Lot’s great escape
“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on….” (Philippians 3:13) In other words, Don’t look back!
There are some amazing escapes as depicted in the Bible. One is of course Exodus, including the parting of the Red Sea. Another, perhaps less notable, is Lot’s escape from Sodom. But one thing stands apart when we think of that story, and that is the fate of Lot’s Wife.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 19:21-29… continuing on from last week’s entry
“And he said to him, “See, I have favoured you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”
“Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
“The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
“But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.”
Lot Dithers
Lot is granted his request to settle in a city rather than in the mountains.
But it proved costly. Perhaps if he’d left when he was first told, if he’d gone into the mountains as he was first encouraged, his wife might have had a different attitude to what the guest had said. Perhaps she would have noted, “Do not look back.” (Genesis 19:17)
When we do not follow, when we dither or negotiate with GOD, it can be costly. In the case of Jacob, his hip was put out of joint in perpetuity (Genesis 32:22-32). In Lot’s case, he lost his wife.
Now, Abraham had negotiated with GOD, on behalf of Lot. And so when he sees the devastation and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah from his home, and it is total, he will learn that only Lot and two of his daughters have survived….. Even to this day, the territory of Sodom and Gomorrah is barrens. I know; I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
Abraham had faith and it pleased GOD
But how is it that, although Abraham negotiated with GOD (Genesis 18), there seemed no consequence for him? The only conclusion I can draw is that in the LORD’s eyes, Abraham’s faith exonerated him.
Our faith saves us
Hallelujah! Our faith saves us; we are exonerated through our faith in Jesus. And remember, even our faith comes from GOD.
Nevertheless, don’t dither with the LORD. Follow. And see the benefits and the blessings He will bestow. We don’t follow for the benefits. Nevertheless, when we follow, we can declare:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,” (Psalm 103:1-3)