“Here am I, here am I” -God

Article for June 22, 2025 second Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 65:1 1I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.  I said, “Here am I, here am I,” to a nation that was not called by my name. 

Our God is present today and has been present throughout history.  He wants us to seek Him and He is always seeking us.  But if you are not looking you won’t find.  And if you are looking God will find you so that you can be with Him and He can be with you.

“Here am I, here am I,” this is the Great I Am calling to those who are not seeking Him, who are seeking Him, and to those whom He has found.  Some say they found Jesus.  Truth is, Jesus is not the one who is lost.  Would it be more correct to say Jesus found me and I followed Him with the help of the Holy Spirit? 

Isaiah 65:2–5 2I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; 3a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks; 4who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels; 5who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.

We all live in a nation that does bear God’s name, that is, we all live in a world that rebels against God’s will.  The world is the one lost, not Jesus.  Jesus is letting us know He is here, but our nations are looking for another way and have turned off their ears to hearing God.  The way of the world is to walk towards man-made-gods or people who think they are a god.  Their sacrifices are unholy, and they think they are better than Christians and Jews, these are the true hypocrites.

Many call us Christians and Jews hypocrites.  In truth the world is the hypocrite as the world thinks it knows better than the ways of God.  Even some of our churches have fallen to the world as they do their best to discredit the Holy Word of God.  We are no different than those who had Aaron make a golden calf to bow down and worship. 

We cannot make a god, but we should realize God has made us.  Has the world ever made something better than God?  We might be able to make something that can destroy the world, and maybe God will let us do just that.  It might save Him time and anguish as He watches our stupidity destroy this world.  We are the ones who are lost and should pray that we are found by God. Heaven help us that we are not found by the world or the ruler of the world.

Isaiah 65:6–7 6Behold, it is written before me: “I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their bosom      7both your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together, says the Lord; because they made offerings on the mountains and insulted me on the hills, I will measure into their bosom payment for their former deeds.”

Beware those who are too proud.  Take heed those who feel they can recreate God into their pathetic image.  Thankfully, we have a God who will make everything right and destroy everything that is evil and unjust.  God will do this not by our standards, but by His Holy and great standards. 

Revenge is the Lords, and the Lord will have His revenge on all He deems not worthy of His grace and mercy.  Remember God has made Himself present and has made Himself known to us, “Here am I, here am I.”  We have a God who wants to be recognized as being here and that He cares for all His creations.  God lovingly opens His arms to all whom He seeks.  He just asks that we open our eyes, our minds eye, and our hearts eye to see Him our Father in heaven.

The people and those churches who have fallen to the world will be punished for their plight against our God even if they think they are still worshiping our God.  Those who worship other gods will see their demise as they fall into the bottomless pit.  And all evil will cease to exist.  And this will be done to make the way for the forgiven, and nothing will take us away from our God.  Know this, it will be done in God’s will not our will.  All things are subject to God’s wisdom, not our wisdom.

Isaiah 65:8–9 8Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all.  9I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there.”  

The Father sent His only begotten Son to gather and adopt other sons and daughters through forgiveness that leads to a loving grace and mercy.  These are the gifts from our God, not earned nor warranted.  This grace and mercy is compensated by the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only begotten Son of the Father.  This was the design of our God to gather all whom He loves and all whom love Him.  Not that we love God on our own, but that He our God earned our love through the very faith that He gives us.  Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May