Here I am – Hineni ∙

Here I am – Hineni ∙

Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight.” – Exodus 3:3

Exodus 3:2-6

 2 There, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

 4 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!” Moses replied.

 5 “Do lowercase that come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

 6 “I am the God of your father – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

For millennia, civilizations worldwide have constructed cities, palaces, monuments, graves, temples, churches, mosques, and other awe-inspiring structures. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, remarkable pieces of art and architecture, stand as a testament to human creativity, imagination, commitment, and hard labor.

They are inspiring and often take our breath away. They draw us in by their sheer majesty and uniqueness. Consider the following: Taj Mahal, India; Colosseum, Italy; Chichen Itza, Mexico; Machu Picchu, Peru; Christ the Redeemer, Brazil; Petra, Jordan; Great Wall of China, China.

How do people draw close to the Father? The Father’s assessment of humanity is pretty grim. Some people may strongly disagree. However, His assessment is accurate yet grievous.

Psalms 14:2-3

 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise if anyone seeks God.

 3 But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, Not a single one!

Understanding the fallen state of humanity, “all have turned away and have become corrupt,” the Father seeks us. He sent His Son to seek and to save the lost.

Luke 19:10 The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

The Father frequently uses awe-inspiring means to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. As a result, we turn to Him. We embrace and begin an everlasting dance with the eternal.

REFLECT & PRAY

“God can take an insignificant bush, ignite it, and turn it into a miracle, and that’s what He wanted to do with Moses” (Wiersbe). The Father desires to do the same with each child of the King, no matter how small and inconsequential we see ourselves.

Father thank You for loving me and seeking me out. Thank you for never giving up and drawing me to Yourself.

INSIGHT

The Father uses many methods to seek us out and bring us to Himself. He performs miracles using natural phenomena to draw us: violent storms, whirlwinds, plagues and pestilence, the opening of the Red Sea, the burning bush, and ultimately, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He attracts and calls out to us. He piques our curiosity and interest. We are fascinated, captivated, and strangely and oddly drawn. Marvelously, we pivot and begin to seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13-14

 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD.

The story of the burning bush is well known. Yet many details are often overlooked. It wasn’t just a burning bush that got Moses’ attention. The angel of the Lord was there too. He was the source of fire that did not consume the bush. He was the one who spoke to Moses from the midst of the burning bush. The bush itself did not say a word to Moses. After all, bushes are not known for their great oratory.

Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

Moses observed and was drawn to come closer because what he saw was impossible in the natural world. The Father initiated; Moses responded.

Exodus 3:3 Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight.”

Moses is the perfect prototype for every child of the King. The Father initiates contact, and we respond.

Exodus 3:4 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!” Moses replied.

The repetition of Moses’ name has special significance. In ancient Semitic culture, addressing someone by saying his or her name twice was a way of expressing endearment, affection, and friendship. Thus, Moses would have understood immediately that he was being addressed by someone who loved him and was concerned about him (Stuart).

Moses’ words are few, but they speak volumes: “Here I am!” In Hebrew, there is only one word, hineni, which literally means I am here. On one level, Moses is simply saying “yes.” But a simple yes can often be laden with profound implications. This is especially true when the summoner is Father God. Possibly, Moses isn’t just saying, “Present and accounted for” or “I am here and ready.” Instead, he is exclaiming, “What would you have your servant do?” The Father was not merely calling out to Moses; the Father was calling Moses into His service. Moses was to become the leader of Israel to bring them out of slavery in Egypt. Perhaps hineni is similar to the response of the Cylons, the robot troops from the 1970s TV series Battleship Galactica: “By Your Command.”

Contrary to Hollywood’s portrayal, Moses was no Charleston Heston. When he was at Sinai, he was filled with insecurities. He struggled with self-image issues and apparently some type of speech disorder (Exodus 4:10). Moses wasn’t being modest; he was frightened and ill-prepared for the monumental task that the Father assigned to him.

“What Moses thought of himself, or what others thought of Moses, really wasn’t important. God had spoken, and that was all Moses needed for assurance that he was the right man for the job” (Wiersbe).

Exodus 3:11 Moses said to God, “Who am I . . ..”

The Father’s response should give confidence to every child of the King down through the millennia.

Exodus 3:12 God answered, “I will be with you.”

“‘I will be with you’ is all the assurance God’s servants need in order to succeed” (Wiersbe).

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© Dr. H 2024