What is the significance of Mount Sinai? | GotQuestions.org

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Sometimes Mount Sinai is simply called Sinai or sometimes Mount Horeb. Additionally, many verses contain references to the desert wilderness surrounding

Mount Sinai. It was here where Moses was charged with the Exodus mandate. And after the crossing of the

Red Sea, God met with Moses and delivered the law. So Moses saw the burning bush, received the law, and saw the presence of God all in the same area.

Early on in the Israelites' wilderness traveling, God told the people to get ready to meet Him. God promised that He would deliver

His law, but the people were warned to stay away from the mountain itself or risk their death, for it would be holy ground.

God descended on Mount Sinai with a terrible display of power. With thunder and lightning, a dark cloud, fire and smoke, the blast of a trumpet, and quaking of the earth,

God thundered out His commands to the people. They were so frightened that they asked

God to speak to Moses and let Moses be the intermediary. God called

Moses up the mountain to meet with Him several times. Here God gave Moses the law, which

Moses then faithfully relayed to the people. On one trip, Moses stayed in the presence of the

Lord for a long time, forty days, and the people grew restless, demanding that Aaron make an golden calf, and people began to celebrate and offer sacrifices to it.

From the top of the mountain, God told Moses what had happened, and Moses descended Sinai in a rage, smashing the stone tablets.

Many of the idol worshipers were put to death. Then Moses ascended once again to receive a second copy of God's law.

It was here he came face to face with God's glory. Sinai also features into the story of the prophet

Elijah. When running from Queen Jezebel, Elijah stopped to rest in the desert. There an angel of the

Lord fed him and strengthened him by that food. He traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached

Horeb, the mountain of God. At Sinai, Elijah stayed in a cave where he met the

Lord. God spoke to him with a still, small voice. The parallels between Elijah's experience and Moses's are significant.

Both prophets were sustained by God for forty days and forty nights. Both met with God and heard his audible voice.

Both were in the same location. Throughout the rest of scripture, Mount Sinai is associated with the giving of the law.

Hundreds of years later, Nehemiah publicly prays, You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments.

In Galatians, Paul uses Mount Sinai metaphorically to represent the law and Old Covenant. Paul also speaks of Moses' face that is shown at Sinai in 2

Corinthians. He says that the law involved a fading glory, calling it the ministry of death because it condemned all who broke it.

Paul notes how much more and lasting glory is present in the ministry of the Spirit and the gospel that brings life.

In Hebrews, the author contrasts the Old Covenant given at Mount Sinai with the

New Covenant. Since the delivery of the New Covenant seems to be a kinder, gentler presentation, we might tend to believe that the rejection of it is less serious than the rejection of the

Old Covenant. However, Hebrews 12, 25 -29 warns that is simply not the case.

Today, there is some debate over what mountain is the historical Mount Sinai. However, if a person could actually climb

Mount Sinai, it would not bring him or her any closer to God. God is not confined to a specific location.

Rather, the climb should remind the spiritual pilgrim of how many times he has violated the law delivered there.

In conclusion, the only way to draw closer to God is by faith in Christ. Climbing mountains will not do.

Those who are in Christ have God's Spirit living within them. Even though they are imperfect, they are under no condemnation.

Christ, who is worthy of greater honor than Moses, has fulfilled the law. We are free.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending

His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the

Spirit. Alright, that answers your question. What is the significance of Mount Sinai?