2023.02.12.Sermon Notes_ Answering the Call-HINENI “hee neh nee” “Here am I”
William Akehurst, HSWC
Are you listening? Are you responding?
‘Hineni’ (hee-neh-nee)
“Here am I”
“Ready and At your service” our response in obedience
“Hineni” is the response of a servant
BIG IDEA: As followers of CHRIST, we have been given HIS SPIRIT within. We are not only to listen to hear that "still small voice", but we are also to respond. Hineni, Here am I, Ready at Your Service, All in.
Scripture tells us about GOD's SPIRIT in us.
Galatians 4:6 (NLT) And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
1 Kings 19:11-13 we learn of the still Small Voice
JESUS tells us that we know that voice.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Isaiah 6:8 is about Answering The Call of HIS Voice.
“Here am I” is a well-known phrase from the book of Isaiah as the prophet responds to GOD’s call.
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah gave an immediate response out of obedience. A resounding “yes” before even knowing what would come next.
What does “Hineni” mean?
2 basic Hebrew words, ‘Hineh’ and ‘ani’,
‘Hineh’ meaning “behold” or “here”
‘Ani’ meaning “I” or “I am”, in some cases, “I am alive”, “I am alert”, “I am ready”.
The Hebrew word for “here” has different meanings depending on the context.
The word ‘hineni’ means ‘here’ in the Hebrew language, while ‘YHVH’ stands for GOD,
THE I AM THAT I AM. In our KJV bibles, the Hebrew YHVH is shown as LORD all caps.
We use the word Jehovah or YahWeh to state the NAME. The exact inflection is not known.
This word ‘Hineni’ can be translated as “I am” or ‘I will be’ in English. Hineni can also mean ‘I am alert’ in Hebrew.
Hineni is more than just where you are, it’s a powerful declaration – one that can be made to GOD and one that GOD can make to us.
Hineni is the offer of complete availability, a total readiness to serve.
When we speak ‘hineni’, we make ourselves fully available to whatever it is GOD might ask of us. Even without knowing what that might be. The answer of ‘hineni’ is one of faith.
THE CALL
FATHER GOD longs for HIS children to respond to HIM, to draw near to HIM and to live in fellowship with HIM. HIS Heart’s desire is to have an intimate relationship with us. That’s the true character of our loving, gracious and merciful GOD.
IN THE BEGINNING, Adam and Eve experienced this fellowship and closeness with GOD until it was disrupted by their act of disobedience, in eating of the forbidden tree that GOD explicitly told them not to eat.
Yet having disobeyed, GOD called out to Adam. Not to find him, but rather to give Adam opportunity to come clean, to confess. GOD was giving Adam a chance to become accountable for his actions.
Yet Adam’s impulse was to hide, to evade GOD’s question with a non-answer: “I heard you, I was scared, and I hid.” (Genesis 3:10)
Genesis 3:8-10 (NKJV)
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD GOD walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD GOD among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD GOD called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Instead of coming forth at GOD’s Calling, Adam hid.
Adam did not respond, “Hineni” — “Here I am”.
Genesis 22 shows a much different interaction with man towards GOD. This is the first time ‘hineni’ appears in Scripture.
‘HINENI’, THE RESPONSE OF A SERVANT
Some time later, GOD tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” GOD called. “Yes,” he replied. “Hineni! (Here I am)”. Genesis 22:1, NLT.
Abraham replies without hesitation, not knowing what will come next or what GOD is going to ask of him. Abraham heard GOD call his name, and was delighted to respond.
By answering ‘hineni’, Abraham demonstrates his readiness and his faith.
His faith is proven as he proceeds to do what GOD requests of him; to take his only son, the one he waited so many years for, and offer him as a sacrifice.
In vs.11, Abraham is on the verge of literally killing Isaac, and the angel of the Lord calls to him. What is Abraham’s response? The response of a servant: ‘hineni’.
Genesis 22:1-11 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass after these things that GOD tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now 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.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which GOD had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, GOD will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
9 Then they came to the place of which GOD had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
‘HINENI’, HERE I AM WITH GREAT EXPECTATION
We see ‘hineni’ appear at pivotal moments throughout Scripture. Moments when profound change is about to take place in the lives of those responding to GOD.
‘Here I am!’
In Exodus, Moses is minding his business and caring for the flock of his father-in-law. He suddenly notices a bush engulfed in flames, yet not burning up.
Exodus 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of GOD. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, GOD called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, GOD called to him from the middle of the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’
‘Here I am! (Hineni)’ Moses replied. Exodus 3:4 NLT.
Moses’ response of ‘hineni’ indicates that he is ready to hear and obey, once again, not knowing what is about to be asked of him. GOD tells Moses how He has seen and heard the cries of His people, and knows their suffering. He wants to use Moses to intervene.
Without knowing it, Moses’ response of ‘hineni’ becomes the turning point in his life.
‘HINENI’, HERE I AM READY AT YOUR SERVICE
Little Sammy…
We can also learn from young Samuel’s replying ‘hineni’, since initially he does not know it is the Lord. Samuel thinks it is Eli calling his name.
This demonstrates that ‘here I am’ can also be used within the context of a family, indicating readiness to pay attention or follow instructions.
‘Hineni’ can be a child communicating their willingness to submit to their parents’ requests. It’s even been compared to a type of military responsiveness. As if the person uttering ‘hineni’ is saying, “at your service”.
In 1 Samuel 3:1, we find young Samuel ministering to the Lord.
Even as a child, Samuel had a heart inclined towards the ways of GOD.
When GOD calls out to Samuel, Samuel runs to Eli, thinking he was the one who called his name. Three times this happens, and each time Samuel’s unchanging response is ‘hineni’.
1 Samuel 3:1-14 (NKJV)
1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of GOD went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of GOD was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.
6 Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!”
So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)
8 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. 9 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.
10 Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
It took several tries before Eli realizes that GOD is calling Samuel. When he finally does, Eli redirects Samuel to answer GOD directly, no matter what is in store for himself or Samuel.
‘HINENI’ IS A PERSONAL AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE
“Hineni” is also a prayer spoken of oneself.
Many prayers are spoken corporately:
For the sins WE have committed before you.
WE stand, We pray, WE come, WE praise you.
But, on HIGH HOLIDAYS such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Hineni prayer, is regarding the individual, a personal commitment:
Here I stand, I come, I confess, I pray, I praise YOU.
‘HINENI’ THE DECLARATION
Hineni is more than simply indicating being present in a location, it’s a Declaration.
I’m not only here, but I’m here…Spiritually, I’m ALL in.
I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to affect others.
GOD ALSO SAYS ‘HINENI’
‘Hineni’ is not only the response of GOD’s servants.
It is also a Declaration that GOD Himself makes to HIS children.
We see three examples alone in the book of Isaiah, where GOD promises His enduring presence and sustenance.
Isaiah 52:6 “Therefore My people shall know My name;
Therefore they shall know in that day that I AM HE Who speaks:
‘Behold, it is I.’ ”
Isaiah 65:1 “I was sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I was found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’
To a nation that was not called by My name.”
Isaiah 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry for help, and HE will say, ‘HERE I AM.’
GOD's Promises Are Truth.
No Matter Where You Are,
No Matter What Need You Have,
When You Cry Out To THE LORD GOD,
HE Is Here…
Not Over There as some distance far away.
HE is HERE WITH You, Ready and willing to provide your answer.
Let’s Pray,
FATHER, Thank YOU for always being there for me whenever I call out to YOU. Prepare my heart to answer YOUR Call with “Hineni, Here am I, Ready at YOUR service and All in. Amen”
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
