How do you describe a “mountain-top experience?”

Is it the feeling you have after an exhilarating accomplishment?

Or one of those times when your heart is just bursting with joy?

Perhaps it’s a moment when you’re feeling especially connected with God.

A mountain-top experience can be any or all of the above, but did you know that this phrase has its origins in the Bible? In Scripture, a mountain-top experience is when God comes down from heaven to meet man on top of a mountain.

In Genesis 22, Abraham and Isaac have a mountain-top experience. God tested Abraham and said to him…“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (v 1-2 ESV).

Early the next morning, Abraham took his son and some firewood and began the long journey to Mount Moriah. Abraham came from a world where it was normal for the “gods” to demand child sacrifice. But Isaac, being one hundred years younger than his father, could have easily escaped if he chose to.

On the mountain-top, as Abraham took the knife in his hand, God intervened, saying, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son (Genesis 22:12-13 ESV).

Many years later, the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up (Exodus 19:20 ESV). Here God spoke to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments.

I always felt bad for Moses. Leading a rebellious group of Israelites through the desert for forty years was no picnic. Then, as they drew close to their destination, the people once again turned against their leaders because they had no water. Moses and Aaron met with God at the entrance to the Tabernacle and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water” (Numbers 20:7-8 ESV).

Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice (Numbers 20:10-11 ESV).

Do you notice any differences between what God told Moses and what Moses actually said and did? I see a couple things. God refers to His people as “the congregation,” but Moses addresses them as “you rebels.” Also, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock, but instead Moses hits it with his staff.

Twice.

Medieval French rabbi Rashi mused that if Moses acted as God commanded him, the people would have learned an unforgettable lesson: “If a rock, which neither speaks nor hears nor is in need of sustenance, obeys the word of God, how much more so should we.” [1]

Because of this incident, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

At least, not at this time…

Fast forward to the New Testament: Jesus brought Peter, James and John up a mountain. He was transformed  in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him (Matthew 17:2-3 HCSB).

Moses and Elijah have two things in common. They were both prophets, and neither of them had a known burial site. God buried Moses in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day (Deuteronomy 34:6 ESV). And chariots of fire and horses of fire separated (Elijah and Elisha). And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11 ESV). 

Because Jerusalem is located on top of Mount Moriah, every festival there is literally a mountain-top experience. If you’d like to learn more about the Jewish festivals and their connection to Jesus, you can join me at The Well Conference in Zeeland Michigan, April 30-May 2, 2026. You can find more information here: https://seeyouatthewell.net/

[1] https://rabbisacks.org/covenant-conversation/chukat/why-was-moses-not-destined-to-enter-the-land/ accessed 16 Feb 2026