River of Life Blog
  • Pastor Todd Weston's Blog

RLA Pastor's blog

Hineni

4/10/2017

 
Picture
While in Israel last month I was introduced to a Hebrew word that sums up three English words.  The Hebrew word is Hineni (pronounced hee-nay-nee).  It means, “Here I am.”  It’s a statement that emphasizes readiness to hear and act, attentiveness and engagement.  The word is more than the answer to a roll call, “Here!”  It goes beyond that to say, “At your service!”

The phrase “Here I am” appears several times in the Old Testament.  The first appearance is in Genesis 22:1 when God called Abraham to do something very difficult.  “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’And he said, ‘Here I am.’  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.’”  In response to the call, Abraham said, “Here I am.”  Hineni!

We see the word again in Exodus 3:4 when God appeared to an eighty-year-old shepherd named Moses and called him to the greatest assignment of his life.  In response to the call, Moses said “Here I am.”  Hineni!

In 1 Samuel 3:3-4 God spoke to the young boy, Samuel.  Samuel was destined to serve the nation of Israel in the multifaceted role of prophet, priest, judge, and intercessor.  In response to the word of the Lord, the young Samuel said “Here I am.”  Hineni!

And later, in Isaiah 6:8, the prophet Isaiah heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Without hesitation, Isaiah cried out, “Here am I!  Send me.”  Hineni!

The first appearance of the word “hineni” should have been in Genesis 3 when God called to Adam saying, “Where are you?”  Adam should have quickly responded, “Here I am.”  Hineni! But in sin and disobedience, Adam remained silent.  God’s call went unanswered.

But Jesus, the second Adam, responded differently to the call of God.  When presented with the greatest task of all, the work of redemption, Jesus said, “Behold, I come…I delight to do Your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:7-8).

The call of God is constantly going out to us today.  Like Abraham we are called to give.  Like Moses we are called to go.  Like Samuel we are called to serve.  Like Isaiah we are called to speak.  Don’t ignore God’s call like the first Adam.  Don’t let His word to you go unanswered.  In obedience, respond like the second Adam and say, “Here I am.”  Hineni!

Pastor Todd Weston

Comments are closed.

    Pastor Todd

    Lead Pastor
    River of Life
    Assembly of God

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    1 Timothy 4:12
    9/11
    Accountability
    Bible
    Bitterness
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Cheerful Heart
    Choices
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Ministry Center
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Connection
    Courage
    Courageous
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Daniel
    David
    Deceitfulness
    Direction
    Discernment
    Drifting
    Economy
    Elections
    Endurance
    Esther
    Faith
    Father
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Finances
    Forgiveness
    Generosity
    Gifts
    Gospel
    Grace
    Great Commission
    Greatness
    Haiti
    Heaven
    Hebrews 12:14
    Heroes
    Holiness
    Home
    Hope
    Israel
    Joseph
    Light
    Mary
    Media
    Mercy
    Miracles
    Missions
    Moms
    Mothers Day
    Motivation
    Natural Gifts
    New Year
    Obstacles
    Options
    Outreach
    Overcome
    Peace
    Perspective
    Planning
    Power
    Priorities
    Race
    Rapture
    Read
    Renew
    Rla Connect
    Running
    Servant
    Sin
    Sing
    Spiritual Gifts
    Success
    Time
    Tithe
    Trials
    Truth
    Unity
    Variety
    Vision
    Voting
    Wedding
    Willing Heart
    Word
    Youth

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.