Abraham was called by God more than once. First, he was called and sent to another land where God would fulfill a promise to him. Abraham responded by obeying and following the voice of this God that he would come to know.
Many years passed while Abraham waited on God and until, finally, the promise of conceiving the son that would make him the father of many nations as God had promised, came to happen.
Abraham’s faith was stretched after many years of believing, even throughout uncertainty, until the promise was received. He knew that this God not only spoke, but he also delivered. Abraham knew that God was true and that what he said would come true also. When Abraham’s faith seemed stronger, God also tested Abraham’s faith and it was then when Abraham had learned to reply to God’s calling differently.
This time He would reply with: “Hineni”, which means: “Here I Am”.
“Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” (Genesis 22:1-2, NLT)
We can see the word Hineni in the Tree of life version.
“Now it was after these things that God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham.” “Hineni,” he said.” (TLV)
Hineni is Hebrew for “Here I am” and it has a much deeper meaning than saying “I am here“.
“I am here” is just a response to your location and your position— a mere response to someone calling.
Hineni, in the other hand, is a response that denotes:
“Behold”
“Look at me” or “you have my attention.”
” I am ready”
“I am at your service”.
When people reply Hineni, they are implying an entire surrender to serve and do what they are being called for. Saying Hineni, here I am, means that you have complete surrender and trust in the caller and that you have unquestionable availability to respond to who is calling.
When Abraham was about to obey God with the sacrifice Isaac— a moment of complete faith and surrender to God’s calling— the angel called him and Abraham responded with Hineni.
“But the angel of Adonai called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“He said, “Hineni!” (Gen. 22:11) By myself I swear—it is a declaration of Adonai—because you have done this thing, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, I will richly bless you and bountifully multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. “
Abraham’s ability to respond Hineni, a demonstration of surrender and obedience, led to the fulfillment of God’s promise. The sacrifice of Isaac and the blessing that God had promised starting from Abraham to many nations, was a representation of what God was going to do through his own son, Christ. Abraham did not had to sacrifice his son, but rather God would, in order to fulfill the promise.
And in the same way, the son of God replied to his calling with “Hineni” to save all humanity.
In Isaiah we can read:
“Therefore My people will know My Name.
Therefore in that day,
I am the One who will be saying, ‘Hineni!’”
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces shalom, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:9-7)
It was also Isaiah who, in the middle of grief and feeling uncleaned, responded “Hineni” to God’s calling.
“Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying: “Whom should I send, and who will go for Us?” So I said, “Hineni. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)
How are you responding to God’s calling today?
Are you simply responding and just saying “I am here“, instead of “Here I am“?
Maybe you are saying “I am here“, and “here” means all the things that you think disqualify you.
I am here, unclean.
I am here, weak.
I am here, unseen.
Today, you need to understand that God called all his people knowing who he was calling—all their imperfection and all their weaknesses— but also knowing they are capable through his power to respond to the calling.
God knows where you are. He is only expecting a —”Here I am“— from you.
A Hineni that implies surrender.
A Hineni that expresses: “you are the master, I am your servant.”
“I will obey and do what you call me to do.”
If you are hearing his voice calling you, leave all your doubts, all your reasoning and your self-evaluation aside. God is only needing a “Hineni, Here I am” from you.
To see the move of God we are wanting to see in our times and to see God fulfill his promises also in our generation, God is calling people who respond with a “Hineni, Here I am“.
The questions is: Will you?
Let’s move our level of faith and obedience to that of surrender like Abraham, Isaiah and Christ did, and we will see God’s mighty power doing marvelous things through us.
