Thursday, 29th February 2024
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: BEER-LAHAI-ROI
THEME SCRIPTURE: “Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi, behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.”– Genesis 16:14
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What is the meaning of Beer-lahai-roi?
- What accounted for the name of a well Beer-lahai-roi?
To err, they say, is human. But it is typical of humans to exacerbate an already bad situation with a bad attitude. This was the case of Hagar and her mistress Sarai. Seeing that she could not give birth, Sarai gave Hagar [her servant] to Abram [her husband] to bear children for them. Upon getting pregnant, Hagar could not resist the temptation to look down on her mistress who, for many years, couldn’t conceive and bear a child. Sarai felt sorry for herself and quickly confronted Abram. Being caught between two women, Abram’s response was, “Your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please” (Gen 16:6). With this response from Abram, Sarai took matters into her own hands.
Sarai’s response to Hagar’s action was no noble. She dealt so harshly with Hagar (Gen 16:6) such that she fled from home with her pregnancy and neither Abram nor Sarai did something about it. Abram left the situation unattended and hoped that these two women will find a way to leave in peace but it turn out to be wrong. Sarai hope of getting rid of Hagar and the pregnancy was unacceptable to the Lord because God had concern and plans for the unborn baby. So God did something about it. The angel of the Lord met Hagar “in the wilderness by a fountain in the way to Shur” (Gen 16:7). God’s angel instructed Hagar to go back and submit to her mistress who is treating her so harshly (Gen 16:9). By despising her mistress Hagar had erred. But God assured Hagar that she will bring forth a son and call his name Ishmael because God has heard her afflictions (Gen 16:11). Truly, Hagar returned and matters became better with her. She bore a son and Abram named him Ishmael, and the well by which she met the angel of the Lord, Hagar called it Beer-lahai-roi [meaning the well of the God who sees me]. Hagar wondered how God sees her even in times of affliction and knows everything going on in her life, even to intervene.
Beloved, God sees everything that is ongoing in our lives. He sees how you are treated and how you treat others. God sees our going forth and our coming in. He sees our afflictions, struggles and also our mistakes. When we are stuck, He is there to help and bring us on track so we can carry on. One instruction from God will assuage all our struggles and confusion, just as He did for Hagar. If only you are willing to involve the God who sees, He will also be the God who saves to you.
Beer-lahai-roi [the God who sees], is the One who sees the future and can order our steps towards the greater and superior destiny. As God said to Hagar about her son, who he will become [a multitude], and the future of Ishmael so also God sees each one of us our future and can best order our steps into that future. O, that you will turn all your burdens and your cares to the God who sees today, and experience His marvelous love and His gracious help. Remember also, all of our lives are being lived before the God who sees. Someday, the minutes of our lives will be read to us and we all will know what we have done with our lives and the deserving rewards, whether good or bad. Remain blessed.
FURTHER READING – Genesis 16
Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- How well are you living with the consciousness that God sees everything we do?
PRAYER
Precious Father, you are the God who sees me. You know my going forth and my coming in. You know the place I sleep and when I wake up. I receive your grace to live a life that is conscious of this fact: God sees me. Glory to God!
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 5; Leviticus 6; Psalm 105; 1 Corinthians 14
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