Turning Mountains into Molehills - How God's Calling is changing our lives

My Lord, my God, My Jehovah El Roi
The Master who can see you and me
He watches over me each day and night.
He wants to help all with hearts contrite.
My burdens and worries He willingly bares
He knows me genuinely and lovingly cares.
Excerpt from my poem – The Names of God

Jehovah El Roi
A study of the names of God
Blog by Yvonne

2 Peter 1:3 “God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life.”

The next name we will look at is Jehovah El Roi. This name commonly gets translated as meaning the God who sees me. After looking at Jehovah Elohim ( God Almighty), I think this name starts to personal God for us. Our God is a mighty fortress, but yet He cares enough to see each of us. His love empowers us to be the body of Christ for the world. Let’s look at this in more depth, and why it matters.

God watches over us like a loving parent watches over a sleeping child. Click To Tweet

First, let’s review a little background of the source of the name. The name, El Roi, first appears in Genesis 16. Hagar, an Egyptian slave girl for Sarah, becomes pregnant by Abraham. Sarah becomes increasingly jealous since she can not bear children and sends the girl away into the desert. After wandering for many days, Hagar gives up and prepares to die. God appears to Hagar and tells her to return to Sarah. God tells her that He will save her and the baby and multiply her descendants. In her response, Hagar using the name:

“13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees “; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.”
Genesis 16:13-14

Romans 8:28 ” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Just like the way God saw Hagar and her needs, He still sees us today. Some other religions use painted eyes to symbolize that their god is watching them. But, our Bible assures us that God watches us like a loving parent watches over a sleeping child. Here are some of the verses:
Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” Psalm 121:3 “He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber.” He not only sees us; God knows us so well that He even knows the number of hairs on our heads.

Matthew 10:30 “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Through this name, God also understands our human need to be seen in the world. We all want someone to notice us and acknowledge our existence. Think about how you feel when a stranger offers you a smile. We love to know when someone thinks about us. Or when someone sees you struggling with your groceries and lends a helping hand. How about when a person shows up on the side of the road to jump your dead battery. We find some of our value in others seeing us, especially in our times of need. For this example, I am not talking about people who crave to become famous. Instead, I am talking about our deep need to feel we belong, and we are valued.

If God sees us, then God also wants us to see Him. Click To Tweet

If God sees us, then God also wants us to see Him. God opens my eyes to see Him when I seek Him. In God’s seeing us and in our finding Him, God becomes our refuge in times of trouble. The last week’s name, Elohim, God the Almighty grows into our strong tower where we run for help. The Lord not only sees our present circumstances, but He also sees our past. God knows all the things you have been through and all the mistakes you made. He sees your future. And through it all, He loves you with eternal love.

Jeremiah 1:12 ” The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Jehovah El Roi – the God who sees us; the God of sympathy. We find more hope in Psalm 33:18-19, “18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 19 To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.” We are never alone or lost when we put our faith in the One Who Sees. You can never run away from God’s field of vision. He will always see you, and He patiently waits for you to see Him too. Remember the words found in Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Jehovah El Roi - the God who sees us; the God of sympathy. Click To Tweet