God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac.
Abraham obeys and prepares to sacrifice Isaac.
Angel intervenes, stopping Abraham; a ram is provided as a substitute.
Place named "The Lord Will Provide" relating to God's provision.
Importance of Mount Moriah
Symbolism: The place where God provided a lamb, foreshadowing Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Messianic Prophecy: Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, is said to be on Mount Moriah.
Mount Sinai and the Israelites
Covenant with Abraham: Promise of a great nation and eventual slavery and deliverance from Egypt.
Exodus: Israelites delivered from Egypt to become God’s chosen people.
God’s Covenant and the Law:
God descends on Mount Sinai, gives the Ten Commandments.
Establishes Israel as a nation set apart, intended to provoke other nations to return to God.
Symbolism and the Tabernacle
Exodus 24: Moses, Aaron, and elders see God's presence and eat with Him.
Pattern of the Tabernacle: Reflects heavenly reality and garden imagery, symbolizing a place of divine overlap.
Jerusalem and Mount Zion
Significance: Described as the city of God, the central location for Jewish and Christian faith.
Historical Context:
First temple built by Solomon on Mount Zion.
Central to biblical prophecies and future return of Christ.
Exile and Return
Destruction and Rebuilding:
Babylonian Exile; the first temple destroyed.
Persian rule allows return and reconstruction under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Focus on Reestablishing Jewish Identity: Rebuilds temple, law, and city walls.
Jesus as Fulfillment
Jesus as the New Adam:
Reverses sins of Adam, fulfilling the law and the prophets.
Represents divine human overlap; a place of rest and fruitfulness.
Crucifixion and Resurrection: Symbolic fulfillment of divine provision.
Biblical Gardens and Temples
Garden Imagery in Teachings:
Jesus uses garden metaphors to describe divine relationships (John 15).
Significant Mountain Encounters
Moses at Sinai: Receives the law.
Jesus’ Transfiguration:
Moses and Elijah affirm Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and prophets.
The Great Commission
Post-Resurrection Command:
Jesus commissions disciples to spread the gospel, relating to original Dominion Mandate.
Emphasizes joining with Jesus in mission.
Conclusion:
Overall Themes: Union with God through Jesus, the fulfillment of ancient promises, and the call to expand divine influence through discipleship and gospel proclamation.