EL ROI
by LaRose Karr

This summer our Sunday School Teacher decided to take a break. Three people from our class have stepped up to team teach during the three summer months. I volunteered for the month of June and have been using material from Kay Arthur's study, "Lord, I Want to Know You." Kay Arthur does a great job of communicating the meaning of the Hebrew names of the Lord.

This past week our class studied "El Roi" or "The One Who Sees." Now it's humorous for me to say to readers, no, it's not "Lee Roy" or for those of us old enough to know who the Jetson's are, it's not their son Elroy. Although being from the south, I can poke fun at fellow southerners and say I've known some Lee Roy's of the good ole boy variety who considered themselves exalted.

The name El Roi was given to the Lord by Hagar when she fled from her mistress Sarai. (Gen. 16:13) Sarai was tired of waiting on the Lord to fulfill his promise that her husband Abraham would have a child so she took matters into her own hands. This is a perfect example of what happens when we don't wait on the Lord. Sarai gave her handmaid to Abram and told him to sleep with her, perhaps she would have a child and it would be the one of promise. Abram consented, and sure enough Hagar conceived.

But watch out! The plot thickens. Hagar, the slave began to despise Sarai. Sarai went back to her husband and blamed him. Gen 16:5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "It's all your fault! I gave you my slave woman, but she has been hateful to me ever since she found out she was pregnant. You have done me wrong, and you will have to answer to the LORD for this." Interesting isn't it, that we always want to blame someone else for our sin?

Abram passed the buck back and instructed Sarai to do with Hagar as she wished. The scriptures say that Sarai began to mistreat Hagar. It doesn't specifically say if she verbally, physically, or emotionally abused Hagar, but it is clear that the situation was intolerable to Hagar. She fled to the dessert. Now don't you think that when your life is intolerable, that a trip to the dessert is the next step to suicide? How can life be sustained in the dessert?

El Roi sees. El Roi saw. He sent his angel to speak to her. She truthfully told him of her plight, and the angel spoke prophecy about her unborn child. He also instructed her to return and submit to her master.

Several years ago I was in an intolerable work situation where I was being mistreated by a co-worker. The god of this age who blinds the minds of unbelievers had blinded the mind of our supervisor who was oblivious to the shenanigans of this erratic and rude co-worker.

I prayed an entire summer about the situation, and the only answer I could glean was, "Be still and know that I am God." At the end of the summer I stepped out in faith and left that position. The very same day that I gave my resignation, I was approached about another job, immediately submitted my resume and hired. I was relieved of tremendous stress and turmoil. I also knew that it was an "El Roi" kind of happening.

In Hagar's case, she too was given a child of promise. (Gen. 16:10) No, he wasn't the son promised to Abram earlier in Genesis chapter 15. Isaac, child of promise, the younger son would come from Sarai, later renamed Sarah, and Abram, later renamed Abraham at 99 years old. Sarai took on this role of surrogate creator when her husband was a mere 86 years old. She manipulated the creating of Ishmael, Hagar's son and God allowed it.

El Roi sees. El Roi saw. He didn't leave Hagar out in the dessert to perish, but instead led her back to the safety of Abram and Sarai's household where she delivered her child. Many of us have been or are being mistreated, abused, and in situations that we find intolerable. Remember this. The God who saw Hagar in the dessert is looking down upon you today. He will divide between the injustices and make the way straight. Leave the creating, dividing, and setting straight to the one who sees all. El Roi!

LaRose Karr is a wife, mother, church secretary, freelance writer and speaker. Two more stories are being published in "Soul Matters for Men." And "Cup of Comfort - Devotionals for Christians" features five of her devotions. She recently had a story published in Smiles! Affirmations and Stories to Gladden Your Heart. Look for her inspirational stories in " God's Way for Christmas, Couples and Mothers," published by White Stone Books. She is also a contributing writer to the "God Allows U-Turns" projects. Look for future devotions May 20-27, 2005 in"The Quiet Hour." She is a CLASS (Christian Leaders Authors Speakers Services) graduate and enjoys speaking and ministering to women. She will be speaker for a Women's Retreat held in Estes Park, Colorado - Oct. 14-16, 2005. Email:rosiebay@kci.net She believes her writing is a gift from God and gives HIM all the glory!

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