Seen by God / 上帝看见了
Dexu Xia
Seen by God
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 16:13
My first pair of eyeglasses opened my eyes to a bold world. I’m nearsighted, meaning objects close up are sharp and defined. Without my glasses, however, items across a room or in the distance are a blur. At age twelve, with my first pair of eyeglasses, I was shocked to see clearer words on blackboards, tiny leaves on trees and, perhaps most important, big smiles on faces.
As friends smiled back when I greeted them, I learned that to be seen was as great a gift as the blessing of seeing.
The slave Hagar realized that as she fled from her mistress Sarai’s unkindness. Hagar was a “nobody” in her culture, pregnant and alone, fleeing to a desert without help or hope. Seen by God, however, she was empowered, in return, to see Him. No longer a vague concept, God became real to her, so real that she gave God a name, El Roi, which means “You are the God who sees me.” She said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).
Our seeing God sees each of us too. Feeling unseen, alone, or like a nobody? God sees you and your future. In return, may we see in Him our ever-present hope, encouragement, salvation, and joy—both for today and for our future. Praise Him today for this gift of amazing sight, to see the one true and Living God.
Today's Reflection Lord, I’m just one person in a big world, but I thank You for looking from on high and seeing me—so that I may see You.
上帝看见了
夏甲就称那对她说话的耶和华为“看顾人的上帝”。因而说：“在这里我也看见那看顾我的吗？”-创世记16章13节
我的第一副眼镜让我看清楚了这个世界。我有近视，意思是看近物毫不费力，但若没戴眼镜，就算是房子另一端的摆设，在我眼里都模糊不清。在12岁那年戴上第一副眼镜时，我赫然发现自己能看清楚黑板上的字和树梢上的小树叶了。更重要的是，我能看见人们的笑脸！
当我向朋友打招呼时，他们对我微笑，我才明白“被看见”和“能看见”同样都是宝贵的恩典。
女仆夏甲逃离女主人撒莱的苦待时，也明白这一点。在当时的社会中，夏甲是个无足轻重的小人物。她怀着身孕，孤单一人逃向广袤的沙漠，没有盼望，也没有援助。但她的苦情上帝都看见了，并使她也看见了上帝。上帝对她而言不再只是一个模糊的概念，而是真的存在。于是，她称耶和华为“看顾人的上帝”，说：“在这里我不是也看见了那位看顾人的吗？”（创世记16章13节，新译本）
那位看顾人的上帝看见我们每一个人。你是否感到孤单，觉得自己被人忽略或无足轻重呢？上帝看见你和你的未来。盼望你我也能在祂里面，看见从今时存到永远的盼望、鼓励、救赎和喜乐。让我们今天就来赞美上帝，因祂奇妙地开我们的眼睛，使我们能看见祂这位又真又活的上帝。
主啊，感谢祢看顾渺小的我，并使我也能看见祢。
上帝知道我的名，也看见了我。