'Here I Am'

It’s nice to be back briefly for a guest appearance. Glad to see that things are looking as lovely as ever on SALT. Here are a few thoughts for the week…

1 Samuel 3:8-10
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Genesis 22:1, 9-12
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."


These passages have been brought to my attention recently, but on different occasions. Both the responses we find in the passage have the same words ‘Here I Am’. It made me think about the willingness to hear and answer God when they heard His voice. If God were to call us to a certain place or to a certain work would our answer be ‘Here I am’? And are we ready to listen to what God has to say to us through the scriptures? And are we willing to act upon his will for our lives whatever the challenges may bring?