Mountaintop Moments
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 34:29-32)
After being in God's presence for forty days, Moses' face was so altered that everyone was initially afraid to come near him. Moses calmed their fears and was then able to share with them God's instruction. The people, however, remained so disturbed by Moses' appearance that Moses chose to wear a veil over his face whenever he was not in God's presence or relaying God's instructions to the people. When Jesus was transfigured while praying with his three closest companions, Peter was so moved by the wonderous sight that he immediately wanted to find a way to capture and memorialize the fearsome experience.
There is no denying that both of these awe-inspiring episodes had a transformative effect on all involved. Yet, life as they knew it remained frustratingly unchanged, and the difficulties ahead of them were unmitigated. Moses and the Israelites would still have to traverse the desert for forty years, the pain of the cross still awaited Jesus, and his disciples would still have to bear the disappointment and crisis of faith from that heartbreaking event.
The value of mountaintop experiences is not in any ability to change reality, but in the ability to shift perspective. Moses and the Israelites needed the assurance of God's presence that the change in Moses' appearance provided. Jesus' disciples would call on the memory of his transfiguration in the especially difficult days after Jesus' crucifixion as they waited for God's power to be revealed once again. As much as we would like to build a dwelling and stay on the mountaintop, we have to come down and engage in everyday life - but it need not be business as usual. Into the valleys that are sure to follow every mountaintop experience, we carry the encouragement and peace of the wisdom we gain from every revelatory moment of exaltation with God.
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
(Luke 9:28-30, 33-35)
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