Deuteronomy 29:2-5
Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders. Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.
INSIGHT
-Sandal in Hebrew is written as naalah which basically means shoe. Since the Bible is thematic in design, this theme has been used to communicate salient messages. God instructed Moses to take off his sandals for the place he stood was holy ground (Exo 3:5) and Joshua (Jos 5:15). God protected and clothed the Israelites with linen and sandals, washed them and anointed their heads with oil (Ezek 16:8-14). Jesus instructed his disciples to carry nothing but a staff, sandals and one tunic (Mark 6:7-9). John the Baptist was not worthy of loosing Jesus’ sandals (Jn 1:26-27) etc.
-God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, protected them from the danger Pharaoh and his troops posed to them, washed them by water and blood through the crossing of the red sea and Passover, watched over them at night by the pillar of fire and during the day through a cloud and ensured that their clothes and sandals did not wear out for forty years. Like in the wilderness where God provided manna for the Israelites; Christ revealed Himself faithful and became the bread of life that whoever partakes of Him will never hunger but have eternal life (Jn 6:37). God also provided water from a rock when they were thirsty and became the living water that whoever thirst may receive living water springing forth to eternity (Jn 4:14). When the Israelites were disobedience and worshiped idols; God had mercy on them and instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and whoever looked at it was healed. This was a picture of the resurrection where Christ died for the sins of the world and whoever believes in Him has eternal life (Jn 3;14-15). These were physical manifestations that God showed for them but they did not appreciate His goodness. Like the Israelites, sometimes we murmur and complain and do not focus on the unending goodness of God upon our lives stemming from everlasting to everlasting. God has been good to us from generations to generation as evidenced through Biblical scriptures and reminds us to always have faith in Him; and dwell in abundant life. We are also called to give thanks to God in all circumstance and completely trust in Him and He will make every crooked path straight.
PRAYER
Great is Your faithfulness O Lord in all the heavens and the earth, we praise Your name. Thank You for the gift of life, gift of health, gift of family, gift of a peaceful nation, gift of faith, gift of salvation and many other gifts that You have bestowed unto us. You have always revealed Yourself faithful to us despite the challenges that we go through, we glorify You now and forever. You have clothed us, fed us, provided shelter for us, protected us, sustained us, redeemed us by Your precious blood and granted us unending love; we thank You Jesus. Forgive us Father for the many times we murmured, complained and gone against Your will and cleanse us by Your precious blood. Fill us with Your wisdom Lord and give us hearts of gratitude that we may always give thanks to You. All glory, honor, power and strength belongs to You Jesus; now and forever. Amen
Joshua 5:15
Then the Commander of the Lord ’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.
INSIGHT
-Joshua like Moses his predecessor was instructed by Jesus to take off his sandals for the place where he was standing was holy ground. It was a time when Joshua had sent two spies to the city of Jericho before its invasion. This was an important mission for the children of Israel and that instruction was of prime value to the leader. Joshua was encouraged to be strong and of good courage, and trust in the guidance of the Lord. That is; to submit his fears, anxieties, thoughts and all things to the Commander of the Lord; Who promised to be with him always. Also, to change his mind-set, keep the law and focus on the promises of the Lord gave to his forefathers, that he may have good success. Joshua and his people went round the wall of Jericho seven times, and when the people shouted and priests blew the trumpets, the wall collapses and they took over the city (Jos 6:20). God reminds us to take off our sandals and fully submit to His will; for His thoughts are higher than His thoughts and ways Higher than our ways; and we will have good success (Isa 55:9).
PRAYER
Lord You are our refuge and fortress we put our trust in You. We submit all our cares, burdens, anxieties, prayers and heart desires unto You for You care for us. We humbly ask You to take charge of our lives and fight for us for the battle belongs to You; the Commander of the Lord’s army. Cover us with Your pinions and preserve us from any evil thing. Renew our minds, thoughts and hearts desires so that we may be transformed and conform to Your holy will. Your love satisfies our souls Holy Spirit; remain in our hearts now and forever. Amen
Ruth 4:5-7
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.” And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it. ” Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
INSIGHT
-When Boaz sought to marry Ruth, he was bound by traditions to ask for redemption rights from his brother who was the nearest redeemer. According to Lev 25:25-34, a kinsman redeemer must have been related by blood, be able to pay the price, be willing to redeem and be free himself, like Christ redeemed us from our sin. If a man passed on without having bore a son; his brother would inherit his wife to perpetuate his name. But if he was not willing; the brothers wife would spit on his face and take of his sandals, and his name would be called “the one who had his sandals removed” (Deu 25:5-10). Naomi had to be redeemed before Ruth and Boaz chose to be the kinsman redeemer to perpetuate the name of the dead through inheritance. His close relative then removed his sandals as oath and asked Boaz to redeem his right of redemption. Sandals were used to establish an oath in this law regulating redemption of property and redemption rights. Ruth abandoned her culture, people and language to follow Yahweh; the God of Naomi and her efforts were not in vain. Gods’ providential care brought her to Boaz who exercised his rights as kinsman redeemer and became her husband; and they were blessed with a son Obed; who can be traced in the lineage of Jesus. When Ruth was a widow; God showed her abundant love and blessed her with a family. When Ruth was a Gentile; she was incorporated in the lineage of Jesus yielding eternal life through Him. These evidences provide hope for us all who share in the inheritance of the Kingdom of God through faith in Christ. God is full of mercy and love and as He rewarded Ruth for her loyalty; we too have the hope of receiving blessings and an eternal reward through Christ.
PRAYER
Jehovah our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is Your name, the Holy One of Israel, we praise You and magnify Your holy name. Show mercy Lord to all widows that You may settle their hearts in Your providential care. Be with all ladies who are waiting on You for marriage that You may bless them with good families. Shine Your face Lord also on all men who seek to marry that You may guide them through this endeavour. Christ You gave Yourself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Yourself a people that are Your very own to eager to do what is good; we thank You for loving us. Bless us indeed Lord and expand our territories, and answer our prayers for the glory of Your name. We praise You Jesus and glorify Your holy name; now and forever. Amen
Mark 6:7-9
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
INSIGHT
-It was of prime importance that Jesus send out His disciples to proclaim the gospel. With companion; He looked at the sheep without a shepherd and noted that the harvest was plentiful but the labourers few (Mat 9:36-38). Jesus then commissioned His disciples; cautioning them against carrying food, bags and money but only a staff, sandals and one tunic each. This was a call for them to totally trust in Him as we find in Luke 22:35 that; despite carrying no such provisions, the disciples lacked nothing. Sandals here outline a peculiar sense of spiritual and physical manifestation of Gods’ divine provision; as Jesus instructed them to shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15). We are also called to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and rely not our own understand and His peace that surpasses all understanding will dwell in our hearts. To also proclaim the gospel of peace in our own capacities; be it through doing good works, godly character, giving advice, teaching, preaching etc, for the labourers are few and the harvest is plentiful.
PRAYER
Lord You are good and Your mercies endures forever. We love You and trust in You Jesus. Lord of mercy and love, You have called us to proclaim the gospel of peace. Have mercy on us and shepherd us all according to Your divine will. We humbly ask You to blessed us in all the work of our hands and expand our boundaries. May Your blessings upon us Father which are present in the spiritual realm manifest physically according to Your divine grace. Our Father who at in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil. For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
INSIGHT
-John baptized at the river Jordan and taught multitudes including the Pharisees and Tax collectors. He openly rebuked the religious leaders calling them brood of vipers with the objective of bringing everyone to repentance in Christ. His focus was not on himself but on Jesus our Messiah even when he had the opportunity to exult himself given Isaiah’s prophecy which spoke of him (Isa 40:3). He considered himself as a slave to Jesus and was unworthy to carry or loose His sandals (Jn 1:27). Loosing and carrying sandals was common practice often entrusted upon foreign servants as their masters went to take a bath at the cistern. John the Baptist thus described himself as unworthy to perform this lowest form of service given the authority of Jesus; even when entrusted with the opportunity to baptize Him. After His baptism, God confirmed that Jesus was His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. As John baptized with water unto repentance, Jesus redeemed all people through His blood and gave us His Holy Spirit so that we may live forever with Him. We are called to humble ourselves before the Lord and completely submit to His will unto repentance so that He may increase in us as we decrease (Jn 3:30).
SUMMARY
After the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, they journeyed through the wilderness for forty days and their clothes and sandals did not wear out. Though God was gracious and kind to them, they did not appreciate His goodness but kept on murmuring and complaining. God had also chosen for them a leader; Moses journeyed with them from Egypt through the wilderness. Moses was called through a miraculous encounter where the burning bush lit but was not consumed. God instructed him to take off his sandals for the place he was standing was holy ground. This was an instruction to submit his wisdom to the authority of God and wait for His direction. After Moses died, God chose Joshua and gave him the same instruction; to take off his sandals for the place he was standing was holy ground. It was imperative that Joshua would be guided by God as a judge and in the fight against the city of Jericho; so as to acquire victory. God in His loving kindness also rewarded Ruth for her dedicated to Him when she left her country, people and culture to follow Yahweh. Boaz became her kinsman redeemer by redeeming the redemption rights of his closest relative and as oath took hold of his sandals. Jesus our Provider and Redeemer commissioned His disciples and instructed them to only carry a staff, one tunic and sandals in their mission to spread the gospel. In this mission God revealed Himself faithful to them as He does to us everyday by providing for our every need. As God called His disciples to spread the gospel of peace and love, we too are called to do the same thing as we submit our authority to Him and wait on Him, and He will direct our paths. In the realization that we are all sinners and constantly need Gods’ mercy, let us always come to Him in humility and repentance and at the appointed time He will lift us up.
PRAYER
Lord of mercy and grace. We come before You this day with humility in our hearts, have mercy on us and cleanse us from all sins with Your precious blood. Fill our hearts with Your humility, love and peace Holy Spirit that we may always submit to Your purposes and be willing to follow Your path of truth. You are the way, the truth and the life Jesus; shepherd us, our families, churches, leaders and nation in the way we should go. May You always increase in our hearts as we decrease; for we seek more of You holy Spirit. May Your peace that surpasses all understanding dwell in our nation and on the whole world so that we may all come to faith in You. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the love of God; and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; be with us now and forevermore. Amen