Topical Bible: Mountain: Overturning and Removing of

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In biblical literature, mountains often symbolize strength, stability, and the presence of God. However, the concept of overturning and removing mountains is used metaphorically to illustrate the power of faith, divine intervention, and the overcoming of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Faith and the Moving of Mountains

The New Testament frequently uses the imagery of moving mountains to describe the power of faith. In Matthew 17:20 , Jesus tells His disciples, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." This passage emphasizes that even a small amount of genuine faith can accomplish great things, including the removal of obstacles that appear as immovable as mountains.

Similarly, in Mark 11:23 , Jesus states, "Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him." Here, the mountain represents any formidable challenge or barrier that can be overcome through unwavering faith and trust in God.

Divine Power and Judgment

The Old Testament also contains references to the overturning and removal of mountains as a demonstration of God's power and judgment. In Job 9:5 , it is written, "He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger." This verse highlights God's sovereign ability to alter the natural world as a manifestation of His divine will and judgment.

In prophetic literature, the removal of mountains can symbolize the leveling of obstacles in preparation for God's redemptive work. Isaiah 40:4 declares, "Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain." This imagery is often interpreted as a metaphor for the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of God's kingdom, where all hindrances to His reign will be removed.

Spiritual and Moral Implications

The metaphor of overturning and removing mountains extends beyond physical and literal interpretations, encompassing spiritual and moral dimensions. Believers are encouraged to confront and overcome personal and communal challenges through faith and reliance on God's power. The removal of mountains can represent the triumph over sin, doubt, and adversity, as well as the pursuit of righteousness and justice.

In Zechariah 4:7 , the prophet speaks of a "great mountain" that will become a plain before Zerubbabel, symbolizing the removal of obstacles to the rebuilding of the temple. This passage underscores the theme of divine assistance in overcoming challenges to fulfill God's purposes.

Throughout Scripture, the imagery of mountains being overturned and removed serves as a powerful reminder of God's omnipotence and the transformative potential of faith. It calls believers to trust in God's ability to overcome any obstacle, whether physical, spiritual, or moral, in the pursuit of His divine will.

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Job 9:5
Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
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Job 14:18
And surely the mountains falling comes to nothing, and the rock is removed out of his place.
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Job 28:9
He puts forth his hand on the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots.
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Ezekiel 38:20
So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
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The Life of Mr. James Renwick.
... for, while some were speaking of removing of the ... destroy most of these poor wandering
mountain men (as ... the nation, and his design of overturning the covenanted ...
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