THE HILLS OF GOD; Part Two

Prior to this we have called attention to the Psalmist's statement in Psalm 121, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help." This declaration of the will is followed by a statement of knowledge and confidence: " My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." Surely a Heavenly Father of such power and magnificence can surely furnish all the help a mortal needs! We encourage the discouraged to look up for God and heaven are above us.


Today, I purpose to give a sketchy review of some of the hills of God.


I Mount Moriah; Genesis 22 :2


This is the place where Abraham offered up Isaac, the son of promise. Actually, the Bible reference tells us that Abraham was directed to the land of Moriah and "to one of the mountains which I shall tell thee of." Later, "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh." Verse 14. We have a reference in II Chron. 3:1 to Solomon building the temple in Mount Moriah. It is now almost universally accepted that this is the very spot where Abraham offered up Isaac. However, we have no valid proof from any source that this is the spot. What is of supreme importance is that on some hill of the Lord's choice there was that monumental demonstration of a faith that illustrates the offering up of God's only begotten Son. There is nothing else in all of holy writ or human history that can match it. It is typical of a justified believer's consecration to surrender all to God.


II Mount Sinai


This is the place where Moses received his commission from God to lead Israel out of Egyptian Bondage. Exod. 3:12, " And God said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee ... when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain." God sent Moses on a serious errand, to lay God's commands upon Pharaoh and eventually lead out of a bondage of more than four centuries that great multitude of Israelites. Now the record picks up at Exod. 19:3; "And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain ..." God keeps His promises!


It is as though God had said, "You go and carry out my plan, and when you get back, I'll be right here." And He was. There were thunders and lightnings. The whole mountain "quaked greatly" and was enveloped in fire and smoke. There was the long sounding of a trumpet. Moses came down with ten commandments. As some have stated, "They are not 10 suggestions. They are 10 commandments."


The God who says, "I am the Lord. I change not" fixed in place the moral framework for humanity for all time to come. As there are fixed natural laws in the physical universe, just so there are moral laws by which a moral people are to be governed. Those who break God's laws or challenge His right to rule His world should be reminded that they do so at their peril.


III Mount Calvary


All of these mounts are mere hills in comparison to the Alps or Himalayas. It is not the height of the hill, but what occurred there that gives significance. It was at Calvary, that low eminence outside the walls of old Jerusalem, that the Lamb of God suffered and died for the sins of the whole world. This was the most remarkable transaction ever to take place on planet earth!


The plans had been made in the counsels of eternity before the foundations of the earth were laid. Prophets had foretold it. Abraham's offering of Isaac had prefigured it. Isaiah 53 had pictured it! Zech. 13:11 stated that a fountain for sin was opened. It was there on Golgotha that Jesus cried, "It is finished!"


Reason asks, "How can God be just and justify the ungodly?" And revelation answers back, "By forgiving confessed and repented sin, by removing the barrier and cleaning the guilty."


IV Mont Olivet - Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives.


This hill of His departure was also the place of promise. Angels confirmed the promise. This same Jesus will come again as He promised.


Here again Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit and the reception of power by those who received Him.
 
Again, in essence, was the giving of the Great Commission.
 
Jesus will return!