"Here I Am"

"Here I Am, Lord" is a favorite song of many in our church. It was sung at my ordination and still gives me God bumps. The song lifts up Isaiah being called and saying, "Here I am, send me." But this is not the only time I have read the phrase, "Here I am." in the Bible. In Genesis both Abraham and Jacob responded to God with "Here I am." In Exodus, Moses said, "Here I am," when the Lord spoke. Samuel kept going to Eli with "Here I am" until finally they realized it was God's voice and Samuel still replied "Here I am." Each person responding to the call of God with the affirmation, "Here I am."
This morning during devotions I read Isaiah 58: 6-9 "Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide your self from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. "
I have read that passage many times, but today what I heard was God saying, "Here I am." God saying, "Here I am," to those who are taking care of the poor and oppressed. God saying, "Here I am," to those practicing mercy and justice. God saying, "Here I am," to those who are shining the light of love and want help to do it. "Here I am" are not only the words of those who are responding to God's call, but God's response to those who are living the life of the Lord's choosing. Never again will I hear those words the same. Never again will I sing that song the same. When God asks who will go for me and we say, "Here I am," God is also saying "Here I am" to those who go.