Holy ground

So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." – Exodus 3v4

This is one of those great encounter moments in the word of God. As Moses went about his business tending his father-in-laws sheep he saw a flaming bush that was not burning up and heard a voice calling out to him. The voice simply called his name and he replied, naturally enough, 'Here I am.'

i find it amazing first of all that God would call out to Moses. Moses was not seeking God. He appeared happy enough to just keep minding the sheep. But God appeared to Moses. 'The Angel of the Lord' is normally understood to refer to the pre-incarnate Jesus. Either way Moses suddenly found himself in the presence of God.

How would we respond in a situation like that? It looks like Moses did not know what to do, so God told him. 'Take off your shoes, Moses, this is holy ground.'

There was nothing special about that ground in itself. It was just desert sand, the place where Moses tended the sheep. One thing made this place holy. God was there.

I find that when I really have an encounter with God it is usually in those normal places, like my office, my bed, or a bench along the canal. They are not holy ground because of the place, but because that is where I meet with God one on one.

Saying that, there have been plenty of times where I have met with God together with His people. Those holy places have been kitchen tables, empty bedrooms, sitting rooms, and hired halls, as well as what we consider 'normal' church buildings.

God's presence is always holy ground. May we never take it lightly.