Exodus 3:5, commentary and pictures

At Horeb while keeping flocks in Midian, Moses was called by name from a bush that burned without being consumed and was told not to draw near but to remove his shoes because God's presence made the ground holy. The voice from the bush was Christ, the same divine Commander who told Joshua to remove his shoe and who led Israel in cloud and fire. The ground was holy only because God was there, and the required response is humility and reverent fear rather than curiosity or presumption, with awareness of human unworthiness before His purity. Handling Scripture and speaking of God is standing on the same holy ground, to be approached with reverence, meekness, and silence before mystery rather than lightness, trifling, or judging of the Word. So also places of worship, Sabbath-school teaching, opening the Scriptures to others, and all sacred work are holy ground where angels are present and where workers must walk softly, lay aside unbelief and self-sufficiency, and labor in cooperation with Christ.

Setting and Commission

At Horeb, the mountain of God, while leading the flocks of Jethro his father-in-law into the desert in Midian in retirement from Egypt, Moses saw the angel in a flame of fire in a bush that burned without being consumed. When he turned aside to see why it was not burnt, he was called by name, Moses, Moses, and was told not to draw near but to take the shoes from off his feet because the place where he stood was holy ground. He hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God, for God's presence there made reverent distance necessary.

Moses was not ready when he tried to deliver Israel by force by slaying an Egyptian fighting an Israelite and hiding him in the sand. God therefore sent him away for forty years as a keeper of sheep in the desert and rocks and mountains, patiently hunting for stray sheep. This training amid the humble duties of the most lowly position was required after his education as a general and prospective ruler in Egypt, to teach him self-control and humility and tender, patient, loving, faithful care. Only with that education was he fitted to become the spiritual shepherd of Israel and to do the appointed life-work, showing that useful and honored workers are prepared through hard, uncongenial labor adapted to character and future work.

In the wilderness with nature as his school and Christ as his teacher, Moses learned obedience, humility, meekness, faith and trust that his palace education had not given him. He learned to depend on God rather than on human wisdom and strength even when the path ahead was unseen and the task seemed impossible. Jethro helped him toward correct faith as far as Jethro himself understood, and Moses worked steadily upward toward the light until he was prepared in singleness of heart to see God revealed. Through many years God was proving and testing and trying him in fitting him to do His will, in ways higher than human thoughts and ways.

The command introduced God's declaration that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the I AM. It marked the time when Moses was to exchange the shepherd's staff for the rod of God, to go to Pharaoh and bring Israel out of Egypt from bondage and oppression. The encounter came through communion with God before the message and work, and began the commission to reveal Jehovah's superiority over false gods. Deliverance would come by signs and wonders through God's own mighty power alone that the glory might be ascribed to Him, and not by warfare as Moses had thought.

Why Ground Is Holy

The ground where Moses stood was holy because God was present there, and for that reason he was told not to draw near but to keep reverent distance and to put off his shoes from his feet. While keeping his father-in-law's flocks in Midian he saw a bush burning yet not consumed, turned aside to see why it was not burnt, and drew near until God commanded him not to come closer because His presence had made the place holy, at which Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God. The voice from the midst of the bush was Jesus Christ, the same divine speaker who commanded Joshua to remove his shoe and who conducted the Hebrews through the wilderness enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. The command to Joshua likewise identified the visitor as no common angel but Christ the exalted Son of God and impressed that the ground was made holy by divine presence.

The glory of God hallowed the sanctuary in the same way, so priests never entered where His presence was revealed with shoes on because dust clinging to shoes would desecrate the holy place. They left their shoes in the court and washed their hands and feet at the brazen laver by the door of the tabernacle to remove all impurity under penalty of death, showing that all who minister where His glory is revealed must make special preparation. The encounter teaches that humility and reverence belong to those who come before God, for confidence in approaching Him never makes presumption appropriate because God is holy and is to be greatly reverenced. Moses at first turned aside to behold the wonderful sight without recognizing God's presence, so curiosity must yield to humility and trembling before the holy place where God is.

His hiding of his face because he was afraid to look upon God shows the right response of reverent fear in encountering the majesty of God's holiness. That sight made him aware of his own unworthiness in contrast with the purity and perfection of God. True reverence is inspired by a sense of God's infinite greatness and a realization of His presence, a sense of the Unseen that should deeply impress every heart. The hour and place of prayer are sacred because God is there, so reverence manifested in attitude and demeanor is required and the feeling that inspires it is deepened by expressing it.

Fallen and sinful humans should draw near with even greater reverence than angels who veil their faces before God's holy name. The command also shows the Lord God of heaven in direct communication with the fallen inhabitants of this world, bending toward an earth deceived and troubled by satanic agencies and listening to every word uttered. When Moses turned aside at the sight, the Lord called him by name and Moses answered, warning him not to draw closer and to take the shoes from his feet. This proves God is not regardless of this world and its concerns but draws near to speak, to be heard, and to require reverence.

Christ, Joshua, and Sanctuary

The voice that spoke from the midst of the burning bush was Jesus Christ, and the bush itself was the token of His divine presence making the ground holy and sacred. He is the same divine speaker who commanded Joshua to remove his shoe, the captain of the Lord's host who conducted the Hebrews through the wilderness enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Moses was therefore told to draw no nearer and to put off his shoes because Christ's presence had made holy the place where he stood. That encounter makes known God's holiness and begins the commission to reveal Jehovah's superiority over false gods in delivering Israel from bondage.

The identical command to Joshua was given when he was alone in meditation and prayer before Jericho. There the Captain appeared as a man of lofty stature in warlike garments with a drawn sword, and the command to remove the shoe impressed on Joshua that he stood on ground made holy by the divine presence. The sameness of the command identifies the armed visitor as no common angel but Christ the exalted Son of God. Joshua met Him with awe and worship and obedience, and received assurance and instructions concerning Jericho.

The glory of God hallowed the sanctuary in the same way that it hallowed the ground at the bush. Priests never entered where God's presence was revealed with shoes on their feet, because dust and particles clinging to shoes would desecrate the holy place. They left their shoes in the court and washed their hands and their feet at the brazen laver by the door of the tabernacle beside the tabernacle entrance to remove all impurity, under penalty of death if they failed. All who ministered or officiated where His glory was revealed had in this way to make special preparation before entering, with removal of defilement taught also through the washing of hands and feet before service.

God's glory was veiled in the humble form of the lowly bush shrub that seemed to have no special beauty, yet it enshrined the Infinite so that Moses could look upon the divine presence and live. The same Jesus who talked with Moses from the bush speaks from the midst of the glory in the cloud that guided Israel and stood over the tabernacle, and the glory of the cloud emanates from Him. The brightness of His presence is enshrouded in the darkness of the cloud which He made His pavilion, so fallen people can endure to look upon the cloud as seeing Him who is invisible. This veiling is the plan by which after the fall He approaches man, reveals Himself as the living God and Lawgiver in delivering Israel from Egypt, and dwells on earth in the tabernacle where He meets with men and His voice is often heard.

Anciently those who ministered in sacred office were required upon entering God's sanctuary to remove their sandals and wash their dust-covered feet, as one of many ceremonies required of Israel to illustrate carefulness in all actions and preservation from all avoidable impurity. When Christ the Sin-bearer died on the cross, type met antitype and these ceremonies lost their force and have not the least bearing on the people of God at this time. To require believers now to remove shoes when entering a house of worship on the ground of this command is a non-essential, fanciful theory from minds unlearned in the first principles of the gospel. It is a cheap, weak, silly fable invented to eclipse grand, elevating, purifying truth, lower sacred principles, lead the mind to sham ceremonies, confuse the mind, put outward performance in place of precious truth, make works take the place of heart religion, and substitute outward ceremony for cleansing every corner of the heart from sin in the soul-temple. Those who urge it make a wrong representation before angels and men and are left enshrouded in spiritual darkness, and it should not be received or tolerated in the churches.

Reverence for Scripture and Truth

Taking the Bible in hand and quoting Scripture is standing on holy ground where angels surround the speaker, unseen though present if eyes were opened. Sacred things must be spoken of reverently, with respect for faith shown by both example and precept, never allowing any expression of lightness and trifling to escape the lips. Conduct must leave on every soul the impression of a pure and holy atmosphere, because one vain word or one trifling laugh may turn or balance a soul in the wrong direction, and without constant connection with God the consequences are terrible. The Word of God itself is holy ground where His presence is revealed, to be approached with humility that does not let human wisdom weaken its statements. No finite person is authorized to judge which parts are inspired or to rank one portion as more inspired than another, but all must receive Scripture as it reads with a meek, humble and holy spirit, seeking to learn and to put its teachings into life and character.

Studying the Scriptures is standing on holy ground with the reverence of removing shoes before God. Those who remember this and come with a reverent and willing heart will see truth about God's immutable law and the Sabbath as the memorial of creation, while those who do not want to see bring spiritual blindness upon themselves by their own choice, having chosen their own way and disregarded the way of the Lord. Speaking about God, especially where He is or what He is, and inquiring into His work is likewise standing on holy ground where angels are His ministers on earth doing His will. Removing footwear means putting off irreverence and careless unsanctified speech, for He is high and lifted up and His glory fills the heavens, so on this point silence is eloquence. Human ideas about God must not be cheap and common, and no one may venture to limit the power of the Holy One by conjecture and questioning about His work, since speaking carelessly about what is beyond human understanding violates its holiness.

The study of Christ's divinity clothed with the garb of humanity is holy ground to be entered with the humility of a learner and with a contrite heart. It is a fruitful field that will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth. Every person who reads His words that He is the light of the world, the bread of life, the way the truth and the life, the good shepherd who gives eternal life, with His invitations to come for rest, to drink when thirsty, and to be in no wise cast out, is on holy ground close to the living fountain of mercy and love. As the Holy Spirit impresses those words on heart and mind, the reader must feel in the presence of goodness immeasurably above anything earth affords, remembering that the life of the only begotten Son was offered for him. Those handling present truth stand on holy ground and must act with reverence and fear, with cleansing of heart, feelings, sympathies and words about God, eternity and truth, and with the face turned to the Lord rather than the back. This applies especially to the third angel's message as light to fill the whole earth with its glory, which must not be despised, treated carelessly, or met with contempt for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through indulging the attributes of Satan, lest the limit be passed where return and repentance become impossible.

Those who would advance the light of truth stand on holy ground and must not exalt themselves but work humbly for God in earnest seriousness, for the ground is holy because light has shone from the throne of His glory, which increases responsibility and leaves without excuse those who fail to improve it. To stand there in the last days is to face the great question of how to stand before God, to answer for the light of heaven received, and to let it shine instead of putting it under a bushel. Where God sends His Holy Spirit and lets His light and glory shine is holy ground, to be met by understanding the operations of the Spirit, discerning its movings, appreciating the glory shining, and responding to light from heaven. To stand there without reverence is to call light darkness and choose darkness rather than light, to judge and misapply and misinterpret the Spirit shed, to conclude heaven-sent blessings are delusion, to dishonor God who is jealous of His glory, and to resist greater evidence and greater light when God lets His light shine again. Taking off shoes is a warning to treat what God has made sacred with care, for despising the Holy Spirit's manifestations is contempt for holy things.

Ground made holy by God's presence also describes the glory of the future life, the New Jerusalem and the unseen world, whose wonders are too sacred and beyond human power to picture, describe, map or define. Human imagination and artistic skill cannot fully portray their glory, so they must be approached with humility and reverence rather than with ordinary unworthy thoughts or presumption about what God has not revealed. Coming near the true and living God requires becoming humble reverence, which rebukes those who exalt human wisdom, science and higher education above God as if competent to weigh and judge His infinitely wise and just and good plans for redeeming the race and governing the universe. When the veil is lifted and infinity beyond is seen, human knowledge is exposed as knowing hardly anything of the mysteries of God, not even the ABC of higher education that takes all eternity to unfold, so boasting ceases and self-exaltation sinks out of sight into becoming humility. The bush that burned without being consumed represents those suffering reverses, deprivation and affliction, with the brightness of the presence of the Unseen in its midst to comfort and sustain them. The valley of humiliation where need is felt and dependence on God is learned is comparatively safe, while prosperity and influence are most dangerous to spiritual life and those entrusted with them need prayer even more than the sick and afflicted.

Reverence in Worship and Service

Even a humble building set apart for worship is holy to the Lord when it is the best that can be provided for Him. A camp-meeting is holy ground because a sacred influence surrounds it. A meeting place where God blesses with His Spirit and grace seems like holy ground. Where angels rest upon a gathering, even those not of the faith act as if on holy ground when they come not from curiosity but to hear the word of life.

Treading on holy ground describes the serious, sacred work of God, which must be done carefully and with His Spirit. It warns against treating His work as common or meeting it with careless conjecture. All self-sacrificing workers stand on holy ground, where Christ will work with them if they will work with Him. Pioneer labor to advance truth in Australia is such hallowed ground because Christ and His angels went before, God goes before workers in New South Wales and other parts of the field, and He is with those building the Sanitarium and opening the health work in Sydney and those who labored faithfully with their means, so those who did not stand shoulder to shoulder in that labor must not speak slightingly of what was done but step lightly in recognition that the place is holy.

Those who preach truth need the shepherd experience that fitted Moses, for his call to take charge of the people came after God directed him to gain experience in caretaking, thoughtfulness, and tender solicitude for his flock as a faithful shepherd. They must first drink themselves at the life-giving fountain in order to lead souls to it, see the infinite sacrifice made by the Son of God to save fallen men, and be imbued with undying love. They must do hard labor appointed by God without murmuring, follow a difficult and dangerous path in meekness while crying to God for strength, and accept with thankfulness the way of His choosing while remembering the Author of salvation. They must pursue the sacred work with earnestness, energy, and zeal far greater than business because the labor is more sacred and the result more momentous, make each day's work count in the eternal records as well done as if no other day were granted, and have heaven enshrined in the heart here to be fitted for the solemn work and for the society of pure angels.

Standing on ground made holy by God calls those entrusted with sacred responsibilities to remain learners, receiving light and heavenly influence daily, for without this they are no more fit for their work than unbelievers. They must not feel self-sufficient or self-important but receive light and heavenly influence daily. Removing shoes expresses reverence before God and recognition of standing on holy ground, applied as a call to walk softly before God, mindful of surrounding snares and perils. This was applied to Edson's situation at Battle Creek, that he should consider his conduct carefully and act with humility and care. Accusing fellow workers who proclaim God's message is treading on holy ground, and such a person should stop and show humility and respect.

Students in school stand on holy ground with the angels of God about them, so youth must ponder well the path of feet and elevate the soul to be loyal, steadfast servants of the Lord of hosts like Daniel. Young men are standing on holy ground with angels about them, so they must ponder the path of feet, elevate the soul, be strong with the word of God abiding in them, be sober-minded, overcome the wicked one, and be loyal steadfast servants as Daniel was. Young men studying to become agents for God and co-workers with Christ are stepping on holy ground, and must ponder the paths of feet, be sober-minded, rise to due appreciation of the high calling to seek and save the lost, begin life work with high and holy ends in view, lose no time, and yoke up now with Christ. The ground of a school where God's Spirit moves upon people to come and be made into workers is holy ground, so teachers and students linked together must press the battle to the gates and refuse to let the enemy come onto that ground, and those there must appreciate the work, be subordinate to rule, and learn in the school of Christ in preparation to be called higher to keep learning through all eternity.

Sabbath-school teachers stand on holy ground because angels are about them and the divine presence is with them. Their work is not merely human teaching but service as human agents through whom Christ imparts heavenly light while the Holy Spirit reveals glimpses of heavenly things and impresses the mind with divine truth. Realizing this standing brings a sense of the divine presence, gives spiritual grace and power, makes labor earnest, powerful and efficient, and gives assurance that the Spirit helps infirmities. Opening the Scriptures to others is holy work, carried out in cooperation with heavenly angels to lead people toward intelligence and purity, showing that work done for God is sacred and calls for reverence.

Putting off shoes means laying aside unbelieving hard thoughts and fleshly reasonings, standing before God in one's own nothingness, and drawing nigh to God where He seeks to lead. The place where God seeks to lead is holy ground and requires this putting off. Obeying it guards against repeating the same mistaken experience as if ordered of the Lord and against placing stumbling blocks before one's own feet over which to stumble.