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Sep 20 2023

If Mount Moriah could Speak

Author’s Note: The following article is written in first person as if Mount Moriah itself were capable of a personal response.

Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah.

2 Chronicles 3:1
Jerusalem, atop Mount Moriah, as seen from the Mount of Olives, in a painting by David Roberts, 1839. 

It’s been an incredible ride! I’m humbled by the God-ordained events which I’ve borne on my slopes, but I’m still waiting for the “big” one (more about that later). Yes, I’m Mount Moriah, home of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – itself the size of twenty football fields, nearly 145 acres. 

The action started 4,000 years ago when God sent the patriarch Abraham here with his son Isaac:

Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.

Genesis 22:2

That was a grim affair – until God stepped in (vv. 11-12). God took one of the rams which roam around here, and provided a substitute sacrifice so that Abraham’s son Isaac could live. Furthermore, Abraham’s faith was rewarded with God’s promise that he would be the future father of many, like the very stars of the sky (vv. 16-17).

There was one part of what God said to Abraham which I didn’t at first understand: “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (v. 18). Actually, it was 2,000 years later that “I finally got it.”

At that time Herod the Great was spending forty-six years building an awesome temple for the Jews right here on my back, so they could sacrifice many lambs for the atonement of sins according to the Law. But the word around here was that the prophet John the Baptist had introduced a newcomer by the name of Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John  1:29). I got to know Him a bit because He came by here often. He was unusual to say the least. Within a couple of years His profound words and miraculous acts made Him the center of everyone’s attention (Mark 1:45).

Then suddenly I found myself hosting His crucifixion, death, and burial (Luke 23:33-34, 46, 53). It was not a pleasant experience. As difficult as that was to endure, it was not the end of the story. A couple of days later I experienced a rude shaking (Matthew 28:2) and the tomb I provided for Him burst open – and Jesus was gone. Resurrected, I found out later (Mark 16:6). Not many know that it was on me, Mount Moriah, that these events took place.

Little by little I began to piece it all together. I remembered that Abraham, in his gratefulness, gave me the name, the place where “the Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14). The ram which God provided to spare Abraham’s son physically on my hillside, foreshadowed the Lamb (Jesus) whom God provided at the same place 2,000 years later, so that Abraham’s descendants by faith could live.

The apostle Paul, whom I knew well from his many visits to the temple, clarified the puzzle I had about God’s statement to Abraham:

Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand then that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the Gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Galatians 3:6-9, NIV
temple today on Mount Moriah
Modern view of Mount Moriah from the Mount of Olives, ca. 2010 (public domain).

By the way, did I mention that “the angel of the Lord” who was here with Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:11, 15) was none other than the preincarnate Son of God, Jesus Himself. I heard Him say to Abraham, “…now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (v. 12). Then two thousand years later I heard that same Jesus say, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). He knew all along what He planned to do!

I can’t get into all my experiences. I’ve had three temples built on me in a thousand-year period (that Nehemiah was quite a builder!). David was commanded to place an altar to the Lord right here (1 Chronicles 21:18) – and Jesus attended (vv. 12, 15-16, 18, 30). Sadly, I witnessed their destruction as well.

Mount Moriah Herod's Temple Replica
A similar view from the east, of a model of New Testament Jerusalem showing the Second Temple as it was on the eve of its destruction by the Romans in A.D. 70. (Image courtesy: holylandphotos.org. Used by permission.)

What about that “big” one I mentioned? Well, Jesus, who was around here many times, returned to heaven on a cloud (Acts 1:9). I just caught a glimpse of it because it took place just across the Kidron Valley on my sister, the Mount of Olives. Two men in white – angels, you know – said, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (v. 11). The rightful king is coming back! He will set foot once again on Mount Moriah, yes, that’s me. In His kingdom there will be no more tears, or death, or mourning, or crying, or pain (Revelation 21:3-4). I’m looking up because I’ll have a pretty good view of it from here.

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him…”

Revelation 1:7

Written by Dr Don Bierle · Categorized: Bible, Happ-O-Getics Newsletter

About Dr Don Bierle

Dr. Don Bierle, christian speaker and president of FaithSearch International, holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in the life sciences, and an M.A. in New Testament Studies. As a research scientist he was a team member on scientific expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions. As an educator and academic dean, Dr. Bierle has been active for thirty years teaching biology, Bible, and worldview subjects in the college classroom. He has conducted training around the world, in places such as the Marshall Islands in the south Pacific, Amsterdam, Nepal, the Philippines, and throughout India. He has published several articles in scientific journals, is the author of Surprised by Faith (see below) and several other books and DVDs on practical apologetics. He specializes in evidential evangelism. Dr. Bierle has an unusual ability to analyze technical, scientific, and theological subjects, and to communicate them in a clear, original, and fascinating way. Most presentations include professional PowerPoint® animation.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joan says

    September 22, 2023 at 6:24 am

    Thanks Dr. Don! I’ve heard, “If these walls could talk!”
    Mount Moriah has hosted the VIP events of the ages and you’ve given her a voice! I enjoyed the view from her perspective.

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