The Removing of the Shoes
Ex 3:1-6
ODC Aug 04
Ex 3:1-6
One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up. 3 "Amazing!" Moses said to himself. "Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go over to see this."
4 When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses’ attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
"Here I am!" Moses replied.
5 "Do not come any closer," God told him. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your ancestors--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God. NLT
Joke: Children of Moses : A hurricane had struck. People were huddled together. A preacher was praying with great oratorical effects in the midst of this violent storm, crying out "Send us the spirit of the children of Israel, the children of Moses, the children of the Promised land." At this, an old man with less oratory but more directness prayed, "Lord, don’t send nobody. Come yourself. This ain’t no time for children.
We all believe and wants God to do move mightily among us. As we prepare our hearts for a great encounter with the Lord, he will honor our humility and bless our walk.
Moses was in the wilderness and experienced a great encounter with God. In the process, he felt inclined to remove his shoes.
We have seen from the beginning of time God’s desire to have relationship with man.
• The Garden of Eden
• God’s Promise to Abraham
• God Giving the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai
• Sending of His Son Jesus Christ.
• Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Many times man has responded by taken that incredible opportunity and exploiting it for His own gain.
• Sons of God and Daughters of Man
• Tower of Babel
• The constant worshiping of Idols to Baal and Asheroth
• The sacrificing of children to Molech
• Sodom and Gomorrah
• Temple Prostitution and Corruption
God has been forced to counter this reckless response by man to His Mercy and Grace
• Removal from the Garden
• Scattering of the Tribes and languages
• The Flood
• Fires, Earthquakes, and Enemy Armies all used to bring God’s purging of mans abominable actions.
This cycle takes place over and over in scripture. If we were to examine our lives we would see this same cycle in each one of our lives.
There are three things that needed to take place for God to be able to fully pour himself into our lives.
1) Step out of the comfort his own shoes Ex 3:5
Before God would interact with Him, Moses had to step out of His shoes because he was standing on Holy Ground.
By taking off his shoes he was doing a couple of things:
• He was yielding His foundation to God
2 Cor 3:4-6 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. 6 He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life.
• He was exposing himself completely to God
We must learn to open our life and heart completely to God.
God knows exactly who we are, every aspect of our living. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
Ps 69:5 O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. NLT
• Step of out of his resources into God’s
Prov 3:5-10 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
the LORD and turn your back on evil. 8 Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine.NLT
2) Step out of the shame of his own past.
• By stepping out of His shoes, he is removing that which he has brought with Him.
• In the process of walking through this world, we pick up much undesirable baggage on our spiritual shoes.
• If we want to encounter God, we must go through the process of removing everything, which we have carried with us.
• God responds very powerful and loving to us when we put ourselves in vulnerable position.
Ps 103:8-12 The LORD is merciful and gracious;
he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. NLT
• We must put our shame behind us and move on to what God has for you, move on to the new life that awaits you.
• The enemy wants you to stay exactly where you are mired down in the pit of self pity.
3) Step out of the pace of his own wisdom.
Ill a married daughter said, I pray for :
• Wisdom - to understand my man;
• Love - to forgive him;
• Patience - for his moods;
• Because, Lord if I pray for Strength, I’ll beat him to death.
Amen.
Note: A guy tends to walk slower in the dessert without any shoes on.
• We must learn to go at God’s pace.
Joke: A minister gave an unusual sermon one day, using a peanut to make several important points about the wisdom of God in nature.
One of the members greeted him at the door and said, "Very interesting, Pastor. I never expected to learn so much from a nut."
Wisdom states we go a gods pace.
Ps 27:14 wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. NLT
God will slow us down from our fast pace life.
Rom 8:18-19 yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. NLT
Allow yourself to learn His pace.
Conclusion
God is asking for us to obediently and humbly take our shoes off.
He is simply asking you to be obedient to what he is asking. To rely upon his resources.
God is asking some to step out of the shame of your past and begin living a new life in Him.
God is asking some of us to slow down and turn aside and look at the burning bush in our life. Stop and notice God
God is asking all of us to open our hearts to Him and let Him speak His plans us into our hearts.
