Why did the Lord say for us to remember Lot’s wife? What should we learn from this bible account?
The story about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah should be a reminder to us that God does not tolerate, nor does he approve of sexual misconduct. God has standards that will be enforced. That execution of judgment will come upon all sinners. But God will provide a means of escape and salvation for those who love and obey him.
Take time to review this account about the saving of Lot’s family that you may fully understand why Jesus was giving us counsel about our reaction to being given direction. Genesis 19:1-28
The Lord Jesus begins to give an answer to those who asked about when the Kingdom of God would come. He expressed to them that this would be something not very observable and began to explain that people would be doing ordinary things when God’s Kingdom comes. He gave comparisons to both Noah’s day and the day of Lot, and how God acts against sinners. Then he made a plea to remember the wife of Lot, why?
James 1:22 counsels us not to deceive ourselves with false reasonings.
Let us look at the passage of scripture in Luke to understand the point better.
Luke 17:28-32… likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying, and selling, planting, and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and Sulphur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife.
The Lord was making a point about the day that Lot and his family left Sodom. You see God’s wrath was revealed to the sinners on that day. That’s how it is going to be, in the same way when the Son of Man is revealed in his Kingdom. There will be no time to prepare for what’s going to happen next. You will not have time to pack your bags or say goodbye. Then the Lord makes the comparison to Lot’s wife. The instructions plainly given to Lot’s family by the angels were for them not to look back, but that’s exactly what Lot’s wife did.
Why did Lot’s wife turn her head and look back? One clue is found in what the Lord said next.
Luke 17:33-35… Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.’
Lot’s wife had an attachment to what she left behind, to what she thought was a secure life in Sodom, and the same thing can and will happen to us says the Lord.
God was providing a day of salvation to Lot and his family, but Lot’s wife had an attachment that cost her. The question becomes when we are offered the day of salvation will we listen and be obedient to God’s word?
Yoked With Unbelievers
2 Corinthians 6:1-3… Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry…
God’s word appeals to us not to receive grace in the day of salvation just to lose it and over what, an obstacle that was put in our way?
2 Corinthians 6:14-18…Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
What makes the unbelievers unclean? The Scripture calls out lawlessness and refers to idolatry and points to either a belonging to Christ or a belonging to Belial.
Psalms 1:1-6…Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Let us look at a song Moses taught the nation of Israel just before they left to go into the promised land.
Who Forsook God
What was the cause of the problem between the Israelite nation and God?
Deuteronomy 32:4-5… The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.5 They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.
Never let us imagine that God is unjust, nor can he not see the hearts of men. He will and can save those he wishes to deliver.
Deuteronomy 32:15-20… But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. 16 They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. 17 They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. 18 You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth. 19 “The Lord saw it and spurned them, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. 20 And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.
The nation of Israel fell into idolatry and what they thought they were worshiping as God turned out to be a worshiping to demons.
Deuteronomy 32:32-36… For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of poison; their clusters are bitter; 33 their wine is the poison of serpents and the cruel venom of asps. 34 Is not this laid up in store with me, sealed up in my treasuries? 35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’ 36 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free.
God did promise help in the day of calamity.
Deuteronomy 32:39-44… See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever, 41 if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh— with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired heads of the enemy.’ 43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people’s land.
How could the nation of Israel go from worshiping the true God to idolatry?
Matthew 16:11-12… How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 12 Then they discerned that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Have you ever heard the saying? You are what you eat! How about this saying? “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you what kind of person you will become”. The point is this, you can’t be in close association and not be affected by it. You see Jesus cautioned his disciples about the teachings of the religious leaders of his day, he called it leaven or fermented. That was to disclose to his disciples that those teachings had a corrupting influence on truth.
Further down in the same passage of Scripture we have the reminder of living a life like Christ.
Matthew 16:24-27…. Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory (majesty, splendor) of His Father with His angels, and then He will render account and reward every man in accordance with what he has done.
There will come a time of judgment when the Son of Man will render up according to each one’s work, according to what each one has done. Our life will be scrutinized.
Have we sacrificed to achieve God’s righteousness? Or have we taken it easy, waiting on God to come and set matters right? Have we become attached to the world in some way that would cost us our life?
Remember the wife of Lot!
Come Lord Jesus and lead us out into the way of righteousness!
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