The God who sees

June 1, 2007

By Randy Mantik

Recently we watched an old John Wayne film. It wasn’t one of the shoot-’em-up Westerns he was so famous for, but rather was the true story of a transport plane crew who lost their way and had to ditch in the tundra of Labrador. For days they tried to make contact with rescue crews by using a hand-operated emergency signal transmitter. The signal was weak and erratic but it was enough for the rescue planes to get a fix on their general location.

One of the planes flew right over the crash spot but didn’t see them. As the crew on the ground watched the plane disappear over the trees, they were sure their last hope was gone with it. However, the rescue teams decided to make one last fly-over and, sure enough, that time they were able to spot the stranded crew. Can you imagine the celebration? They had been seen at last! The nightmare was over!

It is important to be seen when you need to be rescued, isn’t it? Such was the experience of Hagar, maid of Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Abraham had very imprudently tried to have a child through her. When Hagar became pregnant while her mistress remained barren, she got a big head about it (Genesis 16:4). Sarah sent her packing. Imagine it, a young pregnant woman alone in the desert with no protection and night falling fast when every wild animal imaginable would be prowling about.

Everyone else seemed to have forgotten Hagar — out of sight, out of mind. But there was One who did not forget, One who never lost sight of her. “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur” (Genesis 16:7, NIV). God came to Hagar in her deep distress; He showed her the way out. “Then the angel of the Lord told her, ‘Go back to your mistress and submit to her’ ” (Genesis 16:9).

Then God promised Hagar her descendants would become a great nation. God heard Hagar’s distressed cry, He came, and He answered. In gratitude of heart Hagar “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’ ” (Genesis 16:13).

“I have now seen the One who sees me.” What a precious, powerful statement. There’s no doubt God always sees us, but oh, what joy when we see Him too! After that, we can never be the same.

When I was a teenager, I worked at a fast-food restaurant. One day I was assigned to do one of my least favorite tasks — making french fries during the noon rush. To add to the challenge, the general manager over a number of stores happened to be there and he seemed to spend a lot of time breathing over my shoulder.

Suffice it to say, my french fry production that day was not a shining moment in my career. The visiting manager wasn’t impressed either, a point he made very clearly when he told me I was dismissed for the day. I was stunned! I had no idea I was doing that bad a job! I went home, tail between my legs, and told my tale of woe to my family.

When I wondered if I should even go back to work the next day, my family wisely assured me I should. When I arrived, the regular store manager met me. He had seen the whole incident and knew I’d been mistreated. His words of encouragement were a healing balm to my cracked self-image: “You’re doing a good job, Randy. Yesterday I know was not a great day for you. That was not all your fault, I could see. Today is a new day.” He had seen and he understood.

Three different examples, one truth: God sees you. He never loses sight of you, never forgets where you are, or what you’re going through. Don’t despair; don’t give up. He is the God who sees.

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.