AYEKAH - Where Are You?

First of all, let me assure you that I have no expertise in the Hebrew language. Yet through the years, and through participation in various Bible studies*, I have managed to acquire a few Hebrew words with basic or rudimentary understanding. Today and tomorrow I would like to share some thoughts on two Hebrew words: Ayekah and Hineni. It reflects my own personal growth, and I hope it will inspire personal growth for you as well.

Ayekah (Heb.) is translated as the question, Where are you? The Psalmist often wrote psalms and songs of searching for God. Similarly today, when trouble arises or challenges come, we often ask God... “Where are you?” as if He has somehow wandered off and left us alone. But the sobering truth is that God is not ever the one who wanders off or drifts away from us. He is always there; the same place he has always been.

Psalm 33:13-15 (NIV) From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind: from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

In fact, the very first use of Ayekah (eye-eck’-ah) recorded in the Bible can be found in Genesis.

Genesis 3:9 (NIV) But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

God was not hiding from man. Man was hiding from God; and with good reason, because man had sinned – had drifted away from God’s commands – man had departed from fellowship with God.

Do we honestly think God had no idea where Adam was? The truth is that God knew exactly where Adam (and Eve) were; hiding in the bushes trying to conceal themselves with leaves. Perhaps the question, “Where are you?” was not to establish physical location; but rather to establish the distance that had interrupted fellowship between God and man, and to identify the cause.

Today, rather than asking God “Ayekah?” – “Where are you?” ... perhaps we should be listening to God asking us:

Where are you?

Ayekah? Where have you gone? Where have you drifted? Why are we no longer close? What is distracting you from being with Me? Where have you wandered? Where have you strayed? What has led you off course? Is this truly where you want to be – without Me? Where are you going without Me? Where are you hiding? Why are you hiding? Where have you gone that has taken you farther away from Me? Ayekah? Where are you?

Gracious Heavenly Father,

We have strayed away from our relationship with you. We have been inattentive. We have been too casual, and far too forgetful of spending time with you in prayer and reading your Word. And if we are honest, sometimes we have been just downright obstinate and rebellious. Please forgive us. Draw us back into a right relationship with you, for you have never left us nor abandoned us. We humbly thank you for always being right where you have always been – always within a whispered prayer away, and never any further distance.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional AYEKAH – Where Are You? appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

*Jesus and Women. K. McLelland, Lifeway, 2020

*Rabbi Heather Miller, All Saints Church, Pasedena, 2021