Why would we ever choose to walk backward?
We live in a culture that says, “Keep your eyes forward. Don’t look back. Your past is nothing but a distraction—forget what’s behind you. Look straight ahead—into the future.”
There’s even Scripture for it: “Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.” (Proverbs 4:25 CSB)
I do understand that we should not be defined by the mistakes in our past, and that preparing for tomorrow is good and necessary. However, elsewhere in Scripture, we are commanded repeatedly to “remember and do not forget”. This indicates to us God’s high priority on remembering what is behind us while we move forward in life. Walking backward is not the same as going back. There ARE times when walking backward IS the RIGHT way to proceed.
For example, it used to be that, if you ever had the chance to stand before royalty, you were expected to show proper respect. That included how you made your exit. It was never correct to just take your leave by turning around, with your back to the royal, and walk away. That would be an unexceptable show of dishonor. The proper exit was to bow slightly forward and walk away backward. Though the rules of royal protocol have loosened somewhat in recent years, the dictates of common courtesy and respect will always be in order.
It’s the same at the Western Wall in Jerusalem—the last remaining remnant of the Second Temple. It’s a very sacred place, solemn most any time of the day or night. Usually, there will always be someone praying there—pouring out their heart to God as thousands have done before them. Tears flowing, body swaying, earnest requests tucked between the ancient stones. I’ve prayed there myself, and I couldn’t help sensing an unmistakable holy awe in the air. I never wanted to leave. It was probably as close as I will ever be on earth to the actual Holy of Holies.
However, our tour guide had reminded us that we only had a few minutes to spend there—and those minutes felt like mere seconds. When I realized it was time to leave, I did what all the other pious people did when they walked away from The Wall. They didn’t turn around, they didn’t run, they didn’t saunter off visiting with others … they walked silently away BACKWARD. Respectfully honoring not just the ancient stones, but what they represent—the history of God and His People, His Holy Word, His Presence, His Shekinah, His Glory.
Some years ago, I heard a rabbi give a talk about the significance of the “honorable exit.” He explained that Jewish children are raised from birth by design to honor truth and tradition, as set forth in Deuteronomy 6. The home is the heart of that process.
An essential element of the Jewish faith culture is the mezzuzah, a small ornamental box hung beside the door of every Jewish home. It contains the precious words of the Shema—“Sh’ma, Yisra’el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad. [Hear, Isra’el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one.]” (Deuteronomy 6:4 CJB).
The family mezzuzah is more than a decoration—they touch it every time they cross that threshold. It represents their collective faith in the ONE and ONLY GOD—His blessing on their home, His presence in their midst, and His admonition to keep their lives centered on Him. To each family member, it is a tangible symbol of what they’ve been taught since the day they were born.
In his talk, the rabbi suggested that when the Jewish child matures enough to leave the family home to make a new life elsewhere, he/she should do it in a way that honors their heritage. He proposed that the honorable exit would be to walk away from the family mezzuzah BACKWARD. Not only as a symbolic gesture of their reverence for the truths of Torah, but also gratitude for the wisdom they’d learned, with a lifelong commitment to hold those truths deeply in their hearts. Never to dishonor. Never to forsake. Never to forget.
Are we inclined to hold our Christian heritage with such high esteem?
More on this topic next time!
(Part 1 of 2)
