Lot’s wife

 

Her story can be read in Genesis 19. We all know her sad end. The Bible tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah had become ​​so abominable in the sight of the LORD that He decided to destroy them. Habakkuk reminds us indeed that His eyes are too pure to see evil (1:13). In the case of Sodom, this evil was constantly displayed before His eyes: male homosexuality was rampant. The situation was so grave that the men of the city, young and old alike, were even about to sexually abuse the angels that God had sent to warn Lot of the danger which threatened the city (vs. 5)! Out of respect for hospitality which was still sacred at the time, Lot pleaded with them not to do it and even offered two of his daughters who were still virgins (vs. 8). According to the customs of biblical times, girls were married around 12-14 years of age. In other words, the situation was such that Lot was ready to deliver two young teenagers or pre-teens into the hands of evil men, thus condemning them to perpetual dishonour (or even death): they could have never married afterwards and would have had to wear a mark of their shame on them always.

The townspeople refused his proposal because they wanted “fresh meat”; then, furious that he had tried to stop them, they decided to rape him as well. The angels intervened and struck them all with blindness. They explained to Lot the purpose of their mission and advised him to take his family and all he could save from his precious belongings and leave the town. Lot spent the night vainly trying to convince his sons-in-law of the impending doom: the guys thought he was joking. So, the angels told him to leave with his wife and the two daughters who had just escaped a collective rape (vs. 14-15). They finally had to grab him by force to bring him out and set him outside of the city because he was lingering. He could not bear to leave without some members of his family. They told him: “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away” (vs. 17). As soon as Lot was safe in the city of Zoar, the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulphur and fire from heaven and totally destroyed them (vs. 24-25). This is when Lot’s wife unfortunately decided to turn and look back and was instantly changed into a pillar of salt (vs. 26). What are the lessons that we can draw from this story?

1) We really must be careful to be at the right place. Lot settled in Sodom because, at the time, the place looked like a garden of the LORD (Gen 13.10). He based his decision on the flesh. As a result of this bad choice, he lost his wife, some daughters, sons-in-law, and maybe some grandchildren. Because of this decision taken without the LORD, he will later find himself having an incestuous relation with his last two daughters and two incestuous sons/grandsons: Moab and Ben-ammi (vs. 30-38). These two children will be the fathers of two of Israel main enemies: the Moabites and Ammonites. All this happened because many years before the events, just like Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen 3.6), a man who had neither the spiritual sight nor common sense, made a decision based on what had caught his eyes. We do not know how some of our present choices will affect our future and that of our children, but God knows; that’s why it is a lot wiser to seek Him/His advice. Are you at the right place? Are you about to partner with the right person (marriage, business, friendship etc.)?

2) When God has spoken, we must obey without looking back. Some people think that Lot’s wife turned back out of curiosity: “What is all this noise I hear in the distance about? What can possibly be going on there?” Or: “Did we really have to flee? Was the city actually destroyed?” It is indeed possible that like many women, the pangs of curiosity –ugly little sin- were stronger. However, I think that more than that, it is the maternal fibre which caused her to look back. Some of her daughters, fruits of her womb, had remained in Sodom. From afar, she may had heard all the terrifying noises and screams coming from there and wanted to look back and see if there was any hope that the whole city had not been destroyed and thence, her family had possibly been spared. If you know someone who lives in a place that has just been hit by a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, immediately you will want to hear from them to reassure yourself: it is only natural, and Mrs. Lot’s reaction was natural. But the situation here was not a natural one: God's judgment was falling down on people and to avoid being cursed with them, the order was clear: not to turn back. God wants to be obeyed and obeyed completely. He cannot care less that our excuse is that we wanted to behave as responsible and loving parents. When a child or a loved one refuses to obey God’s commandments in spite of everything we do or say and God is about to strike and punish them, we need to physically and emotionally step aside in spite of the love that we have for them, lest we perish together. We can continue to pray for them, but no other interference is acceptable. And sometimes, praying for them is even forbidden (Jer 7:16, 11:14 & 14:11). Lot had begged his sons-in-law (and thus his other daughters) all night. At dawn the angels literally had to force him out of the city for him not be destroyed along with her, because the physical separation was tough. His wife cut ties physically, but not emotionally: this killed her. Beware of soul ties; they can become powerful hinderers on the path of those who want to do God’s will. This is why Jesus said that we cannot come to Him and be His disciples, if we are not ready to hate our father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters, and even our own life (Lk 14:26). Follow the LORD, move on, do not go back and do not look back.

God bless you with a fruitful week.