Some moments in the Bible seem quiet, almost like footnotes. But when God highlights a small action, like telling Moses to remove his shoes, it’s a doorway to a profound spiritual truth. These overlooked details hold keys for our walk with Him today.
When God said, “Take off your sandals,” He was doing more than giving Moses a rule. He was marking a shift from the ordinary to the holy. In that culture, shoes collected dust, dirt, and the residue of everyday journeys. Standing before the burning bush, Moses was on holy ground; a place set apart for a direct encounter with God. The command was an invitation to separate the common from the sacred, to approach with humility and intentional reverence, shedding the “dirt” of his own path to stand barefoot before God’s presence.
But why shoes?
Shoes are necessary. They protect our feet, define our journey, and carry the dust of where we’ve been. They represent our own strength, our preparation, and our personal path. That’s precisely why God said to remove them. On holy ground, your human strength and past travels are set aside. You are not entering God’s presence based on your own journey or protection, but on His invitation alone. It is an act of complete reliance on Him.
The presence of the God was what made the ground where Moses stood holy, not the sacredness of the ground itself. Being raised in Egypt, Moses would have been aware that the Egyptian priests followed the custom in their temples, so giving him instructions to take off his shoes was in line with what he already knew.
Till date, In all Eastern nations today, it is customary for people to remove their sandals or shoes before entering synagogues and mosques as a sign of self-defilement and a conscious inability to stand in the presence of unspotted holiness. Moses’s response, which included taking off his shoes and covering his face, indicates that he was aware of his own immorality and sinfulness as well as that he recognized the splendor of the divine Majesty. According to Exodus 3:6, Moses was actually so terrified of God’s holiness that he dared not look at Him.
God’s presence, who is the very definition of holiness, made the holy ground holy. We are taught to approach the sanctuary, which is a place designated for worshiping God, with awe in our hearts. Entering a location designated for God’s worship requires solemn awe and profound seriousness because any location where the Lord is present is considered holy.
So how do we “take off our shoes” now?
It is a spiritual posture we choose to maintain in our hearts:
- Pausing your busyness to be truly present with God.
- Letting go of your own agenda and plans.
- Releasing the dust of past hurts and failures.
- Removing pride and choosing humility.
- Setting aside distractions to listen.
- Approaching God with awe, not just routine.
- Preparing your heart to obey what He says next.
If you’re at a crossroads and this feels confusing, take heart. God’s command wasn’t to scare Moses but to prepare him for a beautiful, personal encounter. It’s the same for you. That sense of “holy ground” is God’s gentle way of saying, “I am here with you right now.” You don’t need to have it all figured out. Simply be willing. Shed the clutter of worry, and in humility, say, “Here I am.” He meets you right there, on the holy ground of a surrendered heart.
