The holy mountain

 This week's verses are Exodus 34:1-4:

The Lord said to Moses, “Cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you smashed. Be prepared in the morning, and go up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and station yourself for me there on the top of the mountain. No one is to come up with you; do not let anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks or the herds may graze in front of that mountain.” So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him, and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.

  God had very specific requirements for meeting with Moses. He told Moses to come early in the morning and to bring two blank stone tablets. He was to go to the top of the mountain, where nobody would interrupt him. Nobody was to come along with him or even be nearby. Even the animals had to be chased out of the area.

In doing this, God has engineered two things into their meeting. First, his holiness will be made obvious. Who or what else could create such an exclusion zone around himself or would need it? Who else could command such sterile exclusivity over someone else's attention and surroundings?

And second, he ensured that Moses would be encountering him in a distraction-free environment. They will be the only two people there. It is a single-minded encounter in a unique zone, free of every distraction and obligation that competes with the adoration of God. This ensures that Moses will respect him and that he will be attentive enough to receive the important instructions that were to follow.

Our encounters with God are much less impressive than this one.  Instead of starting early, we wait for a time to magically appear where we are both free and engaged. Instead of having something to record a message on, we show up empty handed. Instead of going where nobody is likely to be around, we go to a coffee shop or a church meeting where there are people everywhere and we are guaranteed to run into someone we know.

And instead of making a point to be alone and shutting out all distractions, we leave our phones on, and scroll periodically while reading our Bible. We message friends, or talk to others in the room. Maybe we have some music playing or the TV in the background. Maybe our homework is sitting on the same desk, or maybe we're trying to catch up with chores in our otherwise idle time.

But how might our quiet times be transformed if we took them as seriously as Moses did?  What if we cleared our schedule, went into a quiet place, removed everything from our surroundings that could possibly distract us or have a claim on our time and attention, and brought something to write with? Imagine what your prayer life would look like and the things you would discover in Bible study.

This week, try to have at least one moment each day where you create a space and an environment that is pure and holy, free of distractions and competing obligations, where you genuinely try to connect with God and learn what he has to say to you. Turn off the TV. Turn your phone off and put it in another room. Put your papers and projects somewhere else. It is now a holy place just for you and God. Then pray and read the Bible and see what happens.