Get to the Mountian

My husband and I love to hike, backpack, camp ... pretty much anything that has to do with us being in the mountains for an extended period of time with nothing but the packs on our back.  There is just something incomparably refreshing about waking up to the sounds of nature in the morning, drinking black coffee and chowing down on trail mix.  With all the distractions and stress of everyday life removed and replaced by miles and miles of trails and nature in its purest form, communing with God and refreshment come easy.  Makes me wish I was there right now.  Unfortunately, since our move to Texas, we haven't seen much of the mountains!

Yesterday my quiet time took me back to the book of Exodus, back to the story of God revealing His name and identity to Moses as "I AM who I AM," back to God calling Moses to lead His people from Egypt.  It was in that early commune with God on Mount Horeb that Moses came to understand God as the I AM, the all sufficient, all knowing, all loving, all-everything God.  It was the instructing and equipping that happened on the mountain that allowed Moses to accomplish what God called him to back in the palace of Egypt.

Then, once the people had been set free, had crossed the red sea on dry land and were daily eating their portion of manna, God once again called Moses to the mountain--this time Mount Sinai-- where He equipped Moses with instruction on the law and sacrifices, leadership and order, and so much more.

It was during each of these times of communion with God on each mountain that Moses' needs were met, his countenance changed, his leadership instructed and anointed--and Moses' understanding of God as I AM evolved from a fact that he simply acknowledged into a fact that he personally experienced.  This understanding changed everything about the way Moses led.  Personally experiencing God as the all sufficient I AM would prove crucial in his ability to lead an obstinate people for the next 80 years through the desert to the Promised Land.

What does this have to do with us?  God hasn't changed and His calling on our lives (especially as ministers of the gospel) is often as great as Moses' ... "Lead my people, my obstinate people, down a road not often traveled, a difficult terrain, and keep your eyes on my cloud, on my fire.  I will guide you towards the abundance I have promised, the overflowing life I came to give my people." But, we have to know God as the I AM before we will trust Him enough to follow Him with out question ... let alone lead others down that same path.

So, my... your ... our faithfulness to go to the mountain, to let I AM be our all, to allow Him to change our face, to change our lives, to anoint and instruct our leadership is way more important than taking on the role as leader.  Who we become on the mountain determines who we will be as leaders through the desert.

So, Texas or Colorado, Main or Washington State, I say, let's get to the mountain.  Whatcha say?