Bible Mountains: Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is in the Arabian peninsular, and is about 7,500 feet (or 2,700 metres) above sea level. The mount is mainly composed of red granite, with big, wide valleys, in which many people could hide without being seen. The mountain is surrounded by a vast area of wilderness, where some Bedouin people live. This wilderness is spoken of in Deuteronomy 1:19 as “that great and terrible wilderness”, and in Ch.8 of the same book, v.15, as containing “fiery serpents and scorpions”. 

The mountain itself is a very steep peak about three miles long. It rises suddenly out of the wilderness like a huge altar of red granite. Another peak in the same range of mountains is Horeb, before which is a wide plain, terminating in long, deep valleys. This plain accommodated the whole of the Israelites, and having supplies of water, would have been an excellent camping ground. It was from this place that Moses had been sent by God to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, for God said to Moses from the burning bush, “When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain” (Ex.3:12). The valleys before Horeb could accommodate the saints ready to be judged after the resurrection, while the plain before them would be large enough to hold the accepted and rejected who had received the final decision of their Judge. 

Moses at Sinai 

Although Sinai is in such a lonely place, it is connected with many Bible incidents. When Moses had led the children of Israel out of Egypt, they came at last to Sinai, and camped in the plain before Horeb, called “Jebel Musa”, the “mount of Moses”. Then Moses ascended the mount. Just like the first time, when he had seen the burning bush and heard God’s voice through His angel, so he heard it again: God called upon the nation of Israel to accept the covenant that would be put before them. 

That was the first of seven ascents that Moses made up into the mount to meet with the angel of God and to talk on behalf of the people. The seven ascents of Moses are recorded in Exodus chs.19-32, with the account of how God gave the Ten Commandments and all the other laws that Israel was to follow. At the end of these negotiations, Israel was properly organised into a nation designed as the Kingdom of God on earth. It was given a law, a tabernacle at which to worship, and clearly defined regulations for the well-being of the people. For the children of Israel, although Moses had told them to prepare themselves, the occasion must have been very frightening; “there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled” (Ex.19:16), and “mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly” (v.18). 

Moses had particularly warned the children of Israel to stand away from the mount lest they be destroyed. Any animal or person who touched the mount was to be stoned, or thrust through with a dart (Ex.19:13,21). Although, through Moses, the children of Israel made a covenant with God, they soon broke the first commandment – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” – by making a golden calf to worship while Moses was up in the mount for 40 days (Ex. 32). Once again, Moses had to climb the mountain to ask for forgiveness for his people; this God granted, and the covenant was renewed. 

Elijah at Horeb 

Later on in the Old Testament, we read of Elijah fleeing from the wrath of Jezebel. Elijah hid in a cave on Mount Horeb for 40 days and 40 nights (1 Kings 19). The Lord asked him, through an angel, what he was doing there. Elijah replied, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away”. And God said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD”. Then there came a strong wind, probably a hurricane, and it moved the rocks around so that they broke in pieces; but God was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake; but God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire; but God was not in the fire. After the fire there was a still, small voice; and God was in the still, small voice. Elijah was thus shown that God does not only manifest Himself in the big things, like the destruction of the prophets of Baal, but in the small things that don’t stand out much, like the Word of God. 

Was Paul at Sinai? 

Much later in the Bible, we read of the Apostle Paul. He went down to Arabia after he had been spoken to by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Ga1.1:17). No doubt he wanted to go to a very lonely place to think about what he was going to do, and how best he could spread the Gospel. So, perhaps, Paul may have been to Sinai. We are not certain of this; but it does seem likely. 

The Judgment of the Saints 

Many people think that Sinai will be the place where the saints will be judged (although we cannot be absolutely certain). When Christ returns, all the responsible people, like those who have been baptised, or anyone who knows about the Truth, will be taken to Sinai to be judged. Several Scriptures tell us that Jesus and the saints march northwards from Sinai and the wilderness to judge the nations that come up against Israel: for example, it is said in Deuteronomy 33:2: “The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them”. Although this is in the past tense, much of the chapter, particularly the last few verses, refers to the Kingdom: for example, “Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine: also his heavens shall drop down dew” (v.28). Also, the children of Israel didn’t come from Seir when they entered the land, but had to walk round it; this shows that there is a future coming out of Sinai. 

Habakkuk saw a symbolic mighty one coming from the south for the salvation of Israel: “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise” (Hab.3:3). 

So we can see that this mountain of red granite has been associated with the revelation of God’s judgments in the past, and is again to be when Christ returns to judge the saints and bring peace and righteousness upon the earth.