Mount Nebo

We were glad to hear the others on the Up to Jerusalem tour that didn’t come with us on the Petra extension arrived safely back in the United States!

After an early wake-up call and a quick breakfast we boarded the bus on a beautiful morning and headed to the Israel-Jordan border on our way to Mount Nebo. We were reminded in our devotional this morning that the wilderness of this area can be extremely harsh. How much more meaningful the words of Psalm 23 become when you see the Bedouin shepherds navigating their flocks through the rocky hills with your own eyes: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

Mount Nebo is where Moses stood after leading the Israelites through the desert for 40 years. Atop this spot, Moses could see the Promised Land but God told him he would not be allowed to enter. Moses continued to be faithful to the calling God gave him until the end of his life. He is buried somewhere in this area of Western Jordan (Deut 34:5-6). 

From Mount Nebo, we enjoyed panoramic views of the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Amman and the hills of Jerusalem far off in the distance. When the sky is clear, Jerusalem can be seen in the distance. Our guide told us that the lights of Jerusalem are clearly visible at night.  

Learn more: https://www.gotquestions.org/mount-Nebo.html

Before lunch, we visited a community of local artists in Madaba. We watched them craft beautiful mosaics and then entered their shop before heading to lunch. 

Our meal was special. We ate family-style around the table and enjoyed learning more about each other and how the Lord is working in each of our lives. The authentic meal was remarkable and delicious. For starters, we had: mutabal, eggplant feta, manakish za’atar, Arabic salad, galayet bandora, and yogurt salad. Our main course was a spectacular Maqluba (upside-down chicken and rice) and was presented tableside with the chef expertly flipping our meal onto the main serving plate.

After lunch, we traveled further south to our hotel for some rest, dinner, and a good night's sleep before heading to Petra early tomorrow morning. 

Blog author & photos: Steve Conover
Executive Vice President
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry