Shoes

With all the recent bad weather, I’ve been thinking about feet and what to put on them for a good balance between comfort, style and suitability to the conditions.  There is such variety in modern footwear, and the distinction is largely dependent upon the circumstances.  We really have to consider why shoes are worn.

Some shoes hurt your feet; you’d only wear them if there were a good reason, like impressing someone important, or for that critical photo-shoot.  Others, however, can be really comfortable; you would choose them if possible for everything, so long as they are still sound.  Such favourites probably give your feet firm support and, whether physically or psychologically, provide you with a platform for power and achievement.

Shoes act as a barrier; that can be good or bad.  If you’re walking on wet or rough terrain, for example, good footwear is important to keep out water, or to make walking on stones and hard ground easier.  On the other hand, shoes can prevent your enjoying a pleasant tactile experience, like those ghastly rubber slippers that we wore as small children when paddling (I wonder whether they are still made!) or walking barefoot on the beach and feeling the sand between your toes.

Both Moses (Ex. 3:5) and Joshua (Jos. 5:15) were told to take off their shoes – the ground, they were told, was holy.  What was this all about?  Let’s think about Moses first.  God explains that He has seen the plight of His people in Egypt, and wants Moses to go to Pharaoh to secure their release.  Moses is daunted by the prospect, but is eventually persuaded that God will provide him the strength and wisdom to fulfil the task.   Joshua is similarly challenged.  He has just led the Israelites across the Jordan and they have camped on the plains of Jericho, where the practice of circumcision, neglected over many long years, is restored.  At this point Joshua is confronted by a man who announces himself as the Commander of the Lord’s Army.  God then reveals to him the means by which he is to overcome Jericho – the famous strategy of repeated circular walks and a great shout.  In each case, our hero is reassured by these experiences that God is with him; what may seem a daunting task in mere human terms is guaranteed success, because it is endued with God’s provision and presence. 

Now, let me suggest a commitment to you, dear reader.   At least twice a day we attend to the covering of our feet, and probably many more times besides.  So, every time you put shoes on in the coming week, offer a prayer of dedication to God, asking Him to equip you with the qualities you will need for whatever challenges you are about to face.  And then, when you take them off, offer a word of thanksgiving for His constant presence in every aspect of your life.  If you find this helpful or comfortable, why not make it a permanent part of your life – a reminder of God’s presence in everything.