Gen 16:13-16 Jehova El Roi, The Lord Sees Me

She gave this name to the LORD Who spoke to her: "You are

the God Who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the

One Who sees me." That is why the well was called Beer

Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael

to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old

when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

Matthew Henry Commentary

(1.) That he should live in strife, and in a state of war: His

hand against every man-- this is his sin; and every man's hand

against him-- this is his punishment. Note, Those that have

turbulent spirits have commonly troublesome lives; those that

are provoking, vexatious, and injurious to others, must expect

to be repaid in their own coin. He that has his hand and tongue

against every man shall have every man's hand and tongue against

him, and he has no reason to complain of it.

And yet,

(2.) That he should live in safety, and hold his own against

all the world: He shall dwell in the presence of all his

brethren; though threatened and insulted by all his neighbours,

yet he shall keep his ground, and for Abram's sake, more than

his own, shall be able to make his part good with them. Accordingly

we read , that he died, as he lived, in the presence

of all his brethren. Note, Many that are much exposed by their

own imprudence are yet strangely preserved by the divine

Providence, so much better is God to them than they deserve,

when they not only forfeit their lives by sin, but hazard them.

II. Hagar's pious reflection upon this gracious appearance of

God to her, v. 13, 14. Observe in what she said,

A. Her awful adoration of God's omniscience and providence,

with application of it to herself: She called the name of

the Lord that spoke unto her, that is, thus she made confession

of His name, this she said to His praise, Thou God seest me:

this should be, with her, His name for ever, and this

His memorial, by which she will know Him and remember

Him while she lives, Thou God seest me.

Note,

(1.) The God with whom we have to do is a seeing God,

and all-seeing God. God is (as the ancients express it)

all eye.

(2.) we ought to acknowledge this with application to

ourselves. He that sees all sees me, as David (Ps. 139:1),

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

(3.) a believing regard to God, as a God that sees us,

will be of great use to us in our returns to Him. It is

a proper word for a penitent:--

III. The name which this gave to the place: Beer-lahai-roi,

The well of him that liveth and seeth me, v. 14. It is

probable that Hagar put this name upon it; and it was

retained long after, in perpetuam rei memoriam-- a lasting

memorial of this event. This was a place where the God

of glory manifested the special cognizance and care He

took of a poor woman in distress.

Note,

1. He that is all-seeing is ever-living; He lives and sees us.

2. Those that are graciously admitted into communion with God,

and receive seasonable comforts from Him, should tell others

what He has done for their souls, that they also may be

encouraged to seek Him and trust in Him.

3. God's gracious manifestations of Himself to us are to

be had in everlasting remembrance by us, and should never

be forgotten.