The physician Luke wrote how, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”, and after being interrogated by the people in the synagogue, “all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?”, and Stephen defended his faith by referring to, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph”. He spoke about “Moses” being raised in Egypt and defending his fellow countryman. After “Moses' act” of killing an Egyptian was known, “Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and did not dare to behold it”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how God said, “put off your shoes from your feet” where we read:
Then said the Lord to him, Put off your shoes from your feet:
for the place where you stand is holy ground.
The verse begins, “Then said the Lord to him, Put off your shoes from your feet:” Luke began with the words, “then said the Lord to him” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah to Moses”, “put off your shoes from your feet” or “loosen, unfasten, unbind and release your sandals bound with thongs apart from your physical feet”. Luke shared how “Stephen” recalled how “God” told “Moses” to “loosen and unfasten” his “sandals” from his feet.
The verse goes on to say, “for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Luke continued with the words, “for the place where you stand” which means “because, since and on account that the location and quarter upon which you, Moses, are put, set, fixed and established” “is holy ground” or “exists as sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated arable land, territory and country”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said “God” told “Moses” the place where he was “standing” was “sacred and pure” land.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn through “Stephen” what “God” said to “Moses” from the burning bush. After declaring He was the “God” of the forefathers of “Moses”, “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, He told “Moses” to remove his “sandals” because the place upon which he was “standing” was considered “pure, holy and sacred” “ground”. “Moses” was in the presence of the Almighty and powerful Creator God who was determined to bring about “redemption” of “Israel” and all mankind. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone who submits themselves to His Son Jesus. When they yield to Jesus, God's Holy Son, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Those who are wise will begin to understand the “holiness” of God Almighty and His Son Jesus, and remove their “spiritual shoes” in the place of His “holy ground”.
Next time Luke shares how God says, “I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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