Back to the Mountain

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"He said, 'But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.'” - (Ex. 3:12, ESV)
   Earlier in this chapter we are told that Moses had taken the flocks of his father-in-law to a location west of the wilderness and came to Mt. Horeb, where he met with God. It is here that the LORD tells Moses that he, Moses, will bring the Israelites out of Egypt (through God's power), and will return to the mountain. You are likely familiar with the rest of the story, for Moses does indeed lead them out, and they do return to Horeb. 

   There are two thoughts I want to share that we may not always connect with. First, Mt. Horeb and Mt. Sinai are two different names for the same mountain. I am aware that there are those who view them as two separate mountains. In that case, these would be two separate mountains in very close proximity of each other, possibly touching on another and part of the same chain. However, Deuteronomy chapter 1 tells us that Mt. Horeb where they stayed for a year, and where Moses gave them the instructions from God. In my view, they are the same mountain. The second thought is related to the first. Moses met with God on the mountain, and that is precisely where Moses returned with God's people. Not necessarily to the mountain per se, but to God. Moses went and freed those in bondage, (again, through the power of God), then brought these newly freed people to where God 's presence was. 

   As I read this passage this morning, I am struck as the similarity to the New Testament work of Christ, and the present day work of the church. Although we, in ourselves, cannot free someone from bondage, God can as we exercise power through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus was in the business of setting men free to come to God. He was sent to, "...preach deliverance to the captives." (Lk. 4:18, ESV) In addition, Jesus sent the disciples with much the same task. Even today, we have the same responsibility. 

   God is still in the business of delivering people from bondage. However, deliverance is the not end, it should be a beginning. For if a "freed man" leaves his bondage, but does not come to God, he will return to bondage. If you are a Christian, you have been freed from bondage. Now, as a "freed man", return to the presence of God.

Blessings!

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