My tent door faced Mt Sinai for a purpose.  Also where I camped was for more than merely being away from the people of Israel.  Granted, I wanted nothing to do with anyone in this moment.

The reality was I wished to see everything on that mountain.  Everyone mistook my attitude and anger as outright rebellion.  It wasn’t.  This is not to say that rebellion was not within me or a part of the problem.

In this case my rebellion was a symptom of a deeper issue I could not resolve.  It was not the cause.  As for what others may have thought or believed about me, I could care less.

The Real Location Of Mt Sinai

The real location of Mt Sinai has always been heavily contested.  For many years it has been accepted that it resided within the Sinai Peninsula.  The oddity to this claim is that there was no solid evidence, much less proof of it.

As an archeologist in my time, I once also used this as a point to claim the story of Moses was a myth.  Biblical scholars know little of archeology nor how to look at combining world history with Biblical texts.  At times their claims presented more problems than solutions.

As the entire Sinai Peninsula was controlled by Egypt in this time, Moses and Israel could not remain within those borders.  Additionally, conflict had existed in this region between Egypt and the nations surrounding Canaan.  In a geographic location the size of West Virginia, it could not have allowed for Israel to wander in those lands.

I remembered hearing of the possible discovery of the real Mt. Sinai from a book that was given to me. It was first published in the late 1990’s. The story was about two treasure hunters that cared nothing about archeology, but only gold. They illegally went to find the mountain.

The mountain they would discover fit the description within the Bible exactly.  What is also interesting about their journey to the mountain, the men discovered its top blackened and crystalized by extreme heat.

Many would rise to contest any alternate locations while holding to the traditional placement of Mt. Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula.  Unfortunately, they never took time to consider the serious problems this presents to their claims.  The real Mt. Sinai was in Midian, and its future name would be called Jabal al-Lawz.

Moses Goes Up Mt Sinai

I watched Moses climb Mt Sinai for the first time.  I was waiting for something spectacular to happen.  When I saw him coming back down the mountain I was left feeling rather anticlimactic.

Moses called the people to address them.  As he detailed what God said to him the elders would shout repeating his words for all to hear.  I could make out what was said concerning God’s desire to make them His people.

I continued to sit waiting and watching, for I wanted my answers as well.  I did not come all this way to walk away empty handed.

The second time Moses goes up and I am once again expecting something to happen.  Yet again I see Moses come walking down the mountain.  Now I was beginning to get impatient if not upset with this trending pattern.

I did not bother attempting to hear what Moses had to say.  I was starting to think that perhaps the stories from childhood had been embellished.  I had no doubt that Moses was meeting with God, this I did not question.

A little while later that afternoon Joshua came strolling up to my tent.  He was excited.  Finally, the silence would be broken although against my will.

“Clay did you hear the news?” Joshua asked.
“No. Why?”
“Cleanse yourself tonight.  In three days God will appear on the mountain to the people.  Be ready.” Joshua had given me the answer to what I had been waiting for.

I did as he instructed.  After washing myself I also cleaned my tent, bedding, and whatever else I could clean.  At least now I knew God would actually appear, and when. I wasn’t leaving without my answers.

God Descends On Mt Sinai

The third morning it happened.  I was standing outside my tent staring at the mountain in the cool of the morning.  It was still dark.  I kept an eye on the eastern horizon waiting for the sun.

The moment light broke in the eastern sky you could feel it.  The ground began to quake.  It was like a roar from Mt Sinai.  Smoke and fire came down to the top of the mountain, and the smoke began to reach down to its base like a shroud.

It was then a trumpet sounded.  The sound of it grew louder with each passing second.  It was like a shofar the size of the mountain itself.  The ground began to move and vibrate causing dust from the ground to rise.

There would be nothing which stood still on this day.  As one looked on in wonder at what was in front of them, the sound waves penetrating one’s body would bring you to your knees.

The mountain appeared as a furnace.  The smoke rose into the sky.  The fire on the top of the mountain gave light yet the smoke shrouded the flame itself.  The scene was more than any amount of words could describe.

There I stood watching.  I finally saw what I came to see.  This would not be enough for me.  I would remain in my tent and as Moses spoke to God, I would also try to speak with Him. I refused to leave without my answers.

Aaron Makes The Golden Calf

The next couple of times Moses ascended the mountain it was for the Priests and also to warn the people.  A boundary was set around the mountain so that the people would not approach.  Only who God called would be allowed to go near Mt Sinai.

Jared and Nathan had been watching every scene unfold and listening to every word spoken by Moses.  Each man was determined and dedicated to follow God’s commands.  It would be this next ascent up the mountain which would change things for the children of Israel.

To make matters worse for what was about to happen, the people of Israel knew God’s command.  Moses had given verbally the commandments which were required.  There really was no excuse for what would come next.

Moses had gone up the mountain with the elders, Aaron, and Joshua.  Eventually the elders and Aaron would return while Moses continued to remain with God.  Joshua then remained on the mountain waiting for Moses.

Days would pass and the people grew restless.  Rumors began to spread that Moses would not return.  Some of the men began to insist that Aaron take control.  Additionally, they began to demand that Aaron forge a golden calf.

They said that this golden god would be the one to lead them.  They were more than impatient.  They turned to rebellion.

“Aaron you cannot do this.” Jared pleaded.
“I understand that you are Joshua’s friend, but you have no voice here.” Aaron insisted.
“You are turning away from God.” Nathan insisted.

“You misunderstand.  The calf will be forged in the name of the Lord.  Thus, it will be a representation of God.” Aaron tried to explain.
“This is not true. Didn’t Moses just tell everyone that God will not have any image made of Him, nor to replace Him?” Jared countered.
“This is what the people demand.  It will help them understand the Lord.  It will help them transition from their pagan ways.” Aaron was now rationalizing.

“Aaron! This will not help! I have seen these things before!” Jared was now shouting.
“Leave me.  If nothing else… if I do not do this the people might turn violent.” Aaron pushed past Jared and Nathan.

The calf would be forged.  Each of the people involved gave gold for the project.  As Aaron placed the gold into the fire to make this new creation, Jared began to back away.  Nathan also decided he wished nothing to do with this.

Once the calf was created the people began to sing and dance.  They removed their clothing in a style of worship in the pagan ways while claiming it to be of and for God.  It was a horror to see.

This attempt to mix the old world, and the world of God into one was a crisis.  The attempt to justify ones desires forming God into mans image would not end well.

Flashes of Nimrod came to the minds of Jared and Nathan.  Memories of the past haunted them.  They remembered all too well what happens when men choose to alter God from who He is into something they create.

Nathan and Jared Rush To Clay

Nathan and Jared began to make their way to Clay.  It was time for him to get over himself and help prevent this nightmare from taking place.  They insisted that Clay is a grown man, and it is time he started acting like one.

“We have to find him.  He has to know about this.” Nathan was panicking.
“He is at his tent as usual sitting on his backside.”  Jared said wile both were walking.

“What if he still refuses to talk with us?  He refuses to talk to anyone.  The world is falling apart and if he thinks he can continue like this I am going to kill him.” Nathans anxiety was setting in.

Making their way to the western part of the camp they saw people smiling and cheering.  Others were afraid.  Not all agreed with what was taking place.  Jared thought that at least there would be some people on his side when Clay went to confront Aaron.

Rounding the last tents they could see where Clay had camped a short distance away.  Both men ran forward.  Opening the tent door they found no one inside.

“Where is he?” Jared asked.

Night had fallen and the land was dark.  The only light would come from the occasional lightning flashes from the mountain.  Jared and Nathan began to look around.  It was in one of those occasional flashes of lightning Nathan saw Clay.

“There he is!” Nathan pointed at Clay.
“What is he doing?” Jared screamed.

Clay had walked away from his tent and toward Mt Sinai.  He was walking towards the mountain and shouting.  It seemed like he was shouting questions at God.

“We have to get him!” Nathan was in full panic mode.
“No we can’t.  We can’t go near the mountain.” Jared reminded.

Clay’s voice would occasionally be heard in between the thundering of Mt Sinai.  Nathan began to shout at Clay attempting to get him to come back.  Clay either could not hear or ignored the calls.

In the next moments the two men witnessed Clay swinging his arms at the mountain.  Whether he was punching the air, throwing rocks, or pointing they did not know.

“He looks like a mad man.” Jared stared in horror.
“He definitely has lost his mind.” Nathan’s heart sank. “I knew we should have left.  Clay cannot get along with God.  Remember Sodom, remember that night with Jacob?  It always goes bad for him!”

“We can’t help that now, just keep shouting for him!” Jared continued screaming for Clay to hear them.

In the next moment a lightning bolt came from the top of the mountain.  Its arc swept the sky then turned down towards the ground.  In a mere microsecond of the flash, it made contact landing on Clay’s head.

The impact of the lightning strike sent his body flying through the air.  As his body hit the ground, Jared and Nathan could only watch.

“Clay!” Nathan screamed.
“There is nothing we can do.” Jared grabbed Nathan holding him back as he lunged forward to get Clay.
“We can’t just leave him there.” Nathan insisted.
“It’s over!  It’s over Nathan!  We can’t help him.” Jared continued to pull at Nathan until both men fell to the ground.

The thundering and the lightning would continue.  With each flash they could see Clay’s body laying on the ground in the distance.  He wasn’t moving.

In the distance the noise of the music and shouting was loud.  Israel had fallen completely into this dark place.  It seemed as if within twenty four hours what was once hope, had evaporated.  What was now left was only despair and brokenness.

No one had the fortitude to wait long enough to allow God to finish getting His words out of His mouth before mankind turned away.  This is how far we have gone.  This is how far we have fallen.

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