Who God is and how he is, far exceeds who and how we may want him to be. Profoundly, the name by which God identifies himself is, “I Am” [YHWH, Yahweh, LORD] (Exodus 3:14). In the Scriptures we see that our God is All-Knowing (omniscient), All-Powerful (omnipotent), even All-Present (omnipresent). Indeed, he is a BIG God! But what about All-Seeing? Is he? And if so, is this good? Some wonder. Do you Christian?

Is he? Is it? Irregardless of circumstances, the answer to both is yes! Let’s consider why. We can be a bit selective depending on our circumstances, can’t we? When suffering you want God to see you, but when sinning you don’t! When in your hurt, alone, orphaned or outcast, you may cry out to God to be noticed; to be known. Yet when you are caught up alone, with some one or group in a rebellious way, you hope not to be found out. All-seeing God?? You may say, “I want a Big God, but not a Big brother-God!” Selective.

As for me. I want God as he is. I submit that he is a God of both comfort and conviction. Both are very good. To realize and grasp this is truly liberation for the soul. To hold otherwise is to be conflicted, captive within; ever-choosing whether to run unto Him or hide from him “in the cool of the day.” Genesis 3:8. 

It is better to be seen and known by God. Consider the following verses:

All-Knowing and All-Present is our God who sees all; even me, even you. We can’t have either-or, but we can have both. Why? Because he is! He is God Who Sees Me.

The plight of Hagar says it all. In Genesis 16:13 Hagar cries “You are ‘God who sees me.’” [Hebrew el roi] An Egyptian servant to then barren Sarai, Hagar had been given to Abram to bear a son on her behalf. But once pregnant Hagar became despised and rejected by Sarai, and treated cruelly. In utter despondency she had run out into the desert, to die alone. But an angel of the LORD appeared to her there, encouraging and exhorting her to return. In that hopeless circumstance she realized that she was not overlooked, but seen. Not only was God All-Knowing, (knowing her), All-Present, (present with her), but also All-Seeing (El Roi – the God who sees me).

Christian, you are seen and known by God – no one, no thing, is hidden from his sight.

  • He is fully aware of your circumstances and your place in them, be it by other’s hand or your own, whether unwillingly outside, or willingly inside, your control. You are not over looked for more important people or things.
  • He is fully present with you in those circumstances and is more than able to meet you there, offering comfort as well as conviction. (Observe his way with Elijah – 1 Kings 19).
  • He is fully invested in your life and guarantees life beyond even death. He loved you before you even had a chance to love him. He paid your ransom price in full, through his own sacrifice. He forgives you as you come home to him (yet again) with a broken and contrite heart. He does not leave us. It is we who leave him!

God is God whether you are in trouble or in temptation, and it IS good! Civilla Martin wrote, Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him; From care He sets me free: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.

Yes, it is good that God sees us (you, me), if indeed we are his children through his Son. Father knows we are not perfect. Not one of us is righteous on our own merit. All of us who claim Christ as our Savior and Lord are “under construction; each one of us. Our perfection, our maturity in Christ is being achieved only by him, and if disciplined by the Father, know that he only does so to those he loves! His Spirit in us is a guarantee of inheritance of what is to come. [Check out Ephesians 1:3-14 for a full expression]. Christian, God sees you right now.

—RWO/MAST