“On this Mountain” - Sinai

Deuteronomy‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭5‬, ‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬
”Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: (10 Commandments...) So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.“
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Mount Sinai. Despite us not traveling to this mountain, I'd like to briefly write about it's importance and why start here. 

This mountain is where God gave Moses and the newly freed Israelites his word. Where he began his covenant with his people (scholars consider Horeb and Sinai to be the same place). Found in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, it sits just East of the Red Sea. This is where the people would first be introduced personally to God after witnessing the plagues and crossing the Red Sea.

On our 10 mile hike today from Karf Kanna (Cana where Jesus turned water into wine) to Gavit Avni, Gary I had some wonderful conversations. Conversations that I imagine Jesus would probably have had with his disciples. Amongst those talks, one particular conversations resonated with both of us. Namely on who we tend to point to when tryring to share our faith.

We felt too often it can feel like we are trying to lead people to the church when in reality we should be pointing people towards Christ. While these ought not to be totally separate, we often recognize that appeal to come to church can feel gimmicky or forced whereas sharing about our God rings a lot more convincing and earnest. 

This verse reminds me of God's covenant with his people, starting on this mountain, he shared that what he wants is a totally devoted people. What God promises is not entirely a perfect community, but a God who is connected to his community. We ought not to be afraid of his presence, but at rest. Hopeful because of his promise. And ultimately, this means a people who are his and lead others towards the righteous path.

I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 6 in it's entirety because we get a full scope view of what it means to keep these commandments and share our faith with others... To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 

As first century Christians, our calling is not much different. If we can learn how to love God with everything we have, reminding ourselves of what he's done in our lives, the better we tend to be at righteous living and sharing the good news he's entrusted us with.

Question: When sharing your faith, do you often find yourself trying to convince someone about your church or your God? What are the implications of both approaches?

After looking at these two chapters today, I'd suggest that a people who are loving God will always make a community worth sharing about. But the community itself is not the goal, it is to be face to face with a God who is capable of being too scary of connecting with but chooses not to be. One that is humble and eager to know us. Who is bold enough to save us. And loving enough to persist with us, even when we wander, even when we build up other images to follow. That is the God we find at the top of Mount Sinai and also back home in the Central Valley. This is the God I want to love, follow, and share about.

Bonus: Here's a song in Hebrew that sings of praise to God for giving us his commandments!