Mount Sinai in Arabia: Symbol Of Bondage

Mount Sinai in an illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company, 1907. Wikipedia.

Jabal al-Lawz is a mountain located in northwest Saudi Arabia, near the Jordan border, and some believe it is the historical Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. (To learn more about evidence for this belief see the video link at the end of this blog.)

Even though all the Bible Maps place Mount Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula, Paul tells us in Galatians 4:25 that Mount Sinai is in Arabia. It's probable that Paul visited Mount Sinai when he spent 2 years in Arabia following his conversion.  At any rate, an Arabian site makes perfect sense because God gave the law to Israel at Mount Sinai which makes it a symbol of bondage. (The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life!) Both nations are in legalistic bondage today.

Let's see what God's Word has to tell us about Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia and its symbolism of bondage for those who rely on the works of the flesh for salvation.

...Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—  for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. Gal 4:21-25

Genesis tells the story of Abram being called out of a polytheistic idolatrous background to serve the One True God. Yehovah told him to leave his kindred and his homeland and travel to the land of Canaan. And, Yehovah promised the entire land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants forever.

Descendants? Many years passed and Abram and Sarai had no children. Finally, Sarai, who had not been given a personal promise, felt that she must be obstructing Abram's destiny, so she, according to the customs of her day, offered him her handmaiden, Hagar, as a surrogate for childbearing purposes. And so, through means of the flesh, Abraham fathered a son by Hagar who was named Ishmael.

Let's be clear, this was a work of the flesh which could never fulfill God's promise. Only God can fulfill His promises! He is our only Savior and doesn't need our help (works of  the flesh). He just requires that we obey Him in faith.

Ishmael was not the son God had promised to Abram. Ishmael would not be an heir to the Promise Land. Ishmael would not be a founding father of God's Chosen People, the Jews. And, he would not be an ancestor of our Savior, Jesus Christ. But God promised Abraham that, because he was his son, Ishmael would be the father of 12 princes and a great nation.

Thirteen more years passed and then God changed Abram's name to Abraham, again promising that he would be the father of many nations. God also established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham and his male descendants as an outward sign of their separation to God. Likewise, he changed Sarai's name to Sarah saying she would be the mother of many nations and kings.

The next year, Isaac, the son of promise, was born to Sarah and Abraham and Isaac became the heir, by faith, to the Promise Land of Canaan (a symbol of the permanent dwelling place with Yehovah, provided by faith to all believers). Isaac was also one of the founding fathers of the Jewish nation and he was an ancestor of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. Gal 4:28

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  Eph 1:4


How much Ishmael understood about the difference between himself and Isaac we do not know; but, Sarah was carefully watching over her only son and what she saw troubled her. On the day of Isaac's weaning celebration, Ishmael was tormenting Isaac. This behavior signaled the trouble to come!

But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Gal 4:29

The details aren't shared, but Sarah saw enough to know she must intervene on Isaac's behalf. She had the insight to realize that Hagar and Ishmael must be exiled to protect Isaac's person and position as heir to the Promise Land and the blessings.

Abraham loved Ishmael and he may not have seen the inappropriate behavior, so he was grieved by  Sarah's solution and opposed it. (This is happening today. Political correctness and misguided compassion in the West is coddling and protecting Islam and will lead to much destruction.) However, God intervened on Isaac's behalf and told Abraham to "listen" to his wife and send Hagar and Ishmael away-- which he did early the next morning.

As Paul said, these things are symbolic. The persecution of God's chosen people continues to this day. In Israel, the Jews are being persecuted by Ishmael's descendants. And, in the world, the Spirit born children of God, who have freedom in Christ Jesus, are being persecuted by those enslaved by the flesh and living in spiritual bondage--whether religious or secular.

So, what can be done? Paul offers Sarah's solution as the answer. 

Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Gal 4:30

For Israel, the real Palestinian solution would be to "cast out" the Muslims. Ishmael was Abraham's son and he had lived in the Promise Land with him all his life (17 years); and yet, God said to send him away. Why? Because Ishmael had no legitimate claim to the land God had promised to Abraham's chosen heir. It was God's decision and it hasn't changed. The Promise Land belongs to the Jews and it should never be divided. In fact, according to the Prophet Joel, God will judge those who divide it--which means political leaders should stop trying to force Israel to give up her land! Concessions only lead to more concessions and will finally lead to judgement.

"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel,  whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.  “ Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon (Lebanon), and all the coasts of Philistia (Gaza)?  Will you retaliate against Me?  Joel 3;1,2,4 

In this prophetic passage God foretells the return of the Jews to their homeland and names her modern enemies! Notice how accurate God's Word is. Lebanon is the stronghold of the Muslim terrorists known as Hezbollah (Allah's Party) and Gaza is the stronghold of the PA (formerly known as the PLO) and Hamas terrorists. Israel's enemies keep attacking her (and fighting God) but they won't win!

Joel continues in verse 12 with Yahweh's statement:  "I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations."  What nations surround Israel? Muslim nations!  And God says in verse 19, "Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness, because of violence against the people of Judah, for they have shed innocent blood in their land."  (Wait for it. God's Word is true.)

Even though God commanded Abraham to send Ishmael away, God blessed Ishmael during his lifetime and made him into a great nation.  Afterwards, the Arab's were hijacked by a false religion called Islam which has led them into deep bondage and a hatred for Israel.

To return to blessings, Arabs must break free of the bondage of Islam. God has a plan that must be followed which includes blessings on those who bless Israel and curses on those who curse Israel. Again, to be blessed, individual Arabs must forsake Islam and its hatred of the Jews and turn to God. 

If you are Muslim, God is calling you out of Islam and into a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Why do you think Christians are banned from sharing faith with you? Why do you think the Bible is banned from you? It is because it is true and will set you free!  Please seek the truth while you have time!

As for Christians, Paul was saying we must "cast out" any reliance on "works based" salvation plans. Our freedom is obtained and maintained by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Any attempt to lean on man made rules and regulations for salvation leads one back into bondage.

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  Gal 3:24-25

God gave the Jews the law on Mount Sinai to help them understand the difference between right and wrong. It was a "tutor" to lead them to the freedom of righteousness by faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ. However, since the Jews rejected Jesus, they remain in bondage to this day and Jerusalem is held captive by Islamic intimidation. And, they will remain in bondage until they gladly embrace Jesus Christ as their Messiah when He comes again.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  Gal 3:26-29


Saracens, Hagarites and other Muslims are in no way excluded from coming to faith in Christ Jesus. All Gentiles may become sons of promise and children of God by faith in Jesus-- Abraham's children all! 

So then, brethren, [in faith] we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.  Gal 4:31

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and look for our soon coming King!

See YouTube: Mt Sinai is Jabal al Lawz at http://youtu.be/sIiuvVxkI8k