I am not big promoter of the King James Version, or any particular version for that matter, as they all have their own quirks; but one thing that I really like about the KJV is the fact that it makes a distinction between the singular “you†and the plural “you.†All the words that start with a “t†are the singular “you.†For example thee, thou, thy and thine are all words that speak to a particular individual, usually a man. While words that start in “y†like ye, you, your and yours are the plural “you†and speak to a group of people, again, usually men.
We must understand the differences between men and women or we will be truly handicapped in our understanding of Yehovah’s message and His created purpose for a man and for his woman. It was to “the man” that Yehovah said, Where art thou? just after ‘the man’ and his woman hid themselves.
In this case the thou that we are talking about is ‘the man’!
“And they heard the sound of Yehovah Elohim (the lawmaker, judge) walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and ‘the man and his woman hid themselves from the presence of Yehovah Elohim among the trees of the garden. Then Yehovah God called to ‘the man’ and said to him, ‘Where art thou?’ “ (Gen 3:8-9)
Where Art Thou? My Answer Will Be “hin Ne ni”
Since creation Yehovah, the Creator, has called out to every thou, every man; and most have hidden themselves from Him. But there are a few who have responded to His question, “Where art thou?”with the Hebrew word that I have come to know and love. That word isÂ ×”× × ×™, or in English, “Here I am!“; and is pronounced “hin Ne ni“.
Here are a few examples of Yehovah calling His set-apart men:
Yehovah Called To Abraham saying, “Where art thou?”
“Now it came to pass after these things that Elohim tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am!” (Gen 22:1)
Yehovah Called To Jacob saying, “Where art thou?”
“Then the messenger of Elohim spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.‘ And I said, ‘Here I am!’ (Gen 31:11)
“Then Elohim spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am!” (Gen 46:2)
Yehovah Called To Samuel saying, “Where art thou?”
“Then Yehovah called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” (1Sa 3:4)
And Yehovah Is Calling To Thee and Me saying, “Where art thou?”
“Also I heard the voice of the Elohim, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I, Send me!” (Isa 6:8)
Years ago I resolved in my mind that when Yehovah calls me I will say “Here I am, send me!” The “sent one,” or in Hebrew the “shalach,” has the authority of the one that sends him.
When Abraham sent Eliezer to get a bride for his son Isaac; from that point, what Eliezer did, was as if Abraham did it. What Eliezer said, was as if Abraham had said it. The things he gave, the decisions he made, were all as if Abraham had given them and had made those choices himself.
Moses was a sent one as well; Yehovah said that Aaron would see Moses as Elohim:
“So he [Aaron] shall be thy [Moses’] spokesman to the people. And he shall be as a mouth for thee, and thou shall be to him as Elohim.” (Exo 4:16)
Joshua was a sent one also! When he spoke concerning the sun and the moon, he was heard!:
“Then Joshua spoke to Yehovah in the day when Yehovah delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.” (Jos 10:12-13)
The first time in the scriptures that the word ×”× × ×™ or “Here I am!” is used is with Abraham who, at that time, received the instructions from Yehovah to kill his promised son in the mountains of Moriah.
“Now it came to pass after these things that Elohim tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now thy son, thy only son Isaac, whom thou loves. And go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell thee.” (Gen 22:1-2)
Where Art Thou?
The choice that ‘the man’ had is the same choice that every man has when Yehovah calls and says “where art thou?”
“And they heard the sound of Yehovah Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and ‘the man’ and his woman hid themselves from the presence of Yehovah Elohim among the trees of the garden. Then Yehovah Elohim called to ‘the man’ and said to him, “Where art thou?” (Gen 3:8-9)
Have we hidden ourselves like ‘the man’ in the garden? Or when Yehovah calls will we boldly declare “Hear I am!”
Oh – if we will only do that! Listen to what Yehovah says through Isaiah concerning those who will follow Him and His ways:
“Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yehovah?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that thou break every yoke? Is it not to share thy bread with the hungry, and that thou bring to they house the poor who are cast out. When thou see the naked, that thou cover him, and not hide thyself from thy own flesh? Then thy light shall break forth like the morning, thy healing shall spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before thee [and] the glory of Yehovah shall be thy rear guard. Then THOU shall call, and Yehovah will answer; THOU shall cry, and He will say, ×”× × ×™! (Isa 58:5-9)