Have You Been to the Mountain?

Poor Moses! He was called by God to go up on Mount Sinai and get instructions about how life would be for the Israelites after leaving the slavery of Egypt. While he was gone, the impatient Israelites got tired of waiting for him and took matters into their own hands. When Moses came down the mountain, he found a bunch of heathens dancing and worshiping a golden calf. God had written his commandments with his own hand on two tablets but after being in the very presence of God, Moses lost his temper and threw the tablets down and they broke into pieces. How could this happen? He had worshiped, sang hymns, praised God in a way that few had ever done. Yet, when he left the mountain and returned to the same problems that he had left he became angry as most of us would have. He had to deal with the same difficult people, he was appalled once again with the sin of the people, and the hope and peace he felt while on the mountain was gone.

I know how he felt, I just left a most wonderful place myself! It was my time with God. I found love there and I found a peace that surrounded me. I was warmed by the hope written in His Word and was propelled to move forward in God‘s strength. I find him there every morning when I am enveloped by the safety of His presence. I love to read about being in the cleft and covered with His hand, that he is my refuge and my strength. I love to think of myself flying as an eagle and not getting tired. Boy could I use that promise! I would love to stay there. The only problem is, I have to come down from the mountain. When my stay on the mountain is over the house still needs cleaned, difficult people are still difficult and I still get discouraged and frustrated and want to run right back.

Well, that is just what Moses did, he went up the mountain again. God wrote on the tablets again and again Moses made that trip back down the mountain. This time when he came down he was glowing and all the people noticed and knew that he had been with God. The Bible says that after that, every time he talked with God he had that same glow.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:33

I don’t know, but I think Moses decided he was not going to descend the mountain again by himself, he was going to bring God down with him. He wanted to share the power of God, the love of the Father and to show everyone that he had been with Jehovah.

I don’t want to leave God on the mountain either, I want people to know that I have been with God. I don’t know that I want to glow as Moses did but I definitely want to share with everyone what God writes, not on tablets, but on my heart. I want others to know the love of God, the peace and joy that can surround us even in times of trouble. I want everyone to know that the cleft that he covers with His hand is made for all of us to take refuge in. Hallelujah the God of the mountain is still the God of the valley.