Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, who were and industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan over 2,000 years ago. At its height of power, the kingdom stretched to Damascus and effectivly ruled the majority of Arabia. Petra was admired for its culture, architecture, dams, and water channels. Petra became a threat to the Roman Empire and was taken over, bringing about its decline.

II Kings 14:1-7
1: In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
2: He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
3: And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
4: Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
5: And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
6: But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
7: He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

Isaiah 16:1-2
1: Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2: For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

The city of Petra was one of refuge throughout its history. Guarded by the narrow Siq, it was nearly impregnable but did eventually fall to the Roman armies who cut off its water supply. For the Christian, God is a perfect and undefeatable refuge in the time of need.

II Samuel 22:3

3: The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Psalm 46

1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4: There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6: The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8: Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9: He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10: Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalm 57:1

1: Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm 59:16-17

16: But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17: Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

Psalm 62:7-8

7: In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 71:7

7: I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Psalm 91:1-12 (Note verses 11-12 serve as Satan's second temptation of Christ)

1: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2: I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3: Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6: Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8: Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9: Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psalm 94:22

22: But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

Proverbs 14:26

26: In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Isaiah 25:4

4: For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Jeremiah 16:19

19: O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.