The LORD Who Sees the Affliction of the Lowly

"And she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her" (Genesis 16:13) - by means of an angel. Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon and Rabbi Yochanan in the name of Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon: never did the Holy One, blessed be He, find it necessary to converse with a woman except with that righteous one [Sarah], and even that was on account of a cause. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana in the name of Rabbi Biri said: how many words and how many circlings He circled in order to speak with her, as it is said, "And He said, No, but you did laugh" (Genesis 18:15). But is it not written, "And she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her"? Rabbi Yehoshua bar Rabbi Nechemiah in the name of Rav Idi: by means of an angel. But is it not written, "And the LORD said to her" (Genesis 25:23)? Rav Levi in the name of Rav Chanina bar Rav Chama said: by means of an angel. Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: by means of a divine Name. "You are the God of seeing." Rabbi Eibo said: You are the One who sees the humiliation of the humiliated. "For she said, Have I even here seen after Him who sees me?" She said: it is not enough that I was found worthy of speech, but even of royalty, as you say "For You have brought me even here [halom]" - it is not enough that I was made worthy together with my mistress, but even alone, between myself and myself. Rabbi Shmuel said: a parable of a noblewoman to whom the king said, Pass before me. She passed before him while leaning on her maidservant, and she narrowed her face and did not see the king, but the maidservant saw.