Often, near where
I live, I see a man standing on the corner of a busy intersection with a sign
that reads, “God is Watching You.” I’m not sure of the motivation behind this
but my suspicion is that he hopes passersby will be frightened by the thought.
After all, when we’re tempted to sin and are thinking of giving in, are we ever
comforted by the fact that God sees us?
No, I think
almost 100% of us, knowing that God sees, would want to think it over before
committing the sinful act.
This is not unlike
being in the presence of a policeman. We might alter our behavior if we know
that an officer is watching.
One example
is when many of us are driving on a highway. We may feel content and
unthreatened until we realize there is a highway patrolman just ahead. Most of
us might let off of the gas pedal immediately whether we’re speeding or not.
But let’s
change the scenario just a bit. If we or someone else has been in an accident,
we’d probably welcome the patrolman. If we heard gunfire, we might even call
the policeman – even the same one we tried to avoid while doing wrong.
Now, we
return to our main thought: that “God is
Watching You.” Is it possible that this could be a comfort to some of us? Just
as it would bring comfort and security to a child to know that his or her
parents are watching; it can be that and more for us as children of God to know
that God is looking.
We read in the
Bible of a precious Egyptian woman by the name of Hagar.[1]
Hagar had been the handmaiden of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.[2]
Sarah was unable to have children and had gotten very old but God had promised
Abraham that he would have a son – and many descendants.
Sarah’s
plan, obviously without consulting God, was to let Abraham go in to Hagar so she
might give birth. A common practice among the peoples of that day, this would help God fulfill his plan, she thought.
I suppose she figured God had run out of ways to get this done and she had to
come up with something for him. Abraham “hearkened to the voice” of Sarah.
Sarah’s plan was to be a surrogate mother to the child – at least in name.
Quickly
Hagar conceived. Very soon, she became prideful and instead of having respect,
looked down upon her mistress.
Immediately,
Sarah had second thoughts. “My bad! Rewind. Could I get off here?” She realized
her error. When Abraham told Sarah to do as she thought fit, Sarah dealt harshly
with Hagar.
Hagar felt compelled
to flee away. It’s not clear where she was trying to go. Maybe she was trying
to get back to Egypt. I think she just went wandering, a young pregnant woman, alone
in the desert. I’m sure she experienced numerous negative emotions.
The bible
tells us that “the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the
wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” He also said; “Return to thy
mistress, and submit thyself under her hands… I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it
shall not be numbered for multitude. The angel of the LORD even said that the
child was a boy (and that before ultrasound) and gave her his name – Ishmael,
which means “God shall hear.” He tells her that Ishmael would be a wild and hostile
man.
“And she
called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she
said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was
called Beerlahairoi (meaning: the well of
him who lives and sees me).”
What
impressed Hagar about God, Yahweh? It was the fact that this is the God who
sees her. GOD IS WATCHING – those words would not be words of fear and
intimidation for Hagar. They would become her comfort and encouragement to go
back to her mistress and to the father of her son.
How good to
know that God is watching! He is not just watching but is watching over us.
GOD IS WATCHING YOU:
If you’re running, that’s
scary.
If you’re saved, that’s reassuring.
Not only does he see – he hears.
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