Holy Ground

 Exodus 3: 1-5v 5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

Moses was out in the wilderness tending to his flock. There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a blazing bush. Although the bush was engulfed in flames it did not burn up. “This is amazing “, Moses said to himself. God saw Moses coming closer to the bush and called to him. Here I am Moses replied. Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

Men often take off their hats as a sign of respect at certain times. Women wear long dresses and cover their arms and heads as a sign of respect. We all remove our shoes when we enter a house, and some places of worship. It is often just a routine, a social practice. Here we see the response of Moses to an amazing act. A burning bush that did not burn. He went closer with the idea that he was seeing an angel.  Then he heard a voice calling his name that he recognized as the voice of God. His response “here I am”. Then God warned Him to stay back but take off your shoes as you are on holy ground. It’s not an everyday occurrence but occasionally God calls us to a special moment of reverence to him. Think back over your life and remember a time when you were amazed at what you saw and ended up thanking God? When you realized that you were in the presence of the holy, standing on holy ground.

Prayer: Almighty God thank you for the moments in our lives when you come closer, and we sense a meeting with the holy. Help us to respond to your call: Here I am. Amen.