Holy Ground

DEVOTION

EXODUS

HOLY GROUND

Ex 3:5-6

5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 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.

NIV

Although we included these verses in our last thoughts about “Here I am” when God got the attention of Moses through spectacular means, it would be good for us to look this holy ground for a moment. Again, we have already touched on this aspect of holy ground and we are thinking that we are holy ground as the Spirit dwells within. Whenever God shows up it is holy ground. God has shown up within us therefor we are holy ground. How does that affect the way we live? Do we in effect take off our sandals? What did it mean to take off his sandals? It has certainly been a custom throughout the ages in the Eastern world to remove shoes when entering a home as a sign of respect. There is historic records which reveal many religious temples held that requirement of removing shoes or sandals in order to preform any ritual or religious act. The sandal which Moses may well have worn might have been similar to the Roman type sandals. These were basically a sole strapped on the foot with leather strappings. The problem with that type of footwear is dirt, dust, pebbles and such could find their way onto the soul of the foot making walking a bit uncomfortable. However it also could signify for us walking in the way of sin. The dirty foot represents the filth of the world. Removing this sandal carried with the idea of washing the foot, especially before eating. It was customary the host would wash his guest’s feet. We see Jesus doing this. We do not know if Moses had the ability, the availability of water to wash his feet as he approach the bush, being told to remove his sandals. But the idea is there, to cleanse oneself, at least that portion which has had contact with the pollutions of the world, in this case his feet, when entering the presence of God. What portion of us has had contact with the pollutions of the world? Most likely it is not our feet, but our heart. We certainly cannot remove our heart as we enter the presence of God. But what we can do is have a circumcised heart, exposing all our heart to God for him to cleanse and make pure and holy and acceptable to dwell within. Does this mean we have no more pollution of the world within? As with the people of old, they needed to get from one place to another picking up the dirt of the world as they traveled and thus needed to remove, wash their feet daily before eating, or entering a temple, the presence of their god or in the case of Moses, God. We are continually exposed to the dirt of the world, in a greater sense then the dirt of the earth. We in effect pick up some of that dirt along the path of life. But daily as we enter communion with God, we need that cleansing experience. We know the concept of this when we gather together for that taking of the “Lord’s Supper”.

1 Cor 11:27-29

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

NIV

But should we not also do this whenever we enter the presence of God? That would mean before entering church for one example. Instead of all the chit chat should we not be preparing our hearts for worship, removing any of the filth of the world? Yes, being together is a form of celebration of being freed from the bondage of sin. Yes, we spend some time greeting one another, smiling and sharing some information about our lives, and that is good. But is the few moments of singing together just an exercise in music or are we actually in worship? If we have not taken the time to remove our sandals, in effect bare our hearts before God, we may not truly be able to experience his presence. Perhaps we should be spending more time in solemn examination of ourselves before the service starts, or even before we enter the sanctuary, or the building for that matter. Yet we still should contend with the fact we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and as such we should always be in the state of self-examination and having our heart continually being cleanse as we are in the presence of God, as well as he is in our presence being within us. Let us remove our sandals, we are on holy ground.