Lesson Four ~ El Roi, The God Who Sees Me, Part Three

God told Hagar to name her son “Ishmael” – for the LORD had heard of her misery. The name “Ishmael” means “God hears.” In Genesis 21:17, God heard Ishmael crying in the desert, and came to the rescue. The following scriptures instruct us on how God hears us and how we hear him. Do you remember the first time you ‘heard’ God? How do you hear God?

God Hears Us

• “If my people, called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their sin, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

• "The Israelites groaned in their slavery, their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard them and remembered his covenant with Abraham. Exodus 2:23-24

• “This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14 

• “The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29

• “In my distress I called to the LORD my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” 2 Samuel 22:7

• “I sought the LORD and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

• “This is what the LORD, the God of your father David days, I have heard your (Hezekiah) prayers and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.” Isaiah 38:5

• "Those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD, esteemed his name."Malachi 3:16-17 

We hear God

• “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or left.” Isaiah 30:21 (NLT) 

• “I know that thou hearest me always.” John 11:42 

• “We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:18 

• “He that is of the truth hears my voice.” John 18:37 

• “He that is of God hears God’s words.” John 8:47 

• “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.” John 10:27 

• “Here I am!” I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

Summary

If we know he sees us, then we know that he hears us. We serve a God who hears us when we cry out to him in our time of need, when we repent, when we praise him, when we pray to him, when we speak his name. He not only hears us, he answers us. He delivers us, he heals us, he saves us. He has a book which holds in it everything that has been said about him by those who love him.

Our God has the power to cause us to hear him. He is always with us. His voice guides us. He speaks to our hearts. Jesus said that those who are of truth and are of God will hear his voice. 

He goes after us. He says, "Here I am!" to everyone. He is the God who reveals himself. All we have to do is listen to him and open the door of our hearts to him and we will have fellowship with him.

Have you opened your heart to him? Have you heard him speak to your heart? Get quiet and listen for his voice. Truly, how could there be anything more amazing in this life than to communicate with God?

Next Blog ~

You are invited to write a Psalm to the LORD, describing what you think it will be like to finally see your God face to face. I will post my Psalm.