Here I Am vs. What Do You Want?

1 Samuel Chapter 3 tells the story of the calling of Samuel.  It is one of the more well known stories in the Old Testament.  It goes basically like this.  Samuel is sleeping in the Temple, and God keeps waking him up by calling his name.  Samuel does not understand and believes it is Eli calling him.  He presents himself before Eli and simply says, “Here I am.”

What an interesting response.  ”Here I am.”  It is open ended.  Samuel did not come with expectations.  He simply opens himself up to the one he thought was calling.  When Eli realizes that it is God calling, and tells Samuel as much, Samuel adds “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”  This is a deeper openness.  Samuel is not bringing his will into it.  He wants only to answer the call, wherever it leads him.

This is a very different answer than most of us would give.  If someone calls us, we would ask, “How can I help you?” “What can I do for you?” “What do you want?”  It is a natural inclination to know what is before us.  However, when God called Samuel, he wanted nothing more than to be present to God’s will:  ”Here I am.”

So, when God calls you, what is your response?  Do you have the tendency to demand details?  It is normal if you do, we are human after all.  But next time you hear his call in your life, try just responding with faith.  Tell him, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.”