Experience Saudi Arabia & Jordan on a GTI Signature Study Tour and you'll see Scripture in a new light.
Mount Sinai has been identified with a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt since the 4 th century A.D. However, several biblical passages seem to indicate that Mount Sinai is in Arabia. Could the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites have taken place in Arabia rather than Egypt?
In Exodus 17, the Israelites are camped at a place called Rephidim where there was no water for them to drink. God commanded Moses to strike a rock known as the Rock of Horeb, which opened the rock causing water to come out of it for the people to drink. In the Arabian Desert at the foot of the Arabian Mount Horeb, stands stands a large, split rock. Could this have been the site where this biblical story took place?
Right along the coast of the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba, a wadi or canyon leads from the shore inland to the wilderness. This canyon is flowing with water from a spring, feeding a grove of palm trees. In Exodus 15, the Israelites are provided fresh water and a grove of 70 palm trees at Elim. Could this have been the area where the Israelites crossed?
An outcropping of granite boulders form a type of high place at the foot of the Arabian Mount Sinai. The boulders are etched and painted with multiple depictions of bulls and calves. Could this have been the site of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord when they formed a golden calf?
One of the more unusual places we encountered in Arabia was an ancient installation at the foot of the ascent to the Arabian Mount Horeb. Unlike anything else seen in Arabia, this installation appears to have been used for cultic purposes. Could this facility have been used by the ancient Israelites during their time at Sinai?
If the biblical Mount Sinai is in Arabia, then ascending to the summit of the mountain would be an extraordinary experience. The anticipation of standing on the very site where Moses received the Ten Commandments is overwhelming.
Throughout history, people have left their mark as they traveled. Prominent rocks or sacred spaces along a route through the desert became waystations for weary travelers. The Arabian Peninsula has been a caravan and pilgrimage route for millennia. Caravans brought incense and spices from Yemen and Southern Arabia to trade throughout the Mediterranean. Muslim pilgrims, making their way to Mecca, traversed the western deserts of Arabia.
A 4X4 vehicle is a must in the Arabian Desert. Exploring the backroads of this austere landscape is both exhilarating and challenging. No tour buses allowed!
The quest to identify the biblical Mount Sinai has been an ongoing venture for many years. As many as six or seven different sites have been suggested as candidates for that enigmatic mountain, ranging from the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt across southern Israel into Saudi Arabia. Since the fourth century A.D., a site in the southern Sinai Peninsula at Saint Catherine’s monastery has been the preferred location. Recently, however, a mountain in the Arabian Peninsula, which has long been identified as Moses’ Mountain by Arabs, has garnered interest as a possible site for Sinai. The mountain known as Jebel Lawz, and several sites around it, could quite possibly figure into the biblical story of the Exodus.
Travel with us to the Arabian Desert as we explore fantastic sites in Saudi Arabia and Jordan that raise the question of exactly where the exodus of the Israelites took place. Visit a split rock (Exodus 17), a grove of palm trees (Exodus 15), and an altar and high place with bull/cow carvings at the foot of the Arabian Mount Horeb (Exodus 32), as well as the desert of Wadi Rum, a possible location of the Wilderness of Paran. We will also visit Petra and other historic sites in Jordan. This will be an exciting and ground-breaking tour into the extraordinary deserts of Arabia.
After graduating with his Masters from Talbot Theological Seminary, Rich and his wife Becky began working full-time for Hume Ministries in 2001. Rich’s passions are discipleship and teaching God’s word in a way that brings it alive in today’s world. In his spare time, Rich enjoys leading Biblical Study Tours (50 trips and counting), motorcycle riding, snowboarding, and spending time with his wife, daughters Ellie and Carmel, and his two sons Jaron and Ronen. In 2016 Rich and his family moved from California to Michigan to join the GTI Tours staff full-time, where he serves as General Manager.
Your journey begins as you fly to Jordan.
Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. A representative will meet you at the Amman airport to help you collect your luggage and transfer you to our hotel. Depending on when you arrive, the day is yours to explore Amman on your own or relax at the hotel.
Today, we explore the ancient city of Jerash. This Decapolis city is considered one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy, and its history goes back more than 6,500 years. After lunch, we drive south toward the enchanting rose-red façades of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Today, we venture into the amazing Nabataean city of Petra, with breathtaking canyons and rock-cut architecture. To finish up our time in this picturesque landscape, we will enjoy a memorable donkey ride. Continuing south, we arrive in the port city of Aqaba, which is uniquely situated next to Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
This morning, we begin our day by crossing from Jordan to Saudi Arabia. Today's journey focuses on the Western side of Jabal al Lawz, where Moses met his father-in-law Jethro, possible crossing points on the Red Sea, and the famous Split Rock of Horeb from Exodus 17. Tonight, we camp out under the stars near the mountain.
Waking up, you will enjoy a great breakfast and amazing views of the desert. Today, we spend time on the east side of Jabel al Lawz exploring parts of this mountain. See the calf altar from Exodus 32 and the ancient sacrificial high place. As we finish our day, we will spend the night in the Saudi city of Tabuk.
Today, we conclude our time in Saudi Arabia and return to Jordan, heading to the spectacular Wadi Rum. Once we check into our tents we will head out for a jeep ride as we explore the sites and watch an amazing sunset. Our Bedouin friends will have a traditional supper called Zarb, (a roasted lamb and/or chicken feast) waiting for us when we return. We’ll say goodnight and make our way to our personal tents, where we’ll spend the evening “glamping” at Sun City Camp. An option to join a star gazing group will be available depending on the weather.
Start the morning with an option to see the sunrise and majestic landscape of Wadi Rum from a hot air balloon. After breakfast, we go north to Mount Nebo, where God brought Moses to look into the Promised Land. You'll see the Madaba Mosaic Map that covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George and have the opportunity to watch local artists create beautiful mosaics. We arrive back in Amman with time to relax at our hotel and reflect on our trip before we prepare for our flights the next day.
It has been a great trip. Fly home or continue to another adventure.
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