Introduction 

In any military battle, high places give one a tactical advantage over one’s enemies. The opposing forces have to struggle uphill to reach one’s position. It is also possible to hide reserve forces below the hilltop on the other side of the hill. (See the ultimate battle in The Patriot). In the spirit realm, high places are where Heaven intersects with Earth. They are where spiritual beings can influence affairs on Earth. Lance Wallnau teaches about the Seven Mountains of Society, the seven areas of cultural influence. There is strategic value of high places in the Old Testament.

Country of Eden

Most people do not often think of Eden as being on a high mountain, but a river flows from it and branches into the four world rivers. The Creator planted a Garden at the top of the high place and rested Humanity there. He divided them into male and female then reunited them into one flesh. They were vulnerable (naked) without shame. The Creator walked with them by Ruach (Holy Spirit).

Artificial High Place in Babylon

Having lost the benefits of Eden because of their disobedience to the Creator, Humanity sought to obtain those benefits for themselves on their own. All the peoples were one nation (ethnic group) with one language, one way of thinking, one scheme to obtain Heaven’s benefits. Visiting the tower in Babylon, Yahweh observed that even without reliance on Him, they could accomplish anything they wanted.

The Creator confused their languages. He broke the people into ethnic groups (nations) and placed them under care of spiritual beings, members of His divine council (Deuteronomy 32:8-9). These spiritual beings dwelt on high places, the intersections of the heavenly realm with Earth. People went to these places to obtain heavenly benefits.

Moriah – Abraham Offered Up Isaac

God Almighty promised Abraham a son. He was to be the first of uncountable offspring. Yahweh gave this promise in a covenant made by Himself alone (Genesis 15). In a test of Abraham’s trust and obedience, He told the loving father to sacrifice Isaac at the high place called Moriah. 

Abraham took everything needed except a sacrificial sheep or goat. He declared to his servants that he and his son would return. Abraham obeyed the voice of Yahweh. He prepared the sacrifice. He stopped the sacrifice and offered up the substitute provided by Yahweh (Genesis 22:1-19). I believe Abraham felt Yahweh’s pain at the anticipated sacrifice of His Son. 

Sinai – Yahweh Made Treaty with Israel

Yahweh delivered the people of Israel from bondage in the flat land of Egypt (where the Pharaohs built artificial mountains). He led them to His mountain in the Sinai Peninsula and made a treaty with them to be their king. This began the Wilderness Experience for Israel. He had them build a tent replica of the God space Moses saw at the top of the mountain. It became the dwelling of Yahweh among the Israelites away from the mountain high place.

 Zion – David And Solomon’s Temple

These two kings built a temple as the dwelling for Yahweh among the tribes of Israel in the Promised Land. Under their reigns, Israel became secure from their enemies. They were prosperous, with the wisdom of Solomon, given him by Yahweh.

Zion – Isaiah’s Ideal High Place

The people of Israel split into two nations and became corrupt by following lesser gods. Isaiah was only one prophet who confronted the people of Jerusalem and Israel. They had failed to trust and obey Yahweh. Instead, they went to high places to worship lesser gods, lesser spiritual beings. The people failed to care for widows, orphans, immigrants, vulnerable people without opportunities to succeed.

And yet, Isaiah predicted that the mountain of the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem would become the place for all nations to obtain the benefits of Heaven. They would learn the Law of Yahweh and beat their swords into plowshares (Isaiah 2:1-4). 

The prophet also wrote that this would require the suffering of Yahweh’s servants. His Anointed One would sacrifice Himself for others (Isaiah 53). A faithful remnant of Yahweh’s chosen people would sacrifice their lives in trust and obedience to Him.