El Roi: The God Who Sees Me

Discover the powerful story of Hagar from the Bible and how it relates to the name El Roi, meaning 'the God who sees me.' Find comfort in knowing that God recognizes your pain and has a divine plan for your future.

FAITH

1/25/20259 min read

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El Roi:

The God Who Sees Me

I have always found it fascinating to study the names given to God in the Bible. They each reflect a different aspect of His character. They help us to know Him more, to see how He moves in our lives, to try to grasp His nature. Will we ever fully understand all the aspects of God? No. But, studying the names given to Him in the Bible can help us to draw just a bit closer to Him.

Here are just a few of the names given to God in the Old Testament. They are primarily seen in the Hebrew Bible, and are often translated as Lord or God in the English version.

Elohim: God - The Creator (Genesis 1:1)
Yahweh: I AM (Genesis 2:4)
Adonai: Lord or Master (Genesis 15:2)
El Shaddai: Lord God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)
Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah Rapha: The Lord Who Heals (Exodus 15:26)
Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is My Banner (Exodus 17:15)
Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24)
Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is There (Ezekiel 48:35)
El Elyon: God Most High (Genesis 14:18)
El Roi: The God Who Sees Me (Genesis 16:13)
Jehovah Sabaoth: The Lord of Hosts (1 Samuel 1:3)
Jehovah Raah: The Lord My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Jehovah Mekoddishkem: The Lord Who Sanctifies You (Exodus 31:13)
El Olam: The Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)
Qanna: Jealous (Exodus 20:5)

As you look over the list of names, you will see so many aspects of God's character, so many facets to his nature. It is fascinating and encouraging all at the same time! One of the names that has always drawn me close is El Roi. The God Who Sees Me. This name makes me feel loved and known by our heavenly father. Let's dig into this more!

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El Roi: The God Who Sees Me

Have you ever felt unseen? Forgotten? Overlooked? I am sure we've all been there. It can be incredibly disheartening to feel this way. To feel like no one really sees you. The real you. But, we have a God who does see us. Who sees us and loves us. We are not overlooked or forgotten. We are known, and known to the deepest level possible. Scripture tells us that God knit us together before we were born, He knows every hair on our head, and He sees us. How comforting!

So, where does this name of God appear in the Bible? It is in Genesis 16:13, in the story of Hagar. Hagar was an Egyptian servant to Sarai (later called Sarah), who was the wife of Abram (later called Abraham). Abram had been told by God that he would have an heir and many offspring. But...years went by without the promise being fulfilled. Sarai was old, she thought having a child was impossible, and she grew impatient. She decided to take matters into her own hands. Sarai offered her maidservant, Hagar, to her husband Abram as a secondary wife. She thought she could help God's plan along and build a family through Hagar.

Well, Hagar became pregnant and all sorts of trouble ensued. Hagar began to look at Sarai differently. The Bible says she began to despise her mistress (Genesis 16:4). Sarai began to mistreat Hagar. The plan that Sarai tried to set into motion was not moving along in the way that she had anticipated! If she had only trusted God's plan, this heartache and turmoil could have been avoided.

Hagar had enough and she ran away. She found herself in the desert wilderness, near a spring. It was there that an Angel of the Lord spoke to her. He let her speak, let her tell her story. And then, the angel gave her instructions. He told her to return to Sarai and to submit to her. I am sure that is the last thing that Hagar wanted to hear! She had just left all that she knew to escape that exact situation! The angel also gave her a promise. He told her that her descendants will be too numerous to count. He tells her that her son is to be named Ishmael (which means "God hears") and later we learn that Ishmael is to become the father of a great nation (Genesis 17:20).

Hagar's response is beautiful. She says, "You are El Roi." In other words, "You are the God who sees me." And then? She returns to Sarai's house. She submits to God's will and God's plan. She doesn't continue on her way, following her own will and desires. Hagar, an Egyptian slave who didn't even worship the Hebrew God, believes and turns and obeys. She felt seen and known, and this changed everything for her.

What does this mean for us?

God sees our pain.

It is comforting to be seen. To know that no matter what we are going through, no matter what trials we are facing, God sees us. He cares for us. He understands when we feel overlooked, forgotten, or hurt.

Genesis 16:13 - So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing," for she said, "Truly here I have seen Him who looks after me."

Hagar was a persecuted servant, pregnant and alone in the desert wilderness. Imagine how she felt after being used as a pawn in Sarai's plan. She likely felt used and unseen as a person. Then, she was mistreated. She likely felt unwanted. She headed out on her own, pregnant with no one to help her, and she likely felt abandoned and hopeless. But, God saw her. The Angel of the Lord called her by name! And, Hagar responded.

When you feel lost, hopeless, hurt, or abandoned, remember that God sees you too. He sees your hurt. He understands your pain, and He is with you through it all. He is ready to help, if you turn to Him, like Hagar did.

God sees our worth.

So much comparison happens in our world. It is easy to feel less than or worthless. It is easy to feel not good enough, like we don't measure up.

1 Corinthians 1:30 - And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

First, we don't measure up to a perfect, Holy God. This is why we need Jesus. God is perfectly holy, and He can't be near our sin, sin which we unfortunately are always bent toward. However, when we accept Jesus as our savior, His sacrifice on the cross covers over our sins. Then, when God looks on us, He sees His Son. We are redeemed through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. This is freeing! If we truly are living our lives for Christ, then we can rest in the fact that we no longer have to live like we are defeated, wrapped up in guilt or regret. We can rest in the fact that God sees us through the lens of Jesus's righteousness.

Psalm 139: 1-5 - O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

God sees us. He sees the real me and the real you. He intimately knows us; He knows our thoughts, our actions, our words, our intentions. And, He cares for us. He guards us, keeps us safe, has His hand upon us. What a comfort. I think all of us can sometimes feel unseen, like people don't see who we truly are. I most definitely have an introverted nature. I listen more than I speak. I take in my surroundings and those around me before I act. I feel emotions deeply, and I am moved by the emotions of others. To others, this may come across as being shy or standoffish or emotional. But, this description doesn't fully capture me, and I can take comfort in knowing that God made me this way. He designed my nature, and He sees me. He has a plan for me, and in His eyes, I have worth. Always. This is true for all of us, so take comfort in knowing that God sees you, and He sees your worth.

God sees our future.

I often feel anxiety over the future, over the unknown. But, I am working on this, and God is teaching me to trust in Him, and in His plan for my future. I can relate to Sarai in Hagar's story. If things don't seem to be going like I want them to, I can lean toward taking matters into my own hands. Just trying to help things along, right? I may be a slow learner, but I am slowly learning to take action when God prompts me to, and to trust and wait when He prompts me to. I am a work in progress!

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

God has the ability to work all things together for our good. All things. All of our mess ups. All of our failures and hurts. All of it. Hagar took matters into her own hands by fleeing. She left, in despair and full of hopelessness, likely thinking her story was over. But God met her in her despair. He met her and He gave her hope. Hagar chose to obey God, and God gave her Ishmael. He gave her a promise that she'd have a son, and that her son would one day be a great nation. God had a plan for Hagar. Because she chose to listen to God and turn toward Him, He worked things together for her good. We cannot thwart God's plans. If we truly follow Him, truly trust in Him and obey, we can take comfort in knowing that God sees and cares about our future.

Check out this song by Katy Nichole. It speaks of struggle and despair and needing God to get you through difficult times.

Encouragement for Today

So, as you go through your days and weeks to come. As you face challenges, and trials, and heartaches (as we all will), I hope you find rest and comfort in knowing that God sees you. If you are like me, and need a few action steps, keep these in mind:

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Trust in God - Trust in the fact that God sees you. He is El Roi - The God Who Sees Me. And, that applies to you and to me. Trust in this, and turn to Him. Turn to Him with your worries, hurts, and problems. Turn to Jesus, knowing that if you make him Lord of your life, God will see Jesus's righteousness when He looks at you.
Seek His Presence - After you turn to God, seek Him. Pray with a sincere heart. Read His Word. Rest in His presence. Rest in knowing that God sees you, knows you, and has the best desires for you. Study. Learn. Grow closer to the God who sees you. Connect.
Live for Him - Trust in knowing that God has a plan for your future. Seek His will and then obey it. Obey it even when it isn't easy. Even when you are asked to wait or be still, trusting in God's plan. Obey when you are prompted to take action. See others as God sees them. Notice others. Notice their hurt and their pain, and seek to care for them and their needs.

Ultimately, I hope you turn to Him, trust in Him, and know that you are intimately loved. ❤️

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References:

“"El Roi" Meaning and Importance: The God Who Sees Me.” Bible Study Tools, 21 July 2020, https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/reasons-to-praise-god-as-el-roi.html. Accessed 2 February 2025.

"O.T. Names of God - Study Resources." Blue Letter Bible. Web. 2 Feb, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm>.