And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. Genesis 16:11 KJV
This is the first appearance of the Angel of the Lord in Scripture; it surprises me because of whom he appears to; it is not to Abraham, the father of the children of Israel and faith, but to Hagar, a slave girl, and an outsider to Israel. As the representative and messenger of God, the Angel of the Lord reveals a special truth to us about the Person of God. He is the God who hears and sees us and it is not just a special chosen few, like Abraham; but even the outcast, like Hagar, like you and me, that He hears and sees. If there is anything God wants us to understand from the Old Testament appearances of the Angel of the Lord, it is this: He cares for us, hears us, and when we need Him, He will be there for us.
Lord, how grateful I am You see, hear, and care for me. Having felt like an outcast in life, when no one else seemed to care, You revealed Yourself to me and cared for me. Knowing that You care, I have never felt alone since.
