knows what we WILL do. He sees into the future, and maintains sovereignty. We can not deny who we are or what we are before His Throne. The beauty in that truth is that HE LOVES US ANYWAY! It’s hard to imagine that even in the pit of the darkest times in my life, when I have been most ugly and wretched God loved me nonetheless.
I find comfort knowing that when life becomes too painful for me to bear, I can find strength in remembering what Hagar discovered. The Lord is “the God who sees me.” When we understand that the Lord is aware of our pain and need, it renews our strength. If we trust in the truth of His word, we know that his awareness of our pain and need means HE WILL PROVIDE. God not only sees us, He sees the future. He promised Hagar a future for her unborn son Ishmael. God’s sovereignty gives us hope for tomorrow despite the pain we may be in the midst of today.
God is never caught by surprise. “When He cannot rule, He overrules; and He always accomplishes His purposes.”
Today maybe you find yourself running from a difficult situation where perhaps you were treated unfairly and maybe, like Hagar, you have taken actions, in a human attempt, to ‘fix’ your problem and instead further complicated matters. KNOW THIS: In your most painful trial you may have your most intimate and personal encounter with God. Hagar’s wilderness experience brought her face-to-face with God and taught her that He is the living God who sees and hears our pain and our hurts. He knows both our past and our future and cares for us. What He desires most is that we trust him completely.
God, our Savior, knows all that we have had to go through in our lives. He knows the times we have been mistreated. What He knows and that we need to remember is that in all of our trials there is the potential to bring Him glory. Because God is completely sovereign, we can trust that if something that is happening, or has happened, in our lives did not have the potential to conform us to the image of Christ, He would not have allowed it to occur.
Here are a few other scripture references that expound on God as El Roi.:
Psalm 33:13-15: From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all humankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all,who considers everything they do.
Proverbs 5:21: For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Psalms 139:7-12: Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there Shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
I pray that today, and tomorrow, and all the days that follow we will each be increasingly aware that our God sees, hears, and is in complete control of our lives. He is Master of All.
Krystee Edwards
Gosh! I didn’t come here expecting God to speak to me today with what I’m feeling right at this moment, but that proves His sovereignty (as if He really needs to prove himself). He knew what I needed at exactly the point I needed it. It’s so evident to me right now, for the first time in some time, that I can only run forward…solely on the fuel of his sovereignty because I am empty without Him.
Can I add a WOW? Reading this brought me back to the first time the LORD showed me this name. I was a teenager, trying desperately to appear “cool and together”, and yet wanting someone to really SEE me and still love me. He showed me He didn’t just see me from a distance. His wasn’t just a casual glance my way. He saw EVERYTHING, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and He wanted to be with me in it all. He wanted to comfort, change, help me- whatever He saw I needed. I can remember the tremendous power of His word to me that night. It is so wonderful to be reminded of it again. Thank you Kristie for hearing from the LORD.
My Pastor made a reference to the name El Roi and it stayed on my mind. I googled the name and have been completely blessed. This posting came to me in my time of need.
-Thanks
I am so glad you stopped by and were blessed. We do serve a mighty God!