I love the Word. I’ve spent time in it for over 40 years. I love that it applies to every area of my life. I recently read a verse that I’ve never previously noticed. My initial reaction was “Huh?” I didn’t understand its significance or frankly why it was even noted.
Remember Lot’s wife.
Luke 17:32
It is the second shortest verse spoken by Jesus in the Bible. Lot’s wife is mentioned once in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. Neither time are we given her name. She is seemingly insignificant. There are so many women in the Bible that we could have been instructed to remember by Jesus. Esther, Deborah, Mary, Eve, Sarah to name just a few! Yet, out of the 170+ women mentioned in the Bible, Lot’s wife is the only one Jesus only ever told us to remember. Why?
To set the stage, we must travel back to Genesis 19. Genesis 19 is a powerful account of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah; two cities positioned in the valley of the Jordan. Together they had collectively reached a spiritual point of no return. Sin was was widespread – pride, gluttony, ease of life and sexual immorality had overtaken the population.
Residing in Sodom was Lot; nephew of Abraham. Having parted ways with Abraham, Lot choose to settle with his wife and daughters in Sodom. Although Sodom was a well-watered region making it a great place to raise livestock, it was morally corrupt. Despite the corruption, Lot settled in the region anyhow. In time, Lot became greatly distressed living in Sodom.
Because of its corruption, God eventually decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. However, Lot’s family was spared on account of Abraham’s intercession (Genesis 18). Lot, his wife, and two daughters were led by the hand of an angel out of Sodom with one instruction; don’t look back. As they fled from the fire and burning sulfer, “Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26). And just like that, as quickly as Lot’s wife was rescued, one look back left her permanently frozen in time.
When I first read this, I didn’t understand the significance of what happened to Lot’s wife. But, as I continued to unpack it, the symbolic meaning of such a seemingly insignificant verse came to life.
Can you imagine being Lot’s wife? You’ve just fled the solace of your home where abundance and comfort are plentiful. And, although spiritual corruption surrounds you, it is still your home. All that you’ve known. I can imagine feeling so torn. Scared in the rush of it all but also want to glance back at what was unfolding.
In putting myself in her position, I began to see its application to my own life in my current season of transition. Like Lot’s wife, I’ve hesitantly desired to glance back at times. Most recently, my kids are leaving home. There are days that I want to turn back the hands of time. Being a stay-at-home mom to my kids is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it and I find myself wanting to hold on tight to those days. And yet, it is most certainly time for my kids to fly.
Likewise, I have professional doors closing and new ones opening. I hesitate in moving forward. Is it going to be fruitful? What if I don’t succeed? Do I have the energy to do it again? Although excitement bubbles for the future, discomfortable and hard work will be required. And yet, this is certainly where God is leading us – a new chapter.
How about you? Where are the places that you’ve spent time looking back at? Memories, an old relationship, circumstances you used to have? Maybe they were great places – raising kids, a perfect job, good health, or younger years – the places we tend to prefer! Or maybe it’s the not so good places where hopes were built that didn’t come to fruition, leaving you feeling stuck and consumed with grief and disappointment.
The story of Lot’s wife teaches us not linger in these places. Not to stay camped somewhere just because it is comfortable. When we grieve a place to the point of it paralyzing the forward movement God has for us, then we must ask ourselves this question: Was our hope misplaced in our circumstance instead of our God? Lingering in the past will steal your future. And Jesus’ instruction to remember Lot’s wife is a firm reminder of that.
God says he will NEVER leave us. He is a constant that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. If you are going to live your best life within a world gripped by fear and temptation, then God must anchor you in all circumstances.
I want to be a woman that is forward facing. The one who stays strong, confident and resolved when everything around me is blowing up. The one who can appropriately mourn the past while intentionally setting my eyes on Jesus into the future. After all, God is in the business of taking the old and making it new!
I encourage you today to prioritize your future over your past. Don’t get stuck in the comfortable. Have your bags packed and ready to move where God is leading you next.
xo Carre
