God's Mountain

Moses, a Hebrew slave by birth, became an Egyptian prince through his adoptive mother. As a young man, he tried to help his fellow Hebrews, but he botched it by killing one of the Egyptian oppressors. Then he fled for his life to the Sinai peninsula.

While in the desert regions of the Sinai, Moses probably gave up all ideas of saving oppressed people. I doubt if he worried about whether or not people were of Hebrew descent. He built a new life for himself—married, fathered a son, and became a shepherd by working for his father-in-law.

But God still had his eye of Moses. Without sensing anything unusual, Moses led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (Ex. 3:1b NKJV)

Think of it. God’s mountain. For Moses, this was a literal place. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush . . . God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (v. 2a,4b)

But God’s mountains was and is more than a literal place. It is where God's people encounter God’s presence. Throughout history God has continued to keep His eye on His people. As we wander around, living our lives, we might stumble into a time and place where God speaks to us and calls us by name. We've come to God's mountain.

Originally published January 30, 1987.

Jesus, the I AM

Using the I am phrase was a serious matter for the people who heard Jesus. In their early history as a nation, Moses turned to see a burning bush. That’s when God identified Himself by saying to Moses, “I am the God of thy father. . . .” (Ex. 3:6 KJV) When Moses asked God for His name God said, “I AM THAT I AM:” and he said, “Thus shalt thou say until the children of Israel, “I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Ex. 3:6,14,15 KJV)

So Jesus shook everyone when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (Jn. 8:58b KJV) The statement made during a controversy with Jewish leaders was a statement of His eternal existence, of His position in the Godhead.

Jesus used the terminology on other occasions as well. Before Lazarus rose from the dead Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. . . .” (Jn. 11:25 KJV)

And when Thomas wanted to know the way, Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn. 14:6 KJV)

Originally published April 16, 1982.