New Year's Challenge
Before God sent Moses on his assignment, Moses was instructed to take off his shoes. Why was Moses asked to step out of his shoes in Exodus 3?
Notice in that passage God articulates what He is going to
do. Nine times the God uses I or me to indicate what He is going to do. Moses
must have thought that is great, Lord. I am glad you took note of the hardship
of your chosen people, will free them from the Pharaoh and Egypt and bring them
to the Land of Promise.
Moses must have been pleased until he came to understand that the Lord was going to use him. It seems God is saying I will do all this in your shoes. It was not “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” It was “God has a wonderful plan,” and you are part of it.
Similarly Joshua, alone and vulnerable, was instructed to take off his shoes when the Commander of the Lord’s army as to how to take Jericho. Again, God was going to accomplish His plan in Joshua’s shoes. Joshua 5-6.
Are you willing to take off your shoes to allow the Lord to use you in them to accomplish His plan?
There are other images of shoes and feet in scripture.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights. Ps 18
Elsewhere in the poetry we discover the Lord keeps our feet from slipping. He keeps us the straight path. As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Rom 10:15
Nelson Malwitz, January 2011