Day Two: Whisper in the Wilderness

We began our day walking among one of the wonders of the ancient world, Petra. Popularized by Hollywood’s Indiana Jones. Remembered as the city of the Nabateans, it is far more than a dramatic sandstone backdrop. Petra lies in the land of Edom, home of Esau’s descendants. The Edomites stood as both brothers and rivals to Israel, shaping much of the biblical story. This region also connects us to King Herod the Great,  Herod Antipas, and the Gospels. The red rose city whispers of kingdoms that rose and fell.

From there we journeyed into the wilderness of Wadi Rum. It is a vast expanse of sand, rock, and silence. Here we remembered Israel’s forty-year sojourn. The wilderness was a place of formation. It was the place where God taught His people to depend on Him, the place where slaves were shaped into a nation, the place where His whisper could be heard in the stillness.

The wilderness also teaches us about community. In this desolate place, survival is not an individual pursuit. You walk together, you rely on one another, you depend on God.

As the day drew to a close, we watched a breathtaking sunsets.. Tonight, we share a meal, Zarb, cooked and drawn from the ground. Tomorrow, we cross into the Promised Land.

Lord, teach us to welcome the wilderness. Strip away our self-reliance, and quiet our restless hearts, until we can hear Your whisper. Shape us into a people who walk together, who depend on You alone, and who are transformed by Your presence in barren places. Amen.

The Journey is the Destination.

Jerrell