Over and over again, in His revelations to man, God has been pleased to give illustration to His words by the natural features of the locality where the words have been uttered. In speaking to men, God uses the natural to give emphasis to the spiritual. We are of the natural, nature surrounds us, and that very environment God uses to teach of the verities which lie outside and beyond the realm of nature.
Sinai was a mountain isolated, in a way, from others. The Scripture narrative informs us that bounds were set about it (Ex. 19:23), that it was in view from a plain in which “all” (Ex. 19:11) the people could stand, and move either “near” it or “afar off” from it (Ex. 20:21). It was sufficiently broad on the summit to enable one person to be in seclusion when 70 others were also there (Ex. 24:1-11). The base of the mountain could accommodate the two or three millions of Israel who stood and faced the fiery mount, enabling them to see all, without one rank obstructing the view of the rank behind it. Can anyone question the design of God in the selection of this plain? Surely the natural character of Mount Sinai was indeed in keeping with the solemn law that was proclaimed there!
H. F. Witherby (adapted)