We are in chapter twenty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים mountain of God. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament, four of them in the book of Exodus. Let’s start with our chapter for today where we our phrase is used to describe the location where God meets with Moses. Exodus 24:13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים mountain of God. The first time our phrase is used in the Bible is the location where God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Exodus 3:1-2 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Our next use we find Aaron meeting with Moses before they go back to Egypt to begin God’s deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt. Exodus 4:27-28 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses בְּהַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים at the mountain of God and kissed him. Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform. Our next use of our phrase is the area close to where Moses reconnects with his family after God rescued the nation from Egypt. Exodus 18:5-8 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים mountain of God. The last use of our phrase is the only use outside of the book of Exodus. This use identifies the area where God meets with Elijah. 1 Kings 19:7-8 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים mountain of God. It is interesting that every time our phrase is used in the Bible it is referring to the same mountain Horeb also referred to as Mount Sinai. So, this particular mountain is called the mountain of God because God gave us his written word and God made himself known there in a special way to Moses and Elijah. This is significant when we get to the New Testament where we see God himself, Jesus the son, not just meeting with God the Father but also Moses and Elijah. I’ll close with these passages about this amazing event which Peter would later say gave him more confidence to believe. Matthew 17:1-5 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him ... Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 2 Peter 1:16-21 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
