Lot had finally made a decent decision! It was about time! This nomadic lifestyle was wearing on her nerves. Constantly drifting from place to place. Tearing down and setting up their tent whenever the urge to move hit Lot’s uncle. It wasn’t the life she’d dreamed of. There was no stability, no permanence, no creature comforts. None of the things she hoped to have when raising her children.
This decision to settle somewhere apart from Abram and Sarai was a relief. Not that she didn’t like them. She did. She just didn’t like their lifestyle. She wanted something more, something better. A place to settle down, put down roots, build a home, raise a family. And Lot had finally found just the place!
The city of Sodom was amazing. Excitement jolted through her veins as she gazed at it. Glistening skyline rising up to grace the horizon of the well-watered Jordan Valley. Statues and buildings gleaming in the rays of golden afternoon sun. Lush gardens, abundant with every conceivable fruit and vegetable dotted the landscape. Flourishing vineyards, heavily laden with grape perfection flowed over the rolling hills. Streams dissected the valley flowing into oases, then gurgling on to water the next garden or fill the next well. It was certainly the perfect place to settle down, raise a family, build a life! (Genesis 13:10-12)
It would have been safer to stay in the tent. Although beautiful in appearance, the heart of Sodom was enveloped in darkness. Guided by the selfishness of their sin-filled hearts, the people of the city willfully and gleefully engaged in egregious sins. Chasing solely after the desires of their own hearts, they embodied the words later penned by the Psalmist, “God does not see”. No one respected God. No one sought righteousness. No one lamented the evil of their ways. Instead, they relished them. Approved them. Guarded them. It was a terrible place to settle down, raise a family, build a life. (Psalm 94:7; 10:2-11; 14:3; 59:7)
Logically, a reputation such as this would have preceded them. Certainly travelers would carry the tales of Sodom’s riotous living from one town to the next. Surely at least one previous resident had spread dire warnings of their unchecked depravity. Reason dictates neither Lot nor his wife could not have been completely ignorant of the town’s dubious distinction. Yet, as they gazed out over the lush, fertile valley with its promise of plush living, easy gardening, and well-watered cattle, their traitorous minds excused what their ears had heard so their selfish hearts could have the lifestyle for which they longed. Comfort. Wealth. Ease. (Genesis 13:10-19)
After the initial tent pitching outside of Sodom’s gates, they inched closer and closer until they were finally living inside the city. It was everything she hoped it would be! More, actually. They built the home she’d always wanted. Raised lovely daughters. Created a life for themselves among the natives. Accepted their ways. Embraced their ideals. Followed their habits. Integrated themselves so well it was impossible to tell they were actually foreigners. Their social calendars were filled with parties and dances and nights of revelry. Every dream she ever had was fulfilled inside the gates of Sodom.
Unfortunately for Lot’s wife, God was not so enamored with her city. He had gotten a lot of complaints about the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Stories of depraved gatherings. Tales of unspeakable sins. Rumors of the blatant flouting of all things good and right and holy. He had seen them too. They grieved His heart. The gorgeous valley He created had been desecrated. It had to be made right. So He did.
Arriving at the city gates late in the day, two angels of the Lord came face to face with Lot. Rising to meet them, Lot bowed in a grand gesture of respect and invited them to spend the night in his home. They were disinclined. Lot pressed harder. Perhaps he knew what dangers awaited them if they should spend the night in the street. The natives of Sodom were indeed restless. Finally, they acquiesced, but before they could lie down to sleep, the villagers were banging on the house, harassing Lot to bring out his friends for nefarious purposes. Lot refused.
Standing back watching the melee, embarrassed rage washed over Lot’s wife. What was Lot thinking? Was he thinking? Those people begging entrance were their friends, their neighbors, their emergency contacts. They had welcomed them into their city, accepted them into their society, aided them with child care and gardening tips and restaurant recommendations. Lot’s own daughters were betrothed to their sons. The people involved in the fracas outside had the power to socially eviscerate them. Why had Lot brought those two men home in the first place? And why had they come to town anyway?
It would take very little time for that answer to be revealed. It did not fill her heart with joy. The sins of the city which she had so contentedly ignored were to be recompensed. Judgment was coming. Death. Destruction. Devastation. As a favor to Abram, God was rescuing Lot and his family. They had to leave today. There was no time to alert friends. No moments for teary good-byes. No farewells to the girls’ fiancees. They had to go. Now. If they stayed, they’d never leave. Literally.
It felt surreal, like a prank of mammoth proportions. She knew it wasn’t. She knew the words were true. The city would be utterly eradicated. All of it. Her lovely home. Her beautiful garden. The little pub she took tea at with friends. The mansion where they had partied all night. The people she counted as family. The things and lifestyle she loved. Everything would be gone. She knew she should feel gratitude for the rescuing angels, but all she could manage to feel was an acute sense of her own loss.
As morning light filtered across the sky, glinting off the dew drops resting on luscious grapes and flowering plants, she dawdled. The angels of God urged and pressed them to gather their girls and leave. Still, she lingered. So did Lot. Maybe because he was sad to leave too. Likely because he was waiting on her, allowing time for final goodbyes to the culmination of her hopes and dreams. Finally, time ran out. Grabbing the family by their hands, the angels forcibly removed them to safety and left them with one final warning, “Go. Focus your eyes on your final destination and forget the things behind you. Do not stop. Do not look back.” (Genesis 19:1-17)
The sun had risen to nearly full strength as they reached their destination. Rumblings echoed behind them as God meted out just judgment on the cities of sin they had left behind. The temptation to look back was strong. Carefully averting his eyes, Lot hurried his daughters through the gate of Zoar to safety. Reaching back to tug his wife in too, his hand flailed in mid-air. She wasn’t there. She had turned around for one last glimpse of all she loved, of all she had lost, of where her heart was still planted, and in the turning, in the looking, in the wanting, she’d met her demise. (Genesis 19:23-28)
Although she’s never again mentioned in the Old Testament, centuries later, in the most solemn of dire warnings, Jesus tells us not to forget her. In three words collected together in one short sentence, He encapsulates the message God was trying to tell His people throughout the entire Old Testament. “Remember Lot’s wife.” Do not waver. Do not turn back. Do not long for the frills and thrills of Egypt or any other land you’ve had the opportunity to visit. Dedicate yourselves fully to me. Only to me. Stay that way. (Luke 17:32; Jeremiah 4:1; Deuteronomy 5:23; Joshua 1:7; I Kings 8:61)
The words Jesus spoke to that New Testament gathering of Pharisees and disciples are a summation of the message He preached over and over again during His earthly ministry. “Remember Lot’s wife.” Remember what her love of sin did to her. Remember to what lengths her desire for the flesh pushed her. Remember how her attachment to the things of this world affected her. Do not be distracted by the same things. Do not turn back to look longingly at the things of the world. Do not waver in your determination to be faithful. Follow Me. Only Me. Always Me.
It is not a suggestion. It is not optional. The call to follow Jesus without reservation is a requirement. The cost of looking back is high. The one who chooses not to daily bear their cross will never be Christ’s disciple. The one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back gains no admittance at Heaven’s gate. The one who seeks to preserve their earthly lifestyle and status will lose it to eternal damnation, but the one who willingly sacrifices all to gain Christ will find eternal joy. And, to the one who lays aside everything to seek God’s kingdom above all things, will be blessed beyond measure. Their cup will be full, pressed down, and filled again to overflowing. But you have to choose Jesus first. Jesus only. Jesus always. (Luke 9:23-24,57-62; Luke 17:30-33; Matthew 6:33-34; Luke 6:38; Matthew 10:22)
I don’t know what’s behind you that has you looking back with longing. I don’t know what you have clutched tightly in your hot little hand. I don’t know what you wish to preserve about your current circumstances that has you waffling on complete consecration to Jesus Christ. I won’t even speculate. That’s not my job. I will say this. When Jesus calls you to follow Him, I hope you go with the exuberance of the disciples leaving nets and family and friends to follow. When Jesus asks you to sacrifice your time, your resources, your efforts to daily do His work, I hope you agree without counting the cost. And, when Jesus reminds you to keep your eyes focused solely on Him, I hope you remember Lot’s wife and fix your gaze with laser precision on Christ alone. I hope you don’t look back, turn back, or waver. What’s back there, anyway? Is it worth your eternity? Is it worth more than your soul? Is it better than Jesus? (Romans 14:17; Matthew 4:18-22, 16:24-26; Mark 1:16-24; Mark 8:26; Romans 12:1-2)
Amen!