Put Off Thy Shoes
Exodus 3:5 "And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. "
I. HOLINESS OF GOD
Put off thy shoes. The shoes represent the dirtiest apparel of man especially during those times wherein the road is not yet cemented and their means of travel is mostly by walking.
When God said put off thy shoes, He simply means put off those dirt from your body or God wants to see His servants holy and clean.
The work of God requires holiness - 1Pe 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
The word be ye holy for I am Holy was mentioned many times in the Bible, In the book of Leviticus alone, this phrase was mentioned more than 10 times (ex. Lev. 11:44-45, Lev. 19:2; Lev. 20:7; Lev. 20:26; etc.)
God wants holiness in our life – shoes represents sinfulness as we walk in this world. God wants to put it off. Because God hates sin!
God’s greatest attribute is holiness - It is what Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joshua and other Bible character saw when God manifested in their life and called them to His works. see Isaiah 6:3-5; Joshua 5;15, etc.
The basic meaning of holy is to be set apart for God’s purposes. A holy person is a person who has become God’s possession.
A holy person transform and conform to the image of Christ, but to the unholy, Christ is but a name which he can use as a tool to accomplish his own ends and establish his own glory among men.
2Ti 2:19-21 "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, havi ng this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. "
II. HARMLESSNESS OF THE WORK OF GOD
Harmless means: 1. not dangerous: not likely to cause damage or injury 2. unobjectionable: not likely to cause offense or upset
Shoes is our natural protection of our feet. Protection against dirt, rocks, hard soils and object, thorns, slippery, etc.
Having no shoes means you are not protected when traveling. Take note that in those times they travel by feet.
When God said take off thy shoes… God simply said walk with me, involved in my work and I will be the one to protect.
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD
Ps 91:9-11 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Moses himself experienced God’s protection in his entire life-beginning from his birth when God protected him from killing of Pharaoh and God even buried him in his death because satan wants to stole his body.
God simply said to Moses, Take off thy shoes… I will be the one to protect you. The world and the system of this world cannot protect you. UN cannot protect you, SSS cannot protect you, Medicare cannot protect you, PhilHeath cannot, Philamlife cannot, your shoes cannot, your father in law cannot, Pharaoh cannot and they cannot hurt you either.
Why? Because the safest place is inside the will of God
God wants us to see and know that nobody can harm us or hurt us when He ask us to involve in his work. Yes, sometimes some people will try to hurt but God always take good care of them.
It is God who calls, it is God who promise, it is also God who protects.
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward
Egypt has treasures, in fact at that time Egypt was the richest nation in the whole world.
III. HUMILITY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
Putting off the shoe was then what putting off the hat is now, a token of respect and submission.
God does not want to use a proud person for God always exalts the humble.
Note the word content in ch.2 v.21 - Moses life though exuberant in the beginning at Pharoah's palace, found himself in the lowest form of a work as a shephered. But still he live a life of contentment.
He was keeping the flock (tending sheep) near mount Horeb, Ex 3:1. This was a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it, and thus learns meekness and contentment to a high degree, for which he is more celebrated in sacred writ than for all his other learning.
Exaltation and promotion always comes from God – Ps. 75:6. If we check our Bible it comes through humility see 1 Pet. 5:6; James 4:10;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are
Conclusion:
What God wants us to see and know when He ask us to involve in His work?
1. Holiness of God
2. Harmlessness of the work of God
3. Humility of the servant of God
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