Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.’ Genesis 16:6-10,13-14

Genesis 16: 6-10, 13-14

Hagar, a servant to a prosperous woman and her husband. Her life may have been pleasant we truly do not know. One day her master, Sarah, tells her that she will go to bed with Abraham to bear him a son. Hagar submits because that’s what servants do, they listen to the voice of their master. Months pass and low and behold she is with child. However, this child was not for her, Hagar was a surrogate for Sarah. Hagar became bitter and despised Sarah. We all knew this would happen, but Sarah must not have expected it. I can imagine Hagar breathing heavily as she flees into the wilderness with tears streaming down her face. Not understanding what she did wrong. She stops at a spring of water in the wilderness, possibly to refresh herself. It is here that God reveals Himself to Hagar as El-Roi ( The God who sees). At the spring, in the wilderness–God meets Hagar in her place of despair. He says to her  “your descendants will be great and your son will be blessed.”

Hagar exclaims “ have I also seen Him who sees me”.

The most reassuring feeling in the world is knowing that someone sees you. Knowing that you aren’t cast to the side but you are understood.

I believe that Hagar’s statement was an expression that meant more than God seeing her at the spring but God seeing her experience. He saw her suffering at the hands of Sarah. He saw the pain and possible shame she might have felt. What’s interesting about this is that God met Hagar at a spring– spring in Hebrew is Ayin which means an eye in English. It was at the eye that God revealed Himself to Hagar as El-Roi.

 I think a lot of people look at Hagar as if she is a villain but I don’t so. I think many of us can relate to her. We may feel vulnerable and invisible. We don’t think anyone understands our experience and what we go through is discounted. But I want to remind you today that GOD SEES. He sees it now, before and He will continue to see. God’s sight is not limited by our understanding or by our short-comings. He saw us from before the creation of the world! That’s what a real Master does. God is not only our Master but He is a master of us– Let me explain:

Master:  Noun-  a man who has people working for him ( Jesus and His disciples(us))                                                                                                              Verb- acquire complete knowledge or skill in ( Genuis), gain control over

We know through the word that God foreknew each of us. Psalm 139: 13 says “’ For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.’ You are not a surprise to God. Nothing that you have been through or will go through surprises God.  ‘ Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.’ Psalm 139:13,16

Can I suggest something for you to consider? God wants to take your pieces and master them. For all of us out there who have felt like Hagar–God wants to master your pieces… We can look to our example, Jesus, and see what a masterpiece looks like.  Jesus, the man, was born in a manager to a working class family. There was no celebration over his birth. When He walked in His ministry He would always be faced with the stigma that “ nothing good can come out of Nazareth”. God used a servant to show us the way to live. He used what other’s discounted to save humanity. If there is anyone that can take your pieces and turn them into a masterpiece it’s God! Why?

He is the only one that knows you –completely.

I remember in 2009, I was in South Africa studying abroad and I was a wreck. I mean on the outside I appeared to be flourishing, but emotionally and spiritually I was broken. I was lost and sought wholeness in everything that I could find ( sex, parties, alcohol, relationships) but I was still left empty. I ended up going to a church service with some American friends. While we were there they announced a missions trip to Mozambique. I heard a voice that said you need to go. Let me remind you that I was far from “Missions” material. But anyways the Lord worked it out: we were chosen to go ( we were the first Americans accepted to go on a missions trip) and my grandmother helped me with the funds . We were all suppose to be fasting the week before to prepare, but I definitely wasn’t fasting. I was still doing the same things. The morning we left for the missions trip I left my “relationship” at that time in my bed (smh, Lord I was a mess).

That’s me with the orange shirt on! Welcome to Mozambique

Anyways, fast forward to being in Mozambique for a couple of days. Let’s just say in those days God was gently restoring me by using the people in Mozambique and others from my team. One night I can literally see it now, we were worshipping and soaking.

I was talking to the Lord inside, basically explaining to Him why I couldn’t give my life to Him. That I was too broken to be fixed, I had too many issues. I couldn’t let go of my pain or my past. In that moment I heard “ I can use a broken vessel”.

Ten years ago my Master told me that every piece of my life can be used by Him and today He has shown me that it has and will be used by Him– for His glory and my good!

To all my Hagars out there: God is not like the other “masters” that have tried to rule you. The ones that made you feel powerless, using you for their own gain!

No! He is a Master who loves you, knows you and empowers you to live victoriously and to do all He has called you to!

If you’re like me, you probably tried to take your pieces and turn them into masterpieces but believe me it will crumble. Unless you fully submit to God’s love for you your pieces will never find true purpose. He has chosen you to show His mercy and guess what you didn’t earn it. I know life might not be perfect right now and you might be struggling to see your worth but can I tell you that YOU ARE WORTH IT. You are worth it to Jesus and to God ( the only true God). Giving your pieces to God may not feel good because it’s hard to open up but God will restore everything that you’ve lost. Even if that means you don’t like the person staring at you in the mirror. God loves that reflection. He loves you so much that He wants to love you to restoration. Showing you who you really are, not what the world has made you! I pray that you will no longer give your pieces to people who will never be able to restore you but that you will give it to Jesus whose greatest desire is to restore and reconcile you to God, our Father! You don’t have to be all put together for God, He lovingly and sovereignly takes your pieces.

 This is for those who don’t feel like Hagar. Not to worry God takes your pieces too: written November 2018

Nadesha Crumbie

Thank you so much for reading!! Love y’all with the love of Christ, Nadesha!

‘ So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]’

Romans 9:16 AMP

‘For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

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