Repeatedly throughout scripture God's servants respond to the voice of the LORD..."Here I am." The most preached on and most loved has to be Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah through a vision enters the awe inspiring throne room of the Almighty, he overhears a conversation of the triune God and responds "Here am I, send me." Over and over throughout God's precious Word we see God speak and HIS servants respond! Here are just a few.
Gen 22:11--But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.”
Exod 3:4--When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
1 Sam 3:4--Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”
1 Sam 3:6--Once again the Lord called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go and lie down.”
1 Sam 3:8--Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.
Isa 6:8--Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.
Isa 8:18--Here I am with the children the Lord has given me to be signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts who dwells on Mount Zion.
Isa 58:9--At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, He will say: Here I am. If you get rid of the yoke from those around you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,
Acts 9:10--Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord!” he said.
Now centuries earlier, Moses, you can just see Charlton Heston, the man of God, used of God to bring Egypt to ruins, to decimate Pharos' army, part the Red Sea, deliver the children of God, mediate between God and his people, we see how Moses responds. Moses is minding his own business, shepherding the sheep and he sees the burning bush that is not consumed by the fire. (Side note: I read somewhere that this is a type pointing to Jesus, in that the blazing GLORY of God dwelling in human flesh and not destroying the human nature...awesome!) OK, back to Moses, basically we have this stud of a man of God we know from scripture and here in Exodus chapter 4 Moses says...(hold that thought) After watching the Movie, The 10 Commandments with Charlton Heston, you would expect Moses to say...LET IT BE WRITTEN, LET IT BE DONE...with your help O God, we will descend on the Egyptians as the dew descends on the grass, we will descend on them and decimate and utterly destroy them...I will make them let YOUR people go! Let me at em, Let me at em..." (OK, enough Hollywood, back to reality) In Exodus chapter 4 Moses says, "Please LORD, send someone else." What? Please send someone else? Is this the same guy who GOD USED TO DO ALL THOSE AMAZING THINGS?
Ex 4:10-17 (NLT) But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. 15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”
Several thoughts are flooding my heart and mind at this moment...please don't make the mistake of judging Moses, how many opportunities have you and I missed? How many times has the Holy Spirit prompted to give a cup of cold water in HIS name, to be a witness, to humbly serve in some menial task and we either ignored the "still small voice" or we, like Moses, said, "Please LORD, send someone else." I don't know about you...my list is longer than I want to say.
The wonderful thing about our GREAT, MERCIFUL, LOVING AND GRACIOUS GOD is that HE still did amazing things through Moses. Consider again Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's sons (excluding Joseph) and remember God kept HIS Word and HIS promises to each one.
What is God's ultimate purpose in all of this? Remember Paul, or Saul, the guy seeking to destroy the church? Remember the little Damascus Road experience...you must admit God has a sense of humor, LORD, no disrespect, but what happened to the "still small voice." There he is, enjoying a nice ride on his little horse and WHOMP...he is laying on his back surrounded by blazing and blinding light. God got his attention:)
I had never thought about this before, but do you think that Paul had his Damascus Road experience in mind as God used him to pen the following Words of scripture?
2 Co 4:6-15 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness” —He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak, 14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you. 15 For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God’s glory.
Father in heaven,
Please enable us by Your precious Holy Spirit to respond in FAITH AND OBEDIENCE WHEN WE HEAR YOUR VOICE! Please work this for Your own glory and for the joy of Your children. We love you because You first loved us. Create in us a pure heart, a heart to know You, love You and to serve and worship You. Father as we continue to pursue YOU through Your holy Word, bless us, encourage us, build us up...please work a unity, a fellowship of Your children that is pleasing to YOU...please work this..."so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God’s glory."
In Jesus Name, Amen