Ask many students of the Bible about that person who said, “Here am I…,” and they will immediately respond that these words were spoken by Isaiah when God asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us” (Is. 6:8)? A similar phrase, “Here I am,” is also found in Isaiah, but very few have noticed it.
In the closing chapters of his book, Isaiah described the coming of the Messianic kingdom. He described the rebellious Jewish nation and how He had reached out to them “all day long,” but they refused to respond and continued to “. . . walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts” (Is. 65:2). He also described the time when the Gentiles would turn to Him. “I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me” (Is. 65:1).
The words that follow are so remarkable. Jehovah said, “Here I am, here I am.” He wanted to be found; He loved for the lost to find Him, and the picture is one of God in the presence of those who were not even looking for Him. He beseeches them by saying again and again, “Here I am!” God wants to be noticed. This is His nature. Can you hear the longing of the Lord in His word?
Think about His nature. He longs to have fellowship with us! He longs to live near to us! He longs to be part of our lives! Make it personal. He longs to have fellowship with you. He longs to live near you. He longs to be part of your life. Hear His words, “Here I am.”
Look at His response when we come to Him. “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer” (Is. 30:19). You just cannot “pester” God seeking Him. He is gracious. He is very gracious. Like Samuel of old who responded to what he imagined was the voice of God by saying, “Here am I, for you called me” (1 Sam. 3:6), God is waiting ready to say to you, “Here I am.” The only reason He has not responded is because we have not called Him.
One other verse in this section shows just how much He longs to become part of your life. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Is. 65:24). Knowing that we are planning to ask, He answers prayers before they are actually verbalized. He is here, even before we realize it!
So are you looking for God? Are you looking for a closer relationship with Him? He’s ready. Hear Him say, “Here I am!”