“Take Off Your Shoes”

Why do we wear shoes? We wear shoes for protection of our feet. Shoes protect us and prevent us from feeling pain on our journeys. Sandals don’t offer as much protection but they are shock absorbers for what we might otherwise step on.

Whatever we are wearing, why do we take them off? There are a couple of reasons. One reason we take off our shoes is because they are dirty. If we step into someone’s home, we take off our dirty shoes so we don’t spread dirt throughout their home. It is being respectful of their home.

Another reason we take off our shoes is to show reverence and humility. We uncover a part of ourselves people rarely see. Showing all of your toes can be very humbling. A lot of people are self-conscious about their toes and feet.

And, finally, we take off our shoes because God asked us to. In Exodus 3:5, Moses sees the burning bush and decides to move closer. God told Moses to take off his shoes as He got closer.

Taking off our shoes can be uncomfortable, especially out in the desert. It might cause us pain and cause us to become vulnerable. When you have shoes on, you don’t care as much where you step but once they’re off, you must pay attention and be intentional about where you step and don’t step.

As Moses moved closer to the bush, God said, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”Did Moses even question it because he was standing in the desert and his feet might hurt?? I think he was too surprised to see the burning bush and hear God’s voice audibly to question anything. He bent right down, unbuckled his shoes and took them off and moved closer being careful not to step on a cactus or whatever was on the desert ground.

What made that ground “holy ground?” I believe it was because that is where God interacted with Moses. It was holy because that’s where Moses experienced God’s presence and heard from Him. Because Moses was obedient and followed through with God’s request, he was blessed to be in the presence of God.

If we want to experience God’s presence, we must take off our earthly shoes and leave our feet unprotected and vulnerable. We must be humbled and stand in reverence. Take off your earthly protection, step forward and stand on that ground that God will make holy. Moses was obedient, took off his sandals AND he stood and he listened. Just taking off your sandals or shoes is not enough. You must stand, move a little closer to Him and listen. When He is done, you put your shoes back on and go where He told you. Putting your shoes back on is symbolic that you are now “ready for action!”

Maybe you are at a place where you can’t go on. Your feet are hurting you even with the shock absorbers and protection. If you choose to take your shoes off, you are humbling yourself and saying you are powerless to move on. If God asks you to take your shoes off, will you bend low and take them off? It will require you to step boldly on the ground with already hurting feet that are used to being protected. Will you be embarrassed to expose parts God doesn’t usually see? We must be willing to take off anything that is keeping us from Him and stand in His presence on holy ground. “Remove your sandals” when you are in His presence.

When you have stood in His presence as long as He wants, it is time to go. Put your shoes back on. You have a journey to continue. Every step you take is important to where you are going. The steps of a righteous man are ordered. Walk confidently in His protection. He will tell you when and where to stop. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Psalm 37:23 Let His presence and holiness touch you from your bare “soles” all the way up!