Three small words demonstrate our faith and direct our faithfulness

By Dean Collins

Every time I get to Genesis 22, I find myself perplexed. We all know so well the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac. We’ve heard countless sermons and songs from this text. Some commentators focus on the comparison of Abraham being willing to offer his son on the altar to God offering his only Son on the cross. I get it. Others discuss how Issac carried the wood for the sacrifice in a similar fashion as Jesus carrying his own cross to Golgotha. I get that too.

But I find myself staring at these verses and reading them over and over. They stir questions we cannot answer and emotions like anger that God would test someone by telling them to sacrifice a child when it is clear in scripture and even in irreligious circles that child sacrifice crosses a moral line. And then when God stops Abraham from going through with the sacrifice, we are so relieved we often move on and forget our questions about how a loving God can call for someone to be tested like this in the first place.

If I had to pick a character in the story I would want to be, I’d choose the servants who were told to stay with the donkey. Some things we just don’t want or need to see. There are scenes in movies like this where you find yourself covering your eyes or leaving the room because you simply can’t handle the possibilities and especially when something horrific seems likely.

Availability

One should not answer with “Here I am” without being ready to discover the strength or depth of their faith. Answering “Here I am” has a price.

The Hebrew word for Here I am is hineni. Its meaning is much greater than just offering one’s geographical location. It implies availability. God does not struggle with geography. He knew Abraham’s location just as he knew Adam’s when he called out to him in the Garden after Adam and Eve had eaten what was forbidden. Adam did not answer “Hineni” because he feared God and the repercussions of his actions.

God knew where Moses was when he called him as well. Moses answered “Hineni.” The same was true for Isaiah and Samuel. God wasn’t wondering where his children had wandered off to; he was seeing if they would make themselves available. Their availability would come with challenges, adventure, and questions but also with blessings for themselves and for others. Availability requires putting faith into action.

When God calls us, it’s not because he’s misplaced us. God calls to check our availability and even to see if we are ready to move another step closer in our journey of discipleship and maturity.

Impact

When God calls, we may have some clarity quickly or it may come over time. We will also likely never see everything our obedience will lead to in future generations. Consider God’s call to Ananias in the conversion of Saul in Acts 9. Ananias answered the Lord with “Here I am,” but when Jesus gave him very specific instructions, Ananias double-checked to see if the Lord really knew what he was asking. It turns out Jesus did know then and he knows now what he is asking when he calls us. We can ask Jesus anything. We can check with all of our spiritual mentors as well. But eventually, we must decide if we are willing to respond with “Here I am.”

Ananias likely could never imagine the outcome of his obedience in the far-reaching impact of Paul. But in eternity I imagine Ananias has a big smile on his face and complete fulfillment that God would use him to bring healing to Saul’s spiritual and physical blindness. Like Ananias, our steps of faith may appear dangerous but in the end, they result in deepening our faith and bringing transformation to others.

Satisfaction

Over decades of discipleship, I have experienced both the exhilaration of God’s call and the apprehension of answering “Here I am.” Abraham could only discover the faithfulness of God by faithfully responding with “Here I am.” We too will never experience the rich satisfaction of all of God’s faithfulness to us unless we are willing to trust him and respond with “Here I am.”

Living by faith is not easy, but the blessings and fulfillment that come with responding “Here I am” cannot be matched in this life and will lead us closer to knowing the abundant life of God made possible in Christ our Lord.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭19‬ Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭17‬, ‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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