Exodus 3:4,5 – God called to him, "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."
Joshua 5:13-15 – Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him … Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Two prominent figures in biblical history are described in two different situations as standing barefoot before God. Both Moses and Joshua were sought out by God, and given a very special task, perhaps humanly speaking. The thought occurs that whoever we are, and wherever in history we find ourselves, we all will at some time or other stand faced with the impossibilities that come upon us unexpected and unsought. Realizing our own inadequacy and powerlessness for that which lies ahead, we stand unshod before the One who calls us to proceed. We are barefoot before God ere he can clothe us with that which will make us adequate for the journey ahead.

Prayer: Dear God, help us give up depending on our own wisdom and putting our own schemes into action before standing unshod before you, to receive the wisdom and strength you are ready to give us. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author: