# 338 Here I Am

The Book of Genesis

Day 338

Ge 37:12 Then his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.  13 And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." So he said to him, "Here I am."

“Here I am.” Three simple words that have been uttered by the greatest saints since the beginning of time. Listen to a partial list of the great saints of Scripture who had these three words in their vocabulary!

These were the words that Abraham uttered when God called on him to sacrifice his only son Isaac.

These same words were spoken by Isaac as he yielded to the authority of his father as they prepared to go on their way to the sacrifice.

Jacob spoke these words when the Angel of the Lord called on him and encouraged him to depart from Laban and go back to his homeland.

When God appeared to Jacob and encourages him to pick up stakes and move to Egypt, Jacob’s response was “Here I am.”

Moses replied to God with these words at the burning bush.

Samuel replied with these same words when God called to him in the night.

Isaiah responds to the Lord’s invitation “Whom shall I send,” with “Here I am.”

All of these men of faith expressed a desire to exercise their faith by saying “yes,” even before they knew the particulars of God’s mission for them! They were “willing” participants in God’s plans!

Listen to what  God says in Isa 1:19 about people who are “willing.” “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;”

That’s quite a promise! And when we talk about being willing, we are talking about our own will. It’s a mind thing, and willing minds proceed from loyal,  trusting, hearts. Just ask David as he gives parting advice to Solomon in 1Ch 28:9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”

This doesn’t seem to be as much a command as it is a basic truth! Know God, and you will serve Him willingly! It’s the Old Testament version of faith with works. Knowing God is faith, serving Him is works! Therefore, “Here I am Lord,” is the gateway to God pleasing obedience and it proceeds from knowing God intimately, and we can only know Him this way through faith in Jesus Christ!