“So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing’” (v13). Sarai and Abram’s frustrations with ten years of waiting for a child led them to the disastrous choice of using Hagar as a concubine-surrogate. When, unsurprisingly, this plan produced conflict, Hagar fled into the desert. But the Lord found her there and spoke to her. The runaway slave, mother of Ishmael, experienced God’s mercy and love. “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me” (v13).

“Where are you going?” (v8). As He did with Adam and Eve, and Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar, the Lord “sees” us in our self-created troubles. Instead of turning His back, He reaches out His hand of mercy.