Scripture: Exodus 3 v 2 - 5: "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
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."
Moses was 80 years old when he was led up the mountain of God to meet Him in the burning bush. He had not had an ordinary life being a Hebrew born in Egypt as a slave to Pharoah. Plus being hidden in plain sight in the palace by Pharoah's daughter.
Somehow Satan knew a Deliverer was coming at this season and he put it into Pharoah's head to kill all male Hebrew babies under two years of age. He would use this same evil but fruitless tactic on Herod when Jesus was born.
God put it into Moses' mother's heart to save her child by floating him down the Nile River in a reed basket and entrust the outcome to Him. God sent that baby to Pharoah's daughter, who secured his life. She even had his own mother become his wetnurse. She had no idea she was standing on holy ground when she took that baby as her child.
Moses was forty when he found out he was born a Hebrew and he longed to find a way to help his kindred out of their slavery. He was a Prince of Egypt but could not withstand Pharoah. He had to flee into the Midian desert and be prepared by God for another forty years to be the humble, broken stammering man who would meet the great I Am on the mountain.
God commanded Moses from the midst of the burning bush to remove his shoes as he was standing on holy ground. It's not the patch of real estate that was holy but the spiritual state of being in God's presence. Moses was not in a church or temple he was just face to face with His Creator.
He was being given instructions on how to rescue the Jews and return them to their homeland after 400 years as slaves in Egypt. At the same time God was increasing the burdens on the Jews so that when Moses returned out of the Midian desert they would be more than ready to escape.
Just before Jesus was born the Jews had spent 400 years without hearing a word from God. When He wants to get their attention He has to let them feel His absence for a long time while He prepares them for a Deliverer who will show them His real power.
Spiritual strength is born in meekness and humility. Two of the most humble men to ever walk this planet were Jesus and Moses. So if you want to be used by God, when He humbles you and starts removing every shred of pride from you, get ready to take your shoes off because you will soon be standing on holy ground.
In James 4 v 6 says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. What are the characteristics of the proud: arrogant, stubborn, critical, harsh, aloof, status-seeking, independent, selfish, bullying, manipulative, judgmental, and unforgiving. The traits of the humble are: approachable, kind, submissive, contrite, hospitable, willing, honourable and loving.
So allow Jesus to breakdown and destroy every shred of pride within you so that the fruit of the Holy Spirit can grow abundantly within your spirit. This will produce holiness and the right environment for you to be in the august presence of Almighty God.
Today is Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing that His Earthly time was up. Thousands welcomed Him with Hosannas to the King, laying down palm leaves for His donkey instead of a red carpet and a Rolls. They were standing on very holy ground.
This is where real purpose with God expands being fortified by confidence in God. It took Moses and his brother Aaron into Pharoah's domain. Moses needed someone who could talk without stammering to make demands of one who thought he was god.
Pharoah, like Nero, Stalin, Hitler, Putin and Caesar, are all types of the Antichrist. Like David the shepherd who defeated Goliath, we must know how God Almighty will react when we step out in faith against giants that have autocratic power.
Whenever strong and powerful opposition comes against God's people, He will perform miracles and judgments upon the enemy in order for His people to be free. For Pharoah it took ten terrible plagues upon Egypt, while the Hebrews were untouched.
Pharoah's pride and power was broken by the final plague, the death of his firstborn son. Every household in Egypt lost the firstborn male, even of the animals. Pharoah - King Ramses II - could no longer be immune to the reality of the God of the Hebrews. He had to let them go and worship Him. Wherever those Hebrews went they were on Holy Ground.
The Red Sea parted and let them safely through. It then swallowed Pharoah's army who were chasing after them because he changed his mind about letting them go. Those Arab nations baying for Israel's demise, including the compromised United Nations, should reflect on Pharoah's plans concerning God's people.
Every day the signs Jesus foretold in Matthew 24 concerning His coming back to Earth are visible around the globe. He said the weather would be out of control as in climate change.
Jesus said when we see these things we must know that He is almost at the door. His presence on Earth will make this whole planet Holy Ground wherever we are and if we reject His Lordship over us we will perish.
Do not be indifferent to the sufferings of others. Realise that these are your family members which you just have not yet met. Jesus said we must love one another as He loves us. Love is not an emotion or a feeling, it is an action. Love for us nailed Jesus to the Cross. Let us use the authority Jesus gave us to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel of love.
When we walk in the Spirit as born again saints healing the sick, casting out demons, exalting Jesus, being true ambassadors of the Kingdom of God then even the ground we walk on becomes holy because of His Presence shining through us. We are His disciples showing the lost and spiritually blind people that Jesus is alive, He is real and He loves them all.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Stir our hearts Lord to rise up, pray, speak out, and condemn evil, and to reward goodness with praise. O Lord put us on holy ground to worship you and appeal for peace and righteousness where there is none. We pray for all hostages held captive for ransom to be set free. In Jesus' name. Amen.