Day 02 - Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

Day Two: Through Stone and Sand, Lessons in the Wilderness

After a good night’s sleep at the Old Village Resort just outside Petra, we began the morning with a devotion from Jeremiah 9:23-25. The prophet reminds us not to boast in wisdom, strength, or riches, but to boast in this, that we understand and know the Lord. It was a fitting word before stepping into one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. Petra is breathtaking, but Jeremiah gently reorients us, the goal is not to be impressed, but to know God more deeply.

A short drive brought us to the entrance of Petra, and soon we were walking through the Siq, the narrow canyon that winds its way toward the heart of the Nabatean city. Along the way we passed tombs carved into rose colored stone, ancient waterways ingeniously engineered to collect and direct desert rain, and cave dwellings that once sheltered generations. The Nabateans were master builders and traders, shaping a thriving kingdom in what appears to be an unforgiving landscape.

Then, as the canyon walls opened, the Treasury appeared. It is one of those moments that lives up to the anticipation. Cameras came out, conversations paused, and we stood taking it in. Yet beyond the beauty of the architecture, this land carries a deeper story. Not far from here was the ancient territory of Edom, descendants of Esau, whose complicated and often hostile relationship with Israel echoes throughout Scripture.

We gathered for teaching on ancient Edom, tracing their history with Israel and reflecting on the prophetic messages spoken against them, particularly in the book of Obadiah and in Jeremiah. Standing among the cliffs and carved facades, the warnings about pride and misplaced security took on fresh meaning. Kingdoms rise, cities flourish, wealth accumulates, yet the prophets remind us that humility before God is what truly endures.

Our trek continued through the wider Nabatean ruins, weaving past colonnaded streets and rock cut structures. After a lunch stop, the adventure took a more animated turn. Donkey rides up out of the canyon became part of the day’s story. There was lively debate among the Bedouin handlers over who would guide which traveler, creating a bit of cheerful chaos. At one point, both Eric and Randy, our Sunrise elders, experienced a brief and unexpected dismount. 

By late afternoon we made our way to Wadi Rum, where we settled into our tents at Sun City Camp. The landscape shifted dramatically. Towering sandstone cliffs and sweeping dunes surrounded us. As the sun began to lower, we climbed into open trucks and rode across the sands, the desert wind carrying both dust and delight.

As the sky turned shades of gold and red, we paused for teaching on the biblical language of wilderness. We explored the Hebrew terms midbar, tsiah, and yeshimon, each capturing a different dimension of what the wilderness represents. In Numbers, the wilderness was a place of wandering, testing, and formation. It was also a place where God spoke, provided, and shaped His people. We considered how the wilderness is not merely a backdrop in Scripture, but a classroom.

We also reflected on the prophetic hope that one day the wilderness would be transformed. The prophets speak of deserts blooming, dry places becoming springs, and wastelands renewed. Watching the sunset over Wadi Rum, those promises felt less abstract and more tangible.

The evening ended with a traditional Bedouin meal cooked underground in the sand, slowly prepared and richly flavored. Sitting together under the desert sky, sharing food and stories, it felt like stepping into a rhythm both ancient and deeply human. One by one, we made our way back to our tents, grateful, dusty, and full.

Tomorrow we cross into Israel, continuing our journey ……

A Closing Devotion

The wilderness is rarely comfortable, but it is often transformative. In Scripture, it is in the wilderness that pride is exposed, trust is tested, and dependence on God is learned. It is also where God reveals Himself as faithful.

As the prophet Hosea writes,

“I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.” Hosea 2:14

The wilderness is not only a place of wandering, it is a place where God draws near.

As we move from Jordan into Israel, may we embrace whatever wilderness seasons God uses to shape us. May we learn not to boast in what we see or accomplish, but in knowing Him.