Shoes by Dr. Walter L. Wilson
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T here is an interesting romance about shoes. Shoes may tell a story of sorrow and of tears as a bereaved moth er takes those baby shoes out of the drawer. The little one who wore them has been laid away. Shoes are kept to remind the broken heart of the sun shine the baby brought, and the shad ow he left behind. Shoes are not a new institution. Way back in Genesis 14:23 we find that Abraham spoke of the laces of shoes worn by the king of Sodom. Through out the Scripture, shoes are used as types and pictures of truths that are precious to our hearts. Joshua, and all the great and wise men of Israel} were fooled by a pair of shoes. The Gideonites came before the generals of the army of Israel wear ing old worn-out shoes. They pretended they had been consumed by the long journey. Can you tell me how one could wear out his shoes while riding on an animal? Of all people, the Israelites were experts in the shoe business. In the beautiful book of Ruth a shoe played a prominent part in a special romance. The relative who should have taken Ruth for his bride was not will ing to do so (Ruth 4:6-8). The unwill ing kinsman removed the shoe from off his foot and gave it to the judge. This was a public renunciation of his rights, as well as his public refusal, to accept Ruth. Boaz was glad enough to get the shoe, for with it he got Ruth as well. She became 'his bride and the 28
grandmother of King David, one of the human ancestors of our Lord Jesus Christ Moses was told to remove his shoes when in the presence of the Lord at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). Joshua was required to remove his shoes when in the presence of the man with the drawn sword who was the Holy Spirit (Joshua 5:15). Isaiah was required to remove his shoes at the command of God (Isaiah 20:2). Our Lord knows how to preserve shoes, for we read in Deuteronomy chapter 29:5 how the Lord preserved the shoes of Israel for 40 years while they travelled through the desert What a miracle this was. Dry hot sand is always injurious to leather. Preserving of these shoes is a wonderful proof of the miracle working power of God through those many years in the wilderness. Some strange shoes are mentioned in Deuteronomy 33:25. Moses said to Asher, “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass.” They might not be soft, but they certainly would be safe! They would not insure comfort but they would endure hardness. The fact that God gave them would indicate that He knew how rough the road would be; Iron is for durability and brass is for beauty. God promised His people that He will fit their feet for life’s journey. God has beautiful feet described in Song of Solomon 7:1, “How beautiful are thy feet with shoes.” No one seems to be proud of feet. Advertisements de
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