Clouds are one of God’s beautiful creations. This week I was presented with several photographs of clouds. Along with each of these photos, there was a caption proclaiming that God sees us; that He is watching out for us; that He was not surprised by the events of 2020. He is the ALL SEEING ONE (EL ROI). Translated literally, El-Roi means the God who sees me. I have always loved this name for God. He looks ahead and sees what is coming and prepares the way. He provides direction when you are not sure which way to go.
In Exodus 24:15-18, Moses went up to Mt. Sinai and the clouds covered the mountain. God spoke to Moses from the clouds.
In Numbers 9:15-23, the clouds covered the tent by day and fire covered it by night. When the cloud lifted the people set out and wherever the clouds settled, the people set up camp. They followed the clouds.
In Acts 1:9-11, after the disciples saw Jesus lifted up and taken up into a cloud the angel said to them, Jesus will come again just as you saw Him leave, in the clouds.
Revelation 1:7 proclaims, “Look! He is coming with the clouds. Everyone will see him, even the ones who stuck a sword through him. All people on earth will weep because of him. Yes, it will happen!”
Hagar (Genesis 16:9-15 ) was having a year like we are having in 2020. Things were not going well for Hagar. She was having a desert experience and El-Roi was there watching over her. He saw her anguish and pain. He was there when Sarai told her to leave and not come back. He was there and He had a plan already in place when she wandered aimlessly into the desert. God said to her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her. I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count. You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.”
Hagar proclaimed: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me (El-Roi). If we look into Hagar’s future we see other opportunities for her to call on El-Roi. In Genesis 21, once again she finds herself outcast; but this time her son, Ishmael, is with her. Ishmael is now 14 years old; more a young man than a child. His mother is in anguish over his possible death; but has she forgotten the promise of God found in Genesis 16? She has been sent out to the desert once again and again God speaks to her. Ishmael (God hears) is on the brink of death and the Angel of the Lord steps in to provide some much-needed counsel. “God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation. ”Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up”.
Has 2020 been the year of hell for you? Are you feeling like no one cares? Are you in a desperate situation? Are you having a desert experience? El Roi can change that desert experience into a well of water experience (John 4). Do you need God to show up at the well? Look to the clouds. Call on El-Roi. God sees me and He sees you. He has a plan, trust Him. It may not come to fruition when you think it should, but it will come to pass when the time is right. The year 2020 is no match for God. It shall pass but God and His Word will remain.
Disclosure: Many of the linked products and services I recommend are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.