My Lord, my God, My Jehovah El Roi
Excerpt from my poem – The Names of God
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.
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 TweetFirst, 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 TweetIf 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 TweetRomans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
Join me next week as week as we study the name Jehovah Nissi.
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
100% of the proceeds from sales of my book, Turning Mountains Into Molehills, go to help the orphans at Orphan Relief Effort, Inc
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Yvonne, I love this name and character of God, El Roi, the One who sees! It is both a guidepost to remind us to stay on His path and a sweet comfort that all the unseen things we have done for Him and for others because of His love, He knows! He sees it all and treasures our acts of love done in His name. Sometimes as a mom, we feel that we do so much to anchor our family, much of which goes unnoticed. But not with our precious Lord! He sees us, He knows our name and we matter. How beautiful!
So very true Melissa. We are seen and never forgotten by God. Knowing that helps me so much to keep going when I feel like giving up.
I love that Hagar used this name for God. Invisible, used, disenfranchised, scorned. And yet God saw her and took care of it. A surrogate, a body in the eyes of her mistress. Yet, a whole, valid, beloved, and seen person to Yahweh. Blessed be his name!
Amen, I loved your description. It gives beauty to the story. Thanks
This is SO good! The “God who sees” us is such a tender, loving aspect of our Creator. He doesn’t miss a thing! That makes my heart happy. Bless you!
Thanks Lisa. It is very comforting to know
Love this! I think of Hagar- forsaken by her husband, single mother of an infant child the Father knew was an ancestor of a murderer and false prophet. No matter; he still saw her. What a beautiful piece! Love this series.
Thanks Candice. Hagar was so faithful when she returned to the life she was removed from only a short time before God saw her. God bless
Yvonne, I love this series! I especially love the story of Hagar. She was not a Jew, but God saw her. God loves all the nations. The Lord loved her and helped her through a very unfortunate position she was placed in by Sarah.
You quoted one of my favorite passages: Jeremiah 1:12 ” The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” There is such love and promise in this passage. A love for what He plans to do through us, but the promise is not realized unless it is based on His powerful word.
Very encouraging post! Saturated with God’s word. Thank you!
Thanks Marcie. I am learning so very much. Hagar is such an great example for us in perseverance and the reward of the Lord.
Hey Yvonne, Hagar’s story in Genesis 16 is one of my favorite things to speak on and have written about it also. How comforting that the Lord found and saw Hagar in the wilderness and He finds us and sees us in our wilderness, too! No matter what we are going through, He sees and knows and cares. And I like how you brought out if God sees us, then He wants us to see Him! Amen! Never thought about it in that way before!
Such beauty in your thoughts as I think of how God sees me. We an amazing God. Thanks Karen
What a wonderful study on the names of God! I found this very informative and comforting. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks so much Ruth. I appreciate your comments. God bless
Beautiful!
Thank you Gail. God bless
I think it will always baffle me how the God of the universe desires to see me and know me. With everything He is in control of, He loves to keep watch over me. What a wonderful characteristic that He shares with us!
So very true Emily. How does He do it all and still live us when we fail so often. It is a wonderful characteristic. Thanks and God bless
It is such an incredible comfort that God sees me. He sees past my mask!
Yes He does and He still loves us. Thanks Jessica. God bless