Ten Mountains Associated with Divine Encounters

What are some mountains in Scripture associated with divine encounters? 

1. Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb)

• Divine Encounter: God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.
  • Key Event: The mountain was covered with fire, smoke, and the sound of a trumpet as God descended upon it.
  • Scriptural References:
    • Exodus 19:1-25+, Exodus 20:1-26+: (NB: "+" links to in depth commentary) Moses receives the Law. Ex 19:3+ "And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain..."
    • 1 Kings 19:8-18: Elijah encounters God in a “gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12-13 "And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. And it came about when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave."
  • Significance: A place of covenant and divine instruction.

2. Mount Moriah

• Divine Encounter: Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God, but God provided a ram.
  • Key Event: Demonstration of faith and God’s provision.
  • Scriptural Reference:
    • Genesis 22:1-14+: Abraham’s test of faith. 
      Ge 22:2 "And He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” ....4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance."
    • About a thousand years later at this very location, King David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and built an altar to the Lord so that a “plague may be held back from the people” (2 Samuel 24:18, 21). After David’s death, his son King Solomon built a glorious temple on the same site. (cf 2 Chronicles 3:1).
  • Significance: Symbolizes obedience, sacrifice, and God’s provision.  Study this great Name of Yahweh -  Jehovah Jireh: The LORD Will Provide

3. Mount Ararat

• Divine Encounter: The ark of Noah rested here after the flood.
  • Key Event: God renewed His covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth by flood again.
  • Scriptural Reference:
    • Genesis 8:4+: And in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.
    • Genesis 8:1+ God remembered Noah....21 And the LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. 
  • Significance: A place of new beginnings and covenant renewal. Have you had a Mt Ararat experience in your life?

4. Mount Carmel

• Divine Encounter: Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and demonstrated God’s power.
  • Key Event: Fire came down from heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice.
  • Scriptural Reference:
    • 1 Kings 18:19-40: Elijah’s triumph over the prophets of Baal.
      "Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel, and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word." 
  • Significance: A place demonstrating God’s sovereign power and supremacy over the false gods and idols of this world.

5. Mount Zion

• Divine Encounter: Often associated with God’s dwelling and the future reign of the Messiah in the Millennium.
  • Key Event: Location of Jerusalem and the temple.
  • Scriptural References:
    • Psalm 2:6+: God’s holy hill. "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 
    • Hebrews 12:22-24+: Mount Zion as a symbol of the heavenly city. "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
  • Significance: Represents God’s presence, His eternal kingdom, and salvation.

6. Mount Tabor

• Divine Encounter: Traditionally identified (by churches) as the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus, but this is questionable. "The actual “high mountain” where the transfiguration took place is not specified in the New Testament accounts. Scholars who question the traditional assignment of Mount Tabor argue that Mount Hermon is the highest peak in the area and fits better with the events just before and after the transfiguration." (Gotquestions.org).

7. Mount of Olives

• Divine Encounter: Associated with Jesus’ teaching the Olivet Discourse (see comments Mt 24), prayer, and ascension.
  • Key Events:
    • Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46+).
    • Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12+).
      "and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11+)
    • Prophecy of Jesus’ return to this mountain (Zechariah 14:4+).
      "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south."
  • Significance: A place of prayer, teaching, and future hope (not "hope so," but "hope sure!")

8. Mount Nebo

• Divine Encounter: Moses viewed the Promised Land from here before his death.
  • Key Event: God allowed Moses to see the fulfillment of His promise, though Moses could not enter the land.
  • Scriptural Reference:
    • Deuteronomy 34:1-5+: Moses views the Promised Land.
      "Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD."
  • Significance: Symbolizes the faithfulness of God’s promises.
  • Application - Play Twila Paris' moving song Mt Nebo and imagine the thoughts that must have gone through Moses' mind as he looked over God's promised land. O beloved, let us not live our lives that we might have regrets for what could have been. Put aside the past. With confession and repentance and our great and merciful God today can be a new day and can be the beginning of the best days of the rest of your life as you live with Vertical Vision, fixing your eyes on Jesus. May we each let the pathos of Moses motivate us to live all the rest of our days in the power of the Spirit for the glory of the Lord all possible through the mighty Name of Jesus our soon coming King of kings. Amen. Redeem the time.

9. Mount Hermon

• Divine Encounter: A mountain associated with blessings and possibly the Transfiguration.
  • Key Events:
    • Psalm 133:3+: Hermon symbolizes unity and God’s blessings.
      "It is like the dew of Hermon, Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing–life forever."
    • Some scholars associate it with the site of the Transfiguration.
  • Significance: A place of life-giving blessing.

10. Mount Calvary (Golgotha)

• Divine Encounter: The crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
  • Key Event: Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
  • Scriptural Reference:
    • Luke 23:33-46+, Matthew 27:33-56+: The crucifixion.
  • Significance: The ultimate demonstration of God’s love, the inauguration of the New Covenant and the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption of sinful mankind.

Spiritual Themes of Mountains in Divine Encounters

1. Closeness to God:
   • Mountains often symbolize elevation, drawing nearer to God. Like ascending a mountain, draw near to God through prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word.
2. Revelation:
   • Key moments of divine instruction and vision occurred on mountains.
3. Covenant and Promise:
   • Mountains were frequently the sites of covenantal interactions between God and His people.
4. Transformation:
   • Encounters on mountains often resulted in life-changing revelations and commitments. Let your mountain-top moments inspire you to live with an eternal perspective, keeping your hope fixed on Christ (1 Peter 1:13+, Hebrews 12:2+). Remember that faith is not based on mountain top feelings but on God’s promises (2 Corinthians 5:7+). Use mountain-top moments to strengthen your daily walk with Christ. Be ever alert to the reality that when you come off the mountain you enter the valley!  Remember after Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18), he quickly fell into despair when faced with opposition in the valley (1 Kings 19). And so after a mountain-top experience, it can be difficult to return to the "valleys" of everyday life—its challenges, routine, and responsibilities. But remember that some of our greatest spiritual growth (progressive sanctification) often happens in the valleys, so use the spiritual strength gained on the mountain to serve God faithfully in valleys of daily life.