There is one more language layer about wonder that has to be mentioned. I positively must tell you! It’s the connection between wonder and behold, meaning “to look at or pay attention to this”.
Tomorrow we will look at some pretty important events in the Bible that were preceded with “Behold!” In these places, God is trying to get our attention.
But before we do that, I want to look at a second way the word behold is used and the wonder that surrounds it.
There are a few places in scripture where God calls out and the hearer responds, “Here I am.” The Hebrew word for the phrase ‘here I am’ is hen meaning behold. When used in this context, it literally translates “Behold me!” Their response to God’s call was, “Look at me! Here I am!”
Following is four “Here I Am” responses from the Old Testament. I love the the wonder upon wonder within each one.
Abraham and Isaac
Genesis 22:1 — God said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
We talked about this passage on day 11 & 12. Click here to see the whole story.
Moses and the Burning Bush
Exodus 3:4 — And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Oh, the wonder of a burning bush that was not consumed, with the voice of the Lord calling out from it. The only appropriate response is more wonder.
The Lord Calls Samuel
Samuel 3:4 — Then the Lord called to Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me. But Eli said, “I did not call; lie down again.”
I love this passage because Samuel’s response was spot on before he ever knew that it was God calling. If we keep reading, we see a great picture of being mentored and growing in our ability to hear to God.
Isaiah
Isaiah 6:8 — And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Just previous to this, Isaiah saw a vision of a heavenly scene with the Lord on his throne. What an incredible sight to see. Again, the only appropriate response is, “Yes!”
Do You know what else is interesting? For Moses, Samuel, and Isaiah, their here-I-am moments happened early in their life or mission. Moses went on to lead the Israelites out of slavery and had encounter after encounter with God. Samuel was a priest to Israel, and God’s voice to his people. He anointed David as king. Isaiah continued to have visions and prophetic words for God’s people in a tumultuous time. He prophesied Jesus’ birth and life. It all started with, “Here I am”
There is something crucial about responding to God’s call with, “Here I am. Behold me. Consider me, Jesus!” That response may only be in faith, not fully understood, or out of an unbelievable moment. Regardless, is there a more appropriate response? It’s where wonder meets wonder.
Jesus, here I am.
Brave Sparrow 