Whatsoever |
Whatsoever |
Extracts from a journal - recording a journey in the Sinai desert with school girls, teachers and Bedouin guides. A journey for our times. Arriving at the foot of the mountain We drove through a checkpoint and up the dirt track, past Bedouin villages to the foot of Mount Sinai. We climbed up the back road, a newer route: hard granite slopes, zigzagging up. It was hard and hot and challenging. On the opposite mountain top we can see a small chapel. In the distance there are old hermit caves with a bit of greenery visible. On – up towards a stall selling chocolate and coke and tea. The girls gabbled and the guide told us about the National part, run with EU money and a consortium with London zoo as part of it. They have installed things like a loo and litter bin at the top. We join the ancient pilgrim steps. I went on ahead and others following. The vast immense immeasurable power and strength of God seemed very real At one point there was no sign of any other human. Only God – and that is how it really is….only God. The summit Too quickly the moment goes and we came to the summit – small and crowded with Egyptian workmen, Jewish archaeologists, an Orthodox priest and us. The views, however, were magnificent. We had lunch away from staring eyes behind a café and I read the Exodus passage. The guide told how she has been on the mountain in a storm and how everything becomes electric – just like the description in the Bible. Descent Eventually we descended, down the mountain of God. Going down was hard – clicking knees and fractious girls. But then we came to this huge fortress monastery – to a community guest house and café and shops, hoards of Russian and Greek Orthodox grannies and an English overland trekking trip and us. It was a noisy night with parties leaving at 2am to climb the mountain to be at the top at sunrise. Theophany The great and difficult questions – should we climb the mountain. It is a holy place where God appeared so should not be taken lightly. On the way up the mountain, at the foot of the Pilgrim steps there is a ‘Shrive gate’ – a place to confess sins before ascending mountain. Priest says words from Psalm 24 – who shall ascend and then reply He that has God of his salvation. One of the schoolgirls said: “ Climbing Mount Sinai was the most amazing experience. I was completely dreading it but something motivated me to climb and it was the most wonderful experience standing on the top and looking down and realising I had climbed a mountain” Context of the Bible
Theme – journey and meeting God. On Mount Sinai – the giving of the law. This is the most significant encounter between man and God. God wanted to give instructions about how to live a good life. These were written on tablets of stone and carried down the mountain by Moses. They were kept in the Ark of the Covenant and carried around there is a constant reminder of the way to live. They form the basis of moral and civil law for Jewish Christian and Muslim societies. The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God appeared Exodus 19 v 20. The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up Exodus 20:1-21 - the Ten Commandments And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. [
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Additional images of Sinai : On the Visual Commentary of Scripture site. : thevcs.org/sinai-calling/sinai-still-thunders
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WhatsoeverThe posts are 'postcards' on my journey through faith and art. The name 'Whatsoever' comes from Philippians 4:8 in the Bible : Categories
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