Just a Lump of Dirt?
God was reminding Moses that he was a part of this world.
Just a Lump of Dirt?
There are times when I am keenly aware that I am just a small role player in the grand scheme of things. One of the things that leads me to this conclusion is this verse in Genesis:
Genesis 2:7
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground…”
No need to read any further than that to understand who I am. I was made out of dust, and that is a pretty humbling beginning. So why is that important?
When Moses stood before the burning bush in Exodus 3, God made a very unusual demand. He told him to take off his sandals. What was it about Moses’ shoes that made it necessary for them to be removed?
God told Moses that he was standing on holy ground. The word holy has a specific meaning—it means “to be different” or “set apart.”
God is different from our world. He is not of it, and He is not like it. He is separate from it. We, on the other hand, are not.
Shoes are designed to keep our feet from touching the ground. Now here’s the point God was making: as long as Moses was wearing shoes, he was, in effect, separating himself from the earth he came from.
God was reminding Moses that he was a part of this world. It was as if He were saying, “Stand on that dirt. Remember who you are and where you came from.”
God was preparing Moses for a special role. He would be God’s chosen leader and lawgiver. He would perform amazing miracles that required a proper understanding of God’s power over this world. Moses had to be clear about who he was—and who God was. He had to trust God when standing before Pharaoh. God wanted Moses to recognize that He is the Creator, and we are His creation.
Once in a while, it’s good to take our shoes off and walk around in the grass—just to remind ourselves of who we are and who God is. Then take a moment to acknowledge that God has made you special above all of creation. His image is in you, and He uses you to demonstrate His power to the world.
Not your power… His power.
You are His light to a dark and lost world. Now go show them what God can do.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
