The God Who Sees

Spiritual reflection to start the day with Siȃn Wyn Rees, Bible Society’s Head of Wales.

Good morning.
Growing up in rural Wales during the late 1970s and early 1980s, long before the advent of mobile phones, the multiple television channels, the internet, and the streaming services now ubiquitous in modern life, it was taken for granted that children would find their own means of occupying themselves during their leisure time. Boredom, as such, was scarcely a consideration; indeed, it was neither expected nor permitted to become an enduring feature of childhood.

Consider then, the excitement amongst the children of the village, when a local teacher established a youth group. I vividly recall travelling into the nearest town to visit the local swimming pool. What I hadn’t realised, however, was that arrangements had been made to stop at the fish-and-chip shop after swimming. I had no money with me, and I remember watching all the other children disembark from the bus and queue to buy their chips, while I remained inside.

Imagine the overwhelming sense of joy I felt when the youth leader returned to the bus carrying a large packet of steaming hot chips and handed them to me. He had seen my predicament; and rather than simply accepting the situation, he had chosen to do something about it.

One of the names given to God in the Bible is El Roi, which translates as ‘the God who sees.’ It’s a name Hagar, whom many would later describe as the first female theologian, attributed to God in the book of Genesis because He saw her pain and distress.

Living God, help me today to be someone who truly sees those around me. Give me grace to recognise their circumstances, and the compassion to empathise with them. Help me to respond with kindness, generosity, and practical action. Amen.