El Roi (EL raw-EE) is the God who sees me.

I particularly enjoyed learning the beginning to this name of God. Hagar, who was an Egyptian slave, encountered God in the desert when she fled after finding out she was pregnant with Abram's child.

"The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"

"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.

Then the angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."...

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." (Genesis 16:7-13)

There is so much more to this story. Hagar eventually fled again when Ishmael was a child. They were practically on the brink of death as they were stranded in the middle of the desert and out of water. Hagar remembered El Roi promises to her and felt abandoned. Abraham and Sarah had treated her and Ishmael so poorly and unable to bear this pain anymore. But, listen to what happened next...

"God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation."

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink." (Genesis 21:17-19)

Though Hagar and Ishmael had to endure years of trial, God upheld his promises. The well which God placed in front of her that day was named "Beer Lahai Roi" [the "well of the Living One who sees me"]. (Genesis 16:13-14)

When you pray to El Roi, you are praying to the one who knows everything about you.

Ask El Roi, the God who sees us, to open our eyes to His work and to increase our faith even and especially when his promises seem impossible to fulfill.

"Decide to obey fully, to follow completely, to keep your eyes fastened on him. Let El Roi take pleasure as he watches over you, and you will soon find your heart stronger and your confidence deeper without quite knowing how it happened." (pg. 38)

Here are some promises in scripture to encourage and lift you up...

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

"He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber...The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:3, 5-8)

"The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." (Proverbs 15:3)