During our three-year sojourn in Saudi Arabia, we stumbled upon a fascinating book called “The Gold of Exodus.” It’s a true story about two American thrill-seekers who followed in the footsteps of archaeologists Ron Wyatt and David Fasold. Published in 1998 by Howard Blum, the book tells how Robert Cornuke and Larry Williams used the Book of Exodus as their guide to search for the 8,500-foot peak of Jebel al Lawz in Northern Saudi Arabia back in 1988. This was four years after the exploits of Wyatt and Fasold got them arrested for trespassing there.
We had the book on cassette, so we eagerly listened to this thrilling story that Kirkus Reviews says mixes “archaeology, Biblical treasure, and international espionage.” Since we were only about 750 miles from the site, we figured if we were ever going to check it out ourselves, now was the perfect time.
Right after Ramadan, during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in December 2000, my little family joined my parents for our Saudi adventure that had us feeling like Indiana Jones. Our travels took us first to Yanbu where we stopped for the night in the only hotel we could find. We walked into the office and walked out with a key, a towel and a can of roach spray. We made it through the night and hit the road early so that we could make it all the way to the Gulf of Aqaba where the modern-day explorers believed the true Red Sea crossing took place.
It was a very long stretch from Yanbu to the Gulf, especially with an 18 month old and a four and a half year old. Although there was a paved highway, gas stations and hotels were scarce. We thought we could just find a hotel once there, but that is not exactly how the day went. Once we got off road, and the blue-green waters of Aqaba came into view, we got so excited that we just kept following the wadi to the shore where we thought Moses had surely stood. Awestruck as we walked around trying to imagine the events that took place nearly 4000 years earlier, we came across a shipwreck that was super cool. Apart from that, there was only desert as far as we could see to the East and the most breathtaking shades of blue-green sea to the West.
As the sun began to set, we realized we were way too far off the beaten path to find a place to stay. So, we started weighing out our options. We had enough water and snacks to last the night, but we didn’t have a way to stay warm. The winter desert gets really cold after dark, especially near the breezy shore. It was that moment, our family of six joined hands and prayed for help. Even as I write this, I still can’t believe it. But as surely as you’re reading this, when we opened our eyes after praying, there was a bright green Bic lighter at my mom’s feet. It was shiny and full of fuel. She picked it up, and flicked it once sparking a perfect flame.
Since we were in the desert, there were no trees or brush. But, as we were making our way back around the shoreline from the shipwreck, we came across two long pieces of lumber just lying in the middle of the beach. We dragged them over to the spot between our cars where we assembled a fire ring out of rocks that we gathered, and started a small fire.
That is when the real wonderment happened. Right there, under the cover of darkness, huddled around the fire, my dad read from Exodus chapters 13-15. Sitting there on the shore, facing the sea in the exact spot that was perhaps once split in two by the might of our God, our sweet daughter was listening intently to her Popa. She happened to glance over at Egypt across the Sea to where she could see twinkling lights in the mountain range. She looked back at us and said “Popa, I think I see the Israel lights.”
There is so much more to tell of that trip that will have to wait, but the experience caused our hearts to join with the children of Israel in Exodus 15:11 saying, “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, working wonders?” Truly, He is a wonder-working God and there is (fire) power in His Name.
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