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There are some things that only God can do. When God was speaking with Moses it was not a time of negotiation. God told Moses that He had heard the cry of Israel and He was going to deliver them. He then said, "I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt" (Exod 3:10).
God did not ask Moses about his views on the situation. He was not consulting Moses about his plans or availability. This was a directive; a revelation of the Divine purpose. And as such, this was not a time for Moses to speak or to act but a time to hear.
When To Take Your Sandals Off. There are times and specific works that only God can do. There are times when it is man's task to simply observe. These are when the most precious things are being done and man cannot participate lest he corrupt the work. In other words, when it is time for God to speak man must listen. When it is time for God to work man must watch. When it is time for God to provide, man must rest in that provision. These are the times when man must take his sandals off.
Though God would use Moses to do His wonders and deliver His people Israel, when he was on that mount and God was speaking to him, it was not time for him to "do" but time for him to "hear." He had to hear first, before he could do anything. This was a time and place when he had to take his sandals off, for he was standing on holy ground.
Rest. The sabbath day was also a day when men were to take their sandals off. The essence of the sabbath day is rest. "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death" (Exod 31:15). This day was a day to cease from work and trust in the provision of the Lord. This was a holy day and and a time to take off your sandals or, in the words of Isaiah, "turn away thy foot."
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasures on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isa 58:13-14)
When God reveals His purpose we are on holy ground. When He shows us His covenant we are on holy ground. When He opens our understanding we are on holy ground. And when we are on holy ground - we must take off our sandals, or in other words, "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10). The strength which God supplies, that enables us to be a co-laborer with Him, is received during these times. Paul spent three years with the Lord before going to Jerusalem (Gal 1:18). Jesus would spent countless nights on the mountain in prayer (Mt 14:23; Mk 6:46; Lk 6:12). It was at these times that they were supplied with strength and comfort and revelation from God. They were holy times and times to take off their sandals. Praise God for such times.
When To Put Your Sandals On. It is after we have been given the instruction, after we have seen and heard what God would do, after we have been strengthened with might in the inner man, that we are to lace up our sandals and go to work.
Sandals on the feet represent a man that is working, has ability (strength and speed), and is ready to move. The Passover meal was to be eaten "in haste," "with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand" (Exod 12:11), that is, the people were to be ready to move. Likewise, when Peter was miraculously loosed from prison the angel of the Lord said, "Arise quickly! Gird yourself and put on your sandals" (Acts 12:8). It was time to move.
In the wilderness the "sandals" along with the clothes of the people, did not wear out for forty years. This shows us that God gave the people the ability to survive. If the "garments and sandals have become old because of the very long journey" (Josh 9:13) it would show a condition of weakness and vulnerability. Whereas, if the "sandals shall be iron and bronze" (Deut 33:25) the people have been given strength.
The magnitude of the work of Christ made it so that John the baptist was not even worthy to carry His sandals (Mt 3:11). That is, he was not worthy to participate in any of the work that Christ would do in accomplishing our redemption.
This is the stance of believers in Christ: ready to move, prepared to work, able to minister in the strength of the Lord. When it comes to ministry we have our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph 6:15). But there are also times when we must take our sandals off. These are times when we must cease from work. These are times when we must be still and trust in the God of our salvation. These are holy times - when we are standing on holy ground.
Rest. The sabbath day was also a day when men were to take their sandals off. The essence of the sabbath day is rest. "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death" (Exod 31:15). This day was a day to cease from work and trust in the provision of the Lord. This was a holy day and and a time to take off your sandals or, in the words of Isaiah, "turn away thy foot."
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasures on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isa 58:13-14)
When God reveals His purpose we are on holy ground. When He shows us His covenant we are on holy ground. When He opens our understanding we are on holy ground. And when we are on holy ground - we must take off our sandals, or in other words, "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10). The strength which God supplies, that enables us to be a co-laborer with Him, is received during these times. Paul spent three years with the Lord before going to Jerusalem (Gal 1:18). Jesus would spent countless nights on the mountain in prayer (Mt 14:23; Mk 6:46; Lk 6:12). It was at these times that they were supplied with strength and comfort and revelation from God. They were holy times and times to take off their sandals. Praise God for such times.
When To Put Your Sandals On. It is after we have been given the instruction, after we have seen and heard what God would do, after we have been strengthened with might in the inner man, that we are to lace up our sandals and go to work.
Sandals on the feet represent a man that is working, has ability (strength and speed), and is ready to move. The Passover meal was to be eaten "in haste," "with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand" (Exod 12:11), that is, the people were to be ready to move. Likewise, when Peter was miraculously loosed from prison the angel of the Lord said, "Arise quickly! Gird yourself and put on your sandals" (Acts 12:8). It was time to move.
In the wilderness the "sandals" along with the clothes of the people, did not wear out for forty years. This shows us that God gave the people the ability to survive. If the "garments and sandals have become old because of the very long journey" (Josh 9:13) it would show a condition of weakness and vulnerability. Whereas, if the "sandals shall be iron and bronze" (Deut 33:25) the people have been given strength.
The magnitude of the work of Christ made it so that John the baptist was not even worthy to carry His sandals (Mt 3:11). That is, he was not worthy to participate in any of the work that Christ would do in accomplishing our redemption.
This is the stance of believers in Christ: ready to move, prepared to work, able to minister in the strength of the Lord. When it comes to ministry we have our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph 6:15). But there are also times when we must take our sandals off. These are times when we must cease from work. These are times when we must be still and trust in the God of our salvation. These are holy times - when we are standing on holy ground.
“These are times when we must be still and trust in the God of our salvation.”
ReplyDeleteIt was right before God delivered Jericho and its king and its fighting men into the Israelite’s hands that the commander of the LORD’s army told Joshua to “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy” (Josh 5:15). This is so humbling. It won’t be by your strength, by your skill, or by your sword that Jericho falls, but rather “I have delivered Jericho into your hands.” “You did not do it with your own sword and bow” (Josh 24:12) but rather, “I gave them into your hands” (24:11).
This was right after God stopped providing manna for the Israelites, and right after he had Joshua circumcise all the male Israelites on the hill of foreskins. Not exactly an opportune time to go and take over a city if you ask me. But this was a holy time as well. For it was here that Joshua acquired the faith that caused the walls of Jericho to fall (Heb 11:30). Holy ground indeed.
Amen. In salvation God is showing Himself to be strong in behalf of men.
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