Remember Lot’s Wife
Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”
Why would our Lord want us to remember Lot’s wife?
Because looking back is a trap we should not fall into.
The story:
Lot lived in Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah were situated in a beautiful valley; full of lush pastures, and full rivers. They were rich cities, and Lot and his family had moved there to enjoy all they had to offer. But…
But they were also wicked places. Terrible sexual practices were carried out in the city, and all of them were allowed on any who would venture in. They were also idolatrous people; so bad that “the cry of them is great before the face of the Lord”.
God sent angels to Lot, so that he and his familxy, could escape the coming destruction.
Genesis 19:12-13 “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any beside? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place:
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.”
Well, Lot told his family,…..but no one would listen to him; “he seemed as one that mocked”. (Genesis 19:14).
They thought he was joking.
After all, Lot lived in Sodom; had been there quite a while, surely this was not going to happen.
Beside, when was the last time Lot talked about God? He must be joking.
When the next morning came, the angels said:
Genesis 19:15 “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”
It was time to go, but he hesitated.
Hesitation is such an easy thing for us to do.
We wait, a moment or so,…….wishing things were different;……and by doing so, lose the joy in doing the Lord’s Will, in what is next.
In mercy the Lord had His angels take hold on their hands and guide them out of the city.
Genesis 19:16-17 “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful to him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth, 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.”
Standing outside the city the angels warn them not to look back, but to keep moving forward.
God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, for their awful sin, before it corrupted more of the world.
They started to go to a little city, at the far end of the plain. And when they got there, two things happened:
The Lord did destroy the cities with fire,…utterly.
And Lot’s wife looked back.
Genesis 19:24, 26 “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;”
“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
But why did she look back at such destruction?
She did not want to leave that life. They were pretty well-to-do. They had a standing in the city, for Lot had a position of judge; for he sat in the gate, as judge.
Even though it was a wicked place, she enjoyed the life of “being somebody”…..and she did not want to leave it.
She did not want to go on, to what she did not know. She did not trust the Lord.
No! She only wanted what she had.
So she looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt.
But why salt? As a warning….For salt is suppose to preserve.
She should have preserved her family in the belief of the true God….and kept looking forward.
But, she got wrapped up in the things of this life,…..and she began to love them too much….she expected that it would continue….so she gave herself over to them…..and it cost her, her life.
Even though she felt like this,…..(and I want to stress this!)…..if she had simply obeyed God’s Word,….she would have been delivered.
But…she didn’t.
How much our unbelief takes away from us.
How many of us have tripped and fallen here?
Wishing for…..something,…..instead of taking the next step with Jesus.
Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost it’s savor: wherewith it shall be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Jesus says: Remember Lot’s wife.
Some times it is hard to go forward: very hard.
But we need to remember that God always has our best interests on His heart.
God does all things in mercy to His people.
We need to receive it, and go along with Him.
Paul said:
“…Forgetting what is behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
We are called to take each step with Him; that is all.
That will save us from the destruction that is in this world, all around us….
And He often takes our hand, when we hesitate, and even helps us do that.
We just need to believe and obey Him.
Remember Lot’s wife.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 