God’s Holy Mountain

Lot would have died in Sodom had God not taken matters into his own hands. The Lord literally grabbed Lot and his family and pulled them out of the city. “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city” (Genesis 19:16, NKJV).

As Lot lingered on the brink of destruction, with no strength or will to deliver himself, God hand-led this confused, deluded, sin-bound man to safety. What a glorious picture of grace. God is willing to act for us when we have nothing to give. Scripture says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). The literal meaning for without strength here is “without an ability or will.”

The Lord had one more directive for Lot: “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed” (Genesis 19:17). The mountain here represents God’s presence, a place alone with him. We see this image repeated throughout scripture. On a mountain, Moses was touched by God’s glory; Christ was transfigured before his disciples; and Jesus sought his Father in prayer. All these things happened on a mountain. 

When God delivers you by faith in his promises, run straight to the mountain of his holiness! “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. In the city of our God, in his holy mountain” (Psalm 48:1). “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; he will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3).

Beloved, look to the mountain and move on to fullness in God.