Here I Am

by David Scott Robertson


(Exo 3:4 NIV) When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

(Gen 22:11 NIV) But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.

(Gen 31:11 NIV) The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.'


Moses, Abraham, and Jacob, famous biblical and historical figures, each heard God calling their name. But this experience is not unique to biblical patriarchs. These are three among multitudes of people who have at various times heard God call their name throughout history.

What is the proper response when God calls your name? I believe the answer may be found in the responses of Moses, Abraham, and Jacob: "here I am."

You see, God is looking for a man or woman who is willing to be found. The Bible says that
"…the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV).

God is on a "search and bless" mission. His desire is to bless and not curse, to build up and not tear down, to establish and not demolish, to freely give abundant life through Christ here and now and eternal life in the hereafter. All we have to do when the Lord calls our name is answer "here I am!"

Some might say: "Well, that was fine for Moses, Abraham, and Jacob but I haven't heard God call my name. He certainly hasn't appeared to me in a burning bush, I've not heard an audible voice from heaven or even had a dream or vision where God called my name. Since that's not the case, therefore I conclude that God may not be calling me at all."

Please note that there is Someone else that is saying "here I am." It's Jesus.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20 NIV).

God, who is completely impartial and plays no favorites, extends His invitation and call to all men everywhere at all times.

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" WHOEVER is thirsty, let him come; and WHOEVER wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17).

God is calling your name today, are you listening?

Don't be like Adam and Eve when God called out to them in the Garden of Eden and because of sin in their life they tried to avoid God's call altogether:

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid" (Genesis 3:8-10).

You can run but you cannot hide from God. Don't let fear that you are sinful, unworthy, or unacceptable before God prevent you from answering God's call with "here I am!"

Jesus Christ has made a way for us to have confidence in responding to God's call on our life with "here I am!"

Let's purpose in our hearts, this very day, that the next time we hear God's voice calling to us, we will respond to Him like the prophet Isaiah did:

"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!" (Isaiah 6:8).

DSR
11/17/03