Genesis 16: Parents

Comfort in the Wilderness

Genesis 16:13 (New Living Translation)
"Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, 'You are the God who sees me.'"

I’m sure every parent has a story about losing their child in a crowd. It happens. My youngest was with me in an airport when we were separated. He boarded a shuttle train and I didn’t. The train rode away while we watched each other disappear in the distance. It was a scary moment, especially for him. He had never been lost like that before. I boarded the next available shuttle to try and catch up with him, only to find out he had taken the return shuttle back to me. Eventually, he stayed in the spot where he saw me last and we were able to reunite and shed a few tears. Being all alone in a scary place is terrifying for a kid. But are we really ever alone when we have an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-loving God watching over us?

In Genesis 16, Hagar finds herself in a desert, alone and terrified. In her wilderness, she encounters God. He doesn't dismiss her or ignore her; instead, He sees her. He knows her plight, her fears, her feelings of abandonment. In response, Hagar gives God a beautiful name, El Roi, meaning "the God who sees me."

As parents, we often have to watch our children experience their own 'wilderness' moments. They might feel unseen at school, in sports, or even at home. Or for whatever reason, they are left all alone and start to be afraid. When these times come, we can remind them of Hagar's story. God is always watching over them. He sees them, He knows their circumstances, and He cares deeply about their experiences. Our children are never alone in their wilderness because they are perpetually seen by the God who loves them.