Luke 17:26-32 KJV — And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife.
The Word of God does not give her name in the book of Genesis, she is only referred to as “Lot’s wife.”
Off the southwest shore of the Dead Sea is where Mt. Sodom is located and there standing on the hillside is a pillar where, as many believe, Lot’s wife stood as she looked back to see the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It seems to stand as a reminder of the apocalyptic power of God’s judgment and the consequence of those who disregard God’s warnings and refuse to let go of a troubled or sinful past.
Many Bible scholars are of the opinion that Lot’s wife was a native of Sodom, that would explain her longing for the area and the people causing her to turn and see its destruction, turning her into a pillar of salt.
Looking back can sometimes be an emotional devastating experience, especially if the past was difficult and tormenting. The life that was led may have been the only life that was ever known.
Living in the eye of a hurricane may seem peaceful and safe, but if we never leave the eye of the storm, we will never know the destruction the storm is causing until it is too late. Maybe we are unable to leave the storm? We have grown accustomed to the way the storm fluctuates and at times we might even enjoy the drama the storm seems to stir up? Whatever the case may be, we still seem unable to leave. We find ourselves crying and begging for help. Then suddenly, help arrives, but even then, down deep in our hearts, we are unsure. Somehow, Lot’s wife found herself in a place of lawlessness and immorality. This was home for her and she was married to Lot. Her situation was not unlike what we are experiencing in these latter days. Violence, depravity and unholiness. We want God to stop the unrighteous, but do we realize what we are asking for? How does Sodom and Gomorrah relate to our modern time? What can we learn from Lot and his wife?
Lot was considered a righteous man, but was forced to be separated from Abram because of the lack of resources for both their stock. A choice had to be made;
Genesis 13:12-13 KJV — Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Lot was warned that the land was to be destroyed and to leave immediately when two angels in the form of men approached him. After much hesitancy and his home being physically confronted by the men of Sodom seeking the angels, Lot and his family finally made the move to escape.
Genesis 19:17-23 KJV — And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Genesis 19:24-26 KJV — Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Being a native to the cities of the plain, Lot’s wife had been associated and entangled with the place she called home, she could not exit without at least a glance back to what she was leaving behind. We must remember the warning that Jesus gave concerning God’s judgment;
Luke 17:30-31 KJV — Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
Similarly, firefighters and investigators have reported that many fatalities and injured burn victims caused by house fires are those who go back into the blaze to save their valuables. When we make the decision to follow Christ, we must fully repent from the past behaviors which drew us into a realization of our sinful state.
In the days of Lot, his wife, Sodom and Gomorrah, there wasn’t a lot of “wiggle room” when it came to the judgment of God. When Jesus was crucified on the cross for the redemption of mankind we were washed clean by His precious blood and saved by grace. By faith we can lay our troubles and our sinful past at His feet and we can be born again, forgiven and made anew in the eyes of God. For Jesus bore our iniquities and made us whole by believing and accepting Him as Lord and Savior. Our Heavenly Father will see us without a blemish or a wrinkle. Looking back can only cause consequences that Jesus has already delivered us from. The memories of the past may always be with us, but the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross gives us the victory and deliverance from the hurt and pain the past may have caused.
As you follow after God, know that every bit of His Holy Word is for you. His truths are worth looking toward, holding onto, and learning from, every day.
Luke 9:23-24 KJV — And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
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