In the Bible, when God had a profound truth to reveal or a life-changing encounter to initiate, he often called his people to a mountaintop. From the rugged peaks of Sinai to the slopes of the Mount of Olives, mountains served as a place set apart from the worldly distractions below.
Throughout this series, we’ll look at what each mountaintop moment says about God and how we relate to him. But first, why did God ask so many of his people to meet him on the mountains?
1. Nearness to Heaven
Climbing a mountain symbolised leaving behind the world and drawing nearer to God and his ways:
‘O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.’ Psalm 43:3.
‘Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ Isaiah 2:3.
2. Separation
To be holy is to be set apart and dedicated to God. Ascending a mountain represented the journey of this separation—being separated both from the world and unto God. Those who sought God were called to ascend, and it was there that he revealed their hearts and shaped them:
‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.’ Psalm 24:3-5.
3. A Place of Testing
Mountains in the Bible were rarely places of ease. They were places of testing. Whether it was Abraham on Moriah or Elijah on Carmel, the mountain was where a decision was required and faith was challenged and deepened. The test of the mountain strengthened God’s people for the work in the valley.
In the coming days, we will visit several encounters those in the Bible had with God on the mountaintops and explore what they mean for us now.