...Lessons from Lot’s Wife
"But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:26 (ESV)
In our journey of faith, one of the most significant challenges we face is the temptation to look back at our past. Whether it’s reminiscing about “the good old days,” regretting past mistakes (sins), or holding on to past hurts, the past has a way of pulling us back, hindering our progress toward the future God has planned for us. The story of Lot’s wife in Genesis serves as a powerful metaphor for the dangers of looking back.
The Context: A City Doomed for Destruction
Lot’s wife lived in the city of Sodom, a place notorious for its wickedness (Genesis 13:13). When God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24), He sent angels to rescue Lot and his family, commanding them to flee and not look back. As they escaped, Lot’s wife made a fatal mistake—she looked back, and immediately, she was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).
Why Did She Look Back?
Lot’s wife’s backward glance wasn’t just a simple mistake; it was a reflection of where her heart truly was. Although she was physically leaving the city, her heart was still tethered to Sodom. Perhaps she looked back out of longing for the life she was leaving behind, or maybe she was overwhelmed with sorrow for the people she knew there. Whatever the reason, her inability to fully let go of the past cost her everything.
The Dangers of Looking Back
Looking back can be dangerous for us, too. When we dwell on our past, we risk becoming stuck, unable to move forward in our walk with God. Like Lot’s wife, when our hearts are divided between our past and the future God is calling us to, we can miss out on the blessings and the growth that await us. Satan and his fallen angels are who remind us of our past sins that we have repented for, but as David stated in Psalm 103:12 (ESV), “as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”
Jesus Himself warned against looking back in Luke 9:62 (ESV), saying, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” The plowman who looks back cannot plow straight; he’ll veer off course. Similarly, when we focus on the past, we lose sight of where God is leading us.
Moving Forward with Faith
God calls us to look ahead, to trust Him with our future, and to leave the past where it belongs—behind us. Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV) reminds us about “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Conclusion
The story of Lot’s wife is a sobering reminder of the cost of looking back. As we walk with Christ, let us keep our eyes fixed on Him, trusting that He is leading us toward something far greater than anything we leave behind. Let’s move forward in faith, confident that the best is yet to come.
God bless & go in peace,
Monday, August 19, 2024
Volume 15 Issue 19 (81)
