The Littlest Mountain
When the Israelites were gathered at Mount Sinai, God gave them the Torah.
Scholars and academics have spent lifetimes debating the exact location of Mount Sinai. The Sinai peninsula is covered with mountains, some wide and flat, others tall and rugged. Trying to establish which mountain is actually Sinai based on the fact that the Jews converged on Mount Sinai just short of 7 weeks after leaving Egypt, is almost impossible given the many different factors such as speed, route taken and stops made.
There is a mountain on the Sinai peninsula that is called Mount Sinai (in Arabic Jebel Musa, the mountain of Moses), but many doubt that this is the true location.
What do you picture when you think of Mount Sinai? Given the important event that occurred there, most would assume that it was a tall, grand mountain when, in fact, it was just the opposite: The Midrash relates that all of the tall mountains fought to be chosen as the location for the giving of the Torah. Mount Sinai, knowing that it was the smallest of the mountains, remained silent, and God chose Sinai because of its simple humility.
The allegories of the Midrash are not whimsical fancies, but are an important means of teaching critical life lessons. Judaism considers humility to be a most important character trait. Moses is described as the most humble human who walked the earth. However, being humble, according to the Torah, does not mean making one’s self a doormat. Rather, a humble person will know his/her own strengths and self-worth (as well as his/her weaknesses), and will not need others to acknowledge his/her significance.
This Treat was last posted on May 13, 2009.
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Shalom….
I embrace the scriptures and Holy One: who gave the Torah/Decalogue commands and statements: at Sinai…for the hookup people (and some strangers who escaped the Egypt terrors/plagues by the Almighty): just before He spoke the statements to all of them at Sinai…not long after Deliverence from Egypt. I’m born gentile…by in heart and faith embrace the Decalogue Commnads and all scripture: from the Almighty and Holy One of Yisra’el.
I could be considered like Rahab of Jerico: who feared the G-D who did the mirculous events on behalf of the Hebrew people..to deliver them from world bondage: and dark humanistic world ways/the adversary controlling those dark ways.
Even Ruth was a gentile: who as well feared the Holy One…both Rahab and Ruth were mothers in the line to the beloved Kind David…born of Jesse. anyone who fears the Almighty…and embraces the WORDS: (not just those spoken at Sinai…but all thru scriptures: thru the many transitions and generations of time: anyone can, like Noah, Job or Daniel (*): fear and follow the RIGHT ways of G-D: and live HIS righteous/yeshurun ways… (this is what i read in scriptures at least and embrace day by day. …there is not much hope in this world: without that faith/scriptures. *(Ezekiel 14:14,20,22) …a remant of those who feared the Almighty has been prerved, as scriptures in each generation.
I happen to have no spritual fellowship in the area presently sojourning in…but i do have the scriptures and Exodus 19,20 details how The LORD’s peculiar people she live and walk by faith…to not draw back to perdition/dark ways and idolatry of the world: as Habakkuk 2:1-4 ideas support.
I dont really like to use interent: but sometimes i can see things around the world to challenge my faith/ideas deeper: since i am quite exiled..here in Iowa. I noticed on You Tube: a very enlightening video showing visually a possible place for the reaL MOUNT SINAI ..AND THE SCRIPTURAL DETAILS ARE QUITE COMPAITABLE TO THE PRESENTATION BY THE SOJOURNING EXPLORERS…who made the video. …thought you may be curious to view the details..and then study the scripures detailed to see more closely where the real Mt. Sinai might be….thanks for reading this email shalom.
…Shavuot and the Hoy One…offer hope in midst of a very dark and fallen world…scroptures from the Holy One: bring Hope and peace and truth…. Yeshurun/Kristen.