Of the readings in the
Revised Common Lectionary for 4 January 2014 I choose to reflect on Exodus 3:1-5.
This happens to be one of two places in the Hebrew Testament where a prophet of God is told to take off his sandals because he stands on holy ground. The other happens to be Joshua 5:15 where the captain of the hosts of Yahweh tells Joshua to do so. I don't think there is anywhere else in the Bible people are told to remove their footwear
*, tho I do note that the garments specified for the high priest when he enters the holy of holies do not include any sort of footwear nor any leather.
Given the origin of leather, from dead animal, it is not surprising that it was considered ritually unclean. While animals that died naturally were considered unclean for use as food
†, such animals could be used to make leather, thus showing the low regard of leather. Note that in many ancient cultures, leatherworkers were looked down upon, so the Hebrews were hardly the only ones that barely tolerated the production of that useful material.
However, as useful as the dead leather may be, it is only the living who are worthy to enter the presence of God. Is your faith living and vibrant or is it a dead thing you wear to protect you from stone and thorns? Are you prepared to remove your sandals and let your soul walk with God.
*Exodus 3:5 is quoted in Acts 7:33, but only in the context of an abbreviated tale of Moses, not any rules on footwear.†Leviticus 11:40 has the specific rule which says that one who 'consumes' from a carcass that was not slaughtered in the appropriate manner is rendered unclean for the rest of the day. Yet given the importance that meat only be eaten if it is properly slaughtered, I take the consumption meant in that verse to be turning it into leather, tallow, and other non-food products.
