Genesis 19:26: “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

October 4th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

God was judging the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness. The angels that were in the city literally pulled Lot, his wife, and 2 daughters, by the hand, out of the city before completely destroying it. Telling them, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay (tarry) anywhere in the plain” (vs. 16). But Lot’s wife was so overcome with longing for her old life that she disobeyed; and when she looked back, she instantly became a pillar of salt. In the New Testament Jesus says 3 important words in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.” And since Jesus never told us to remember anyone else, not even Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ruth, or Rahab, there must be something important about her life.

Lot’s wife was offered great grace and mercy, as the angels saved her life by dragging her out of Sodom, and yet she still chose to look back to her old life. She was so close yet so far away. Jesus wants us to look to her life as an example and a warning to all of us. Although she had many positive spiritual privileges she didn’t apply them. She was Abraham’s niece-in-law. She belonged to the family that God had called from Ur and brought all the way to Canaan, meaning she had seen the steadfast faith of Abraham as a model for herself. Part of the problem was that she also saw the faltering faith of her husband Lot.

Lot’s wife had heart problems. In spite of all that she had witnessed, she did not take a personal step toward the Lord. And so her love for her worldly way of life was stronger than her belief in God. God got Lot’s wife out of Sodom but He couldn’t get Sodom out of her. If this is you today, and God is mercifully rescuing you or offering you an escape, take it. Don’t look back. Hang on! God can get you all the way home!

“LORD, you are the One ‘who is able to keep [us] stumbling, And to present [us] faultless Before the presence of [Your] glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).