Intentionally MissionalSample

Seeing Like God Sees

One day, I was teaching my daughter that when reading poetry, you need to peel the layers of meaning in each poem. One of the things I told her was, “Look again, read again, see anything else?”

Many times, truth be told, I think she gets tired of hearing that. But what am I training her to do? Why is it so important to look again?

Take the story of Hagar, for example, it is a story I’ve read many times, but this time, I “saw” something new. Hagar, who, after being “dealt harshly by her mistress,” ran away to the wilderness. 

“So, she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her.”

Then in response, she said:

“You are a God of seeing…Truly here, I have seen him who looks after me.”

What does that say to you?

First, though Hagar is an Egyptian and does not know God personally as her own God, she called on the name of the LORD. Why? There are many reasons, perhaps. But one reason I think is that she was desperate and possibly knew of the God of Abraham, or at least heard of his name and fame. She knew enough of God that in her time of desperation, she called on his name.

Similarly, people in Cambodia (the people my husband and I are called to serve) may not know God, but perhaps they have heard of him and what other people believe about him. This means there will be plenty of opportunities for God’s name to be called on. AND God does not discriminate!

Second, God is a “seeing” God. What does Hagar mean by that? Well, her response said it all: “He who looks after me.” God sees us. He looks after us. He loves and cares for us more than we could ever imagine. As we go about our daily lives, do we truly “see” those around us?

Seeing is more than with your naked eyes. I’ve learned that it involves thoughtful reflection and maybe even investigation. Do you know the phrase “more than meets the eye”? That’s what I believe I am challenged to consider when I look around me.

As I read, hear and see in this season of life in a strange country, I want to SEE with all my senses and have the compassionate love that compels me to SEE DEEPER. Because who knows? An opportunity may be right around the corner. And I do not want to miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share with people about my awesome God!