Barefoot Before God
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing on is holy ground.”
Exodus 3:5 NIV
While Moses was tending to the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, he had a supernatural encounter with God on Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb. He stumbled upon something unusual and divine, and when he moved closer to investigate, he received the above instructions from God.
As I reflected on this verse, I couldn’t help but consider its significance and its implications for my prayer life and how I approach God.
This was a moment in Moses’ life where the holy pierced the ordinary. His routine was interrupted by an instruction that caused him to pause. This simple instruction served as an act of reverence and humility since removing shoes in sacred or private spaces was a sign of respect and submission (think of the number of times you’ve removed your shoes before entering someone’s house). By telling Moses to remove his sandals, God was essentially telling him that he was in the Presence of something far greater than himself. It also acknowledged God’s holiness, as the ground became holy due to God’s Presence.
While Moses stood on common ground, God’s nearness made it holy.
It’s a reminder that wherever God manifests His Presence becomes a sacred space. Lastly, it was a call to spiritual awareness for Moses, as he had stumbled upon something divine and needed to change his mindset and posture from the ordinary to the sacred.
I also wondered if there was a deeper symbolism or meaning behind the use of the word ‘sandals’ in this text. According to the Hebrew Strong’s definition found in The Blue Letter Bible, the Hebrew word for shoes, na’al, can sometimes be a symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry (Deuteronomy 25:7-10), or something of valueless worth. Sandals, in this case, can represent the dust, dirt, and defilement we pick up from the World. Removing them is like leaving behind all distractions, pride, sin, and self-sufficiency to step fully into God’s Presence. Moses was invited to strip away the dust of the journey and stand exposed, reverent, and ready. In the Presence of God, even the sandals that have carried you on your journey need to be laid aside.
When we encounter God in prayer or worship, we are invited to strip off whatever is unworthy or distracting.
Notice how before God gave Moses any assignment or spoke deliverance, He gave him this command: to take off his sandals. However, this story doesn’t end in the wilderness. Upon further reflection, I was reminded of yet another instruction that pertained to feet and shoes.
In Ephesians 6:15, the apostle Paul gives us a different picture of our feet:
“For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”
Ephesians 6:15 NLT
For context, Paul is describing the armor of God, what we need to put on to stand firm and fight spiritual battles. The shoes we are asked to put on represent being ready to go out and carry the gospel with peace, authority, and purpose. Reflecting on these two separate instructions together can serve as a divine sequence. Before Moses could be sent to Pharaoh, he had to be still before God; he needed to stand barefoot before he could walk boldly into Pharaoh’s courts.
It shows us that:
Preparation begins with Presence- we must first encounter God barefoot before we can go into the World with the gospel on our feet.
Consecration comes before Commission- in Exodus, bare feet symbolize holy surrender, while shod feet in Ephesians symbolize empowered movement. It’s simply saying you need to take off your shoes in worship before you can put them back on in the mission.
Posture matters in the Presence of God and the World. When we are in the Presence of God, the instruction is to remove anything that comes between us and God. In the World, we are instructed to put on what He provides us with: peace, preparation, and spiritual armor.
We must learn to take off our shoes in holy spaces before we can lace up for battle in broken ones.
Reflection Questions
Where is God asking you to take off your shoes, and where is God asking you to put them back on? How can I discern when it’s time to remove any distractions and when it’s appropriate to engage fully in my mission?
What specific distractions or burdens should I let go of to embrace God’s Presence fully?
How can I cultivate a habit of being still and reverent in my spiritual life?
In what ways can I actively prepare myself to carry the gospel and fulfill my purpose after experiencing God’s Presence?
Just as Moses took off his sandals before the burning bush, we too must learn the rhythm of being still before going forth, being barefoot in reverence, and then shod with purpose.
