Click on right here to hearken to this text.
All through my 4 years of school I appreciated a man who didn’t like me again. I’m fairly certain he was unaware of my existence, not to mention my obsession with him. I all the time regarded for him on campus, attempting to identify him in a crowd so I may stare upon his good-looking face. Secretly, I hoped he would discover me, strategy me, and provoke a relationship with me. I daydreamed about us falling in love and getting married.
Actuality regarded very totally different. He wasn’t imply or malicious towards me — however he wasn’t something towards me. He merely didn’t see me, regardless that I deeply desired to be seen. Feeling ignored by this man — and discovering proper after I graduated that he was engaged — was actually one of many hardest issues I’ve skilled.
It’s comforting to recollect I’m not the one one who has felt this manner. In reality, ever since sin entered the world, individuals have felt ignored. One of many earliest examples is within the account of Hagar in Genesis 16.
Hagar was an Egyptian slave to Sarai, the spouse of Abram. Regardless of her husband receiving a promise from the Lord that he would have numerous descendants, Sarai acted in desperation and haste when she gave Hagar to Abram as a concubine. Since Hagar was Sarai’s slave, she most likely had no say within the matter when her mistress advised her she needed to marry her mistress’ personal husband. After marrying Abram, Hagar grew to become pregnant with a son, prompting her to despise Sarai.
Issues took an surprising flip for Hagar when Sarai started to deal with her with cruelty. Pregnant and alone, Hagar fled from Sarai into the wilderness. The angel of the Lord quickly approached Hagar at a spring and requested about her journey. He advised her to return to Sarai and promised she would have numerous descendants, although her personal son — to be named Ishmael — would reside in hostility with others.
Hagar in flip addressed the angel of the Lord as “El Roi” and stated to him, “‘…have I truly seen the one who sees me?’” (Genesis 16:13 CSB). In an article on Bible Research Instruments, creator Hope Bolinger factors out that many names for God utilized in Scripture embrace “El” as a result of “El” means “God.” However the particular identify “El Roi” is used solely in Genesis 16. Within the authentic Hebrew, “Ro’iy” may be translated as “Shepherd” — one who gazes, appears or sees. Hagar named the spring the place she had her encounter “Beer-lahai-roi,” translated “the effectively of the Residing One who sees me.”
The story of Hagar is reassuring as a result of it assures us that the Lord sees our ache and struggling even when nobody else does. Nevertheless, it’s not simply our hardships that He sees — He additionally sees our good works. This is among the key themes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. As He cautions His listeners towards practising righteousness to get consideration, He reminds them who sees their righteousness when nobody else does: His Father.
There’s no want for us to hunt reward from individuals for doing good issues as a result of El Roi sees each good factor we do — and His approval is sufficient. Let’s contemplate a number of methods we are able to honor Him as we give attention to this reality.
1. Give in secret
“‘Watch out to not observe your righteousness in entrance of others to be seen by them. In any other case, you haven’t any reward together with your Father in heaven. So everytime you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet earlier than you, because the hypocrites do within the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by individuals. Really I let you know, they’ve their reward. However if you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your proper hand is doing, in order that your giving could also be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:1-4).
Giving isn’t one thing we must always do to obtain admiration from others however as a sacrifice of worship that our Father sees and values. He’s happy once we do beneficiant acts in secret — when He’s the one one who is aware of about our benevolence. Nameless generosity not solely brings glory to the Lord, but it surely additionally brings pleasure to the giver and the receiver.
2. Pray in secret
“‘Everytime you pray, you have to not be just like the hypocrites, as a result of they love to wish standing within the synagogues and on the road corners to be seen by individuals. Really I let you know, they’ve their reward. However if you pray, go into your personal room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who’s in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:5-6).
I don’t consider Jesus was telling his listeners they might by no means pray in public. Generally a public prayer is acceptable, like proper earlier than a meal at church or throughout a small group assembly. Nevertheless, Jesus was telling his listeners to keep away from praying in public to get consideration or reward. Our easy, real prayers that nobody however our Father hears are candy prayers certainly.
3. Quick in secret
“‘Everytime you quick, don’t be gloomy just like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces in order that their fasting is clear to individuals. Really I let you know, they’ve their reward. However if you quick, put oil in your head and wash your face, in order that your fasting isn’t apparent to others however to your Father who’s in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:16-18).
Whereas there’s worth in fasting with a gaggle of individuals for a particular function, there’s additionally worth in fasting as a person with out anybody else realizing. Making a present out of fasting — which ought to be a critical, sacred act — is disrespectful at finest and defiant at worst. Simply as our Father sees our sorrows and struggles, He additionally sees our worshipful sacrifice of meals for the final word function of drawing nearer to Him and in search of His will.
Assured rewards
I utterly perceive the will to be seen. In spite of everything, I spent 4 years hoping a seemingly oblivious man would discover me. However when he didn’t see me, I realized a tough however crucial lesson: El Roi is the one one who really sees me — and as a result of He’s the one one who really sees me, He’s the one one whose reward and admiration truly matter.
Once we’re too involved about receiving consideration from others, we miss out on the chance to quietly and humbly worship El Roi — the God who sees us when nobody else does. We additionally fail to totally recognize what Jesus said in every of the three passages above: “And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18). The Lord doesn’t want us to announce our good deeds to the world and even point out them in dialog. The whole lot we do — together with giving, praying and fasting — is extra worthwhile once we give attention to worshipping El Roi.
Copyright 2024 Grace McCready. All rights reserved.
