Elohim: He is the Creator and did not create me by accident but to have purpose and meaning in my life - ultimately to give Him glory

Paul reiterates that Elohim created us for a definite purpose

"Workmanship" is Greek word "poiema" (our English "poem") - those who are now IN CHRIST are God's "masterpieces". You may not feel like a poetic "masterpiece", just like Gideon did not feel like a "valiant warrior" in (Judges 6:12) but God sees us not for who we were in self but for who have become in Christ and He will continue the good work He began in each of us (see notes Philippians 1:6). So take heart and praise Him as Elohim, Who has made you and given you great worth.

El Elyon: God Most High is sovereign and in total control which is why we can place our confidence unhesitatingly in God's ability to cause "all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (see notes Romans 8:28) (Spurgeon)

Abram is 75yo and God Promised him that "in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (this is the the "GOSPEL" Paul refers below in Gal 3:8)
 

Instead of going "down" to Egypt Abe should have gone "down" on his knees and "up" to God

Separation of Abram (stayed in Canaan) and Lot (moved to Sodom)

Abram rescues Lot, meets Melchizedek who blesses "God Most High (El Elyon) Possessor of heaven and earth.
 

"Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." (Ro 4:3-6,9,20-25 Gal 3:6-14 Heb 11:8 Ja 2:23) (see Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New)

A: When life becomes too painful to bear, we can find strength in remembering what Hagar discovered. The Lord is “the God who sees me.” When we understand that the Lord is aware of our pain and need, our strength will be renewed. God not only sees us, He sees the future. He promised Hagar a future for her unborn son Ishmael. We too  have hope for tomorrow, whatever our pain is today.

God sees all as El Roi and so is never caught by surprise. When He cannot rule, He overrules; and He always accomplishes His purposes. (Study His attribute of "Sovereignty")

A: Satan wants us to think that our “disobedience detours” must become the permanent road for the rest of our lives; but this is a lie. Like Abraham and Sarah, we can confess our sins, accept God’s cleansing (1Jn 1:9), and then learn to live with our mistakes. Yes, there will be pain and regret; but God’s grace will overcome in the end.

George Morrison : “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings.”

A: This symbol marks a comment related to application of the truth

Sarai misinterpreted God's delay as denial (we all have this tendency when God doesn't answer immediately in our timing) and took matters into her own hands.

A: God's delays are not God's denials

So Sarai despises Hagar and
Blames Abram

Hebrew word "harshly" means to afflict or oppress and describes the condition of the children of Israel in slavery under the heavy hand of the Egyptian taskmasters. (Ex 1:11-12) This gives us a good sense of how Hagar (whose name means "flight") felt and why "She fled from her presence." (Ge 16:6)

So keep context in mind:

A: Isn't it often in the cauldron of adverse circumstances like Hagar was  experiencing that the  "flaming arrows of the evil one" (See notes Eph 6:15-16) penetrate the defenses of our mind as "the serpent (who) was more crafty than any beast of the field" whispers lies like “God is holding out on you! If He loved you, things would be different! Blame Him!” (cf Ge 3:1-5).

When those lies come we must chose to "take up the shield of faith" (Eph 6:15-16)  remembering that "faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ" (see notes Romans 10:17).

It follows then that as we meditate on the meaning of God's Names, like El Roi and remember that El Roi sees and cares about all of our circumstances (even if they are the result of our sin) the Spirit takes this truth and renews the "defenses" of our mind.  Then with our mind renewed by the word of truth which fans the embers of faith, we can now potentially "extinguish all the flaming arrows" (Eph 6:16)  of doubt and despair. (Look again - How many "arrows" can be extinguished?) This process is a picture of what it means to run into the Strong Tower of His Name and be set "safe" and secure above the swirling storm.
 

Ge 16:1-6 ends in total disaster -- Hagar lost her home, Sarai her maid and Abram his 2^nd wife and child.

A: Maybe like Hagar you're also running from a difficult situation in which you were unjustly treated and maybe like Hagar you were part of the problem. Take comfort in the truth that El Roi sees your distress. He has heard how you've have been spoken to.

A: So first remember the truth about El Roi, as shown in  (Ps 34:18)  (See "advantages of a broken heart Spurgeon)

And then after you remember the truth about God, make a choice to act upon that truth for example according to Ps 55:22: (see Spurgeon)

You may say wonder -- "Where was He when something bad happened to me? Why did He not stop it?" At times like this make the choice to remember that He is still El Elyon and He is in control. He is causing it all things to work together for good. Has someone you loved or cared for walked away from you and now shuns you and you are "brokenhearted"?

As you study the columns to the right, you will learn that you have a God Who sees you and Who cares for you. He sees those who are hurting you and they will not go free. He is ever "near to the brokenhearted"

Spurgeon writes...

Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget; we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counselor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going to the "broken cistern" instead of to the "fountain;" a sin which was laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God's lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes upon him, and are "careful for nothing" because he undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much temptation. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

The Hebrew word for "found" refers to “finding” someone or something that is lost or misplaced. Certainly Hagar must have felt both "lost" and "misplaced". Alone in a barren desert wilderness, pregnant with a child because of another person's willful desire...but she was not alone and the "Angel" found her. This is where He often finds many of us - alone and in the wilderness. But rest assured He will find you. And He knows all about our past as well as our future (Even though He asked Hagar where she had come from and where she was going, He already knew the answers and yet He still cared to comfort her in her affliction. Ge 16:8)

"Shur" means "wall' so in a sense Hagar had her "back against the wall" as we commonly say when we find ourselves difficult, stressful circumstances.

There is no wilderness we can flee to and be out of the sight of God. For the sinner this truth brings terror. For the saint walking in the light this truth brings great peace from knowing He is there and that he has seen the wrong others have committed against us and that He will avenge the wrong. Our call is to forgive those who have wronged us. We don't know from the text if Hagar forgave Sarai, but we do know that this is God's will for the righteous.

A: Hagar ("flight")  ran away from Sarai but ran into God. How many of us running away from some oppressive situation, some bad memory, some unfair treatment, etc, have "run into God"?

"The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and He knows those who take refuge in Him." (Nahum 1:7)

Do you need to run to Him and take refuge in the Strong Tower of His name El Roi right now?

Then run for you won't be disappointed. The adversity you are experiencing may not necessarily be assuaged (even as Hagar had to return to the setting of prior harsh treatment) but in your adversity you can take confidence that El Roi sees and He will send comfort IN the affliction. Compare Paul's great encouragement in Ro 8:37...
 

A: Do you see the significance of the little preposition "IN"?
What a "precious and magnificent promise" (see notes 2 Peter 1:4) that sons and daughters of the Living God can experience victory IN the very midst of tribulations, distresses or persecutions because He gives a supernatural provision through Christ, our El Roi Who sees our need and strengthens us to press on against all odds (cf notes Philippians 4:13).

This scene marks the first OT occurrence of the phrase the "Angel of the LORD". Although not everyone agrees, the evidence strongly supports that this

Angel is

(1) God. Furthermore, the fact that He does not appear again after the incarnation of Christ supports that

(2) He is the Lord Jesus Christ. He appears often in the OT at times of great need or distress.

Note that He speaks with authority (Ge 16:9), promises He will multiply Hagar's descendants (something only God can do) (Ge 16:10), discerns supernaturally she is with child, specifies the child's name is to be Ishmael (meaning "God will hear")  for God had "given heed (Hebrew = shama = hear) to (Hagar's) affliction. " (Ge 16:11).

A: He hears when we are in distress and have been mistreated or despised. Hagar would likely never forget how God had heard her cry of affliction

What grief are you experiencing?
Recall God's comforting words to Hagar  and remember that...

Grief has an eloquent voice when Mercy is the listener and Woe has a plea which Goodness cannot resist. (click above for more on His attributes mercy and goodness). 

Who had she just seen in context? The Angel of the LORD and she calls Him "God" and specifically "El Roi". The Lord Jesus Christ is El Roi. 

A: Be encouraged by this "revelation" of God to Hagar and remember that in your most painful trial you too may have your most intimate and personal encounter with God. Hagar's wilderness experience brought her face-to-face with God and taught her that "I AM"  is the living God who SEES our plight and HEARS our cry when we hurt. He is a personal God, concerned about abused people and unborn babies. He knows our past and our future and cares for those who will trust Him.

God's attributes omniscience and omnipresence are "inherent" in the Name "El Roi" God Who Sees

Beer-Lahai-Roi  "well of Living One Who sees me"  i.e. of the ever living omnipresent Providence. Her specific description seems to suggest that Hagar was now not a pagan worshiper of idols, but had in some degree "turned to God from idols to serve (the) living and true God" (see notes 1Thessalonians 1:9) of Abraham.

Because El Roi watches over His Word, He is able to perform what He promises. If we truly appropriate this truth, there is nothing that can happen to us that we cannot be at absolute peace about.

Is this not a clear description of El Roi the God Who sees all and is therefore fully aware of the suffering of His chosen ones?  (See Spurgeon's devotional)
Note also the interesting parallels: El Roi is derived from "ra'ah". And "affliction" is same word used to describe Hagar's affliction (Ge 16:11).  which El Roi saw. The point is that God sees your suffering saints. Be consoled. Let us keep "fixing our eyes on Jesus, (our El Roi) the Author and Perfecter of faith, " (see notes Hebrews 12:2) (Spurgeon's devotional)

There is no hiding from El Roi Who watches over you, seeing and  knowing all that happens, and  "He is able to come to the aid of those who are (being continuously) tempted (tested or tried)" (Heb 2:18).

Spurgeon writes...

"Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to Him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour's love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for He can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succor every tried and tempted one."