Thursday 8 October 2009

Remember Lot’s wife

But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. – Genesis 19v26

I almost titled this thought “Remember Mrs Lot,’ but then I remembered I have a sister named Mrs Lott so thought it best to go with the original, ‘Remember Lot’s wife.’

It is interesting that a woman who is only briefly mentioned in the Old Testament gets such a mention in the New Testament. At one point recorded in Luke Jesus says ‘Remember Lot’s wife.’ Why? What would be so important about her that we would be told to remember her?

We all know the story of Lot’s wife. She was the one who was turned into a pillar of salt.

The simple answer, and the one that fits the context of Jesus’ statement, is that she turned back. Not content to be delivered from the wickedness of Sodom she had to have just one more look.

We can only guess at why she had to look back to Sodom. Maybe she simply loved her home there. Maybe she was just curious. Who knows?

Either way she did not just go the way that God was leading. Her lingering glance at the world cost her dearly.

Once we put our hands to the plough there is no turning back. When we do turn back we open ourselves up for trouble.

‘Looking unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith.’

Remember Lot’s wife,. Don’t look back.

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