Scripture: Joshua 5:13-15; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Ruth 4:1-12
Theme: Shoes
How the LORD used shoes (footwear/sandals) as a symbol of authority, a way to display our consecration and as a challenge for us to deepen our Discipleship (Evangelism/Spiritual Maturity).
INTRO
Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Recently, Rebekah (my wife) has had to deal with some footwear issues at work. Up until a few months ago the people that worked at Chemours could pretty much wear anything that they wanted to wear. That is, unless they were out in the manufacturing area. In that area they are required to wear some type of steel toed boots or shoes.
And for years, Rebekah has had a pair of steel toed boots near her desk while she wore all kinds of other shoes; mainly flip flops. She doesn’t like closed toed shoes and especially steel toed shoes.
However, in the last few weeks, Chemours has been signaling that some new changes are coming. One of those changes has to do with footwear. Flip flops and any other type of shoes that are open toed or do not have a closed back will soon be no longer permitted. Closed toed shoes, preferably steel toed shoes are going to become the proper wearing attire.
It is not because the company wants to be difficult. It is primarily a safety issue. With all the equipment, the stairs and the ability of someone dropping something on your feet, the company wants everyone to be as safe as possible. Their goal is to have an accident free working environment.
So, we have been shoe shopping. We have been looking for something that is both comfortable and somewhat attractive that can pass muster. This past week, Rebekah thinks that she has found a couple of pair of shoes that will do the job.
However, they are not steel toes shoes. So, in case of emergencies she still has her steel toed shoes resting comfortably near her desk ready to put on. But we do have some shoes that have backs and that are closed toed. So, we are making progress.
This morning, I want to talk to you about footwear. In particular, I would like for us to look at a few Bible passages that deal with footwear and how the LORD used footwear to teach His people how to live closer to Him.
I know it is an odd thing to think about.
How in the world can what I put on my feet help me live a better life in Christ?
Well, let’s take some time this morning and look at that very thing – footwear and our Christian Discipleship.
I. Ancient Footwear was Often a Symbol of Authority
We see that very thing being played out in a story found in the book of Ruth. It reflects back on a passage that we find in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 25. Deuteronomy 25:5 -10 deals with an issue that time and time again rose up among God’s People.
Leaving a legacy and having a heritage was very important to the Israelites. That meant that it was vital for a family to have children so they could pass down their possessions and their name.
But what do you do when a man dies and does not leave a child; especially at that time a male child? There is the real danger that the family’s heritage is forever lost.
To counter that, it was the responsibility of a man’s brothers to make sure that his name was not lost. In order for that to happen one of the man’s brothers or the nearest kinsmen would take the dead man’s wife to be his wife. He would then father a child with her and that child would not take his name but his brother’s name.
I know that seems a little strange but that is just what happened in ancient Israel. So, let’s say Bob and George are brothers. Bob has married Julie and George has married Beth. Bob and Julie have not had any children. George and Beth on the other hand have four children of their own.
One day an accident happens and Bob is killed. Because he has no male child he has no heir. If nothing is done then his name and his possession will be forever lost. His brother, George is honored bound to take his sister-in-law as his wife. Together they are to bring forth a child and that child will then take on the name of his dead brother Bob. That way, Bob’s wife is taken care of and the family name is continued.
But what do you do if Julie is ugly?
What do you do if Beth puts down her foot and says, “I am not letting that woman (Julie) in my house and you better never sleep with her if you ever want to be with me again.”?
What do you do if George is ugly and Julie would rather die than have a child with her brother-in-law?
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 gives us the answer and this is exactly what happened in Ruth chapter four. Ruth found herself a widow and the man that was suppose to marry Ruth didn’t want to marry her. His wife and the rest of his family didn’t want him to marry her or to give her a child.
So, what we see happening is a fulfillment of Deut. 25:5-10 being exercised. If a man refused to take his brother or his next of kin’s wife as his own and give her a child then this is what happened:
+The widow goes to the city gate and calls all the elders to come together for a meeting.
+She declares (loudly in most cases) that her husband’s next of kin has refused to take her as his wife and give her a child. He has therefore dishonored the name of his brother or next of kin.
+The elders then have a conference with the man and see if this is the case – that the dead man’s next of kin (usually brother) has in fact refused his lawful brotherly duties.
+The man is given a chance to either accept or refuse the request. If he accepts his duties as kinsmen then he immediately makes plans for a wedding and the matter is settled. It is then up to the LORD to provide a child. But if he chooses not to take the woman as his wife then he must state loudly so that everyone can hear – “I don’t want to marry her”.
+The widow (Ruth in this case) would then pull off the man’s shoe (usually the right shoe) and holding it in her hands she would then spit in the man’s face.
+Afterwards she would say these words – “This is what happens to a man who refuses to provide his brother with children.”
+And to put a final bite on the whole thing she would say these words: “From now on in Israel this man’s family will be referred to as “the family of the man whose sandal was pulled off”!
Now, we know that Abram’s name was changed to Abraham which of course was a sign of covenant (Genesis 17:1-6). And we know that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel after his encounter at Peniel (Genesis 32:22-32). But how would you like your name to forever be changed to “the family of the man whose sandal was pulled off”? Not only would that be quite a disgrace but it would take forever to fill out forms.
Talk about a power walk. The widow left that day with that man’s sandal and his respect and reputation in that town. Shoes were more than just something that people needed in the natural. They were more than just a way to protect their feet from the cold and from the hot. They were more than just a way to protect their feet from rocks and thorns. Shoes were a symbol of authority.
Aren’t you glad today that we don’t practice that custom?
That is one way that the LORD used shoes in the Old Testament. Another more important way that God used Shoes was:
II. As a way show One’s Respect, Humility and Consecration (Surrender)
And the way to show one’s respect, humility and consecration was to take off both shoes.
This is what happens to both Moses and Joshua. We find Moses’ story all the way back in Exodus 3: and Joshua’s story in Joshua 5.
Both men find themselves in the presence of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. Moses finds himself in front of a burning bush with the voice of God speaking out of it while Joshua finds himself face to face with a person the Bible calls, “The Commander of the LORD’s Army.”
We can safely assume that this “Commander of the Lord’s Army” is in fact the pre-incarnate Christ. Otherwise, we would never read what happens in verse 14 where He accepts the worship of Joshua. God’s holy angels were very careful to never allow a human being to worship them as a god (Revelation 22:8; Matthew 4:9-10).
In both cases (Moses and Joshua) there are some interesting things going on:
+To take off one’s shoes was to take off one’s Authority
+To take off one’s shoes was to become Vulnerable
+To take off one’s shoes was to Humble oneself before one who is greater
+To take off one’s shoes was to give a sign of Trust/Faith
+To take off one’s shoes was remove one’s protection and place oneself under the protection of another
+To take off one’s shoes was to state that you would sit down and spend some time with a person or a group of persons
+To take off one’s shoes meant that you were giving the ultimate sign of surrender and submission
I remember as a child that one of the things that the adults would say to family and friends when they would come over for a visit was - “Take off your shoes and stay a while.” The invitation to take your shoes off meant that you were considered an honored guest and that you had been given the ultimate welcome.
When you have your shoes off and they are under someone else’s control it does mean that they are in charge.
Without shoes we are really powerless. We can’t just get up and start traveling wherever we desire. We can travel a short distance without shoes but an all day trip without shoes is practically impossible. A soldier cannot fight forever without his shoes. A farmer cannot very well plow his field without his shoes. An athlete cannot play very well for very long without his shoes.
One of the first things that ancient armies would do after they had defeated their enemies was to take their shoes. They would make their enemies sit down and remove their shoes. Sometimes they would even build a fire and burn them right there in front of them. It was a powerful signal that not only had they been defeated but that they had been soundly defeated. It is hard to win a battle barefooted.
In some cultures before you are allowed to go into someone’s home you are required to take off your shoes and either go in your stocking feet or wear a pair of house slippers. This is true in many Eastern European countries, Middle Eastern countries and of course in many Asian countries. It would be frowned upon to enter into someone’s home and keep your shoes on.
Here is our country of course that is not the case. In fact, many people would be taken back if you took off your shoes before coming into their home. The exception would be of course if your shoes were covered with dirt and mud.
In many churches it is customary to take off your shoes.
If you ever visit the St. Finian (FIHN-iy-ahN) Orthodox Abbey in El Paso TX, you will see a sign that states –
Welcome, Please Remove Your Shoes,
“For the place where upon thou standest is Holy Ground”
That would be true of many Eastern Orthodox Churches as well.
What is odd in some respects is that in many mainline Protestant Churches (Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Nazarene, Assembly of God etc…) you would get a rather odd look if you took your shoes off before coming into church. Going shoeless or going barefoot is seen as a sign of disrespect in most of our churches in the United States.
But let’s get back to Moses and Joshua. All the reasons I stated above apply to them. They were showing their respect, their humility but more than anything their consecration; their surrender.
Both men were warriors. Moses had been taught the art of war while he was living in Egypt. As a part of the royal family he would have been an expert at how to fight a battle. Therefore he knew firsthand the importance of wearing adequate footwear. And as a shepherd he would have know the importance of wearing adequate footwear.
Joshua was the same. We see over and over again that this young man was not just an assistant to Moses but that he was the leader of Israel’s army. He knew all too well the importance of wearing proper footwear. And he knew the need to have it on at the proper time.
+Both men by taking off their shoes were surrendering themselves before the LORD.
+Both men by taking off their shoes were putting aside their agendas and spending time in God’s presence.
+Both men were putting themselves under God’s protection and care.
+Both men were publicly making a statement that they would listen and obey whatever God was saying.
In that light, it would be good for us to take some time and take off our shoes and place them before the LORD. It might seem like a silly thing to do to go and grab your shoes or your boots and put them before you as you read God’s Word or spend some time in prayer. But in many ways it would not be silly.
It would be a concrete way for each one of us to make a statement to the LORD that He is Our King. That He is Our Savior. It would be a way for us tell the LORD that we totally surrender everything to the LORD. It would be a way to show our humility, our dedication and our consecration.
What Moses and Joshua did here was a very powerful symbol. The Bible is full of these kinds of symbols. In a few moments we will take communion and it too is both a means of grace and powerful symbol. Holy Communion is a powerful symbol of God’s ultimate Love and Grace.
So, I challenge you at some time to take your shoes off and place them before the Lord as you read the Bible, as your worship and pray. Join Moses and Joshua and humble yourself, giving God total respect and say by doing so –
“Lord, as I give you my shoes I give you myself to You and will depend on You for protection. Lord I give You my time as I now sit and worship at your feet. You are My Savior and LORD.”
III. Finally, the Bible talks about Putting On Some Footwear
Now, of course we see this in the Story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). The young man had not only lost all his money but his shoes as well. He had to go around barefoot. He looked like a slave. For in that time that was one of the quickest ways to recognize a slave. Normally, they did not wear shoes. It was a great way to prevent them from being able to run away.
The Prodigal Son was living like a slave. But when he got to the Father one of the first things that the Father gave him was a pair of shoes; they were to be a symbol of his renewed sonship, his renewed authority and power.
There are other passages that remind us to put on our shoes because God has something for us to do. Passages like:
+Exodus 12:11 – the Children of Israel are commanded by the LORD to put on their sandals and be ready to leave Egypt as they eat the Passover Meal. They were to be ready to follow the LORD’s guidance and direction.
+Mark 6:9 – the Disciples are told to put on their sandals and go out in pairs of two to cast out demons, to preach and to heal.
Perhaps the two passages that mean most to us in regards to some footwear today are those found in Acts chapter 12 with regard to Saint Peter and then what the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 6.
In Acts chapter 12 we find Peter in prison awaiting his death. He knows that at any moment he is going to be taken out of prison and either crucified, stoned or beheaded.
Peter is not worried. He has come to peace with his future. He is doing his best to rest for the night. He has taken his cloak off and is using it for a blanket. He has taken his sandals off and is comfortably sleeping. Whatever is going to happen to him it is all okay. He has surrendered his heart, mind and soul to the LORD. He is at peace.
But then he is awakened by an angel. Peter is told to get up, get dressed and to put on his sandals. God still has some work for him to do and he can’t do it if he doesn’t have his sandals on.
The Apostle Paul makes a similar statement in Ephesians chapter six. He tells us to put on our Christian armor. Part of that armor is our footwear.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV).
Paul understands the importance of wearing proper footwear. It wouldn’t matter if you had the sharpest sword, the best shield and the most protective armor in the world if you didn’t have the proper footwear. To be a good soldier of the LORD you have to be able to stand, you have to be able to move to advance the Kingdom of God.
When we have our shoes on it is a symbol of us being ready to move. It is a symbol for us to be ready for action. It is for us to be ready to go to war against sin and evil. That is what Our Lord was saying to His Disciples in Luke 10:18-20.
18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Now, the LORD was not instructing us to go snake or scorpion hunting. What the LORD was saying was that we are to get our spiritual shoes on and be ready to take care of all kinds of evil.
There are times that the Church is to come in, take off its shoes and sit for a while. There are times that the Church is to symbolically show that it has surrendered to the LORD, that it humbles itself and understands that the LORD is King.
But there are also those times that we are to get up, put on our spiritual shoes and go out and share the message of Jesus. There are those times that we are commanded to put on our shoes of righteousness and go about helping other people experience Jesus.
Peter had to get up from sleeping. He had to put on his cloak and put on his sandals. The impossible; the getting rid of the chains, the keeping the guards asleep was God’s business. Now, it was time for Peter to do his business – to get ready and go and follow God’s angel to freedom. It was time to go and once again share the message of Salvation.
This morning, our shoes can be symbols of some great things:
Our shoes can be symbols of our dedication and our consecration to the LORD. We can take them off and by doing so we declare to the LORD that He is Lord. He is King. He is Our Savior and we are His Disciples.
Our shoes can be symbols of our discipleship. They can help be like the disciples of old that were busy living under God’s authority and sharing the message of Jesus. Today, we can be busy sharing God’s Good News in our homes, with our families (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren) at the office, at school and wherever the LORD takes us.
Our shoes are to be more than just mere coverings for our feet. If we allow the LORD to teach us, then we can see how He can use the symbols of our shoes to remind us how we can grow closer to Him and be more like Him.
+This morning as we close with Communion, I want to invite you to recommit, to rededicate and reconsecrate your walk with the LORD.
+I want to invite you to surrender all that you are to the LORD anew.
+And in doing so I want you to also accept the challenge of wearing your spiritual shoes out of this place and using those shoes to live the life of a disciple of Jesus.
Moses did not stay barefooted. He received God’s anointing, he got up, put on his sandals and lead God’s People out of slavery.
Joshua did not say barefooted. He received God’s anointing, he got up and put on his marching boots and went to battle with the city of Jericho and did all he could to help God’s People to take the Promise Land.
The Disciples did not stay barefooted. They went to village after village to share their testimony. They were walking and traveling instruments of healing, of freedom and of salvation.
This morning, I am challenging all of us to follow their example.
We may not be called to go to Egypt or to the city of Jericho or even to Jerusalem, but we are called to go to our homes and our neighborhoods. We are called to go to the places we work and we visit and be God’s witnesses.
With all of that in mind this morning, I invite you now to come to the Table.
Sharing of the Lord’s Supper/Prayer/Blessing
