Mount Sinai in Arabia

This morning I gave a talk in The Hague. Later this week, the message will (probably) also be available online. I spoke on the second part of Galatians 1, in which Paul explains that the Evangel he proclaims is not “according to man.” He relates in detail that he did not receive it from a human, nor was he taught it. He goes on to argue that when he was called on the road to Damascus, he did not consult with flesh and blood. He did not travel to Jerusalem or anything of the sort, but instead went to Arabia (1:17). Possibly to “Mount Sinai in Arabia.”

Just as the administration of the law once began in Arabia, so also “the administration of the Secret” began in this region. There God, through Moses, gave His law to Israel—and there God, through Paul, revealed His most precious secrets to the Ecclesia.

After the meeting, someone came up to me and enthusiastically told me about a video he had seen about Mount Sinai. That mountain is not located somewhere on the peninsula between Israel and Egypt (as is commonly claimed); no, this mountain must be sought… in Saudi Arabia. There, not far from the Gulf of Eilat (the Red Sea), is a mountain that the local population calls ‘Jebel Musa’ (Moses’ Mountain). This mountain appears to perfectly match the description Scripture gives of Horeb.

In this area, Elim (the oasis with twelve springs of water) has also been identified; the stone altar that Moses built (Ex. 17:15); the twelve stones that were set up as a memorial (Ex. 24:4); a massive split in a rock formation showing clear signs of water erosion, etc.

One of the consequences of identifying this location is that the crossing of the Red Sea must have taken place somewhere near Nuweiba. A crossing, then, through the Gulf of Eilat (or Aqaba)…

Today I browsed around on the internet for more information about this.

Here are a few links to articles in which the above is set out:
Sinai in Arabia
Crossing of the Red Sea

For a critical perspective on the above:
Thoughts on Jebel al-Lawz and the Location of Mt. Sinai

Delen: