What is the biblical significance of Beer Lahai Roi?

This signifies 'well of the living and seeing one.' A well situated between Kadesh and Bered, "in the way to Shur," therefore in the south. It was here that Hagar, when she fled from Sarai, was met by the angel of the Lord: her exclamation on that occasion, "Thou God seest me," gave to the well its name. Gen. 16:14. Isaac dwelt near the same 'well LAHAI-ROI.' Gen. 24:62; Gen. 25:11.

And not only this but the future of the coming son was foretold: his name was given, his character indicated. His name means, "God hears." Hagar spoke of God as "Thou God seest me," or "Thou art the God who reveals Himself" (New Trans.) The well by which the angel appeared to her became known as "The well of the Living who was seen." Thus even poor Hagar derived blessing from this trying episode, though the son, when born, became a trial to Abram himself, as well as to Sarai and the future Isaac.

Why is it mentioned here that Isaac had just returned from the well ‘Beer-lahai-roi’? This well is known to the Bible student from Genesis 16:13.14 where we learn why it had been given this name. Hagar had experienced God as a God who ‘sees’ and may be ‘seen’ and experienced. Even if, during the church’s journey, Christ often does not intervene, the assurance is there that He ‘sees’ and is conscious of every difficulty on the way. His interest in every detail of the journey may also be seen in verse 66 where we learn that the servant told Isaac ‘all things he had done’ (although Christ, of course, has no need to be ‘told’).

In the close of this beautiful story Isaac personally comes into view. In all these wilderness scenes Isaac has taken no active part, though not unmindful of all that was taking place. He comes from the well Lahairoi — a word of deep significance, for it means, "the well of Him that lives and sees" (Genesis 16:14). How good to know as we travel on our way, that at the end of the journey we shall find One who has not been unmindful of His people. He sees and He lives, yea the word is "He ever lives" (Heb. 7:25).

There is not only in the Son of God the substantiation of every positive blessing; there is also the full and perfect revelation of God; and this is brought before us in Isaac dwelling at Beer-lahai-roi, the well of the living One Who reveals Himself. How immense, how infinite, how great indeed are the blessings that flow from this stupendous fact, that God has revealed Himself in grace. "No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:18). "And confessedly the mystery of piety is great, God has been manifested in flesh…" (1 Tim. 3:16). Yes, He is the living One Who reveals.

The interpretation given by the Authorised Version, "Thou God seest me," conveys a most solemn truth, but surely it is a much greater thought for me to see God in Christ. It is not only that He sees me, but that I see Him revealed in perfect grace. "Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi" when he met Rebecca. This is the true and proper environment for the saint of God; standing in the noon-tide splendour of the revelation of God in Christ, and feeding where the new nature develops and becomes exceedingly fruitful.

Notice how beautiful this name Lahai-roi is, which means "the well of Him that liveth and seeth me." That was Hagar's term, as she realized the wonderful care of the Lord for her, how He had met her in her need when she was fleeing from her mistress, Sarah, to bring her back. He ministers to her by the springing well which He discovers for her. But Isaac dwells there. Isaac, the child of the free woman, Isaac, our representative - the one who is the true child of God according to the type, the one who has really the spirit of adoption, the one who has the full title, as it were, to the inheritance. He is the one who gets the well, the one who controls it.

How necessary is it therefore that the bondwoman and her son should be cast out; the spirit of grace cannot tolerate what is legal, and what gives man a standing in the flesh. But though Hagar is cast out, she and her son become the objects of divine care in the grace of God. It is like the elder brother who would not come in to the feast: he had the same proud spirit as Ishmael; yet the father went out and entreated him. What a striking picture of the nation of Israel: all the testings of the wilderness only provided the complete justification of God's pronouncements as to their moral condition — a disobedient and opposing people — "a wild ass of a man," unsubdued. Like Ishmael, whose hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him, the Apostle says of Israel, "They please not God, and are contrary to all men." Yet, as having come from Abram, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. In this connection, how blessed to learn that God heard Hagar's cry, and provided for her refreshment the well Beer-lahai-roi, "Well of the living who was seen." God not only sees me, but has revealed Himself in grace that I may see Him.

After this Isaac takes the place of Abraham as a vessel of God's testimony, and is blessed by God (v. 11), living by Beer Lahai Roi, “the well of Him who sees me.” There is true spiritual refreshment (the well) in the consciousness of living under the eye of God.

After this Isaac takes the place of Abraham as a vessel of God's testimony, and is blessed by God (v.11), living by Beer Lahai Roi, "the well of Him who sees me." There is true spiritual refreshment (the well) in the consciousness of living under the eye of God.

Alas, don't you think it would do us good, if we as Christians dwelt more by Lahai-roi? if we knew a little better what our God has given us? and thus knew better the blessing in it? Hagar called it "the well of Him that liveth and seeth"! That is what it is. It is the "well of Him that liveth and seeth" us, the well of God, the living water.