I am not a barefoot kind of guy. Even as a kid, my shoes were one of the first things I would put on when I got out of bed. My brother and sister thought that I slept in my shoes. It makes more sense, right? No stickers in my feet! Running down a gravel driveway isn’t a painful experience! With a solid sole under my foot I am invincible! If money were no object, I would be the one between me and my wife who would need an entire room for a shoe closet.
In the early years of my band Tinman Jones, we shared the stage a few times in the Monroe, Louisiana, area with a band named Shoeless. The music group took their moniker from the story of Moses at the burning bush when God told Moses to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. When taking the stage at every concert, the band members would take off their shoes, leaving them at the side of the stage while they performed. It was a unique and meaningful gesture which conveyed a message. I can’t say I was a big fan of bare feet prancing around, though.
In two instances, Moses (Exodus 3) and Joshua (Joshua 5) were asked to take off their shoes because they were standing on holy ground. What is the significance of being shoeless in the presence of the Almighty God? Are we missing the boat by strolling into our churches with the latest memory foam sketchers slipped on securely? Should we have a shoe rack in the foyer to deposit our footwear?
Shoes in many cultures are considered profane. They are earthly, dirty, smelly representations of the lowest degree of humanity. Many Eastern cultures still require taking off shoes before entering a place of worship, and sometimes even a home. If you want to offend someone, throw you shoe at them! You may remember the video of a Mid-Eastern reporter throwing a shoe at President George W. Bush, and him nimbly dodging the projectile. With understanding of this thinking, we can see why shoes would be inappropriate in the presence of a holy God, but there is more.
Shoes are a sign of power. Without shoes we are humbled, weak and incapable. A traveler will not make it very far without shoes. A farmer can’t plow a field, a soldier cannot fight a battle without his boots. Removing your shoes or boots is a sign of submission, giving over your power. We see a beautiful picture of Moses relinquishing control to the plan of God in his face to face meeting. Fast forward a few thousand years, we see Jesus washing the bare feet of his disciples. We often are encouraged to be like Jesus who humbled himself to wash the dirty, smelly disciple feet. It is also significant to consider the disciples willingness to take off their shoes to allow Jesus to wash their feet. Remember, Peter objected until Jesus chastised him for not cooperating. Peter had to submit to Jesus be removing his sandals to allow his feet to be washed. Recently a friend commented to me he struggled with submission and obedience. If honest, we could all likely recite the same admission.
For me this is all discouraging. I like shoes. I hate bare feet. And then it hit me as I was reading about the armor of God in Ephesians 6:15 “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” YAY!!! I can wear shoes after all! These are special shoes with purpose. What are these shoes and what is their purpose? We gain insight when we pair this verse with Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”
These special shoes equip us for carrying the good news of Christ to the world, to our neighbors, to our co-workers, to the stranger in the store. We come before a holy God, remove our earthly, dirty, smelly shoes in submission to Him, and in exchange He gives us shoes of peace to carry a message of hope. We are not intended to remain shoeless. Whew! Am I glad!
