Mountains of this earth are magnificent representations of the creative power of God! Undoubtedly, mountains were erected on day 3 of God’s marvelous creation, when the “dry land” appeared (Genesis 1:9). When the farmer preacher Amos reminded his people to whom they must give an account he said, “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israe!” 13 For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth—the Lord God of hosts is His name (Amos 4:12, 13).
If we could travel around the world, scaling some of the most notable mountains, we would witness God’s majestic creation. If you were to travel to Nepal in Asia, you would most likely be there to take a peak of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, standing at almost 30,000 ft above sea level. Also among the Himalayas is K2, only 1000 feet shorter than the peak at Mount Everest. The tallest mountain in our beloved area of the Appalachians is Mount Mitchell, which peaks at 6,684ft. Clingman’s dome is the tallest in Tennessee, at just a few feet less than that of Mitchell (6,643ft). Other mountains may not hit the record books for the tallest in the world, but are well known for other reasons: the postcard-worthy Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, is the tallest in Africa–the fact that it is a volcano may just “kill a man” if he tried to climb it; the Mighty Matterhorn, in Zermatt, Switzerland stands at 14,692 ft above sea level; there is Mount Fuji, in Japan; Mount Denali, in Alaska; even the the Grand Tetons in Wyoming are some of the most beautiful in North America.
The most impressive feature each of these has in common is not simply their height or grandeur, but the declaration of the almighty God. “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…” (Romans 1:20). When we stand back and marvel at the astounding peaks this world has to offer, indeed they declare God’s glory! These mountain peaks make humans feel so small, create a challenge to be climbed, leave us shaking in our boots, or worse, take a man’s life due to the elements of the land and climate. However, God does not see it this way. For the Bible teaches that the creation is subject to the creator: “The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (Psalms 97:5); “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalms 90:2).
Mountains throughout the scriptures have often served as object lessons and have many times served as the center of a significant Biblical event. Limited space here prevents the mentioning of the many significant events occurring on mountains in scripture, so perhaps you can note the following and quiz yourself regarding the meaning of each: Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4, 5); Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-3); Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:48-52); Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-21); Mount Moriah (Genesis 22); Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17); Mount Zion (Isaiah 2:2-3; 1 Peter 2:6). Do you suppose that God created each of these, knowing aforetime how He would use them to accomplish His will?
Mountains of the Bible declare the glory of God, sometimes serve as object lessons, and often serve as the location of particular significant events. However, all mountains pale in comparison to the mountain of all mountains–the hill to which our Lord did go to be sacrificed for the sins of the world–CALVARY (Luke 23:33). “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.”