The concept of holy ground is an important one in the Bible. Holy ground refers to places that God has set apart as sacred and holy, where His presence dwells in a unique way. Throughout Scripture, certain locations are described as holy ground and set aside for special purposes in God’s kingdom.
When God first called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He revealed Himself to Moses in a miraculous way through the burning bush. As Moses approached the bush, God told him, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). This encounter marked the beginning of Moses’ commission to confront Pharaoh and bring God’s people out of slavery. By taking off his sandals, Moses showed reverence and honor for this sacred space where God chose to meet with him.
Later, after the Israelites were freed from Egypt and journeyed through the wilderness, God’s presence remained with them in the tabernacle. The innermost room of the tabernacle, the Most Holy Place, was considered the holiest space, as it housed the Ark of the Covenant. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The ground upon which the tabernacle stood was holy because it was where God condescended to live among His people.
When Moses reviewed the Ten Commandments with the younger generation before entering the Promised Land, he reminded them of the importance of treating holy ground with utmost respect:
“Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land” (Deuteronomy 4:23-24).
The Promised Land itself is referred to as holy ground because God consecrated it for His people. Upon entering Canaan, the Israelites were to devote themselves fully to God and not follow after idols or false gods. The Promised Land was a gift from God, and maintaining its holiness was tied to the spiritual purity of the nation.
In the New Testament, holy ground is not confined to a single location. Instead, God’s Spirit dwells within each believer and sanctifies them. The apostle Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our very bodies become holy ground as God’s presence resides within all Christians.
So what makes a physical space holy ground? Holiness comes only from God’s presence and power setting something apart for divine purposes. Holy ground is any place where God chooses to make Himself known, such as when He appeared to Moses at the burning bush or when His glory filled the tabernacle. Today, Christians do not need to journey to a special location to meet with God, for He abides within each believer. But we can still approach God with reverence, honor, and awe knowing that His presence dwells among us. As His temples, we walk on holy ground wherever we go.
At its core, the concept of holy ground conveys God’s holiness, otherness, and perfection in contrast to our sinfulness and imperfection. God graciously condescends and draws near to sinful man, though He is under no obligation to do so. He selects ordinary places and spaces to become extraordinary dwelling places for His glory. When God encounters people directly, He sanctifies the very ground they walk on, setting it apart from common use to sacred use.
Holy ground bears witness to God’s greatness and our smallness. Only through God’s grace can unholy people stand on holy ground and live. Mindful of our unworthiness, we must approach God with humility, grace, and gratitude for the gift of His presence. Shedding our shoes or sandals symbolizes laying aside our dirty sin and earthly ways as we draw near to perfect holiness. Holy ground reminds us of the divide between Creator and creation, challenging us to realign our lives continually toward greater obedience, purity, and worship.
The call of Moses illustrates several key principles related to holy ground:
1. Holy ground is marked by God’s special presence. The burning bush represented God’s local presence in a new, miraculous way. Holy ground is where the invisible God makes Himself powerfully known through tangible means.
2. Holy ground demands reverence. God required Moses to remove his sandals as a sign of respect. Approaching God flippantly is dangerous and inappropriate. He remains wholly other and holy despite His condescension.
3. Holy ground involves mystery. Moses could not explain the burning bush logically, for it operated outside natural law. Where God manifests Himself, an element of mystery and the supernatural necessarily remains. Human intellect alone cannot fully wrap itself around God’s activity.
4. Holy ground highlights human inadequacy. Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God directly. Even righteous people cannot withstand the fullness of God’s glory and holiness. We must admit our limitations.
5. Holy ground initiates purpose. God commissioned Moses with a special assignment in that sacred space. Holy ground often marks the launching point of God calling people into new ventures of faith and service. He uses these encounters to equip and motivate His servants.
6. Holy ground inspires obedience. Moses left holy ground determined to fulfill God’s mission, despite its boldness and risks. Genuine holy ground experiences with God impel us to live more courageous, faithful lives.
These principles around holy ground continue to shape the Christian life today. Although we no longer restrict God’s presence to a single physical location, He still rends the heavens and comes down to meet with His people in supernatural, life-changing ways. Through the Spirit’s inward dwelling and dramatic interventions in our lives, the risen Christ makes all ground holy wherever He meets us. The essence of holy ground remains the same – a place where finite humanity encounters infinite Deity.
Holy ground can take multiple forms in the believer’s experience. It may involve:
– Sanctified spaces used for corporate worship, prayer, preaching, baptism, communion, and other church gatherings and ceremonies. When God’s people collectively exalt Christ and engage in the means of grace, He spiritually inhabits the praise, fellowship, teaching, and sacraments.
– Hallowed places where God seems especially near because of their connection with remarkable works He has done in the past. For example, revivals historically have made the sites where they occurred feel holy for generations to come. The zeal of past believers seems to leave a spiritual residue.
– Natural settings like mountaintops, lakes, forests, or gardens where the beauty of creation points unmistakably to the glory of the Creator. Nature’s grandeur often helps strip away distractions and center our focus on God.
– Locations where major decisions are made as individuals listen for God’s guidance during intensive prayer. He seems to draw unusually close whenever His followers seek Him earnestly about pivotal life choices.
– Moments of grave sickness, danger, or loss in which God’s presence upholding and calming us is acutely felt. In extremis, many Christians report an awareness of divine nearness and comfort exceeding ordinary circumstances.
– Places and times where the Scriptures come alive in new depths. Illumination by the Spirit can grant vivid glimpses of God’s heart and mind through His Word in unforgettable fashion.
– Houses, cars, offices, and other everyday environments suddenly charged with God’s manifest nearness during prayer or divine encounter. The Holy Spirit cannot be confined.
While these examples do not match the utter holiness of God’s presence in the tabernacle or temple, they connect us with the same spiritual truths. We too must remove our sandals as unclean vessels, marvel at amazing grace, and go forth transformed by even fleeting brushes with the Almighty.
In selecting holy ground, God graciously accommodates Himself to our needs and longings. He ordains spiritual oases where we can receive refreshment and renewal amid dry, profane landscapes. As we prioritize cultivating intimacy with Christ, He promises to meet with us and make His home in us. The holy, loving presence we celebrate in church gatherings should extend into all areas of life to make every place holy ground. For Christians, the question is not where we can locate holy ground. It is whether we welcome the Holy Spirit’s presence wherever we go.
The doctrine of holy ground remains vital today for several key reasons:
1. It reminds us of God’s otherness and purity. His moral perfection, infinite worth, unequaled wisdom, and glorious holiness far exceed human limits. Holy ground inspires awe and wonder at Divine Majesty.
2. It prompts humility and repentance. People typically responded to holy ground encounters in Scripture with fear, shame, and sorrow over their sin. God’s holiness exposes our unholiness. We must confess our need for mercy.
3. It portrays the grandeur of salvation. That the holy God would go to such lengths to rescue unholy people displays redemptive love without parallel. Calvary is the holiest ground of all.
4. It spurs caution and obedience. God’s holy presence brings with it high ethical demands. Holy ground is not a place for cynicism, rebellion, or impurity. Standing there calls us to live holy lives.
5. It foreshadows future glory. The burning bush, tabernacle, and temples on earth were copies of greater heavenly realities yet to come. They hint at coming face to face with God’s unveiled majesty.
6. It highlights consecration. Places where God dwells must be set apart solely for the pursuit of holy purposes. Every area of life must be consecrated for God’s service and glory.
7. It fosters worship and prayer. Encountering holy ground compels exclamations of praise. It also implores ongoing prayer and intercession to see God’s kingdom advance.
Holy ground remains important today not for nostalgia’s sake but because intimacy with God demands frequent reminders of His surpassing greatness coupled with His unmerited grace. Though we cannot confine God’s presence to any geographic coordinates, Christians must still approach Him and His Word with reverence. Our holy God desires holy people redeemed by Christ’s blood and sanctified by His Spirit, pursuing holy living to His glory.