Gênesis 16

Horae Homileticae de Charles Simeon

Gênesis 16:13

13 Este foi o nome que ela deu ao Senhor que lhe havia falado: "Tu és o Deus que me vê", pois dissera: "Teria eu visto Aquele que me vê? "

DISCOURSE: 26
THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD

Gênesis 16:13. She called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me.

AFFLICTIONS sanctified are amongst our greatest mercies. Hagar would have known less of herself, and less of God, if she had not experienced domestic trouble. She had indulged an exceeding bad spirit in despising her mistress on account of her barrenness; and, when she had thereby provoked the resentment of her mistress, she could not bear it; but fled away towards her own country. The gracious and seasonable visit however which she received from God, brought her to a better temper: it led her to return to that station which she had left; and to adore that God, whom as yet she had altogether neglected.
The person that appeared to her is called “an angel;” but he was “the Angel of the Covenant,” the Lord Jesus Christ, under the semblance of an angel. This appears from the promise which he gave her, “I will multiply thy seed;” and, still more clearly, from the discovery which was made to her, that it was “the Lord Jehovah who spake to her;” and from the name by which she called him, “Thou God seest me.”
From this name of God we shall be naturally led to speak of his Omniscience: but we will not occupy our time with proofs that this attribute belongs to God, or with uninteresting speculations respecting it: we will rather endeavour to impress the consideration of it upon our minds, and to mark its aspect upon the different states and conditions of men.
The consideration then of the Omniscience of God is suited to produce in us,

I. Conviction and sorrow—

[Men commit iniquity under an idea that God does not notice them [Note: Salmos 73:11; Jó 22:13.] — — — Hence, though they know that they have sinned, they are regardless of the consequences of their sin [Note: They are afraid of being detected by man, but not of being judged by God, Jó 24:15 with Provérbios 30:20.] — — — But God has indeed been privy to every one of their most secret thoughts [Note: Jeremias 23:24; Ezequiel 11:5. This is not only asserted by God, but acknowledged by men. Jó 34:21; Jó 42:2; Salmos 139:1 and exemplified in Achan, Gehazi, and Ananias.] — — — And he has noticed them in order that he may bring them into judgment, and make them the foundation of his own decisions at the last day [Note: Jeremias 17:10.] — — — What a fearful thought is this! and what a necessity does it impose on every one to search out his iniquities, and to humble himself for them in dust and ashes [Note: Salmos 139:23.]! — — —]

II.

Circumspection and fear—

[“God will not judge according to appearance, but will judge righteous judgment.” If he saw only our outward actions, we might hope perhaps to find a favourable acceptance with him: but he discerns the motives and principles of our actions [Note: 1 Samuel 16:7; Salmos 11:4; Jó 26:6; Provérbios 16:2.]: he sees whether they flow from a regard to his authority;—whether they be done in the precise manner that his word requires;—and whether, in doing them, we seek the glory of his name. If we do the best things under the influence of a corrupt principle, they are no better in his sight than splendid sins [Note: Isaías 1:11; Isaías 66:3; Ezequiel 33:31; Mateus 12:8.] — — — What self-examination then is requisite, to ascertain the secret springs of our actions, and to guard against the delusions which we are so prone to foster! — — —]

III.

Consolation and hope—

[In seasons of temporal affliction, we may be ready to think that our state is altogether desperate [Note: This was certainly the state of Hagar under the harsh treatment of her mistress; and was probably so when the angel appeared to her.]. Under false accusations especially, we may be incapable of establishing our own innocence, and of vindicating our character from the vilest aspersions [Note: This was David’s case, when fleeing from Saul, and accused by him of treason. Salmos 35:11; Salmos 35:22.]. But it is consoling to reflect, that “all things are naked and open before God [Note: Hebreus 4:12; 1 Coríntios 4:3.]:” and that he can, when-soever it shall seem good to him, extricate us from all the miseries that we either feel or fear [Note: 2 Crônicas 16:9; Salmos 33:18.].

Under spiritual trouble also, O how consolatory is it to know, that God is thoroughly acquainted with the inmost desires of our souls: that if, on the one hand, he has seen our corruptions, he has, on the other hand, beheld our conflicts, and can bear witness to the ardour and sincerity of our exertions [Note: He testified that there was some good thing in the heart of young Abijah; 1 Reis 14:13 and will bear witness even for those who only “think upon his name.” Malaquias 3:16.]! — — — What a comfort is it to know, that he sees us striving after universal holiness, and plunging daily and hourly, as it were, into “the fountain that was opened for sin,” and relying, as the very chief of sinners, upon his covenanted mercy in Christ Jesus [Note: João 1:47.]! — — — In this view, the most desponding soul may cast itself at the foot of the cross, and may say, “If I perish, I will perish here.”]

Address—

[Endeavour to realize the thought of God’s presence with you, wherever you are; and to behold, as it were, the name of God inscribed on every place, “Thou, God, seest me” — — — Endeavour also to “set the Lord always before you,” and to order all your actions, words, and thoughts with a direct reference to his approbation in the future judgment [Note: Salmos 44:20 with 1 Crônicas 28:9,] — — —]

Introdução

CONTENTS TO VOL. I

Discourse

Text

Subject

Genesis

1.

Gênesis 1:26.

Creation of Man

2.

Gênesis 2:2.

Appointment of the Sabbath

3.

Gênesis 2:16.

Covenant made with Adam

4.

Gênesis 3:4.

The Serpent beguiling Eve

5.

Gênesis 3:6.

The Fall of Man

6.

Gênesis 3:11.

Excuses made by our first Parents, after their Fall

7.

Gênesis 3:15.

The Seed of the Woman

8.

Gênesis 3:21.

The Way of Salvation illustrated to our first Parents

9.

Gênesis 4:8.

The Death of Abel

10.

Gênesis 4:26.

Institution of Public Worship

11.

Gênesis 5:24.

Enoch’s Walking with God

12.

Gênesis 6:3.

Strivings of the Spirit

13.

Gênesis 6:5.

Extent of Man’s Wickedness

14. Gênesis 6:6.

God’s Determination to destroy Man

15.

Gênesis 6:22.

Noah’s Obedience

16.

Gênesis 7:1.

Preservation of Noah

17.

Gênesis 9:12.

God’s Covenant with Noah

18.

Gênesis 11:4.

Confusion of Tongues

19.

Gênesis 12:1.

Call of Abram

20.

Gênesis 12:5.

Abram’s Journey to Canaan

21.

Gênesis 13:8.

Separation of Abram and Lot

22.

Gênesis 14:18.

Melchizedec blessing Abram

23.

Gênesis 15:1.

Encouragement to the Fearful

24.

Gênesis 15:5.

Abram justified by Faith

25.

Gênesis 15:8.

Covenant Confirmed to Abram

26.

Gênesis 16:13.

The Omniscience of God

27.

Gênesis 17:9.

Circumcision of Abraham

28.

Gênesis 18:13.

Sarah reproved for Her Unbelief

29.

Gênesis 18:19.

Abraham’s Care of his Family

30.

Gênesis 18:32.

Abraham’s Intercession for Sodom

31.

Gênesis 19:17.

Lot delivered out of Sodom

32.

Gênesis 20:9.

Abraham reproved for denying his Wife

33.

Gênesis 21:9.

Abraham casting out Hagar and Ishmael

34.

Gênesis 22:6.

Isaac a Type of Christ

35.

Gênesis 22:12.

Importance of Evidences

36.

Gênesis 22:14.

Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide

37.

Gênesis 22:18.

Abraham’s promised Seed

38.

Gênesis 23:17.

Abraham purchasing a Burying-Place in Canaan

39.

Gênesis 24:2.

Marriage of Isaac

40.

Gênesis 25:23.

Jacob preferred before Esau

41.

Gênesis 25:32.

The Birthright typical of the Christian’s Portion

42.

Gênesis 27:35.

Jacob obtaining the Blessing

43.

Gênesis 28:12.

Jacob’s Vision a Type of the Ministration of Angels to Christ

44.

Gênesis 28:15.

The Manner in which God dispenses his Favours

45.

Gênesis 28:16.

Jacob’s Pillar at Beth-el

46.

Gênesis 28:20.

Jacob’s Vow

47.

Gênesis 32:26.

Jacob pleading with God

48.

Gênesis 33:4.

Reconciliation of Esau and Jacob

49.

Gênesis 34:31.

Slaughter of the Shechemites

50.

Gênesis 37:4.

Joseph envied by his Brethren

51.

Gênesis 39:9.

The Need of fleeing from Sin with Abhorrence

52.

Gênesis 40:23.

Ingratitude of Pharaoh’s Butler

53.

Gênesis 41:41.

Joseph’s Advancement

54.

Gênesis 42:21.

The Power of Conscience

55.

Gênesis 42:36.

Jacob’s unbelieving Fears

56.

Gênesis 45:8.

God viewed in Joseph’s Advancement,

57.

Gênesis 45:27.

Jacob’s Resolution to visit Joseph in Egypt

58.

Gênesis 47:7.

Jacob’s Interview with Pharaoh

59.

Gênesis 48:15.

Jacob blessing the Sons of Joseph

60.

Gênesis 49:10.

Christ the true Shiloh

61.

Gênesis 49:22.

Joseph a Type of Christ

62.

Gênesis 50:15.

Joseph’s Brethren fulfilling the Prophecy respecting them