The Mountain of Meeting

  • And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40
  • And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain. Exodus 26:30
  • You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it. Exodus 27:8

The Bible is amazing.  It’s an incredible book.  It’s like a gold mine.  Some of its jewels lie on the surface, and are right there for the taking; they glisten in the light of the Son, and all we need to do is pick it up.  Others are revealed once we scratch the surface a bit and clear away a little of the covering material.  Still other magnificent and costly jewels are discovered after some digging, some effort, some intense focus and concentration; but the effort is handsomely rewarded.

Such was the case recently as I was reading through the book of Exodus.  It is packed with loads of truth-jewels.

But something caught my eye.  Notice; which was shown you on the mountain, which you were shown on the mountain, and as it was shown you on the mountain. 

We read of occasions when Moses went up a mountain and met with God.

  • Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain Exodus 19:3
  • the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up Exodus 19:20
  • Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord Exodus 24:1-2 NKJV).

Moses was familiar with going up a mountain and meeting with God.  Are we?

The mountain was a place (not the only place, but a significant and important one) where Moses went to be with God.  But notice also what those verses say.  See what happened on the mountain of meeting.

  • … according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40
  • … according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain. Exodus 26:30
  • … as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it. Exodus 27:8

God had specifics for Moses when he was to build the tabernacle.  It was when he was up the mountain that he heard and received the plan and details of what he was to do.

Therein lies a huge key.  Sometimes, we too need to go up a mountain (maybe even physically but especially in a symbolic sense) to hear from God of the pattern for life and leadership He wants us live.

Jesus did the same.  He goes to a mountain to pray (Matthew 14:23), He goes to a mountain to rest (Matthew 15:29), He goes to a mountain and meets with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1).

According to the pattern.

There’s a pattern, a plan, a way of doing things, and God wants us to know it.  God loves to let us know His will.

Here’s the thing; The pattern (model) is revealed (made manifest) on the mountain.  Or to put it like this;

  • The Model, is Made Manifest, on the Mountain.
  • The Pattern is Presented at the Peak.

Which was shown you.

If we go to the mountain of meeting, it will be shown to us.  At the mountain of meeting there is revelation, insight, understanding, and vision.  And we all know a God-idea is far better than a good-idea.

On the mountain.

Sometimes there’s just no other place to be to hear from God.  There are many physical places where we can hear God speak to us, but there are times when we just need to get to a mountain, and be with God.

It becomes the mountain of revelation!  God delights in showing us stuff.  Revealing stuff.  Making things known to us.  Showing us His works, His ways and opening His Word.  Leaders especially need to be mountain men and women.  Those who know what it is to be up the mountain with God, and there receive from Him instructions, details, and patterns for life and leadership.

Where or what is your mountain?  Is there a place you go physically to meet with God?  Is there a place emotionally and spiritually where you go to focus your mind and settle your spirit, and be ready to receive God’s Word?

Here’s another nugget I saw gleaming in the light.

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain … Exodus 32:1 NKJV.

We know what comes next.  Moses was delayed up the mountain, and the people stray from the ways of God and make a golden calf.  But look again!  Moses delayed in coming down the mountain.  He took extra time.  He lingered there.  He didn’t rush away.  He was there.  Even this great leader to millions of people, wasn’t so pressured by the demands of leadership, but he knew where the priorities for his time were best spent.

Leaders must spend significant, quantity time up the mountain, with God.  There’s just no other way for Christian leaders to lead.  That’s where leadership starts, by submitting and communion with the Great Leader.

Remember, The Model, is Made Manifest, on the Mountain.  The Pattern is Presented at the Peak.

Just like our children, they don’t really want short bursts of quality time, they want quantity time.  It’s the same in our relationship with the Lord.  Quantity time always leads to quality time.  I understand how difficult it can be in the various stages of life, to have significant time to get aside and seek God.  But there are many creative ways of leveraging time so that our heart’s priority of being with God and hearing from Him is met.

Here’s another gem.

… but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11 NKJV.

Moses had his servant Joshua with him most of the time, even on his adventures up mountains.  But also when Moses built the tabernacle and went there and met with God, face to face, that lifestyle, his meetings with God became an example to the entire nation of Israel but especially to his servant Joshua.  When Moses drew near to God it also drew Joshua close to God – so much so that Joshua did not depart from the tabernacle (God’s presence).

Our lifestyle, our regular habits, the routine and rhythm of our own spiritual disciplines has an influence and an impact more than we realise.  We take others with us.  (Let’s just make sure we’re taking them in the right direction).

Moses went up the mountain, and the pattern was shown him.

When did you and I last go up a mountain (figuratively speaking) and be with God?

Maybe some of our habits need changing.  Maybe fast TV for a week, fast social media for a week, and spend that time, at the mountain of God.  Life will still go on. The world will still turn.  People, our family, our work, will still be there.

But after we go to the mountain, we will be different.  We’ll have something – the pattern, the model – from God!

Clarity comes from communion.  The closer we get to the Lord the clearer many things become.

The Model, is Made Manifest, on the Mountain.

Issue #105 NOVEMBER 2020. Brief Word comes out every month. Feel free to forward, photocopy and/or post this Brief Word to your Friends. You may be the very means God uses to impact someone’s life with the reality of the love of Jesus and the life changing power of God’s Word. If you wish to be on our regular E-Mailing list, please use the SUBSCRIBE form . If you would prefer to receive this E-Mail in Plain Text, please inform us. If you no longer wish to receive the Brief Word, you can unsubscribe at any time. Check out www.goodwords.nz for free articles, archive copies of Brief Word and other resources.