“TAKE OFF YOUR SANDALS”

Passage: Exodus 2:23-3:12

Key verse: 3:5

NIV

23 During that long period,(A) the king of Egypt died.(B) The Israelites groaned in their slavery(C) and cried out, and their cry(D) for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered(E) his covenant(F) with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned(G) about them.

Moses and the Burning Bush

3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro(H) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,(I) and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,(J) the mountain(K) of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord(L) appeared to him in flames of fire(M) from within a bush.(N) Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called(O) to him from within the bush,(P) “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”(Q)

5 “Do not come any closer,”(R) God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”(S) 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”(T) At this, Moses hid(U) his face, because he was afraid to look at God.(V)

7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen(W) the misery(X) of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned(Y) about their suffering.(Z) 8 So I have come down(AA) to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,(AB) a land flowing with milk and honey(AC)—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites(AD) and Jebusites.(AE) 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing(AF) them. 10 So now, go. I am sending(AG) you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”(AH)

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I(AI) that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12 And God said, “I will be with you.(AJ) And this will be the sign(AK) to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.(AL)”

Footnotes
  1. Exodus 3:6 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch (see Acts 7:32) fathers
  2. Exodus 3:12 The Hebrew is plural.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

God Hears Israel's Groaning

23 (A)During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel (B)groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. (C)Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And (D)God heard their groaning, and God (E)remembered his covenant with (F)Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God (G)saw the people of Israel—and God (H)knew.

The Burning Bush

3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the (I)mountain of God. 2 (J)And (K)the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, (L)God called to him (M)out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; (N)take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, (O)“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for (P)he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, (Q)“I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their (R)taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and (S)I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and (T)to bring them up out of that land to a (U)good and broad land, a land (V)flowing with milk and honey, to the place of (W)the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, (X)the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the (Y)oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 (Z)Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, (AA)“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, (AB)“But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, (AC)you shall serve God on this mountain.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The young, energetic Moses thought he would deliver his people from slavery in Egypt (Acts 7:25). He had the best education and knew how the Egyptian government operated because he had been a part of it. His confidence in himself was misguided. He depended on himself and not on God. This is the kind of self-confidence that many people in leadership positions also have.

After forty years as an exile and as a shepherd in Midian, Moses had almost forgotten his suffering people in Egypt. But God had not. He heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with their fathers (2:23-25).

The Lord, from within the burning bush, brought Moses to Himself and called him by name, “Moses! Moses!” Then He commanded him, “Take off your sandals.” Moses’ sandals represented his sin of putting his own ideas and passion above God’s sovereign purpose and will. He had to take them off to do God’s work.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your sovereign purpose which will never fail. I learn from Moses that plans that do not align with God will fail. Please sanctify me that I may be used as your instrument to accomplish your purpose. Amen.

One Word: “Take off your sandals!”