Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

God appeared to Moses but did not provide a basin with water and cloth to wash his feet. God the Father bows down to no man. Only Jesus did that in service for the Father to set the example of forgiveness of sin.

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

It seems rather strange that God should allow Moses in His presence and not offer him salvation. From what we know about God the Father no sin could come near to Him.

There is no conflict in scripture, only imperfect understanding. It is wrong to demand perfect understanding from imperfect people. We should remember the previous instruction: 

Romans 14:1

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

We not only have the one Savior, He is also our only judge.

If anyone should confess a sin we do not have the right to refuse to wash their feet.

This morning I noted one more thing, the instruction to remove one’s shoes or sandals.

What have we bought, made, or been given to protect our walk?

Whether it is ritual, habit, or charms, they only get in the way of exposing sinful flesh.

Think of it this way, that Icthus sticker on the bumper of a car does not protect the car from a wreck. Nor does wearing a cross prevent a heart attack. None of that changes the character of our hearts.

There is a reason so many use the term, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

 Even those that deny God use the term.

“Good Lord!”

Yes indeed!

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 

Character has two meanings, one being the characteristics of one’s true identity expressed here as the exact imprint of his nature. I often wonder what it must have been to walk with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Being with the living Word and seeing it with natural eyes is not the same as seeing today with our spiritual eyes.

We have each other but our flesh interferes with the brilliance of that radiant glory. No matter how hard we try to be Christlike, our flesh gets in the way.

John 13:12-15 English Standard Version

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Jesus set the example for what we should do for one another. Do we understand what that ceremonial exercise represents?

Tradition was that servants would greet visitors to the home by washing their feet and washing off the dust of the earth that should not be allowed to dirty the home, where we live. To the life within us, it represents forgiveness of sin.

What if those that would care to enter refused to remove their sandals and allow their feet to be washed?

They would not be allowed to enter.

• Joel 2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
• Zechariah 5:4 I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
• John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.