Mount Sinai Fiber Art Landscape
The Story of God’s Love for His People-- God’s desire and plan to get closer and closer to us.
By Deana G. Harvey, Roanoke, IN May 2010
This fiber art landscape of Mount Sinai was designed for the 24/7 prayer room. It is a depiction of the desire in God’s heart to come closer and closer to His people, and for His people to take steps closer into communion and covenant with their Heavenly Father. God’s crowning desire--communion with His Creation--reconciliation of man to Himself in face-to-face fellowship, joy and fullness.
A prominent message behind the story of Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 is, ‘fear the Lord your God, keep your distance, for if you get too close you will die’. But the message of the NEW COVENANT is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength (and as Jesus Christ added), with all your mind. The very first commandment given to Moses written in tablets of stone on Mount Sinai was, “You shall love me”. It was a declaration over us of who we will become as we encounter God over and over again. We stand in agreement with God over the 1st commandment, here in this place of prayer.
This art is for contemplative prayer. It’s message is that of loving, communion with God and as you are about to approach God in prayer, draw near to God, knowing He will draw near to you. “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? Those with clean hands and pure hearts.” (Psalms 24:3) To these ones will I look says God, to those who are humble and contrite of spirit and who tremble at My word (Isaiah 66).
MOUNT SINAI
In Exodus 19:4 God says, “I bore you on eagles wings and bought you to Myself...Obey My voice, keep My covenant; then you shall be My own possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation in all the earth.” You see yourself between these lines as you stand before Him in a life-long conversation. You shall be called a house of prayer. You are His resting place.
This story begins at the foot of Mount Sinai. This is a love story about how God wants to talk with His people through the smoke and glory in the wilderness of Sinai. 50 days earlier (Passover), the children of Israel were released from Egypt and they have now camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. There, God asked Moses to come up the mountain that He wanted to talk to him. One thing He said was, “get the people ready, in 3 days I want to meet with them at the perimeter of the mount.” Moses’ personal identity has connected to a corporate one.
The 3rd day in the morning, there were thunder, lightening flashes, a thick cloud, and a very loud trumpet sound. All the people trembled. Moses brought the people out to meet God. The mountain quaked violently, the trumpet grew louder and Moses said, “don’t be afraid”! But the people were afraid to hear God speak to them. They said, “Moses, you go for us and tell us what God says, and we will do whatever He says.” (Do not worry, God will get what He wants through His word spoken over us. His love will prevail.)
Hebrews 3-- Jesus the Apostle and High Priest
Vs. 3 and on says, “Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession was faithful to Him who appointed him just as Moses was in all his house. Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses. Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony, but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house, whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and hope to the end.” We are God’s house of prayer, as we hold fast our confidence.
Hebrews 8-- A New Covenant
Vs. 8 on; “Behold, days are coming says the Lord, when I will effect a new covenant...I will put my laws into their minds and I will write them on their hearts...and I will be their God, and they shall be my people..for all will know me, from the least to the greatest. A NEW COVENANT means the 1st is obsolete, growing old and ready to disappear.” God is still declaring His outrageous everlasting statements over our hearts. It is our true identity. It is becoming reality.
2 Corinthians 3-- Ministers of a New Covenant
Vs. 6 on, “Christ made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter (the Law) but of the Spirit. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life...(7) If the ministry of death IN LETTERS ENGRAVED IN STONES, came with Glory so that the Children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?...the ministry of righteousness abounds in much more glory, it surpasses the old ...Moses wore a veil but this veil is removed only when a person turns to Christ. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
As we stand in prayer, beholding the face of God through Jesus Christ and the Word of God, we are becoming what He says we are. Fire was the visible presence of God seen by Moses in the bush. Fire of God rested on Mount Sinai. Fire came at Pentecost through Jesus’ promise to rest on individuals. This is what God promised--to be with you and in you.
