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Articles Community blogs Take Off Thy Shoes! | Take Off Thy Shoes! |
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| Written by Khimani A. Williams | ||||||
| Tuesday, 04 March 2008 | ||||||
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Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
[Exodus 3: 1 – 6].
The story of Moses’ encounter with the burning bush is quite popular, both in the church and in the academic institutions. Imagine seeing a shrub on fire, but still green and showing all the signs of life. Who wouldn’t want to see exactly what this miraculous sight is? Moses was no different; he walked right over to check it out. From what I read in the above verses each moment in this particular, peculiar experience Moses had with the Lord reveals how God calls man from their sins (though we can never think of God as orthodox). There was something that caught Moses’ attention – a burning bush not being destroyed. Whether he believed in it or not, once he experienced it he wanted to know more. His curiosity drew him closer and closer to where God was revealing Himself. Once he was where God wanted him, God called out his name. Moses responded and God gave him a command, “Take off thy shoes!” Now in God’s presence (once he submitted himself), God then revealed Himself to him: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." Like Moses, God is calling out to many men today, but too many men are too busy with the pleasures of this world to even be curious. Many refuse to even read a book about God or listen to a song inspired by Him. They are even too busy to reflect on nature, which tells of “God’s invisible qualities” [Romans 1: 20]. Because of this they would never even make an attempt to draw close to God, much less to hear His call on their lives. They are too busy to behold the burning bush! As it were, they miss the ‘detour’ signs and continue down their treacherous path. But for those who look for God, He has a certain requirement of them. Like Moses we need to take off our ‘shoes’. Jesus came to save us from and not in our sins, therefore being a child of God requires repentance, a renewed mindset [St. Matthew 1: 21, II Corinthians 5: 17]. We must be willing to take off our shoes (lifestyle, worldview) and take up our cross. When one is given the Holy Spirit is he born again, and it is after this that God begins to reveal His person to him. Like Moses we learn to call Him by name as we grow to love Him more and learn about Him. God takes us through experiences and in these moments we get to know Him intimately, not just by learnt names and definitions. He becomes defined (formed) in us. [Galatians 2: 20]. It is in knowing God and walking with Him that we find our true self-worth and purpose [Romans 12: 1 – 2]. But until we take off our shoes we will never receive from God. The truth is that each man’s own shoes are quite comforting, plus it’s all he knows, but God knows that our shoes will walk us down a path of death and so He walked in our shoes for us. [Proverbs 14:12, 16: 25]. God loves to save, even angels rejoice each time He saves, but you have to take off your shoes. Repent!
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