The Longer You Look, The More You See

I was watching a movie in which one of the main characters and his father were lying on a grassy bank staring up at the clouds painted across the sky.  The father turned to the son and simply whispered, “The longer you look, the more you see.”

That is particularly true of scripture study.

I can read the same passage time and time again, with new insights and lessons being prompted the longer I engage with the holy text.

The story of Hagar found in Genesis is one of those passages for me.

Perhaps one of those lessons might be something you need spoken to your heart.

1. Our suffering is not invisible to God.  

2. While it may be difficult, it is also very possible to be obedient to God even in horrific circumstances.

3. God will provide guidance and hope through angels when we least expect it.

4. God’s promises don’t focus on just the here and now, but have the ability to impact our posterity for generations to come. 

5. Hagar called God “El Roí”, or “the God who sees me.”   He doesn’t just see us as a collective, he sees me and you as individuals and knows and loves us personally.

Remember:

The longer you study the story of Hagar, the clearer it is: God sees you, guides you, and teaches you through every struggle.

Artwork by  Jean Charles Cazin