I remember my first pair glasses. They opened my eyes to a bold new world. Before my cataract operations which corrected my vision, I was very nearsighted, meaning only objects close up were sharp and defined. Without my glasses however, I joked that was I legally blind in five states. I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I got my first pair glasses, but I remember how happy I was to see clearer words on blackboards, tiny leaves on trees, and people’s smiles in the distance.
As friends smiled back when I greeted them, I learned
that to be seen was as great a gift as the blessing of seeing.
In this week’s Torah portion Hagar she fled from
Sarai’s mistreatment. “Then
Sarai treated her harshly, and she ran away from her.”
(Genesis 16:6) Radak (David Kimhi,1160–1235,
grammarian, lexicographer, and biblical commentator; France) explains
what this mistreatment entailed. “Sarai overburdened her with work, and made her perform the
work in an intolerably harsh manner. It is even possible that the word ותענה includes
physical as well as verbal abuse of Hagar by Sarai.”
(Sefaria.org translation)
Hagar was a lowly concubine, pregnant, and alone,
fleeing to the wilderness without help or hope. Seen by God, however, she was
empowered in return to see Him. God’s presence was so real she was the first
person in the Torah to ever give God a name. “And she called YHVH who spoke to her, “You Are El-roi,” by
which she meant, “Have I not gone on seeing after my being seen!” (16:13)
Our seeing
God sees us too. Feeling unseen, alone, or like a nobody? Remember we’re really
never alone for God is by our side and sees us. In return, we may see Him who
is our ever present hope, encouragement, redemption, and joy.
Appreciate
and thank God for this gift of amazing sight, to see God’s presence in our
lives
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