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Published on:

28th Apr 2025

04-28-25 part 2: El Roi: The God Who Sees and Hears

1. Hagar’s Encounter with El Roi

Dr. Spoon unpacks the incredible story from Genesis 16, where Hagar, abused and rejected, encounters God in the wilderness. After running away from Sarah, Hagar meets the angel of the Lord who instructs her to return and promises that her son, Ishmael, will be significant, though wild. It’s in this broken moment that Hagar calls God "El Roi"—the God who sees. Dr. Spoon highlights that in our misery, when we feel unseen and unknown, God reveals Himself as fully present, deeply aware, and full of compassion. Even when we feel alone, God is looking right at us with love.

2. The Deep Meaning Behind Names

Dr. Spoon explores the powerful significance of names in this passage. Hagar names God “El Roi” because she feels seen, but her son’s name, Ishmael, means “God hears.” These two names together reveal a beautiful truth: God not only sees our struggles externally but hears the internal cries of our hearts. Dr. Spoon urges believers to take hold of both promises—God sees and God hears. Even our silent sufferings and quiet victories are noticed. We are never hidden from His gaze or deafened from His heart. His connection to us is complete and compassionate.

3. God’s Perfect Timing—Even When It Feels Delayed

Shifting gears to Abraham’s journey, Dr. Spoon explains that after Ishmael’s birth, there’s a 13-year gap before God speaks again about the promised child, Isaac. Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born and 99 when the next divine appearance happened. That long gap teaches a crucial lesson: God's timeline is not our timeline. Though the promise was sure, the fulfillment was slow by human standards. Dr. Spoon encourages believers to trust God’s perfect plan even when it feels delayed. Every trial, every pause, every silence has divine purpose—and it’s always on time from heaven’s perspective.

4. A God Who Wrestles and Refines

In a fun wrap-up with trivia and humor, Dr. Spoon reminds listeners of another moment where God intimately engages with humanity—wrestling Jacob all night long before renaming him Israel. God doesn't just speak from afar; He gets close, wrestles, refines, and renames. This relational, personal touch shows a God who is committed to our transformation, not just our comfort. Whether through seeing us like Hagar, hearing us like Ishmael, or wrestling with us like Jacob, God's presence is persistent, personal, and purposeful. He never lets go—and He never loses.

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The David Spoon Experience
The David Spoon Experience Podcast. Local, National, AND Heavenly Talk. It's a cross between Steve Martin, Sean Hannity, and Focus on the Family!
The David Spoon Experience Podcast. Local, National, AND Heavenly Talk. It's a cross between Steve Martin, Sean Hannity, and Focus on the Family!
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David Spoon

David Spoon was born and raised in a Jewish home in Detroit, Michigan. He attended a private Hebrew school called Hillel Hebrew Academy. David was bar mitzvah-ed at the age of thirteen. Not long after, he was involved in drug abuse and trafficking. After hearing the Gospel for the first time at age seventeen, David accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. A few months later, David had a dramatic experience with God. Immediately set free from years of excessive drug use, he committed himself to ministry and to furthering the Kingdom of God.

He attended Arizona Bible College, Northern Arizona University, and Life Pacific College, graduating summa-cum-laude in their Ministry and Leadership program. He also graduated with honors from Regent University with a master’s degree in Theological Studies and earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in Strategic Christian Ministry at Liberty University.

He is one of a few individuals holding ministerial ordinations from three separate denominations: Heritage Free Baptist Organization, 1981; Independent Pentecostal Ministers Association, 1985; and Vineyard Valley Association, 1988. He was also the Chaplain for the Flagstaff Police Department. In addition, David was the senior pastor of Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Flagstaff.

In addition, David started and co-hosted two different live Christian call-in radio talk shows. He hosted the very popular radio show “The David Spoon Experience” on KPRZ 1210 and a show called “To Know Him,” which aired on 88.9 on the F.M. dial-in Temecula, California at 1:00 p.m., Monday through Fridays. He was also the Director of Local Ministry for Salem Media Group in San Diego, California.

David is married to his best friend, Noelle. He has three children and seven grandchildren, plus their two dogs named Levi and Bert. On March 18th, 2019, he started “The David Spoon Experience” in Texas and is growing with his audience of awesome believers and non-believers alike.

He is the President of He Must Increase Ministry, a 501c3 ministry, and is hosting (again) the live daily radio show “The David Spoon Experience” with DJR Broadcasting in KAAM, on the 770 A.M. radio dial. The show is also on various apps and the Internet.

David is a Jewish-Christian, Bapti-Costal, Cal-Minian, Manifold Millennialist.

Just ask him.