Tag: genesis

El Roi – The God Who Sees Me

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In Genesis 16 and 21 we read about Hagar. Everyone involved was full of flaws and shortcomings including Hagar. However we see the character of God made manifest in this situation. God remains undivided to both sides extending His hand of mercy to everyone. Abraham and Sarah mistreated this slave woman and it causes Hagar to run to a wilderness all alone multiple times. God finds her both times as she is cast away. He nourishes her with words of life and in Genesis 16:13 she does something very interesting, she gives God a name. She calls God El Roi (The God Who Sees Me). She is the only person in bible who gives God a name. Abraham named the place God tested him Jehovah Jireh, and Jacob named the places He encountered God (Bethel, Penial, El-Elohe-Israel), but Hagar actually gave God Himself a name (El Roi).

There is a lot we can learn from this story. First is the undivided heart of God. Even though His promise was always to come through Sarah, He didn’t leave or forsake those who were effected by Abraham trying to take God’s promise into His own hands. In fact we actually see the special treatment and love God gives Hagar. Many times we are cast into a wilderness unfairly. We are treated wrongfully, but when we end up in the wilderness it’s there that we encounter the Living God and find favor before Him. We may even get the privilege to give God a name.

May we bless all in every situation we may end up in life with an undivided heart.

Matthew 5:44-45 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God Will Vindicate His Josephs

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Joseph Revealed to His Brothers

45 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a [a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not [b]tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the [c]fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

Child of God, He knows you have been like Joseph. He knows how hard it has been being sold into spiritual slavery, even by those who you call brother. Child of God your vindication is coming soon. Your day in the prison house is almost over. God hasn’t forgot about you. Your vindication is not for your sake, but for those who put you through all the trouble. You’re exaltation to come is solely for the plans and purposes of God and not for your own. What men meant for evil, God meant for good. Forgive your brothers. Bless them.