I heard the song by The Grassroots from 1966, “Where Were You”, and these lyrics stuck with me: “Where were you when I needed you? Where were you when I wanted you?  The song was about a relationship that had ended when things got bad but the one who left wanted to come back when things were better. And the question was, “Where were you when I needed/wanted you?” It reminded me of God’s question in the Garden after Adam and Eve had sinned, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). God knew where they were and what they had done but they were hiding from Him. They had broken the relationship and were afraid.

It also started me thinking of people in the Bible who answered God’s question, “Where are you?” by answering, “Here I am”. I found at least six of them. The first was Abraham. God was going to test Abraham to see if He could trust him with a great plan, and He called out to Abraham in Genesis 22:1, “Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.” Abraham passed the test.

Then there was Jacob/Israel. His son Joseph had been promoted to the second in command in Egypt and he sent for his father, Jacob, and the family to come to Egypt to live. God wanted to assure Jacob that everything was going to be okay and to come on to Egypt. “And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.” (Genesis 46:2). Good answer.

Next is Moses. He was tending the sheep in the wilderness and noticed a bush burning but was not being consumed so he went over to check it out. “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4). God had a very important plan and had chosen Moses to carry it out.

In 1 Samuel 3:4-6 we see how willing to serve young Samuel was. God called out to him three times at night and Samuel thought it was the priest Eli, his “foster father” and he always answered, “Here I am.” He finally realized though who was calling him and said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10). It’s good to listen to God.

King David was praising and thanking God for hearing his cry and for all He had done for him. He realized God was not looking for sacrifices and offerings but God wanted David, “Then I said, “Here I am, I have come, it is written about me in the scroll.I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40: 7-8). God wants us first and  foremost.

And finally, there is One who said, “Here I am.”, which made a way for us for all time, JESUS! He was talking to the Pharisees and told them, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18). I can imagine God saying to Jesus, “Son, we need to help those sinful people on earth. We need to make a sacrifice for them so they can come live with us.” And Jesus said, “Father, here I am, send me.” And, on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30).

So where does that leave us? Are we willing to say, “Here I am.”?  Are we willing to, “offer our bodies a living sacrifice,” (Romans 12:1)? Can we say each day, “Lord, here I am, send me. How can I serve You today?”  Jesus is saying it again to us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20). What do you say?