It was time to pick another guide for our Ladies’ Bible Study group. If you’ve ever led a study like this, you know the choices can be overwhelming. I usually begin by asking the Lord for direction. I go to the ladies to see if they have any particular study they’d like to do, then I start looking into what’s out there. More often than not, they are open to anything I choose, so I look for studies or reading plans that relate to various thoughts that have been on my mind and heart, then present a few options to them.

The focus for this beautiful group of ladies as they gather? Real women seeking God together in His word. Building deeper relationships with Him and each other. We want to be encouraged to make reading and meditating on His Word a priority. As such, we’ve been focusing on writing plans as our base with varying degrees of study by each one, sharing the gold that He has unearthed for us as we gather on our study night. I love doing in-depth studies like the ones by Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer, however, we’re not at that place in our group–financially or otherwise–at this point. Not having videos to watch also allows us more time to interact without being out too late! It’s become a precious part of my week, and others have shared similar thoughts.

In the end, I thought it would be beneficial to learn more of God’s character through His names. There are many studies and reading plans out there with this theme, but we chose to go through Rachel Wojo’s “The Names of God Reading Challenge.”

Wow. Into this study for a few weeks…what can I say? We are loved by an awesome God.

If I may, I’ll share some of my thoughts over the next while.

The first name we looked at was ‘El-Roi: The God Who Sees Me.’

The passage was from Genesis 16:7-13. This is the story of Hagar. She had run away from Abraham’s home and was visited by the Angel of the LORD (Jesus) as she rested, perhaps weeping, by a well in the desert.

He enquired after her situation.

Backtracking a bit…Hagar had been mistreated by her mistress, Sarai. God had promised Abraham that he would have many descendants, yet Sarai was old and had no children at that time. She told her husband to take her servant, Hagar, to obtain an heir through her on Sarai’s behalf. Whoa. Can’t imagine. Carrying on, though…When Hagar became pregnant, Sarai went mad with jealousy, railed at her husband and treated Hagar so shamefully that Hagar ran away.

This is where Hagar was found by the Angel and she related her plight.

The Angel told her a few–probably shocking–things.

• return to Abraham’s house
• submit to Sarai
• he would multiply her descendants to immeasurable numbers
• you’re having a son, name him Ishmael
• he will be a wild man

“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?”

Genesis 16:13, NKJV Bible

Wow! (Why, yes I am going to repeat that word. God and His word continually amaze me!) She realized in that moment that she was speaking to the Lord. She felt the import of the situation. She believed Him.

She returned and submitted.

Hagar complied with His directions and the promise was fulfilled. God keeps His word.

This is a challenge to me. When faced with a difficult situation, do I: number one, remember that He sees my circumstances and my condition;
and number two, do I trust Him and submit to His direction?

As I contemplated my response to those questions, I was reminded of this verse that, as I’ve shared before, became a lifeline in a difficult time. In it I was encouraged that, indeed, God does see me. God does know my situation. And beyond those comforting assurances is this precious thought: God cares. The God of all creation looks upon me with compassion.

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Isaiah 56:8, NKJV Bible

This I know, because God is for me.

Isaiah 56:9b, NKJV Bible

Friend, are you hurting? Are you afraid? Are you confused? Reach out to the One who sees right into your innermost being and cares for you more than you could possibly imagine.

Join me for lots of inspiration over here:
You’re the Star at Kippi at Home
Over the Moon at Marilyn’s Treats
#destinationinspiration at Rachel Marie Lee
#LMMLinkup at Mary-andering Creatively
Inspire Me Monday at Create with Joy
Grace and Truth at Embracing the Unexpected
Friendship Friday at Create with Joy