Moses’ Embodied Encounter

Abstract

This article investigates the implications of Moses’ unshod feet within the Burning Bush pericope (Exodus 3.1–4.17). Traditionally, scholars observe that the act of removing one’s shoes is merely a sign of ancient honour, conveying to Moses that he is on holy ground. Here, the author suggests, however, that through a narrative-geographical reading, additional insights can be gleaned – specifically, that Moses is being asked to participate as an embodied person, with all his senses. He is literally being ‘grounded’ in this experience, through his unshod feet. The author also argues that a larger creational relationship is implied – expressly, that Moses is the new (re)creational partner (adam), and through this bare-footed encounter is being connected back to creational purposes, via the adamah. Finally, inasmuch as Pentecostal readers of the Bible seek an ongoing experience of the Spirit, the author suggests that this narrative-geographical reading complements and re-energizes our whole-bodied spirituality and expectations of divine encounter.