Building One Another

HERE I AM, Vol 8 No 28 (Part 2)

July 28, 2009

Dear Friend,

I imagine you have had the experience of being called to serve and had mixed feelings about saying, “yes – here I am – willing to do your bidding!”

When God calls people throughout the Scripture we see them respond with the Hebrew word hinnainee – “Here I am” – but at times with little certainty.

When God called Moses from the burning bush his first reaction was hinnainee, here I am. But then God said, “I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt .” Exodus 3:10* Moses hesitates.
Suddenly the hinnainee of Moses turns into a hinnai-NO, a no-way Lord!

Moses replies, ““Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” Exodus 3:11 and ““O my Lord, please send someone else.” Exodus 4:13 Clearly Moses is nervous.

God often calls people who have second thoughts about serving. In the case of Moses God said, “I will be with you.” Exodus 3:12 Moses finally goes.

When God calls you – and surely God does call you to minor and major tasks – through God’s Word in Scripture, through an inner conviction within your heart, through the invitation of a person in your home or place of work or church who ask you to do something – you always have a choice!

Hinnainee – here I am. Send me! Or hinnai-no. I am not going to do it. Yet, hinnainee is the word of the servant. The humility of Jesus is embedded in your decision to declare “yes” and not “no” – for as Jesus came to serve and not to be served may it be with you. “Here I am, Lord. Send me!”

With joy - E. Stanley Ott