Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: MOUNTAIN (07/02/20)
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TITLE: Resemblance of Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Botte
07/08/20 -
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Most mountains were created long before other things were created by God, and yet, He has made us ‘before the mountains has settled before the hills was I brought forth’ (Pro 8 v 25). God formed and knew us long before he made the mountains – we are nearer and dear to Him.
We only have to look at mountains as created by God, to get a glimpse of His majesty, (Ps 65 v 6). God is mighty, powerful and majestic, as the mountain is symbolic to.
Mountains provide vistas, as Moses was told to ascend mount Pisgah (Mountain of Nebo), and had a 360 degree vista, before God spoke to him. We have to climb a mountain, each our own. Go to a higher place to be able to see and hear, to have perspective and to get away from the everyday things in life that has an anchor effect on us. At times, we need to, perhaps only, deliver a message to help someone further along.
Mountains have an influence in the rainfall of a region. A higher rainfall provides grazing for animals, which, in turn is good for the hunter and the farmer. Mountains are regarded as a symbol of fertility, with reference to the following Scriptures: Dt 33 v 15, Micah 7 v 14 and Je 50 v 19. Mountains serves many benefits to us, not only as a place of shelter but also, mountains are formed in such a way as to have catchment areas for rain water, providing water to human, animal, birds of the sky and vegetation.
Unfortunately mountains are also associated with pagan rituals and being used as sanctuaries. It was on mount Karmel that Eliyahu proposed the slaughter of two bulls; one being offered to the pagan god, Ba’al, the other to ADONAI. Further instruction from Eliyahu was that no fire be made on the altars. Through calling on the applicable god / God fire will come from heaven to consume the offering. The God of Eliyahu has answered. (Full scripture: 1 Kings 18 v v 17-46). ‘You will know that I am ADONAI when their slain men lying among their idols around their altars on every high hill, on every mountaintop…,’ (Eze 6v13).
Mountains are mostly only accessible on foot and with special equipment, which make them ideal places of refuge (Judges 6v2), and in warfare (1 Sa 14v21, 22), and as a place to escape to (Mat 24v16).
Mountains and hills are symbols of everlasting continuance, (Dt 33v15), and stability. Although in Is 54v10, we read ‘For the mountains may leave and the hills be removed, but my grace will never leave you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed…’. Mountains are eternal, sturdy, steadfast, mighty, a place of refuge and to some, mysterious; God is all of those things and more. What a privilege to build an everlasting relationship with Him. As it is scriptured '…, but my grace will never leave you…,’.
Mountains are symbolic of the human itself and of life. The ‘characteristics’, ‘personality’ and ‘temperament’ of mountains very much resemble the existence, or life of the human.
Every day we are faced with obstacles in our existence. Some are mountains; some hills, some ant- or mole-hills. And through the difficult paths that we follow on our mountain (I’d rather climb a mountain than run a race), being diligent and strong in faith, we can be certain of His advocacy, good rains, and refuge in His grace and bond with us.
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Scripture quoted from CJB – Complete Jewish Bible ‘98
Further reading: Je 13v16, Mt 21v21, Zc 4v7, Mt 17v20
Some research from The New BIBLE Dictionary Inter-varsity Press 1972
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The Lord deserves the high places.