Musing – How to walk as “Leaders of God’s Children”

Hebraic Musing – How to walk as “Leaders of God’s Children”

Trivia question: What is the first action God commanded Moses to do the very first time that they spoke?   The answer is in Exod. 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

This is the first encounter between God and the great prophet, so “Take off your sandals.” seems like a rather mundane instruction given the holiness of the moment.  Since that is not the answer we might have expected; there must be more to the command.

Consider how our shoes provide us with protection and a sense of security. Nothing puts a spring in our step like a pair of brand-new shoes! Shoes give us a cushion between the hard ground and our vulnerable feet.  Yes, I know why the Indians called us “Tenderfeet”.  Shoes are what make us invincible to elements like snow, rain, rocks, or thorns. With the right pair of shoes, you can walk just about anywhere without feeling discomfort.

Believe it or not, God wanted Moses to be uncomfortable. God wanted Moses to feel every rock, pebble, and grain of sand. Did you know that our feet contain nerve endings from our entire body? Our feet are an extremely sensitive part of our body.  And at that moment, God wanted Moses to be sensitive – super-sensitive.  Why?

“For the place you are standing on is holy ground.”  Moses was about to become the leader of the children of Israel.  This was and still is holy work, and indeed, he was standing on “holy ground.”  God wanted to teach Moses at the outset that in order to do His holy work, Moses must remain extremely sensitive.  Do we also want to do His holy work?

Leaders can easily fall into the trap of being out of touch with the people.  Most leaders of nations enjoy luxuries that the general public does not.  It’s easy to become insensitive to the needs of the common man or unsympathetic to a poor man’s plight.  God, on the other hand, says “Don’t you dare! My people are my precious children.”  Moses was commanded to remain as sensitive as he was at that moment until the day that he died.

Insensitivity is a trap we all can fall into. It’s hard to empathize with the hungry if your stomach is always full, or to feel for the homeless when we are enjoying the comfort and warmth of our own homes. We in these blessed United States are not confronted with living conditions being experienced by the other 95% of the world.  But, we who serve the Lord are on “holy ground.”  We must remain acutely sensitive to the needs of all His children and do our best to meet them, whenever and however we can.

Point to ponder

Are we “leaders of God’s children”?

How can we become sensitive to the needs of those around us?

Is God telling you to “take off your shoes”?

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people,
      but love your neighbor as yourself.” Lev 19:18

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   January 31, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life”  “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Inspired and partly copied from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s “Take Off Your Shoes” Jan.19,2017  IFCJ