Here I am...

 “Here I am...”

There are several times in the Scriptures that the phrase , “here I am” or “here am I “ is recorded...included in a command, recognition, a plea...

I wonder how many times over the years I have said that same thing...when my parents, husband , children were calling, or when God was calling...did I hear each call and immediately attend or ignore and go my way...it probably depended on the intonation, desperation of the call...and there many times I wish  I hadn’t heard the call...and wanted to ignore it, hiding my head in the  sand, so to speak....

Was Isaac a little desperate when he looked around wondered where the burnt offering was as he was being lain on the alter...or Moses a little shaken when he saw a  burning bush that wasn’t consumed...or Eli questioning why God was speaking to a mere boy instead of he, the adult....or Isaiah, in his plea to be sent...or Ananias...what were their thoughts...

I want to be sure I am listening or answering with the right heart attitude when I have to answer, “here I am”...to various calls of obedience, to people, to events ...with right motives....carrying through the tasks set before me, with diligence, with gratitude....in a variety of settings...

“Here I am”....thank YOU...

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 

And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 

So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:1-2,7,11,14

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:4,6

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

1 Samuel 3:8-9 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8 

Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”

Isaiah 52:6 

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Acts 9:10