Seeing and Hearing

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In the past three months, I have visited the Optometrist to have my eyes checked and the Audiologist to have my ears checked. The results? I will need a new pair of classes…for the fourth time within the past year since my left eye continues to blur due to cataracts and last month I returned to the VA to pick up my first ever hearing aids due to hearing loss in both ears. Ah, the joys of turning 60 in 2018.

Coincidentally, while reading my devotions, I read where Abram (the name he had before Abraham) took God’s promise, to him and his wife Sarai, into his own hands and married Hagar, Sarai’s slave. As a result, she conceived causing dissension in the home to the point where Sarai mistreated Hagar, causing her to run away.

Later, “The angel of the Lord” found her near a spring in the desert. The angel told her to go back and submit to Sarai and that she, Hagar, would have descendants that would be too numerous to count. He also told her that she would give birth to a son and she was to name him Ishmael, which means, God hears. The name was given because God heard of her misery.

Because of this encounter, Hagar gave the name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). She also named the well, “Beer Lahai Roi”, which means, Well of the Living One who sees me (Genesis 16:14).

Throughout my life–even during my four tours of war to the Middle Eastern desert—when times were good or, like with Hagar, there were times of distress, I knew I could always count on the God who sees me and the God who hears me. He is one and the same…the Living God. In fact,  I thank him often for being the God who has seen and heard me wherever I have been…who sees and hears me wherever I am…and who will always see and hear me wherever I go.

Scott A. Meehan