Genesis 16:13-14 And she called the name of the LORD that spoke to her, You God see me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that sees me?… I. A REFLECTION VERY PLEASING TO GOOD MEN. "Thou God seest me." 1. This is a pleasing reflection when I fear some hidden corruption which has hindered the answer of prayer, and often deprived me of comfort, but which I cannot, after the most faithful investigation, detect. He can discern it — "Show me wherefore Thou contendest with me." 2. This is a pleasing reflection when I feel those infirmities which make me groan. He sees grace, however small; He sees the disadvantages of my situation, the influence of the body over the mind, and of sensible things over the body; He sees that the "spirit indeed is willing when the flesh is weak." 3. This is a pleasing reflection with regard to prayer. I often know not what to pray for as I ought; but He always knows what to give. I cannot express myself properly in words; but words are not necessary to inform Him who "knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit — my desire is before Him, and my groaning is not hid from Him." 4. This is a pleasing reflection when I am suffering under the suspicions of friends or the reproaches of enemies. "Behold my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee." 5. This is a pleasing reflection when I am in trouble. He knows all my "walking through this great wilderness"; He knows where the burden presses; He knows how long to continue the trial, and by what means to remove it. II. TO THE WICKED IT IS A VERY AWFUL REFLECTION. 1. God sees everything you do. 2. He does not forget anything He has seen. 3. And to complete the terror of this consideration — all He has seen He will publish before the whole world: and He will also punish all that He has seen "with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." III. The reflection will be found very USEFUL TO ALL. 1. Useful as a check to sin. For can a person sin while he realizes this? Can he affront the Almighty to His very face? — Impossible. 2. Useful as a motive to virtue. The presence, the eye of One who is above us, and whom we highly esteem and reverence, elevates our minds and refines our behaviour; and we desire to act so as to gain His approbation. A servant feels this when he is before his master, and a subject when he is before the king. One of the heathen philosophers, therefore, recommended his pupils, as the best means to induce and enable them to behave worthily, to imagine that some very distinguished character was always looking upon them. But what was the eye of a Care compared with the eye of Jehovah! 3. Useful as a reason for simplicity and godly sincerity. Oh! let it banish all dissimulation from our religious exercises; and, whether we read, or hear, or pray, or surround the table of the Lord, let us remember that "God weigheth the spirits." If we had to do with men only, a fair appearance might be sufficient; "but the Lord looketh to the heart." And can we play the hypocrite under those eyes which are as a flame of fire? (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? |
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