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El Roi: The God Who Sees and Cares

Scripture References

• Genesis 16
• Genesis 21

Overview

Hagar’s encounter in Genesis shows a God who draws close to the overlooked and hurting. Today’s session in the “Closer” series focused on that same God—El Roi, “the God who sees”—through Scripture, a brief personal story, and Isabella Powell’s powerful testimony. Together they affirmed that following Jesus does not shield us from trials, but it does anchor us in the unchanging truth that God is attentive, compassionate, and actively involved in our lives.

Context

“Closer” is tracing God’s personal, purposeful, praiseworthy character across the Bible. After encounters with Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, this lesson looked at Hagar to highlight God’s heart for the least and lowly.

Main Points

God’s Heart Revealed Through Hagar

• Hagar, an Egyptian servant and outsider, is the first person in Scripture to give God a name: El Roi, “the God who sees.”
• Her story underscores that God is not distant; He notices pain, shows compassion, and has unique plans for every life.
• Hagar foreshadows the gospel: God’s love extends to “anyone who believes,” not just the obvious insiders.

Personal Moment of Being Seen

• The speaker recalled a season of serious health struggles, fearing permanent limitation.
• In prayer she asked, “Am I going to be okay? Father, do you even care?”

• Illustration: A previously unheard worship song immediately played—“Don’t give up too soon… He cares for the sparrow and He cares for you.”

• That timely line became God’s clear answer: He sees, He cares, He loves.

Isabella’s Testimony: God’s Intervention in Darkness

• Story:
  • Lifelong churchgoer Isabella battled depression, anxiety, bullying, and self-harm from grade school through college.
  • After an assault and a suicide attempt, she prayed, “God, if You have a plan for me, show me right now.”
  • The very next morning her first college class featured a surprise guest speaker on suicide awareness who declared that God has a plan for every life.
  • In that moment Isabella knew God was real and attentive.
  • She later realized the misconception that Christians never face problems; instead, the difference is knowing, whatever happens, that

    “God is good and His plan is always better than ours.”

Living Confidently Under El Roi

• The same God who met Hagar and Isabella is present with us.
• Because He sees, knows, and hears, believers can face trials with confidence rather than despair.
• Groups were invited to share personal moments of being seen by God, reinforcing community faith.

Key Truths

• God notices and values people the world overlooks.
• Being a follower of Jesus does not eliminate trials, but it anchors us in God’s goodness.
• God often answers desperate prayers in clear, timely, and personal ways.
• His plans and timing surpass our own, even when we feel ready for a different outcome.
• Remembering God as El Roi builds confidence to face present pain and future uncertainty.

Response

• Bring fears and questions to God honestly in prayer.
• Look for—and note—specific ways God answers or comforts.
• Share testimonies of being seen by God to encourage your group or friends.
• Trust God’s timing when your plans are delayed or altered.
• Extend compassion to overlooked or hurting people, reflecting God’s heart revealed in Hagar’s story.

Closing

God, the same El Roi who met Hagar in the wilderness and Isabella in a college classroom, is near to each of us today. He invites us to live boldly, knowing we are fully seen and deeply loved.

“He sees, He knows, He hears.”

Prayer

“Heavenly Father, we love You. We praise You for being a God who’s near, for being the God who sees and loves and cares so deeply. Would You meet us today in our time of need? Minister to us Your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”