The margin of our old English Bibles hath rendered this compound word by "The well of Him that liveth and seeth me." (Genesis 16:14) The history which gave rise to this name being given to this well, is most beautiful and interesting. I entreat the reader to turn to it. His attention will be well rewarded. (Genesis 16:1-14) It was Hagar, the handmaid of Sarai, which gave this name to the well, when she fled from her mistress, and was found by the angel of the Lord near a fountain of water in the wilderness of Shur. There is uncommonly striking in the history. I admire faith of this poor servant. And I beg to adore the Lord still more, in both giving her that faith, and affording so blessed an opportunity for the exercise of it.
That Hagar should have her steps directed into the wilderness-that there she should find a well of water, already prepared to her hands, when we know how rare and precious wells were considered in the Eastern world; what pains men took to dig them; and what strife for possessing them they occasioned;that there the Lord should manifest himself to her, and give her such gracious promises:these are so many distinct tokens of divine love. And how blessedly did the Lord, that led Hagar there, and present before her such testimonies of his watchful care over all, give her grace also, to eye the Lord's hand in the Lord's appointment. Hagar perceived the Lord's grace in all. And she discovered his mercy towards her in all: so that, under the full impression of a full heart, she cried out, "Thou, God, seest me."
I cannot dismiss the subject before that I have first requested the reader to ask himself, whether, when at any time in the wilderness frames of his own heart, or under the wilderness dispensations the Lord hath brought him into, he hath not often found a well of seasonable and unexpected supplies, like that of Hagar, so that he could call it Beer-la-hai-roi? How very often hath it been found, yea, it may always be found, in the believer's exercises, that where we least expected, there most of Jesus hath been discovered. That precious Redeemer, always beforehand with his people, and going before them in all his providences, as well as in all his grace, hath been at length manifested to the soul, in the close of some trying dispensation, as having been all the while present, appointing all, regulating all, watching over all, and giving a sweet and precious finish in his sanctifying blessing on the providence to all; though to our timid and unwatchful hearts, he hath been supposed by us as absent, and inattentive to our distress. How truly blessed is it, like Hagar, when the seasoned relief, like the well at Shur, opens with such manifestations of the Lord's love, as to at the same time, the Lord's hand. The use of every blessing then calls forth the cry, as Sarah's handmaid, from the soul, "Thou, seest me. For she said, Have I also here looked him that (first) looked after me?" (Genesis 16:13)