Moses was instructed to take off his shoes during his stunning encounter with God at the burning bush. [Exodus 3] Why was Moses asked to step out of his shoes? Holy Ground? Yes, but let’s examine this further.
God articulates what He has planned in His conversation with Moses. Nine times God uses “I” or “Me” to indicate what He is going to do. Moses must have thought that was great! “Lord. I am glad you have taken note of the hardship of your chosen people, and that you will now free them from Pharaoh and slavery in Egypt and bring them to the Land of Promise.”
Moses must have been very pleased…until he came to understand that the Lord was going to use him to accomplish His plan. It seems God was saying, “I will step into your shoes, and I will do all this in your shoes.” It was not, “I have a wonderful plan for your life.” It was, “I have 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 instructed Joshua on how he was 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 and allow the Lord to step into them and use you to accomplish His plan?
There are other images of shoes and feet in scripture, such as “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.” [Ps 18:33]
In other scriptures we discover the Lord keeps our feet from slipping, and He keeps us on the straight path. Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
God can use you when you allow Him to step into your shoes. See options that are compelling for you at MissionNext.
