Why not emulate British adventurer’s mountaintop focus?
by Charles Gardner.
The Jewish people are clearly going through a testing time somewhat akin to Yeshua’s walk through the wilderness, where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the devil.

The Wilderness where Yeshua was tempted. (Photo Charles Gardner)
It also echoed the experience of the ancient Israelites who spent 40 years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
Obviously, the Gaza War has severely hit Israel’s economy as tourism has virtually dried up while worldwide antisemitism has rendered a weak UK church ever more reluctant to explore her Jewish roots.
But Yeshua’s wilderness experience was God’s plan; only the temptations came from Satan. Although his people were supernaturally provided for with manna from heaven, the ‘Bread of Life’ himself demonstrated a hunger that went beyond the merely physical – “My meat is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)
Then there’s the top of the Temple temptation to supposedly thrust proof of his Messiahship beyond doubt with a dramatic jump without injury at the place where God’s glory rested. But Jesus avoids dramatic gestures and clothes himself with true humility. It’s also a reminder that the devil knows Scripture but is here quoting out of context as Psalm 91, ironically, is all about God protecting us from our ever-present enemy.
I believe it also teaches us that we should hold our understanding of Scripture humbly and avoid giving the impression that we know it all. No-one has a perfect grasp of the Bible’s teaching.
Then Jesus is taken to “a very high mountain” to be tempted by compromise with worldly values. Although this was probably Mt Herman, I wonder if it could have been Mt Everest? The world-renowned adventurer Bear Grylls, exhausted and scared stiff as he faced the final section of this mountain, took comfort from the words of Isaiah 40: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.”

Bear Grylls (Photo from the internet)
After many dangers and failures, Bear’s Christian faith had restored him body, mind and spirit, and by God’s grace, he reached the 29,000ft summit.1 Let’s take our eyes off our doubts, disappointments and dark despair and fix them instead on our ultimate goal – Jesus, and salvation for the Jews – far above the blizzards and avalanches we see all around us with so much antisemitism on our streets along with indifference from the Church. It’s about looking at things from God’s perspective, not man’s.
It can be a weary walk through the wilderness as poisonous snakes infect many with the propaganda of Jewish hatred and lies about their land. But the bronze serpent of Moses’ time symbolises the cross of Jesus which brings healing, peace and reconciliation. Our Everest summit will surely come into view on the Mt of Olives, when Yeshua returns. So let us keep hungering for the word, walking in humility and bringing glory and honour to the Lord in all we do.
1Mud, Sweat and Tears (Transworld Publishers & 4 Books), 2011