1 Samuel 3:1-21 says,  “1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to YHVH before Eli. And word from YHVH was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. 2 It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), 3 and the lamp of Elohim had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of YHVH where the ark of Elohim was, [Where the presence was located.] 4 that YHVH called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” [This in the Hebrew is the word Heneni. It also means Behold. We see this response from many of our forefathers. We will read a few of those today.] 5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am [Heneni], for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 YHVH called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am [Heneni], for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.” 7  Now Samuel did not yet know YHVH, nor had the word of YHVH yet been revealed to him. [Samuel did not yet understand what was happening.] 8 So YHVH called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am [Heneni], for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that YHVH was calling the boy. [Discerned is the same Hebrew word Binah for understanding. Remember that one of the synonyms for understanding is discernment.] 9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’ [Shema]” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Then YHVH came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 11 YHVH said to Samuel, “Behold [Heneni], I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. [He didn’t judge his children properly.] 14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15 So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of YHVH. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am. [Heneni]” 17 He said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May Elohim do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is YHVH; let Him do what seems good to Him.”19 Thus Samuel grew and YHVH was with him and let none of his words fail. [Because Samuel understood that he must speak and act in the truth, his reward was that he grew, the presence of YHVH went with him and his words were accurate.] 20 All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of YHVH. 21 And YHVH appeared again at Shiloh, because YHVH revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of YHVH.”

Six times in this short narrative the Hebrew word Heneni is used.  Let’s look at the account of Abraham offering Isaac and see these same responses there.

Genesis 22:1 says, “Now it came about after these things, that Elohim tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am. [Heneni]”

Genesis 22:6-8 says, “6  Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7  Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am [Heneni], my son.” And he said, “Behold [Heneni], the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8  Abraham said, “Elohim will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

Genesis 22:11 says, “But the angel of YHVH called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am. [Heneni]” And following this last Here I Am, the Heavenly Father provided the ram with his head caught in a thicket. A prophetic portent of Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sins of the world, with a crown of thorns on His head.  Yeshua said, “Abraham saw my day and rejoiced!!”  This is believed to be the day that Abraham saw Him.  He was on, what would become, the temple mount, Mount Moriah, when this took place.  Did Abraham look up and have a vision of Yeshua being the sacrifice across the valley on the Mount of Olives where He would be crucified?  It is strongly believed so!!!

When we truly listen and say Heneni/Here I am, we will gain the Spirit of Understanding that we need to function and flow in our lives and for the kingdom.

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a