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Primrose Hill

If you’ve only got time for a quick stroll, read: Exodus 4:18-20 and Exodus 17:10-13.

Ingleborough

For a slightly shorter stretch of the legs, read: Exodus 4:18-29 and Exodus 17:8-15.

Ben Nevis

If you’re stoked for the whole adventure, read: Exodus 4-6 and Exodus 17.

Have you conquered any mountains since last month? Scoured unchartered territory in search of a high place? The local park three roads away and Tesco Express has been about the extent of my (Sarah’s) exploits, but onwards and upwards; let’s continue in our pursuit of the presence of God as we journey on with Moses from his first mountain experience at Horeb...

Mountain 2: The man-made Pyramid of Giza (Exodus 4-6)

After Moses’ encounter with God at Horeb, he still had questions. How could he ever expect to fulfil the call that God had given him? Somehow he had enough courage to take the next step. This is often all we need to do: take the next step forward without knowing exactly how things will turn out. As Moses travelled back towards Egypt with his whole family in tow, Aaron came out to meet him (Exodus 4:27). Aaron described how God had appeared to him, encouraging him to go out into the desert to greet Moses. In that moment Moses must have been reassured - someone else was hearing from God and had been prompted to meet him half-way.

With his family and Aaron at his side, Moses had to face the next mountain in his journey into the presence of God. The beauty of the natural mountains faded into the distance as the peaks of man-made mountains came into view. Egypt’s mighty pyramids lined the horizon as Moses approached the land of his childhood. This symbol of power must have stirred up his childhood aspirations and past disappointments. The grandeur of these man-made mountains must have been enough to dwarf the memory and power of a burning bush.

These pyramids were Egypt’s glory and in fact continue to amaze the best of engineers to this day; their precision and engineering were so ahead of their time that it’s difficult to figure out how an ancient civilisation had the ability and resources to build such mountainous structures. The Great Pyramid of Giza alone has enough stone in it for thirty-five Empire State Buildings. Herodotus, a Greek historian, estimates that if one of the large stones had been placed every three minutes for 24 hours a day, it would have taken 20 years of round-the-clock shifts to build it. If any civilisation was demonstrating the power of its people, it was Egypt. Moses was up against it. Fear of man was pressing in on the promises of God.

Mountain lesson 2:Overcoming fear

Pyramids almost always follow burning bushes. Recognise that now, and you’ll have half a chance of pressing on past the fear and into the fullness of God’s calling. When you face impossible situations you either shrink back, or learn to rely on the one who is more able than you. When we learn to rely on God, in spite of fears and questions, we discover that God’s presence in our lives is able to overcome the most impressive and powerful of human declarations.

Most of us struggle with wanting to please people to some extent. We quickly bow to other people’s expectations of us, and struggle to make clear decisions based on a God-given calling rather than someone else’s best (or misguided) intentions for us. We can end up listening to all kinds of powerful voices which can easily drown out God’s voice. Moses had to face up to the fears that had held him back in the desert for decades. He had to stand firm despite the lack of confidence he felt, as well as the lack of confidence placed in him by the very people he was called to bring freedom to. God was teaching Moses an essential lesson: he had to trust God every step of the way - a lesson that would stand him in good stead for the months and years to come. His journey into the presence of God was on course.

Pursuing God’s purposes is never a guarantee of ease and pleasure

Mountain 3: Rephadim (Exodus 17:8-16)

The relief of miraculously leading the Israelites out of Egypt was quickly forgotten as Moses set about having to mobilise over a million people out of institutional slavery and into the flexibility of freedom. These people were full of complaints and bitterness after years of oppression - but that was the least of Moses’ leadership challenges. Battles were ahead as long-standing enemies of Israel began to show up.

The Amalekites came to meet the Israelites in the shadow of our next ‘mountain’, Rephadim (ok, technically it’s a hill). Moses sent Joshua out to the battle, leading an army of former slaves whose only experience of a fight was running from Pharaoh’s army before God opened a way through the sea for their escape. Once again, the promises Moses had heard on Horeb must have seemed distant in the face of yet another challenge. He must have wondered why this whole adventure wasn’t a little easier.

I imagine many of us have wondered the same. Pursuing God’s purposes is never a guarantee of ease and pleasure. Maybe that’s because ease and pleasure are ideal for rest, but rarely a tool for character growth.

Mountain lesson 3: What we do physically impacts the spiritual

While Joshua hit the battle field, Moses climbed Rephadim with Aaron and Hur. Moses raised his hands as an act of worship and intercession, and we are told in verse eleven that: “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.” It seems like God invited many physical responses from Moses: taking off his sandals, striking rocks with his staff and now raising his hands - all of which made a tangible difference to the situation he found himself in.

How do you respond physically to God? The Bible describes our bodies as an instrument of worship, a gift to us enabling us to express something significant, not only through our strength, but very often in our weakness. Since the Enlightenment we have lived in a culture which increasingly values the mind while almost entirely ignoring the body. Today, what we think and understand has a far superior status to how we act and express ourselves. But our bodies are not just an extension of, or vehicle for, our brains. They are who we are and tell a story of the person we have become. In many ways, the way in which we act - from the slightest movement to the way we carry ourselves - can tell us more accurately what’s going on in our thinking than what we say. Behavioural psychologists make a living on this premise. Moses’ raised hands are an expression of honour and an open stance of welcome to the presence of God in the battle he is facing. When he gets too tired to hold up his own arms, Aaron and Hur step in to hold them up for him - a beautiful picture of our need to stand together, especially when things get tough.

Years ago I (Pete) began to explore the dynamic of fasting food. I felt challenged by Jesus’ words to his disciples: “When you fast…”, presuming that they would fast. I didn’t, so I thought I should try it! Being the ‘all or nothing’ type, I decided to fast in the run up to speaking at a school on the subject of ‘the gospel’. Although it nearly finished me off, the physical response to focusing on God was powerful. When I spoke at the school, something dynamic seemed to happen that I can only describe as the Holy Spirit at work in a new way. Nineteen young people made decisions to follow Jesus that day - something that had never happened in the school. That breakthrough taught me a lesson: my physical response to God makes an impact in the spiritual.

Key verse

“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus 17:12

Moses’ response to God helped him to overcome in the battle. Who are your ‘Aaron’ and ‘Hur’? Who is standing with you, cheering you on and supporting you even on the tough days? If there is no-one, consider who you might invite to play that role. If there is someone, thank them for their support.

Reflect

Take some time to pray, and simply ask God to answer this question: are there any fears or other expectations that might pull me away from what you have for me in the future? Wait. Listen. Be ready for God to speak to you. If anything transpires, consider talking to your ‘Aaron’ or ‘Hur’ about it.

Act

Can you combine the lessons from these mountains this month? Is there a physical act that might impact your spiritual walk this month? This could be choosing to fast, or kneeling when you pray, or raising your hands as Moses did, to ask God to be at work in a situation. Why don’t you give it a go and see what happens?

Pete Wynter is on staff at HTB, director of the Leadership College London and executive director of the young leaders organisation, Onelife.

Sarah Wynter is on staff at the Wynter household, executive director of three small children and one overly-committed husband, and was editor of Premier Youthwork when life was more simple.