We live in a loud and jarring world, full of sounds, interruptions, bosses yelling, parents demanding, children screaming, and televisions blaring in every room of the house. Data is pouring in at a breakneck pace. There is an urgent demand to stay current on the latest news or gossip and to respond cogently, or be left out. It leaves a person unaware of or unable to discern the subtle clues that convey the true meaning of the messages all around us.

A saying in the unbelieving world posits that when you talk to God, you are praying, but when God talks to you, you are schizophrenic. But God does speak to us. From the story of Elijah, we know that little things are significant, and even non-Christians recognize the truth in the phrase from I Kings 19:12, "a still small voice." They may not know who said it, but they make use of it in literature and television. When God speaks, it is quite a collision of gentle and astonishing.

In Scripture, one word, hinneh in Hebrew (Strong's #2009) and idou in Greek (Strong's #2400), stands between God's speech and a human's response. It is often translated as an interjection, such as "Behold!" or "Lo!" At other times, English translators render it as "Here I am!" It is the answer to a call. I want to encourage its use.

Last month, I had my head and shoulders under the kitchen sink, arms and hands crooked up behind the garbage disposal. Both my arms extended up into the dark behind eight little water connections and drainpipes. I needed a flashlight, so I called out to my wife, "Paula!" In response, I heard a still, small voice say, "Here I am!" What a joyful experience!

The phrase expresses humility, kindness, and service, suggesting that the responder is happy to be called. Married people are generally there for one another. They can even call one another across the room with a glance of their eyes. It is the same with parents and children. A child wakes up in the dead of night, afraid of a wolf skulking in the corner of the room, and she cries out. Mom or Dad comes in and says, "Here I am!" When the light is turned on, the child can see that the phantom wolf is just a blanket thrown over the chair.

These days, saying "Here I am!" feels archaic. It sounds too vulnerable for this "advanced" era. These days, people want to consider all the pros and cons before committing. They want to check the negative reviews on Amazon. A person can talk himself out of anything. And really, who wants to do anything for someone else?

We have myriads of excuses: I am busy. I do not want to. I have bought a piece of property. I have bought a new truck and want to try it out. I have just gotten married. These examples are straight from the Parable of the Great Supper (Luke 14:15-24). What about saying "Here I am"? To help. To participate. To answer the call.

In Matthew 3, John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, was baptizing people in the Jordan River. Jerusalem and all Judea went out to be baptized, and the Pharisees and Sadducees came, too. John the Baptist said to them, "God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones" (verse 9). On the one hand, he says, "Your credentials are worthless." But on another, he is saying, "God's will shall be done." In a way, he is telling them that God will find someone to do His will, even if it is not by them.

In the Bible, many were asked to do God's will. In fact, He has asked us to do His will. Sometimes His summons to serve occurs in a still small voice, sometimes it comes from brethren, and sometimes it results from our neighbors' needs. Sometimes it happens even in our conscience. When we see an opportunity to do good, we may just be getting the first crack at an opportunity to serve God.

Proverbs 3:27-28 advises:

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," when you have it with you.

Verse 27 refers to a situation with one's boss or superior, while verse 28 relates to a similar situation with one's friend or neighbor. God's will is going to be accomplished, and you may be getting the chance to help. We are supposed to be looking out for others at least as much as we look out for ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4).

The Bible lists many people God has asked to take action to accomplish His will. Who are these people? We can quickly find a distilled list by looking for the people who said, "Here I am!" We will highlight a few of them:

Moses: The best-known of these faithful responders is Moses. In Exodus 3:4, Moses, trembling, hears the Lord call his name from the burning bush, and he immediately says, "Here I am"—hinneni. Moses has been in the desert for forty years, separated from the world and in a state of integrity and clarity. A long time alone in the desert can do that to a person. He sets the stage for his great commission from God to confront the Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt with a humble "Here I am." Moses is listed among the faithful in Hebrews 11.

Samuel: I Samuel 3:5-8 shows Samuel as a young boy, apprenticing to Eli. The Lord calls Samuel, who does not know God at this time, and who thinks Eli is calling him. Honoring his elder, Samuel answers, "Here I am [hinneni]." Three times, Samuel answers until Eli intervenes. The repetition of God's call to Samuel highlights God's persistence and patience in communicating with His chosen servants. In biblical numerology, the number three often signifies completeness or divine perfection. Samuel's calling occurs during a time when "the word of the LORD was rare" (I Samuel 3:1), indicating a period of spiritual drought in Israel. Samuel's name also appears in Hebrews 11.

Abraham: In Genesis 22:1, 6, 11, Abraham says, "Here I am," three times while being tested by God's command to sacrifice his son, Isaac, foreshadowing God the Father sacrificing his Son, Jesus Christ. Abraham's readiness and Isaac's submission are types of Christ's obedience to the Father's will. Abraham responds to God, to Isaac, and to the Angel of the Lord with hinneni. Hebrews 11 registers Abraham among the faithful.

Isaiah: Isaiah 6 chronicles Isaiah's commission, described after five chapters of his messages showing the problems of the nations and the need for a messenger to the people. As Isaiah becomes fully aware of his own sinfulness, God purifies his speech with the aid of a hot coal from the altar. Then, when asked, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Isaiah immediately responds, "Here am I, send me!" (verse 8). One can feel the immediacy and zeal, not only in the phrasing of verse 8, but also in the prophet's use of hinneni.

Joseph: In Genesis 37:13, during a soap-opera moment, Jacob instructs Joseph to visit his brothers, who hate him. What does Joseph say? "Hinneni!" "Here I am!" He goes to see his brothers, but they want to kill him, settling for selling him to a caravan of traders instead when his eldest brother, Reuben, intervenes. In the short run, that goes badly for Joseph. But it is world-changing in the long run. Joseph appears on the list of God's faithful servants in Hebrews 11 as well.

In Part Two, we will continue this list into the New Testament, note someone who failed to respond properly, and distill a few spiritual lessons.