DAY 8 of the Tour - Wadi Rum

The Wadi Rum

The Wadi Rum represents another stunning ecological environment we will be privileged to visit. As we survey the area, we won’t have to stretch our imagination too far to visualize the Israelite wanderings through the wilderness (Num. 20-21). Nowadays, Bedouin tribes of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan remind us that the pastoral-nomadic lifestyle remains as authentic as it was in ages past.

This permanent “camping trip” is not unlike our own spiritual sojourning on this earth, as we emulate the faith of Abraham (Heb. 11: 8-16). Paul, the tentmaker, certainly connected the dots with Abraham’s vocation. We, too, long for a city not built with human hands (2 Cor. 5:1)!

The southern regions of the Levant (this is land roughly encompassed by Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and the southern part of Lebanon, as noted in the preceding web link) also remind us that this inhospitable landscape is the place of Yahweh’s revelation to His servants: Jacob (Gen. 28:10-22), Moses (Ex. 3), Elijah (at the mountain of God/Sinai 1 Kings 19), John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-2) and Paul (see Gal. 1:17). The wilderness also puts His people to the test (Deut. 8:2-5). This motif carries over into the Christian lifestyle as well. Just as the sons of Israel were tested, we too are tested and are warned not to flunk this most important of exams in our lives (1 Cor. 10; see also Heb. 3:16-19). As we struggle through this life, however, we look to the author of our faith, the one who did not fail the wilderness test (Luke 4:1-13). Therefore, we persevere in our walk of faith.  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16, NIV)

In the end, the majesty of the wilderness can’t be expressed in words, so, consider this post your “day off:” You don’t have to read anything too deep, or consult an atlas.  Instead, sit back and enjoy the scenery of this eight-minute video and others on the same site. You may even be inspired to watch the David Lean classic movie Lawrence of Arabia, which includes several memorable scenes from the Wadi Rum.

• Scripture References: Gen. 28:10-22, Ex. 3, Num. 20-21, Deut. 8:2-5, 1 Kings 19, Heb. 3:16-19, 4:15-16, 11:8-16, Luke 3:1-2, 4:1-13, 1 Cor. 10, 2 Cor. 5:1, Gal. 1:17