Gathered at the Foot of God’s Mountain

The Children of Israel made their encampment at the base of Mount Sinai. After the Egypt exodus and witnessing firsthand the Glory of the Lord, and all His miraculous works through Moses and Aaron, they traveled for 3 months before resting in the wilderness at Sinai. God was preparing the children to receive His Decalogue – the Ten Commandments. God had performed miracles of sending bread from the heavens to fall on the earth to provide food for the morning and quail at nighttime for meat. He gave them water to drink from a rock in Horeb. All of this came in the aftermath of one of the greatest miracles documented in the Old Testament … the parting of the Red Sea.

God tested His children along their journey to see if they would be obedient to the instructions given. He heard their cries and He heard their complaints. Still, He chose to reveal Himself to them through miracle upon miracle. He loved his children so much. Hearing their cries, He always provided for them. God had Moses prepare the people to hear His audible voice in a cloud. He wanted to affirm Moses’ relationship and leadership in directing their journey. Moses spoke face to face with God as one speaks to a friend. (Exodus 33:11, NIV). Yet, this simply was not enough to convince Israel of God’s divine provision and protection. They rebelled not just once more, but many more times.

We do exactly the same. God hears our cries and He is compassionate towards us and provides for us. Then we forget. Again. Going on with life, day by day, we act as if we do not need Him. We profess this victory and that acquisition as our own doing. When our lives turn south and we begin experiencing trials once again, we cry out to Him once more. We learn in the Old Testament, He does not NEED our praise or gratitude. If we remain silent and do not recognize Him for who He is or show our appreciation towards Him…THE ROCKS WILL GIVE HIM PRAISE! (Luke 19:40, NKJV) Is He not right there waiting for us to acknowledge and thank Him? I think so. He desires to have a personal relationship with us.

On a recent trip to Costa Rica, we camped near the base of a mountain. Actually, it was the Arenal Volcano. We were quite a distance away from it as tours are not allowed to take people right to the base anymore. From the balcony of my hotel room I could see the volcano. Early in the morning I sat on my balcony with my coffee and devotional in hand as the rain fell over the land. A huge cloud covered the cone of the volcano so I was not able to have a clear visual of its formation. Looking back, and referring to the book of Exodus, I was taken straight to the thought of God’s presence resting upon the mountain. Can’t you just see it? The dark cloud that formed over Mount Sinai when God was present? Manna raining from heaven for God’s children to have food to eat?

How can we be disobedient by denying His presence and provision in our lives? Truly it would be incredible to hear a rock cry out in praise to the Lord. Maybe they do and we just cannot hear them. Yet, when the day comes that we hear rocks speaking, MAYBE then we will finally be convinced.

I long for the day when I hear all of God’s creation praising Him! Until then, I will continue to thank Him. Worship Him. Pray to Him. Seek for Him. Listen to Him. I want the kind of relationship Moses had with God on this earth. I will plant myself at the base of the mountain to watch and listen for Him – always giving thanks for His love, forgiveness, protection and provision. I pray you will too.

Now Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. (Exodus 19:18-19, NKJV)