Cary Jarrett in Jerusalem: Petra

On Saturday, April 26th, I had the opportunity to go to cross the border into southern Jordan and visit Petra. Petra is a city that was carved out of the mountains around 300 BC by the Nabateans. For hundreds of years, it was forgotten about until being rediscovered less than 200 years ago. Most recently, it took a 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan to make Petra a true tourist attraction. I went with Stephen, a young co-volunteer at CFI from Canada, and his roomate, Marcus, from Finland. Friday afternoon we drove to the very southern tip of Israel to a very popular resort city called Eilat. The tour group would pick us up at the hotel for a one day trip to Petra. It would be a long day but very rewarding. Petra was everything I anticipated it would be and more. Below is the most recognizable structure in Petra, the Treasury Building.

Below we are standing in line waiting to exit Israel. Passports are checked by both Israel and Jordan coming and going.

As we walk the short walk to Jordan just like a prisoner swap in the movies.

Below we are approaching the border of Jordan. Jordan is country that was created after World War I by the British for the HaShemite Kingdom. When he served as Foreign Minister in early 1920's, Winston Churchill was a major player in creating Jordan. Jordan actually is part of the Biblical Land promised to the Jews which God Himself divinely gave to His Chosen People. He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance," Psalm 105: 7-11.

Giant pictures of King Abdullah are everywhere in Jordan. He took over the throne from his father, King Hussein, who died in 1999. No democracy here.

The little gift shop at the border. One tourist from Panama or somewhere was supposed to have a pre-entry Visa to Jordan. The lack of that Visa caused us an extra 30 minutes.

The men's room at the Jordanian border. No comment, "a picture is worth a thousand words".

The Israeli city of Eilat as seen from Jordan.

A kitten came out of this rug at the gift shop and was wanting to jump down. I started to help it down but then decided I might get arrested for touching a cat. So I left it alone.

After we cleared passport control, it would be a 2 hour drive to Petra. It was a beautiful day. Southern Jordan is all mountains. Biblically it is the land of Edom and Moab. Jacob's twin brother, Esau, settled here. Esau also became known as Edom, which means "red" in Hebrew. Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. Genesis 25:29-30.

The Bible is full of stories of the Edomites especially when they did not allow Moses and the Israelites pass through their land on the way to the Promised Land. Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’" Then Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword." So the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by the Highway ... " Then he said, "You shall not pass through." So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from
him. Numbers 20:17-21.

Our little tour bus to Petra.

The visitor's welcoming center at Petra.

King Hussein on the left came to power in the early 1950's after his grandfather was assasinated at the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. From 1948 to 1967, Jordan had control of The Old City in Jerusalem which included the Temple Mount. They also had control of the area that is know as the West Bank (of the Jordan). In 1967, King Hussein made a "pact" with Abdul Nasser, the leader of Eqypt to fight against Israel. In 1967, during the 6-Day War, Jordan actually fired first at Israel. In just a few days, Israel regained their divinely appointed Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria (the West Bank). In the 1980's, King Hussein declared that Jordan no longer cared about the West Bank. Today the "Palestinian Authority" is saying "give us our land back". The "West Bank" and East Jerusalem was never under Palestinian Authority but only under Jordanian control. No one seems to pay attention to the true facts including the US government. He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. Psalm 101:7.

It is a few kilometers walk to Petra. It's all downhill and you pass through a tall canyon called the "siq". The ending of the 3rd Indiana Jones movie was filmed here.

The scenery is beautiful along the way to the siq.

This is just a sample of the carved out dwelling places inside Petra. Petra is Greek for "rock". Very similar to the apostle Peter who's real name was Simon.. ...Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). John 1:40.

Because of so many "red" rocks, Edom is an appropriate name.

As we begin entering the siq. The canyon walls just got larger the further you walked.

Edom is a very prophetic location. It appears to be one location that the false messiah to come, the antichrist, cannot touch. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. Daniel 11:41.

When people are in the photo, you can see how massive the canyon walls are.

There are young Arab men willing to lead you down the siq on a horse, donkey, or modern day chariot (buggy). Walking down was not bad, but riding out later might be a good idea.

It was a hot day, but you did not notice it because of the splendor of the landscape to see.

Rocks are definitely red.

Still on the pathway.

The canyon narrows as you approach the entrance to Petra.

A desert taxi.

Getting closer to the end of the siq and the entrance to Petra.

You can see the Treasury Building in the distance.

When you see the Treasury Building, you realize the Nabateans must have been very good sculptures to carve this out of the side of the mountain. Below I would assume they are Jordanian police or park police. We actually had one young kid with the Tourist Police ride on the bus with us. I don't know if he was supposed to be watching or protecting us.