In the old Hebrew language, “Here I am” means you give your full attention and are ready to act. Being ready is a function of deep faith where you put aside your own plans to follow God’s path.
“Here I am!” in Hebrew, is all one word. It’s the word hineni. In the Torah, each time the word hineni is used, it suggests a turning point, a possible life-changing moment requiring decision, action and solution. It means you’re saying to God, “I am completely focused on Your desires for me. I am here waiting for Your direction.”
It’s our response to God’s call on our lives. It’s our way of saying, “Thank you for choosing me, for saving me, for giving me a purpose in life, for using me and for giving me the hope of eternity.”
Six of some of the Biblical leaders, whom God called, namely Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah and Ananias, all responded to God with the words – “Here I am!”.
In Genesis 22:1 we read that “God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ and Abraham said, ‘Here I am.’ Abraham did not know what God wanted. He was just available. He had no clue or idea that a test was coming.
Later God told Abraham to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him as an offering to God. During their climb up the mountain, Isaac called out, “Father?” and Abraham responded again with these famous words: ‘Hineni b’ni’ – “I am here, my son.” This hineni came from a place of love, which father Abraham used, when assuring his son that he was right there for him.
Father God wants us to be to be able to say to others too. “HINENI! I know you are going through a hard time right now, but I am here for you.”
We all know how the dear prophet Isaiah received his commission in Isaiah 6. He was in the Temple when he had a remarkable vision of heaven and God’s glory. It was so holy and wonderful that Isaiah felt unholy and repented deeply of his sins and the sins of his nation. An angel took a live coal, touched Isaiah’s mouth with it and told him that his guilt was taken away and his sin atoned for. Isaiah recorded his response in verse 8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
In Isaiah chapters 56–66 Isaiah tells us about the Israelites returning from exile. They faced many conflicts and spiritual exhaustion after the Babylonian exile. In Isaiah 58:6-9 God tried to teach His people about true fasting. In Verse 9 He said –“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I…” Here we see that Abba Father deeply desires that we follow His commands He sets out in these verses, that when we obey Him and call out to Him – He is near us, saying – “HERE I AM.”
Chapter 64 ends with an intense prayer where the people asked God to break through the silence and heal deserted, barren Jerusalem. Isaiah 65:1 opens with God answering with deep compassion and love, saying – ““I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’”
(Notice Abba Father’s extreme love, forgiveness and kindness – his passionate longing for his people to return to Him, to seek forgiveness and to be cleansed and healed, as He repeatedly says, “Here I am, here am I!”)
If Abba Father God tells us, “Here I am,” how much more we need to tell Him the same – “Here I am my blessed Saviour – ready to give my life to You! Here I am dear Lord – ready to do what You call me to do. Here I am, Jesus, ready to make that phone call to encourage someone. Here I am dear Redeemer, ready to forgive the one who hurt me. Here I am Father God, ready to sacrifice my time to visit the sick. Here I am Adonia, ready to work for You. Here I am precious Good Shepherd, ready to follow You and search for Your lost sheep and bring them back to you…Here am I…here I am…”
In Exodus 3:4 Moses answered God at the burning bush by saying, ”Here I am. In 1 Samuel 3:4 young Samuel answered the Lord’s call in the night by saying, ”Here I am.” Ananias said ”Here I am, Lord” when God called him in a vision to visit Saul of Tarsus in the city of Damascus, an event recorded in Acts 9:10.
Abba Father God calls EACH one of us. He knows your and my names. Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 43:1, that Abba Father says – “I have called/summoned you by name, you are mine…” Think about it for a moment.
Precious Lord Jesus, thank You that You know each one of us by name. Thank You for telling us in Luke 12:6-7 – “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Thank You that You never leave us and never forsake us, that You are constantly WITH us saying to us every day – “HERE I AM, as close to You as the air You breathe.” We love You!
Myrtle Turunen