Here I Am
Posted by Dion Todd October 25th, 2020 7,101 Views 0 Comments
Here I Am from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Here I Am. In a time when so many have begun to focus only on the negative, when so many people wonder, "Where is the Lord?", He answers, "Here I Am."
When Moses met with the Lord at the burning bush in the wilderness, He asked Moses to return to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh. Moses asked the Lord, "Who do I tell them has sent me?" He told Moses to tell them, "I AM WHO I AM" has sent me to you.
(Exodus 3:13–15 NASB) Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.
I AM WHO I AM, His name forever to all generations. The Hebrew word for this is: (Pronounced: Ehh-Hee-Yea ).
Str 1961; (ʾěh·yě(h)) I AM WHO I AM, i.e., a title of God with a focus on presence, care, concern, and relationship.
It is a mighty, comforting, awesome name of the Lord used throughout scripture. It is the endgame stuff. When the Lord says, "Here I Am," the buck stops here. The confusion is gone. The smoke and mirrors are cleared away. The enemy flees, and the truth is revealed. "I AM" is used many times in the Old Testament, but Jesus also used the title in the New Testament:
(John 8:57–58 NKJV) Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
The night Jesus was betrayed, Judas led a battalion of Roman soldiers to the garden, where he knew Jesus would be praying. A Roman cohort consisted of 600 fully armed men. The Romans had a vast company of soldiers stationed at the nearby Tower of Antonia in Jerusalem. The chief priests were hoping to capture Jesus at night without the massive crowds being present. They were hoping to avoid a riot, but they brought an army with them just in case.
It was the middle of a spring night, and it was "cold" (John 18:18). The large crowd marched out of Jerusalem, across the Kidron valley, and up the slopes of Mount Olivet where Jesus was praying. Their lanterns and torches flickered in the night in a long procession. It was accompanied by the rattle and clinking of their weapons and armor as they marched. The approaching army would have been an intimidating sight to behold. No doubt, the betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was leading them. The future was looking dreadful for Jesus and His followers.
(John 18:3–6 NASB) Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Instead of feeling trapped and afraid, Jesus simply said, "I Am." And the large crowd coming to arrest Him were blown back and fell to the ground like a pile of leaves in the wind. They had no power over Him whatsoever. Jesus could have instantly summoned 10,000 angels, though one would have been more than enough to vaporize this crowd. He didn't because He had a purpose, a destiny to fulfill that was more important than His comfort. He was on a mission.
No doubt, they planned to seize Jesus and His Apostles. But Jesus cornered them in their words and made them clearly state who they had come to arrest, Jesus of Nazareth. After they allowed His disciples to go free, Jesus allowed them to take Him. In essence, He captured them, and they went back to Jerusalem together.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostle John. John wrote this about it:
(Revelation 1:17–18 NKJV) And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
He is the great "I Am," and He is ever-present. When Jesus shows up, darkness scatters like a roach running for a corner.
Isaiah 52:5–7 NASB ...Again the LORD declares, “Those who rule over them howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long. “Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’ ” How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Take comfort today in knowing the Lord is here, He is in control, and He is not leaving. He is large and still in charge. The world is not spiraling into oblivion. It is simply going by the Book. The Lord says:
- When you feel isolated and alone, Here I Am.
- When you have reached the end of your rope, Here I Am.
- When the doctor tells you there is no hope, Here I Am.
- When you don't know where to turn or who to trust, Here I Am.
- When everyone has turned their back on you, Here I Am.
- When you can no longer pay the rent, Here I Am.
- In sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, on the mountain, and in the valley, through the dark night, and beyond the raging storm, I AM God Almighty, and I AM here to stay.
You can pray this with me if you like:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please show Yourself strong in my life. Open the right doors and guide me to where I should be. Let me get in tune with what You are doing today, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!